Best Items t Purchase Second Hand

One of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the environment is by purchasing items second-hand. This is also beneficial financially, because it saves you money. In some cases, there are even resources available to for free use of the items.

Each item that you purchase second hand is beneficial because it decreases the raw materials being used in the production process. It also extends the useful life of products and keeps them out of landfills. Less gasoline is required to extend the life of items because items are typically donated and circulated locally.

So, here is a list of items to buy second hand (and donate when you are finished with them):

1. Books. The major raw resource used to produce books is paper (typically from trees). Frequently, when we purchase books we only read them once. This is significant considering a new book costs on average between $15-$35. Purchasing the same book from a used book store will cut the cost down considerably, usually about 75% off the sticker price. You could spend even less by utilizing your local library to access thousands of books. Just make sure you turn them in on time to avoid late fees.

2. Toys. Children frequently outgrow their toys (and clothes) quickly. Purchasing lightly used toys will save you money, and typically saves a lot in transportation/gasoline, because most toys are not manufactured in the United States. Most toys are made from plastic, so that saves even more gasoline and oil (raw materials used to make plastic).

3. Clothing. There are a variety of options available for purchasing used clothing. One is purchasing clothes at places like The Salvation Army, garage sales, flea markets, etc. Another option is purchasing items at consignment stores. Consignment stores have a selection of clothing which is usually more high-end than the other options, and the clothes are inspected for wear and damage, so you can be sure you are getting a quality item. Depending on your preference, you can go either route.

4. Exercise Equipment. The majority of exercise equipment is made out of metal. It is often easy to find lightly used exercise equipment in good condition because of people who purchase it new and decide to unload the equipment when they do not stick to their workout regimen.

5. Vehicles. Vehicles depreciate very quickly after they are purchased. Buying vehicles used typically saves the buyer a considerable amount of money. Vehicles also contain microchips created from rare minerals which require mining. Extending the life of vehicles as long as possible is an excellent way to reduce waste and the disposition of precious metals.

6. Furniture. Many times you can find used furniture which is better quality than new furniture for the same (or lower) price tag. This is another situation where consignment stores are a valuable asset. Although it is possible to find some even better deals at garage sales and flea markets. Generally, the home consignment stores have furniture that is much more solidly built than furniture sold by most major stores.

There are many other items you can purchase used which would be better for your wallet and the environment. The next time you find yourself in need of one of these items, try browsing through a consignment store or shopping through second-hand stores or websites.