I love saving money as much as anyone. But some people take savings and bargain hunting to an extreme that I highly suggest you avoid. There are many items that are great to buy from thrift stores and yard sales, but there are also several things that I feel you should never buy used. Here are my top 6 items you should never buy used. I only buy these items brand new – shrink wrapped or in the original packaging.
6 Items You Should Never Buy Used
1. Undergarments & Lingerie
I really shouldn’t have to put this on the list, but I’ve been in many thrift stores where I see people pawing through the underwear racks looking for bargains. I have to say that if underwear has been used, it’s off limits to my family. Sure, you could bring it home and wash it, but it still gives me the heebie jeebies. These items really aren’t all that expensive anyway, especially if you buy them at box stores or dollar stores, so why risk it? Just buy new.
2. Pillows
Honestly, if it’s a decorative pillow that I have no intention of sleeping on, I buy it used. I wash it immediately and then I am good. But for pillows that I sleep on – they need to be new. I’ve heard about too many cases of lice and bedbugs being transmitted this way to want to use a pillow that comes from a thrift store. Also, you can get pillows really cheap on Black Friday, so I generally stock up on a fresh supply then. That brings me to #3.
3. Mattresses
Bedbug outbreaks have been in the news for the past few years. I’ve even seen websites talking about ways to check your hotel room for bedbugs. The idea of buying a mattress that might have bedbugs is very scary. Not to mention everything else that might be on a mattress. Yikes. For those reasons, I always buy new mattresses.
4. Cosmetics/Personal Care Items
Makeup or other personal care items that are still in the original packaging, but at a yardsale or thrift store are not a problem for me. But if someone else has opened mascara or used the lipstick, I am not interested in using it on my face. I am also not using someone else’s pre-used deodorant. Gross. You can pass so much bacteria to each other that way. It really isn’t worth the risk. Again, these products don’t have to be all that expensive [depending on the brand and where you purchase them] so why risk getting an infection, pink eye, or *gasp* someone else’s hair on you, lol?
5. Hats
Again, it’s the idea of the lice and greasy hair that just turns me off on buying a hat from a thrift store. Sure, you could come home and immediately wash your used purchase, but you also have to get the hat from point A to point B before it even hits the washer. What all might you touch between the store and the washer? No thanks.
6. Towels
Most towels and wash cloths can barely last through one family’s use. Unless a set of towels is brand new with tags, I will not be interested in purchasing them in a thrift store. Honestly, most towels that I have seen in thrift stores are pretty thread bare anyway. I bought some really nice towels for cheap this past Black Friday at Macy’s. Look for deals and you don’t need to go cheap.
Are you a bargain hunter? Got any items that are off limits at thrift stores?
