10 THINGS YOU SHOULD (AND SHOULDN’T) BUY SECOND-HAND

Has your Marie Kondo kick left your home looking a tad sparse? Or maybe you’re in the market for a new car, but balking at the price. Why not go the thrifty route and get something that’s been gently used?

They improve with age and save you cash – what’s not to love?

There’s something to be said for buying a brand-spanking-new item, and being the first person to use it. But some things get better with age – or are just not worth paying full price for. You know what they say – one’s (wo)man’s trash…

1 CARS Petrolheads will wax lyrical about that new-car smell, of course, but that whiff of untouched brand-newness is going to cost you, from the moment you drive your new baby off the showroom floor. Luxury sedans, sports cars and lesser-known brands are the ones to steer well clear of as their value depreciates considerably – by almost 50 percent, even within the first year! Not that other models are exempt: most cars depreciate at a rate of 10–20 percent a year.

Bu that doesn’t mean you have to buy a proper jalopy. According to Old Mutual, the ideal used car to buy is one to two years old. ‘These are usually still under warranty and represent good value for money (having already taken the biggest knock in depreciation), and because they are later models, they’re more fuel-efficient than older models.’

You’re also better off going to a dealer than buying a car voetstoots from a stranger online. ‘If you buy a used car privately, it’s a case of “Buyer Beware”, says the AA. ‘You don’t have the same legal protection as when buying from a dealer.’

Also stick to reputable dealers. ‘If you want to buy a car from a dealer, make sure it’s an established one – not uncle Jannie’s Motors down the road who may have been in business for only two years,’ writes Wilmer Muller,

motoring editor. ‘If there are any issues, you’ll have a better chance of having your car fixed at an established dealership. Also, you will know that the car hasn’t been stolen and that you’ll have an up-to-date service history.’

When in doubt, have it independently inspected – a qualified mechanic giving it a once-over could save you thousands in the long run.

GAMES, DVDS AND CDS

Still a fan of owning the complete box set of your favourite show rather than blowing through your data by watching and rewatching it on Netflix? ‘Most people won’t rewatch their DVD box sets or replay their PS4 games once they’ve completed them, which means you can pick up very recent releases for a fraction of the cost,’ says Claire Cobbledick, GM of Gumtree South Africa. ‘With technology changing as rapidly as it does, it really doesn’t make sense to pay full price for these items.’

3 BOOKS A tip for students: before you spend a small fortune on brand-new textbooks and prescribed novels, check which ones make the list year after year and find out who took the class the year before – someone will definitely be looking to unload their old books. The same goes for bestsellers, and you might even find a rare edition of an old favourite online or in a second-hand shop. Charities often have book sales too, so the money goes to a good cause – bonus. BABY AND MATERNITY CLOTHES ‘Babies outgrow their clothes within weeks,’ says Claire. ‘There are tons of moms selling their gently used babywear by the bagful – I’ve seen some with the tags still on. Provided that the items aren’t faded or subject to stretching, it’s perfectly safe and much greener to buy your maternity and baby clothes second-hand.’ SPORTING AND FITNESS GEAR

How often have you had a peek inside someone’s garage, only to discover a graveyard of abandoned hobbies? The kayak and the surfboard that have barely seen water; the drum kit that drove the neighbours mad for about a week before the avid percussionist gave up on his dream to be the new Phil Collins; and the treadmill that’s mostly been used as a clothes horse – they’re all in there, gathering dust.

Before you make the same mistake and kit yourself out from head to toe for a new hobby, have a look online. ‘Buy second-hand to see if the hobby sticks,’ says Claire. ‘If it doesn’t, you can recoup the value by reselling, and you won’t feel the financial pinch as harshly.’

As for fitness equipment, you won’t struggle to find very gently used elliptical machines, stationary bikes and weights for sale online. Someone else’s abandoned resolution might just jump-start your fitness kick. CAMPING EQUIPMENT

The same goes for new tents, camping stoves and camping chairs. ‘You’ll find plenty of second-hand items from families who went on one camping trip, hated it and decided to sell it all to pay for a nice hotel getaway,’ says Claire. ‘Some of the items I’ve seen were never used and are being sold for an absolute steal.’ 7 WOODEN FURNITURE

What would you rather have: a generic coffee table or a quirky, antique statement piece? Some pieces of furniture just get better with age – the kitchen table that’s played host to many a family meal, the Art Deco cabinet that adds some character to your living room or some vintage bedside tables to replace the matchy-matchy ones that came with the bed. You could even buy a simple pine piece and paint it. Follow the secondhand shops in your area on Instagram or Facebook – they often post pics of their new stock and you might snap up something special. TOOLS Here’s a stat that comes up time and again (with no clear source): the average drill is used for only six to 20 minutes during its lifetime. (Sure, it may well have been plucked from thin air, but it’s still pretty compelling, no?) And yet, somehow, we all feel that we need to own one. Maybe because no one will lend you theirs – it’s the kind of thing people borrow and never give back. The same goes for hammers, pliers, screwdrivers, and even bigger items like saws and angle grinders. As long as they’re not rusty, there’s no reason not to buy them second-hand. PETS Okay, so ‘second-hand’ might not be the right term for it, but we couldn’t resist slipping this one in here. Adopt, don’t shop: there are thousands of cats and dogs in shelters looking for families – why not give one of them a forever home? 10 WEDDING DRESSES, FORMALWEAR & DESIGNER DUDS Think tuxedoes, matric dance dresses, cocktail wear, evening gowns and, of course, the best example of something that’s literally used just once in its lifetime: wedding dresses. (If you’re carefully saving yours for your daughter, consider this: what are the odds that that particular style will be back in fashion when she ties the knot? She might not want to be seen dead in the poufy Princess Distyle meringue that was the envy of all your friends at the time. Just saying.)

Which is why there are entire websites dedicated to passing on your worn-once gown to a grateful bride-to-be. On www.stillwhite. co.za, for instance, you can search according to size, designer or region, and get the designer dress you’ve always dreamed of at a fraction of the price.

We’re also big fans of the annual Vintage with Love events – you can get some beautiful designer garments for a steal, plus the proceeds go to charity. Win-win.