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What's your favorite second-hand purchase?

November 13th, 2008 at 01:09 am

What is the best thing(s) you have ever bought used, either from a thrift store, a garage sale, etc.

Right now, mine is the air popcorn popper that I bought from my neighbor's yard sale for 50 cents. 50 cents well spent. We use it several times a week, the popcorn is healthier because we don't have to use oil to cook it AND there's no icky pan to clean up. I love my popcorn popper.

My second choice is the vintage 1950s L sofa with ottoman I bought at a used furniture store for $100 about 10 years ago. It is by far the best looking and most comfortable couch I have ever owned.

15 Responses to “What's your favorite second-hand purchase?”

  1. gamecock43 Says:
    1226540028

    I am liking the rollerblades I got at a garage sale for $8.00. My used Saturn lasted me several good years too ($4,000).

  2. creditcardfree Says:
    1226541721

    I like our piano that I bought off craigslist for $300. I also bought a coffee bean grinder for $1.00 a garage sale. Do vehicles count? If so, it would have to be my Honda Odyssey!!

  3. my english castle Says:
    1226543315

    I bought a bag of Harlequin dishes at a garage sale for 50cents. I made over $300 on them on ebay. But my favorite purchase I kept is a chair in my LR that I adore.

  4. baselle Says:
    1226555060

    So many. I liked the 10$ Cuisinart with all the blades I got. The 20$ coffee table. Our land line phone wasn't able to hold a charge. The next day I got one for $3. And my 5$ lamp that I got at the artwalk in April - it had better be a favorite, I had to completely change my plans after buying it (had to walk it home and by then, it was 5 pm and the artwalk was over).

  5. lizajane Says:
    1226557423

    Two current favorites that I use daily are my $2 purse and my $35 computer desk. Then, there are various decorative items around the house that I liked when I bought them for just a dollar or two, and I still haven't regretted buying them at all.

  6. whitestripe Says:
    1226570499

    i have a large collection of plates, mugs, glasses, pans and pots that i have bought from op shops, that i love. i think probably my favourite buy at the moment is a pair of latte-style mugs (no handles) in a beige colour.

  7. StressLess Says:
    1226585431

    My two favorite knit tops came from Goodwill!

  8. monkeymama Says:
    1226587488

    I can't think much on the little things (because I don't shop them that much and the hand-me-downs I have are not particularly favorable to me. They were free but not my favorites).

    BUT this post reminds me of pianos and cars. All second hand and all wonderful purchases. (My first car was a 1982 Toyota - purchases 1992 for $1500 - driven 7 years. I also bought an immaculate "almost brand new" Mustang convertible for about $6000 that was a 7-year-old model. BEST purchase ever. The car was just immaculate. LOVED that car. Sacrificed for kids).

    My family (not me personally though) bought a top notch grand piano and a a beautiful cherry upright piano with impeccable sound (I'd say the sound is comparable to a grand - why we spent $2k-$3k on it). But between the 2 may have spent $12k, but brand new would have been $40k easily, between the 2.

    These were all excellent purchases; my favorites, for sure. The Saturn I bought for $800 wasn't half bad either.

    All found with ads in the paper (private party sales). But the Saturn was grandma's.

  9. thriftorama Says:
    1226590766

    I'm also going to add the red formica and chrome 1950s table and chair set I bought at Salvation Army for $35 15 years ago. I kept it in my sister's basement for 12 years, telling her that one day I would come get it when I bought the right house.Well, I moved it into this house 3 years ago and I still love it.

  10. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1226597179

    Fun question! Recorders (wind instrument), boat, Le Creuset pots, living room recliner that was a godsend when nursing baby, bookshelves, carved horn bird sculptures, molas, Rockport shoes, blanket chest, bicycles, thousands of books, beautiful etched wine glasses. Is that too many to consider favorites? There are tons more not favorites but glad to have. This is a good pre-Thanksgiving question. Makes me take inventory of a category of material items for which I am grateful.

  11. dmontngrey Says:
    1226597452

    Too many to list! The ones I use the most are my vintage pyrex bowls and my vintage tupperware. (Next summer I'll be on a hunt for revereware on the recommendation of some other bloggers.) I also love my nightstand that I bought at an estate sale - PERFECT for what I needed. I love the antique buffet in my dining area, but that was given to me second hand, not purchased.

  12. thriftorama Says:
    1226597820

    I am a big fan of vintage Tupperware. It is really well made. I buy it at yard sales whenever I see it.

  13. Koppur Says:
    1226599262

    Definately my car!! One year old, 25,000 miles on it, and I got it for $12,000!! Smile

  14. pretty cheap jewelry Says:
    1226599441

    Yes! This is fun and will be one of the most active entries this month I hope!

    many many but one I am proud of -

    Used one of the first $15 earned from my small home business to purchase a wooden desk for my child's room to do homework/study (found on craigslist).

    I love to have durable things to show as a lasting legacy of Pretty Cheap Jewelry.

  15. my english castle Says:
    1226603911

    Oh yeah--I'm a vintage Tupperware person too--especially the big things like cake holders! And my blue Le Creuset Dutch Oven. I'm somewhat abashed to admit I trash-picked my daughter's toddler bed. It was adorable with moons and stars. Ok, I'm not abashed at all.

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