Things you should buy second-hand

Inflation has risen again and many Singaporeans might be looking for ways to cut back on expenses this Christmas. Just last week, it was revealed that inflation had risen to 2 per cent in October due to higher food and car prices. The Business Times reported that prices will most likely rise in 2014 as higher labour costs will cause prices of goods to increase. - See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/personal-finance/things-you-should-buy-second-hand. 12 things you should buy used 1) Bicycle You don't have to splurge when buying a bicycle because new models are released so often that many people choose to sell the bikes that they bought not too long ago. 2) Textbooks If you are a parent or student, make friends with other parents with older children or source online for others who are selling old text books. Education materials can cost a lot of money, especially in university, and buying second hand will save you a great deal. 3) Books Second-hand bookstores are often so up-to-date that you wouldn't need to wait very long for a newly-released book to be available. Buy these books at second-hand prices or rent them to save money. 4) Children's clothes Children will grow out of their clothes very quickly and it simply doesn't make sense to keep buying new clothes. Buy second-hand or opt for hand-me-downs to minimise the clutter in your wardrobe. 5) Cars Cars are a bad investment and buying a brand new one does not make sense if you can find a used model which works well. 6) Kitchen appliances Students and expats often sell their home appliances in garage sales when they are moving away. Seize the chance to get your appliances at a much lower price than others would in stores. 7) Toys Just like clothes, your children will get tired of toys in a very short period of time. If you can, get older models of toys second-hand to save yourself some money. At the same time, you can teach them a thing or two about saving money. 8) Furniture Get your furniture second hand from people who are moving houses. A simple clean and paint job could make the old pieces look brand new again! 9) Formal dresses Let's face it - Nobody really wears one formal gown too many times. Sometimes, the gown is kept for so long that you can no longer fit into it. Many people sell their pre-worn gowns online, and most of these are in almost-new condition. So save some money and take your shopping to the second-hand market. 10) CDs and DVDs If you can't get a bargain, check out online auction sites for second-hand CDs and DVDs. Many people buy these and find they have to give them up for space, so take the opportunity to get yourself a good deal. 11) Jewellery If you want to buy something sparkly, try going to the pawn shop. This way, you can be more certain of its authenticity and get yourself some brand new bling at a really low price too! 12) Luxury bags There are many second-hand designer bag merchants in town and online. Simply shop around to find out who has the better price. If you want to buy a luxury bag, choose something that is timeless and classic. That way, no one will even notice you bought it from the second-hand shop.