Buying Cheap
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
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Things I will buy brand new but make sure it's on sale:
Cheap packing tape. Scotch works much better and you end up using less.
Tortillas – The Aldis kind just don’t taste as good and stick together.
Anti Virus software- Check out the reviews, don’t take a chance on this one.
Haircut- Ok, normally I am a huge fan of the beauty college to save money on haircuts but the other day was a flop. I took my 6 and 2 year old. We were there 1 ½ hours! I saved $2 and a long drive across town (about $3 gas) but it wasn’t worth the wait and chasing after a 2 year old for an hour. Most of that time was spent cutting their hair.
I will just take Elly to my stylist (only $6 anyway) and keep giving David his haircut at home.
Diapers – with our 3rd we used disposables and with the other two when we went out. I tried the cheap diapers and they just leak every time. I found that Loves are cheaper than Pampers but still work. I did get some really cheap diapers free. I used those for during the day when I changed him more often but not a night.
Major appliances- They are coming out with such energy efficient appliances that unless you know for sure it’s a year or less old buy a new one.
Shoes- Mike and I have feet problems. We can’t find used shoes that aren’t completely worn out so we buy new but on sale. The kids we buy used as much as possible but with our 8 year old it’s getting harder. Boys shoes are just worn out because they out grow them.
AAA- It's worth it not to worry about breaking down and trying to get someone to help you.
Kids Blow up Swimming Pool - Most used ones have holes.
Electronics - Unless you know how to fix them and know they are working it's not worth the chance.
Anything that is under $10 - If you buy something that's used that "needs a little work" and you save $5. Usually "a little work" ends up being a lot of work and it's not worth the hour or two to fix it.
Things I will try not to pay full price for:
Just about everything else that wasn’t listed above.
Clothes- I have noticed a difference when I buy Eddie Bauer (sp), Van Hauseen (sp) and more expensive clothes. The colors are richer, they don’t fade as bad and last longer than Wal-mart stuff, BUT I still wouldn’t buy them new unless they were dirt cheap. I can get them at the thrift store like new for less than $3 for dress shirts and .99 for T-shirts.
Most Furniture-
Couch - With kids why buy a new one? Unless it has a print to really hide the stains just get a used one until they are older or out of house. It’s not worth fighting. I spent $90 on the one we have now. I saved over $500 and can sell it for at least $50, probably more when I’m done with it. If you have already purchased an expensive one then a slipcover is worth it with kids!
Other furniture – Again why buy new with kids? You don’t have to worry so much about them scratching it.
Toys and almost everything for kids and babies- until they get a certain age they don’t know whether they are new or not. Even after they are 8 or so you can get buy with buying used by re-packing it. That way if they don’t play with it you haven’t lost as much.
Sheets - Clean with hot water or bleach.
Camping Equipment - Tents etc.
Books- Even new on the market adult books( like diet books, self help something seen on Oprah :-) can be purchased with some savings. Kids books defiantly!
Canning-Buy the time you buy the fruit of vegetables, sugar and spend hours canning it's not worth it unless you get most of the ingredients for free.
The thing is to figure what is worth it for you to buy new and buy used. It's differnt for everyone.
Tawra
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
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Things I will buy brand new but make sure it's on sale:
Cheap packing tape. Scotch works much better and you end up using less.
Tortillas – The Aldis kind just don’t taste as good and stick together.
Anti Virus software- Check out the reviews, don’t take a chance on this one.
Haircut- Ok, normally I am a huge fan of the beauty college to save money on haircuts but the other day was a flop. I took my 6 and 2 year old. We were there 1 ½ hours! I saved $2 and a long drive across town (about $3 gas) but it wasn’t worth the wait and chasing after a 2 year old for an hour. Most of that time was spent cutting their hair.
I will just take Elly to my stylist (only $6 anyway) and keep giving David his haircut at home.
Diapers – with our 3rd we used disposables and with the other two when we went out. I tried the cheap diapers and they just leak every time. I found that Loves are cheaper than Pampers but still work. I did get some really cheap diapers free. I used those for during the day when I changed him more often but not a night.
Major appliances- They are coming out with such energy efficient appliances that unless you know for sure it’s a year or less old buy a new one.
Shoes- Mike and I have feet problems. We can’t find used shoes that aren’t completely worn out so we buy new but on sale. The kids we buy used as much as possible but with our 8 year old it’s getting harder. Boys shoes are just worn out because they out grow them.
AAA- It's worth it not to worry about breaking down and trying to get someone to help you.
Kids Blow up Swimming Pool - Most used ones have holes.
Electronics - Unless you know how to fix them and know they are working it's not worth the chance.
Anything that is under $10 - If you buy something that's used that "needs a little work" and you save $5. Usually "a little work" ends up being a lot of work and it's not worth the hour or two to fix it.
Things I will try not to pay full price for:
Just about everything else that wasn’t listed above.
Clothes- I have noticed a difference when I buy Eddie Bauer (sp), Van Hauseen (sp) and more expensive clothes. The colors are richer, they don’t fade as bad and last longer than Wal-mart stuff, BUT I still wouldn’t buy them new unless they were dirt cheap. I can get them at the thrift store like new for less than $3 for dress shirts and .99 for T-shirts.
Most Furniture-
Couch - With kids why buy a new one? Unless it has a print to really hide the stains just get a used one until they are older or out of house. It’s not worth fighting. I spent $90 on the one we have now. I saved over $500 and can sell it for at least $50, probably more when I’m done with it. If you have already purchased an expensive one then a slipcover is worth it with kids!
Other furniture – Again why buy new with kids? You don’t have to worry so much about them scratching it.
Toys and almost everything for kids and babies- until they get a certain age they don’t know whether they are new or not. Even after they are 8 or so you can get buy with buying used by re-packing it. That way if they don’t play with it you haven’t lost as much.
Sheets - Clean with hot water or bleach.
Camping Equipment - Tents etc.
Books- Even new on the market adult books( like diet books, self help something seen on Oprah :-) can be purchased with some savings. Kids books defiantly!
Canning-Buy the time you buy the fruit of vegetables, sugar and spend hours canning it's not worth it unless you get most of the ingredients for free.
The thing is to figure what is worth it for you to buy new and buy used. It's differnt for everyone.
Tawra
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
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posted by Tawra Jean at 11:07 AM
2 Comments:
Great post, but I have to disagree with you about buying brand name diapers. Our daughter is almost 2 1/2 and we didn't use any brand name diapers at all. (We are going to start potty training soon.) Most of the time we used Walmart or Aldis brand. I can't remember them leaking or soaking through more than once or twice, ever. Ever kid is different, but I recommend giving them a try before assuming the big brands are better.
my two cents on diapers: the generic ones for my children made little weird beads on that stuck to their skin. We tried Luvs w/baby #3 and didn't have that problem. I even liked Luvs better than Huggies and Pampers.
But best of all was when baby #4 came along and I decided to try cloth. I know this isn't an option in everyone's life (like Tawra--not good in her situation)--but if you're considering it, I highly recommend them. I bought 30 used Motherease diapers with liners and 8 covers for $125 (no pins--they snap on). I wash 1x/wk and it's no problem at all! It's so much easier than I ever imagined!! The baby has only leaked ONE TIME--and that's b/c I didn't change her right away in the morning. When baby potty trains I feel sure I can get my money out of them.
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