Issue with kids stuff (car seats, cribs, etc.) is all the recalls and safety issues with buying used. I am super bummed out that our kids infant seat can't be resold easily and the local shelters won't take it since they can't guarantee it hasn't been in a crash and we only used it for 7 months. Kids clothes absolutely should be bought used! They grow so dang fast and the BST groups online are awesome.
I am with you on kids gear! Just this week (and for the second time) I had to link the recall info on the Bumbo seat that was recalled in 2012! because it didn't have the safety buckle. It's a shame that Buy Nothing groups allow recalled items because it's an "at your own risk" group. If I hadn't been there to link the info, some unknowing baby could be seriously hurt! I will say I have successfully sold my kid's infant seats on FB Marketplace, but as a "Safety Sally" that I am, I made sure to disclose that it was accident free and the expiration dates are well within a good long-term use timespan, even after I was done with it. With other seats I have just given them away for the Target trade-in event so others can get the 20% off items.
Thankfully, you can buy cribs, high chairs, bibs...I'm having a hard time thinking of baby stuff at the moment. 😅 Point is...you can buy almost everything else secondhand for kids.
It’s so true. Especially baby stuff, they grow out of everything so quickly anyway. Most of my baby’s stuff are gifted, including gears, clothes, blankets, bassinet, high chair etc. Some were bought new. I didnt know that carseat has an expiry date. I only found out much later. Fortunately, the one we have now that’s gifted and expired, is going to be outgrown soon, so I’m on the search for a new one.
So true - I have tried to donate our crib mattress everywhere and no one will take it because it’s a mattress! Breaks my heart, so I still have it because I can’t bring myself to put it out for garbage day.
Gosh, in the city I lived in Japan there was this A-MA-ZING second hand shop, three floors of pure treasure. I bought EVERYTHING I could there, from furniture and home items and appliances (they even offered a 3-month warranty on tech stuff!) to dishes and clothes. It was such a dream... my current city has nothing like that, and I miss it a lot. So, I try and find used stuff online now...
I think that this is a message that capitalism purposely sends to people. You're "cheap" for not buying everything new to keep the money flowing in billionaires' pockets.
Great holiday idea - buy Pyrex (or glass) baking trays from a thrift shop/goodwill and bake a holiday treat for friends and family. Tell them to keep the dish and pay it forward the next holiday! 🤗
I've been using the dish set my parents got for a wedding present in the 70s. My sister's family used it before me, and gifted it when they moved across the country. And the bonus is there are replacements online floating around for those clumsy times I get!
Wish Sweden had the yard sale tradition. People throw stuff away instead of having yard sales. There are second hand stores, but they are 50% of retail at best, I have seen used clothes at more than new.
Can confirm!! My husband and I bought his 3-year-old nephew a small tricycle,, good condition, from a yard sale for ONLY $3 and he uses it everyday! then a few months later I saw a similar one at Walmart (almost looked the exact same tricycle too!) but it was $20. So we got to save money for the same thing too. 😉
A seasonal addition to the list: CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. My husband and I got into estate sale shopping in the last year, and it is unbelievable how much Christmas stuff is already out there. You can absolutely find Christmas decorations aplenty if you hit up your local estate sales, garage sales, etc. (They are also really good for finding secondhand tools.) Also, when you go looking for things in thrift stores, don't forget about antique stores as an option as well! My local antique store has its own plethora of dishes, mugs, vases, etc.
Exactly! Also, the 'trendy' christmas decorations are usually not my style anyway, and most of the stuff you find in stores is made of plastic instead of glass.
I can’t believe how many people trash their decor after a year and buy new… I have Halloween decor that is 40 years old, plus my Christmas stuff is stuff handed down. It’s so much more meaningful!!!
A few months ago I went to an estate sale and they had two huge room just full of Christmas stuff, some of it look fairly old (like 80s, I’m born in the early 2000s so that’s fairly old for me lol) I didn’t get any bc I don’t celebrate Christmas but my papa bought a lot of things. But like yeah there’s Christmas stuff everywhere second hand that’s still in great condition
For pets, some people go to breeders because they want a specific breed. However, there are often rescues for specific breeds. You can also ask a local animal shelter to put you on a waitlist for a certain breed.
last year my dad was going to get me a bunch of new tools as a small “tool starter kit” and I asked him not to, then i found a used tool store in Pittsburgh and got a complete toolbox FILLED with tools for only $20 it was a dream
i understand where people are coming from when they talk about tech producing so much waste buuuut... tech companies need to make sure their phones don't slow down or die off within 2 years tbh
That’s why the right to repair is so important. Apple intentionally makes it difficult to replace the battery which is a consumable component and they charge $50 to do it in the store. I’ve found that if you feel like you need a new phone, what you probably actually need is a new battery
I really loved this video, the only thing I can comment on is that "with a little bit of patience you can find anything secondhand" for me more often goes like "with A LOT of TIME and RESEARCH you can find anything secondhand". I'm an immigrant and I'm basically starting my life from scratch and in my experience finding good second hand things is a challenge, especially since I don't have a car or a driver's licence. I can't buy furniture second hand at all, unless I buy it from one of my neighbours (which happens on rare occasions). For example I'm trying to have a house where I will feel happy and cozy, and while a lot of good quality things I can find second hand, often it takes SO MUCH resources to find them, that I feel completely overwhelmed and exhausted. We will need to renovate our bathroom and kitchen at some point and I would love to use good quality second hand/scraped materials, but I tried looking into it a little and realized that it would be simply impossible to do by myself - I will need to hire someone who will at least find all the proper materials for me and we just can't afford that. Anyway, my point is that, while second hand things are amazing, it can require a lot of resources from people to find things that will work for them - I imagine it must be much easier for rich people who can outsource all of that research, sadly I'm not one of them :)
Finding quality second hand items for things like furniture, tools, and building materials can be difficult if you live in an area with few options. Transportation is also an issue. Don't give up, but also recognize when it just isn't going to work out.
Definitely never considered this. I've done tons of thifting all my life and there is an amazing resource in my experience and my mom for knowing what's good
I needed a masher for my bokashi compost. I told my mum that I was waiting until the thrift shops opened up. And bless her, she went and got me a new one. Not what I had in mind, and I've gotten her to have the new one and I'll take her old one. Still working on her understanding that I like second hand things rather than new. But I love the kindness and thoughtfulness she shows 🥰🥰
I live in Uganda and I'm frankly surprised about how much of what is normal for me, like buying literally everything second hand, is a huge lifestyle shift for people from the west. We live like this, trust me, it's not that big of a deal, especially if it's better for the planet.
As someone from the west (Midwest America) I think it’s mainly big city people who have to go through a lifestyle change. Most people from small towns that I know of grew up buying things second hand bc it saves money so changing a few more things in our lives like not buying plastic stuff is a bit of a shift but that mainly food related problems
HUGE yes to the second hand kid’s items!! We are expecting our first baby in April and we are getting second hand clothes, stroller, even a second hand car seat! (Car seat is from a good friend who has verified no wrecks, not expired, etc) and it makes me so happy! Our registry also has a note that we prefer second hand items and we also registered for hand made meals which of course is lower waste than a cute outfit the baby will just get dirty haha
Knitters/crocheters! I have been buying "yarn oddment bundles" from EBay and using them to make multicoloured and stripey things. I made my husband a blanket for his birthday and have made my sister one for Christmas! Highly recommend as it's not only better for the planet but cheaper.
I made some tee shirt yarn from some of my old stained tee shirts (I have enough rags in my house) I don't knit or crochet but my mom does. One tee shirt makes a decent sized ball of yarn and all you need are scissors and patience.
Check the thriftstore also. Mine always has huge bags of unused yarns in various colors for CHEAP. Its so nice to be able to afford learning this hobby easily.... And do so secondhand.
The only times I buy clothes new is when I really want something and I don't find it second hand. And I always buy my new clothes from sustainable brands.
Please talk more about no buy groups because they have been a life saver for me! I know you have mentioned it in the past. Get excited for more Autumn weather because a cold front is coming through today! 🍂🧡🍁
Yeah, no buy groups can be very hit or miss, but I have gotten a few things from mine, and I've given away a few things as well. It was nice to be able to get rid of stuff I didn't need and know that it was going to someone who actually wanted it.
I bought my first new phone in 2015 for $600, it finally gave up this year & I bought one on trademore for a fraction of the price. 🤣 I can't believe that I almost considered spending $1200 on a new phone...
When you buy jars with swingtop lids sometimes they don't come with gaskets. Those rubber seals were never made to last forever. Fortunately you can buy replacements in a lot of the same places you buy canning supplies. You can't really get just the gaskets second-hand, but for $3-5 (depending on size) you can get a pack of 12. I now have 10 more left and going forward I can now go to the thrift store with one in my purse and just see if it'll fit the rim of any jar which doesn't already come with a seal. This has pretty much doubled my jar buying options now I don't have to avoid the ones with no seals.
I fully endorse not buying stuff new for kids, but may disagree with you a bit about the car. I've been buying my kids clothes and shoes secondhand because seriously, in at most a year they will grow out of it! With regards to the car, I think it is OK to buy new as long as you're not trading it in for a new model after just a few years. My parents bought a brand new car when I was a kid, and my mum drove it for over 20 years! She made sure it was regularly maintained and services and repaired whatever got broken along the way.
We are still driving my (deceased) mother-in-law's car which was built in 1997! It doesn't have any rust on it either! My husband's truck is a 2003 Chevy Silverado!
For real, my grandma bought a truck sometime in the mid to late 90s and my mom bought it from her not too long after I was born. That was around 2003, that truck is still up and running. It’s got a few problems but I come from a poor so everyone knows how to fix something (I sew, so my job is to fix clothes) so I have uncles and a grandpa we just call someone to fix something and either pay them with money or we would fix something for them
I'm 17 and driving now, and the car I drive is just older than I am--it's actually the car I was brought home from the hospital in! My dad knows enough stuff about cars to have kept it running and in good condition for all of this time, and he says there's probably a good 2-3 years left out of it. It's insane to me that my parents have friends who buy new cars every 3-4 years while my parents have managed to make their two cars, both roughly my age, last to this day. They did get a new truck which is also in the rotation because I'm mainly the one driving the aforementioned car, but they both have to go to work, and I'm sure that truck will be well taken care of for a long time.
I think you're missing the point, there's just so many used cars already out there! If you can find a used car that has what you're looking for there's no reason to buy a brand new one!
My parents got a George Forman grill back when they were big in the late 90s early 00s and when I found it and opened it I realized it was BRAND NEW. I have been using it almost weekly since.
Only issue I have with 2nd hand clothing is that I've literally never found any clothing 2nd hand that fit me. I'm a plus size lady in a country where that is not super common and the thrift stores literally only carry grandma clothing in my size. And shopping clothing 2nd hand online is likely just going to end me up with clothing that doesn't fit me. So yeah, I buy my clothes new. Very rarely and very much keeping in mind what I can do within my (small) budget. Heck, I'm even working on learning how to sew so I can use second hand *fabric* to make my own clothing. But yeah. Availability is a thing.
Some second hand websites allow returns, not sure where you are based but Micolet in Europe accepts returns and gives quick refunds. I tend to look for brands I know are likely to fit but have returned things with no problem.
Yess adopt don’t shop! And since you mentioned it, can we get a video about how to be sustainable with pets? I have such a hard time since food/litter/etc comes packaged
And needing to use plastic bags to dispose of their bowel movements. Does anyone know a less wasteful way to take care of a cat’s bathroom needs? Without having to ensure that your compost reaches a certain temperature?
@@ckdraws410 The most sustainable way I could think of is using a litter genie. it still is with a plastic bag but it does keep in the smell so you don't have to throw away the bag until it is actually full. i wish there was a better way though
I’m a teacher, and I’m constantly “rescuing” all the plastic shopping bags that get thrown away there for my cat litter. I’ll scoop into the same bag for four or five days before I throw it out. I leave it in the garage so the smell isn’t a problem. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best system I’ve found.
Something that always shocked me was that my friends didn’t save their jam jars to be cups afterwards. They were always so pretty, I don’t understand why they would ever get thrown out
Carseats and helmets need to be bought new. It's a safety issue. However, there are carseats that age up with the child. They can go from newborn to 13 years old. Buy one once, and only replace if it has been in an accident. There are databases that publish children's items which have been recalled. If there were a database that could publish whether a safety item has been in an accident, one might be able to confidently purchase a used safety item. Perhaps a list of serial numbers of carseats and helmets that have been in an accident.
Yes yes yes yes yes. I went to our local landfill a few years ago, seeing all of the waste really convinced me to stop buying things new. So important this time of year
Always love yours videos! I’m in animal rescue and would love to hear the topic of pets talked about more. So many die in shelters or homes less outside. Many people don’t know the importance of spaying and neutering and many don’t know there are eco friendly options for pet supplies.
My fav thrift find this year is my Misto! It was new and never used for just $4. I absolutely love it. I am continually surprised how often I have been finding new or like-new items second hand. Also - while this list was still long, I feel like it could still be longer. For instance, wood furniture (especially coffee tables and end tables), small home decor and high heels are also very plentiful in second hand markets.
Something Shelbi usually adds but I didn't hear in this video - buying some things new in order to support the creator can be great. Buying from ethical, sustainable clothing companies, or buying a book or music to support an artist or author you love. It doesn't apply to everything, like tools and electronics, but it is important to note where applicable I think.
I moved into my first own flat recently (yay) and I didn’t get anything new and the best part of it (besides not contributing to the waste circle) is that most of my relatives had a lot of “old” things, they didn’t use anymore so that I didn’t even had to thrift a lot. I basically only got a thrifted couch, water carbonater (idek if this is a word) and a washing machine :))) it saved me a lot of money ^^
About the home thing: I live in Germany and my aunt and uncle got an old house like a year ago that needs remodelling and there have been so many delays because shortages especially in wood because so many new houses are being built. And I have heard the same thing from many other people too. The waste of resources, it's just crazy.
Yes, this. Though I did buy a used one, it was specifically to go in a stroller that was meant to "click in" the car seat so you could move the infant in and out without waking them up. I only used it in the stroller. We had a separate new car seat (that's actually meant to change into a booster seat eventually, so we shouldn't need to ever replace it unless it's in an accident) for the car.
I love this list!! My husband has thousands of dollars worth of snap-on tools and a giant tool box that he got FOR FREE because people were going to throw them out. These are perfectly good tools too. Some were literally sitting on the side of the road for bulk pick-up... 🤦♀️
Christmas decorations too! There's so many cute, good quality stuff at thrift shops from October onwards and it's much cheaper than buying new glass baubles. Also, the 'trendy' Christmas ornaments you can buy in shops are usually not my style anyway.
i live on an air force base and am part of the Curb-Side Pick Up FB Page in my neighborhood. It's insane how many BASICALLY NEW items people are tossing on the curb! We are about to have a baby and probably saved about $1000 so far on baby items, like a crib, changing table, jumper, stroller, high chair etc etc. The only thing I plan on buying new is a car seat for safety reasons. It definitely helps to use these resources!
The issue with car seats used is you can't guarantee it has not been in an accident. Which can compromise the safety of it. And also you car insurance might not cover a used seat. I had to show my purchase of mine, because they also expire
Yes I agree with everyone about Infant car seats being bought new. There is the issue of the expiration date , not to mention the fact that a car seat that has been in even a minor accident may develop micro cracks that could cause the car seat to fail in a subsequent accident. For these reasons, it is illegal for thrift shops in California to sell donated/used car seats, because there is no way to certify that a used seat has never been in an accident.
My sister and I have five little girls between us and they all shared clothes going from my house to hers and back again as they outgrew them. I even found a little girl that we are friends with to pass their clothes on further. Six girls are wearing the same set of clothing. And a lot of them were second hand in the first place!
Sounds like my childhood wardrobe we used to swap clothes with my mother's best friend's kids constantly. New clothes was usually the stuff our mom's found on their yard selling weekend outings where they would go from yard sale to yard sale trying to find the best things that they needed and would compete to see who could spend the least amount of money. I am still using the dresser my mom found for me at a yard sale when I was 6 years old and I am now 52.
I've inherited 3 cast iron skillets from my grandmother and aunt who passed away years ago. So many things you can make in a skillet (including pineapple upside down cake). And the hand me downs are already seasoned.
The best dishes I've EVER seen is the set of 20s diner dishes my husband's grandma gifted us years ago. I see dishes all the time at antique stores. They're just so much better quality and have the bonus of doubling as a weapon for emergencies. Also, pet breeders (cats and dogs at least) are trash.
The tools is SO RELATABLE. My uncle has a garage, 2 sheds and now a 3rd giant shed all dedicated to tools. It’s insane how much he has. He could open a tool shop and make sooooooooo much money!
Totally agree! Didn’t realize how beneficial it was to shop second hand for most of my clothes and household furniture and belongings all my life…was doing to be frugal. So glad I have instilled that in life and my family! Now seeing the huge benefits!!
I'm watching this as I'm literally in Walmart about to buy a pot for a Johnny Appleseed costume. I didn't even THINK about going to the thrift store. I feel SO ashamed. 🤦♀️ Thank you Shelbi for reminding me that I can make better choices!
Just watched this video! I agree so much! I have always said if you can wait you can find what your looking for used or second hand!! I laughed when you talked about mugs! I’m always saying they’d never have to make another mug and the world would never run out of mugs!!😊
YES THE TOOLS!!! My grandpa used to be a plumber and he gave me a starter set for my first apartment, all used and in great condition! He’s the neighbor everyone should be borrowing tools form
Loving this list Shelbi! I’ve never bought dishes, mugs, cups and silverware. I get hand me downs from family and I’m happy!! There’s so much treasures at yard sales and thrift shops. I usually keep my car for about 10-16years until the engine blows before I get another. We really do live in a materialistic world and need reminders!
1. about tools, I guess I'm lucky that I'm living in latin america, because of costs and importations dificulty they are luxury items so I see a lot of youtube channels about diys. Recently I saw a peruvian youtuber explain how he gave life to a sander that had no lock with glue, cardboard and regular sandpaper (not the specialized) and totally stealed the idea. 2. Are there repairs clubs in texas? 3. You did no appear in my principal page anymore Idk why, I resuscribed so It pinges me when you upload but after some time I watched your channel with new eyes and dayum! such quality videos. shelby you're a total pro in edition, filming and also gotten better comunicating ideas.
So happy San Antonio made the law about chain stores like pet land can’t sell breeder puppies and they need to come from a shelter. I agree, why are breeders even allowed to force their dog to have litters ?? Like what ??
Not to mention, most pet store pets don’t come from places where their parents got love and warmth and a soft bed. Most come from puppy mills which are extremely cruel. Yay, San Antonio!
I just vaguely started thinking about our wedding registry today and dishes are definitely something I want to be guilty of for a second time (not only do we have a perfectly serviceable 8 place set, but I really wanted to get new cute dishes). Your video has reminded me of my values and pointed out that we could get exactly what I want second hand. Thanks for all you do!
there can also be safety issues with used dishes that are of a certain age. lead has only been regulated by the FDA in dishware since 1971, and there has been lead detected in the paint on popular vintage items, like Corelle and Pyrex.
My financial situation has always dictated that I canr buy new. Over the years I've fallen in love with the fact that used is still good! And its helping our planet, so I'm all for it! My last phone I had more than 5 years! It finally kicked the bucket this year
Loved the video🌼 I bought de iPhone 6s the day it came out (6 years ago) I want to get at least 2 more years out of it 🙂 and maybe more! I got a new battery installed 1 year ago, the guy in the store looked at me a little weird and looked at the phone: 'its an old phone, but it looks new?' Thank you Pela and my parents who learned me to be careful with my stuff.
New subscriber! I have always thought of myself as an environmentalist and minimalist, now I have a name for it because of you! Now to go and watch all of your videos xD Thank you!
I feel like you can rent almost any major tool from a hardware store. Example, I love doing a deep cleaning on carpets and sofa once a year, I just rent a steam cleaner.
Hey Shelbi, I love your content and really appreciate the work you put into it. At the risk of asking you to perform more labor, do you mind organizing your videos with the labeled timestamps that youtube now has? I'm not sure exactly what they are called but I have seen many youtubers now do this, especially with videos that list things like yours tend to. It is very helpful for my attention span to be able to see a breakdown of things covered in a video, and I am sure others would find it useful as well. Thank you for doing what you do!!
I moved into an appartment with my boyfriend almost 4 years ago, and basically everything we own was a hand-me-down. My family especially never got rid of anything (more of a hoarder-thing than an eco-thing though) and we've been absolutely privileged. I still like to go to interior shops to find some inspiration; and when I look at the prices I can't imagine the amount of money we've saved thanks to our family's tradition of keeping (and giving) basically everything. From big pieces of furniture to odd kitchen appliances, from photo frames to plant pots and table cloths. My favourites include: a set of dishes (from the time it was the norm to buy everything x24!) from my great grandmother, a Le Creuset dutch oven from my grandmother, marble side tables from my grandmother, and a cupboard from a greataunt. Almost everywhere I look in our little home I see the history of our family and friends, and it makes me feel so warm.
That's so cool! Half of things that I have at my current apartment were from my partner's aunt, who used to live here before, or her sister, who lived here before her. In fact, the apartment itself is a hand me down from his grandfather. We are living there while we don't have enough money to get our own place. Probably more people from his family will live in this place on the future, and they will have some things from us.
I just bought a second hand espresso machine. Best. Investment. Ever. WAY cheaper than new, and saves me from ever having to go to a coffee shop again unless I’m traveling and can support a small business (basically all that’s near me is Starbucks)
I'm in my 60's and I live the way you suggest. Always have. Was ridiculed by folks my own age, back in the day. Now when younger people come to my home, the admire and appreciate the life choices I've made.
Shelbi, you are voicing every feeling I have about environmentalism in this video. I feel all of this because of you though! Thank you for teaching me HOW to care for the planet.
My husband and I rarely get new electronics, we wait until they die. Our smart TV is from 2013, our kindle fire is from 2012, laptop is from 2008. My husband built us a new desktop this year to replace our desktop from 2011. Our cell phones are iPhone 7 Plus that we bought new with cash. Our next phones will be refurbished, my iPhone is starting to really slow down and not hold a charge. I’ll keep it until it dies.
Estate sales too for items- While thrift stores are great, often the sets are incomplete and items damaged. I look for estate sales that have a similar aesthetic to mine. I find the things to be of good repair and sets complete. These are items people cared about in their homes (as opposed to garage sales or thrifting - good but hear me out). When I was looking for a used sewing machine? Estate sale. Linens? Estate sale. I picked up some beautiful 100% linen tablecloths I’m guessing from the 50’s in mint condition. Kitchen tools/gadgets? Luggage? Estate sale. Second-hand can come from thrifting, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, friends…. And whenever we’re ‘done’ with something? Before we take it to the thrift store, run a garage sale, etc? The family group chat gets pinged pictures of what we’re looking to re-home where items will get used.
Also, while I do still purchase items new in addition to used, I always view whatever I purchase with the mindset I saw another RUclipsr put exquisitely into words - I am but a steward of the non-consumables in my life. It is my responsibility to take good loving care of these items so that when their time with me is done, they can go to the next steward to find good use and take care of whatever it is to pass on when they’re done. This is how we’re handed down cast iron pans, dishes, quilts, etc. It’s a heavy assessment of the manufacturer/brand, practices, longevity, planned obsolescence, etc. that determines what and where I will purchase from when new. Also as a maker of things, everything is made with the intent of passing on to future generations when possible. I like to make unique pieces and learn new things via my creativity, but assessing waste and footprint is just as important as when buying anything else, used or new.
I’ve gotten SO MANY free working iPhones from friends/family and resold them. Somehow $800++ phones are considered disposable it’s crazy. Maybe I have to do minor repairs that I learned how to do on RUclips
The only clothing item I've ever HAD to buy new was my Jean jacket, because I really needed it to go with a good amount of my wardrobe (for cooler fall weather with my tank tops and t-shirts) and it was only because I went around to all my local thrift stores and none had a Jean jacket at all, let alone in my size, so I had to go to T.J.MAXX (so at least I still got it for a bit cheaper lol). But yes, this is something that will stay in my wardrobe for probably the rest of my life, honestly.
First time coming across your channel, and I've only posted 2 comments on RUclips ever before. You are fantastic. Everything you articulated makes so much sense, but when you discussed PETS - you had my heart. I say this ALL the time and feel so exhausted by the apathy that comes back. Each animal purchased means an existing animal dies. It's rare to hear anything on RUclips that so honestly calls out the atrocity behind the annual euthanization of millions of innocent and deserving dogs and cats. Thank you for speaking on this! Subscribing now!
I bought my dishes before college at a garage sale. 17 years later and they're still going great. My spouse wanted to register for new ones for our wedding and I explained why it's not necessary. Also, I've never ever bought a mug for myself, I've just wound up with a ton of them as gifts.
I agree with a lot of the stuff you shared, especially clothes. However, the things I won't buy used when it comes to clothes is my undergarments like my bras and underwear. I like knowing my undergarments have only been on my body. Plus they do stretch out over time too and need to be replaced.
I swear you have some really nice thrift stores near you. All of the ones near me have no jars, plates, good appliances. I am currently going to nursing school and live near campus so nothing is available. I stole all of my kitchen stuff from my mom
You shouldn’t buy plastic toys for kids second hand though! Plastic is much more regulated nowadays, while old plastic can contain any number of harmful chemicals.
Buying tech second hand was one of the easiest things to do for a more sustainable life. And also small appliances like a waffle maker or an instant pot, or an immersion blender. There is so much second hand stuff out there (of course this doesn't apply to the hole world, but definitely to the global north) that you don't need to buy new.
Car seats should never be bought used because it is a serious safety risk--they can look just fine but be compromised and not able to protect the child. But everything else, I agree!
I absolutely adore my dishes, I got them from my mom when she got my grandmother's set! And it's super nostalgic for me because they are the plates I grew up with. Edit: I also inherited a large portion of my grandpa's tools, which only made my DIY tendencies worse lol
loved this video! Wish thrift stores here were more like the ones in the US, i find it really hard to find any dishware or cups or anything in thrift stores, usually i have to go online.
DISHES! My great grandmother had a 70s set from Corelle (you know the ones, with the little green hippie flowers in a wreath around the rims) for the rest of her life and my mom inherited much of it but continued to collect matching pieces from thrift stores (including a teacup set with sugar/cream cups) over the course of her 20s-40s so when I graduated college she had double-triple the amount and set me up with my own which I will cherish always. They are so lightweight, stackable, indestructible and back on trend once again!
I wish I lived in an area that had good thrift shops. Our thrift shops are so small and junky. I can never find anything there. And since I don't live in or near a big city, Facebook Marketplace isn't usually very successful either. I would have to travel an hour + to get most things. Ugh.
@@KarolYuuki Same. But even my thriftstores don't have large selections of clothes, either. It makes second hand shopping very difficult! I hate having to buy clothes online but I now just try to go through Thred Up to get secondhand clothes. And there definitely isn't a good selection of anything else in my thriftstores, either. I also live in an area where sustainable grocery shopping shopping is not a thing, either. No bulk foods or anything. So I try to make as many good choices as possible but it is very difficult.
I agree with most of these and do a lot of secondhand shopping, but having moved to a smaller, more rural community, I will say the local secondhand options are much more limited here in both quantity and quality versus a larger or younger city. I can see the difference even in our Facebook marketplace versus the big cities a few hours away. . I've just had to pick my battles and recognize availability is really a regional thing. So for anyone who finds themself in that situation, just do your best!
I have to fight with my mother so she doesn't buy me a new phone. I've never heard of somebody having to do that. Mom: "Jesus christ, your phone drives me nuts. It's junk." Me: "No! I swear it's fixable (I think)! Don't take it away from me!" I always use my phones until they completely die on me, and I do he same with all my tech.
Thank you for bringing out the subject of adopting pets. I think it's something that's overlooked sometimes and just a few people realises that breeding pets is kind of the lowest and darkest point of consumerism. Putting that much pressure and expectations on an innocent being, choosing all of their qualities like they were puppets. Manipulating their lifes to the point of overpopulation. And the wost thing is that they go in and out of style too. It's horrendous... I will never understand it
The car thing completely shocked me. My car was originally my mom’s, and it’s from 1999. I don’t plan on getting a new car until this one falls apart-it’s a Toyota, so it’ll be a looooong time lol
I am always in awe when people talk about changing cars every few years, buying the car of the year... my parents always bought second hand, and only changed cars when really necessary. They usually lasted for many years, and as kids we'd even name the cars, making them part of the family haha
This resonated with me, back home my grandma gave me my grandpa’s car from 1995… it was my college car, and although I don’t use it anymore that car it’s still ALIVE! My “new” car is a 2012 model, used 🙌🏻
I would love a video on how to be more eco friendly with pets. I have two cats and I just can’t seem to find a good way to be eco friendly will also giving them what they need. Please help! You have shown me so much on being a better person for the planet I would love to be able to go all the ways with my cats included
Since the charity shops are completely inundated with covid decluttering mania, I have chosen to list items for FREE on marketplace This morning, I removed from my house 3 dining chairs, a cabinet (still in box) 2 pieces of salon equipment (along with other salon items any new stylist would love to have), and a ottoman (still in box). These items were not up for chance to be used again or a dumpster. I am a big gal so for years I have donated all my unwanted clothes to an abuse shelter because they rarely receive these sizes and victims come in all sizes. I only buy leather second hand. Take a few minuets or a day to research, make a better choices that benefit humans and the planet they live on!
Issue with kids stuff (car seats, cribs, etc.) is all the recalls and safety issues with buying used. I am super bummed out that our kids infant seat can't be resold easily and the local shelters won't take it since they can't guarantee it hasn't been in a crash and we only used it for 7 months.
Kids clothes absolutely should be bought used! They grow so dang fast and the BST groups online are awesome.
I am with you on kids gear! Just this week (and for the second time) I had to link the recall info on the Bumbo seat that was recalled in 2012! because it didn't have the safety buckle. It's a shame that Buy Nothing groups allow recalled items because it's an "at your own risk" group. If I hadn't been there to link the info, some unknowing baby could be seriously hurt! I will say I have successfully sold my kid's infant seats on FB Marketplace, but as a "Safety Sally" that I am, I made sure to disclose that it was accident free and the expiration dates are well within a good long-term use timespan, even after I was done with it. With other seats I have just given them away for the Target trade-in event so others can get the 20% off items.
Thankfully, you can buy cribs, high chairs, bibs...I'm having a hard time thinking of baby stuff at the moment. 😅 Point is...you can buy almost everything else secondhand for kids.
It’s so true. Especially baby stuff, they grow out of everything so quickly anyway. Most of my baby’s stuff are gifted, including gears, clothes, blankets, bassinet, high chair etc. Some were bought new.
I didnt know that carseat has an expiry date. I only found out much later. Fortunately, the one we have now that’s gifted and expired, is going to be outgrown soon, so I’m on the search for a new one.
@@limitlessbianca Target sometimes have a take back program on carseats. We have alot of old carseats too. So hard to just throw it out.
So true - I have tried to donate our crib mattress everywhere and no one will take it because it’s a mattress! Breaks my heart, so I still have it because I can’t bring myself to put it out for garbage day.
Plus the rush of joy you get from finding that one item you've been looking for at the second hand store.
Moka pot! Navy blazer! Wooden tray! Thrift stores are where it's at.
Gosh, in the city I lived in Japan there was this A-MA-ZING second hand shop, three floors of pure treasure. I bought EVERYTHING I could there, from furniture and home items and appliances (they even offered a 3-month warranty on tech stuff!) to dishes and clothes. It was such a dream... my current city has nothing like that, and I miss it a lot. So, I try and find used stuff online now...
You mean the raspberry beret?
I do ALL of this and because I thought I was being cheap. Actually I’m being eco-friendly (:
Being cheap is great for the planet lol
Thankfully they usually go hand in hand 😁
Yay being poor 😅 I do most of these.
I think that this is a message that capitalism purposely sends to people. You're "cheap" for not buying everything new to keep the money flowing in billionaires' pockets.
@@moonflower1616 yeppp
Great holiday idea - buy Pyrex (or glass) baking trays from a thrift shop/goodwill and bake a holiday treat for friends and family. Tell them to keep the dish and pay it forward the next holiday! 🤗
My dinnerware is Pyrex baking dishes i thrifted. I love them, the rims around the dish keeps salad dressing and soupy foods from spilling
What a great idea!!!!
Just be a bit careful of vintage Pyrex. I think some of the older ones have lead in them? But def a cute idea. :)
@@Viennafly1 any baking glassware will do really!! Doesn’t have to be name-brand
@@e.babybaby yeah it’s definitely a great idea!
I've been using the dish set my parents got for a wedding present in the 70s. My sister's family used it before me, and gifted it when they moved across the country. And the bonus is there are replacements online floating around for those clumsy times I get!
Oh that is also so special too . Those plates have a sentimental factor to them
Yeah, many of the times people will give it cheaper or free because they're thinking of donating it anyways.
Don’t forget YARD SALES ARE FIRE 🔥 and stuff is usually WAY CHEAPER than the thrift
In the UK we have car boot sales. It's a whole culture- but they all start at some ungodly hour in the morning. Like 6am. Urggh!
In the UK we have car boot sales. It's a whole culture- but they all start at some ungodly hour in the morning. Like 6am. Urggh!
There are also online thrift stores like Poshmark
Wish Sweden had the yard sale tradition. People throw stuff away instead of having yard sales. There are second hand stores, but they are 50% of retail at best, I have seen used clothes at more than new.
Can confirm!! My husband and I bought his 3-year-old nephew a small tricycle,, good condition, from a yard sale for ONLY $3 and he uses it everyday! then a few months later I saw a similar one at Walmart (almost looked the exact same tricycle too!) but it was $20. So we got to save money for the same thing too. 😉
A seasonal addition to the list: CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. My husband and I got into estate sale shopping in the last year, and it is unbelievable how much Christmas stuff is already out there. You can absolutely find Christmas decorations aplenty if you hit up your local estate sales, garage sales, etc. (They are also really good for finding secondhand tools.)
Also, when you go looking for things in thrift stores, don't forget about antique stores as an option as well! My local antique store has its own plethora of dishes, mugs, vases, etc.
Exactly! Also, the 'trendy' christmas decorations are usually not my style anyway, and most of the stuff you find in stores is made of plastic instead of glass.
I can’t believe how many people trash their decor after a year and buy new… I have Halloween decor that is 40 years old, plus my Christmas stuff is stuff handed down. It’s so much more meaningful!!!
You are right! I find my decorations at Goodwill and the Habitat ReStore.
A few months ago I went to an estate sale and they had two huge room just full of Christmas stuff, some of it look fairly old (like 80s, I’m born in the early 2000s so that’s fairly old for me lol) I didn’t get any bc I don’t celebrate Christmas but my papa bought a lot of things. But like yeah there’s Christmas stuff everywhere second hand that’s still in great condition
For pets, some people go to breeders because they want a specific breed. However, there are often rescues for specific breeds. You can also ask a local animal shelter to put you on a waitlist for a certain breed.
last year my dad was going to get me a bunch of new tools as a small “tool starter kit” and I asked him not to, then i found a used tool store in Pittsburgh and got a complete toolbox FILLED with tools for only $20 it was a dream
i understand where people are coming from when they talk about tech producing so much waste buuuut... tech companies need to make sure their phones don't slow down or die off within 2 years tbh
It's sad that they're intentionally doing the opposite, what with planned obsolescence.
that's a big part of the waste for suuuuure!
But that's bc they don't design their products to last as software develops, or to have small replacements in case they get slow!
This
That’s why the right to repair is so important. Apple intentionally makes it difficult to replace the battery which is a consumable component and they charge $50 to do it in the store. I’ve found that if you feel like you need a new phone, what you probably actually need is a new battery
I really loved this video, the only thing I can comment on is that "with a little bit of patience you can find anything secondhand" for me more often goes like "with A LOT of TIME and RESEARCH you can find anything secondhand". I'm an immigrant and I'm basically starting my life from scratch and in my experience finding good second hand things is a challenge, especially since I don't have a car or a driver's licence. I can't buy furniture second hand at all, unless I buy it from one of my neighbours (which happens on rare occasions).
For example I'm trying to have a house where I will feel happy and cozy, and while a lot of good quality things I can find second hand, often it takes SO MUCH resources to find them, that I feel completely overwhelmed and exhausted.
We will need to renovate our bathroom and kitchen at some point and I would love to use good quality second hand/scraped materials, but I tried looking into it a little and realized that it would be simply impossible to do by myself - I will need to hire someone who will at least find all the proper materials for me and we just can't afford that.
Anyway, my point is that, while second hand things are amazing, it can require a lot of resources from people to find things that will work for them - I imagine it must be much easier for rich people who can outsource all of that research, sadly I'm not one of them :)
Finding quality second hand items for things like furniture, tools, and building materials can be difficult if you live in an area with few options. Transportation is also an issue. Don't give up, but also recognize when it just isn't going to work out.
Definitely never considered this. I've done tons of thifting all my life and there is an amazing resource in my experience and my mom for knowing what's good
Gosh I didn’t even think about the importance of buying dishes and kitchen gadgets secondhand. I loved your perspective in this video!
I needed a masher for my bokashi compost. I told my mum that I was waiting until the thrift shops opened up. And bless her, she went and got me a new one. Not what I had in mind, and I've gotten her to have the new one and I'll take her old one. Still working on her understanding that I like second hand things rather than new. But I love the kindness and thoughtfulness she shows 🥰🥰
I live in Uganda and I'm frankly surprised about how much of what is normal for me, like buying literally everything second hand, is a huge lifestyle shift for people from the west. We live like this, trust me, it's not that big of a deal, especially if it's better for the planet.
As someone from the west (Midwest America) I think it’s mainly big city people who have to go through a lifestyle change. Most people from small towns that I know of grew up buying things second hand bc it saves money so changing a few more things in our lives like not buying plastic stuff is a bit of a shift but that mainly food related problems
I’m in the U.K. and lots of us here including me are mostly buying second hand. The world seen in adverts is not always true.
HUGE yes to the second hand kid’s items!! We are expecting our first baby in April and we are getting second hand clothes, stroller, even a second hand car seat! (Car seat is from a good friend who has verified no wrecks, not expired, etc) and it makes me so happy! Our registry also has a note that we prefer second hand items and we also registered for hand made meals which of course is lower waste than a cute outfit the baby will just get dirty haha
Knitters/crocheters! I have been buying "yarn oddment bundles" from EBay and using them to make multicoloured and stripey things. I made my husband a blanket for his birthday and have made my sister one for Christmas! Highly recommend as it's not only better for the planet but cheaper.
but there is carbon footprint in ordering things online?
@@hannahlennertkristiansen4797 there's a carbon footprint in doing/buying anything! It's just about trying pick the best choices you can :)
I made some tee shirt yarn from some of my old stained tee shirts (I have enough rags in my house) I don't knit or crochet but my mom does. One tee shirt makes a decent sized ball of yarn and all you need are scissors and patience.
Check the thriftstore also. Mine always has huge bags of unused yarns in various colors for CHEAP. Its so nice to be able to afford learning this hobby easily.... And do so secondhand.
@@nancyplants757 yes this is great and such a good way to repurpose things!
The only times I buy clothes new is when I really want something and I don't find it second hand. And I always buy my new clothes from sustainable brands.
Please talk more about no buy groups because they have been a life saver for me! I know you have mentioned it in the past. Get excited for more Autumn weather because a cold front is coming through today! 🍂🧡🍁
Yeah, no buy groups can be very hit or miss, but I have gotten a few things from mine, and I've given away a few things as well. It was nice to be able to get rid of stuff I didn't need and know that it was going to someone who actually wanted it.
I bought my first new phone in 2015 for $600, it finally gave up this year & I bought one on trademore for a fraction of the price. 🤣 I can't believe that I almost considered spending $1200 on a new phone...
Me either, but then again, if nobody bought a new phone for $1200, we wouldn't be able to buy their used phones.
When you buy jars with swingtop lids sometimes they don't come with gaskets. Those rubber seals were never made to last forever. Fortunately you can buy replacements in a lot of the same places you buy canning supplies. You can't really get just the gaskets second-hand, but for $3-5 (depending on size) you can get a pack of 12. I now have 10 more left and going forward I can now go to the thrift store with one in my purse and just see if it'll fit the rim of any jar which doesn't already come with a seal. This has pretty much doubled my jar buying options now I don't have to avoid the ones with no seals.
You can get silicone gaskets, too, which won't degrade like rubber
I fully endorse not buying stuff new for kids, but may disagree with you a bit about the car. I've been buying my kids clothes and shoes secondhand because seriously, in at most a year they will grow out of it! With regards to the car, I think it is OK to buy new as long as you're not trading it in for a new model after just a few years. My parents bought a brand new car when I was a kid, and my mum drove it for over 20 years! She made sure it was regularly maintained and services and repaired whatever got broken along the way.
We are still driving my (deceased) mother-in-law's car which was built in 1997! It doesn't have any rust on it either! My husband's truck is a 2003 Chevy Silverado!
For real, my grandma bought a truck sometime in the mid to late 90s and my mom bought it from her not too long after I was born. That was around 2003, that truck is still up and running. It’s got a few problems but I come from a poor so everyone knows how to fix something (I sew, so my job is to fix clothes) so I have uncles and a grandpa we just call someone to fix something and either pay them with money or we would fix something for them
I'm 17 and driving now, and the car I drive is just older than I am--it's actually the car I was brought home from the hospital in! My dad knows enough stuff about cars to have kept it running and in good condition for all of this time, and he says there's probably a good 2-3 years left out of it. It's insane to me that my parents have friends who buy new cars every 3-4 years while my parents have managed to make their two cars, both roughly my age, last to this day. They did get a new truck which is also in the rotation because I'm mainly the one driving the aforementioned car, but they both have to go to work, and I'm sure that truck will be well taken care of for a long time.
I think you're missing the point, there's just so many used cars already out there! If you can find a used car that has what you're looking for there's no reason to buy a brand new one!
My parents got a George Forman grill back when they were big in the late 90s early 00s and when I found it and opened it I realized it was BRAND NEW. I have been using it almost weekly since.
I loved my mom’s from then. I need to look online for a used one.
Same
Haha those things are great!
Only issue I have with 2nd hand clothing is that I've literally never found any clothing 2nd hand that fit me. I'm a plus size lady in a country where that is not super common and the thrift stores literally only carry grandma clothing in my size. And shopping clothing 2nd hand online is likely just going to end me up with clothing that doesn't fit me.
So yeah, I buy my clothes new. Very rarely and very much keeping in mind what I can do within my (small) budget. Heck, I'm even working on learning how to sew so I can use second hand *fabric* to make my own clothing. But yeah. Availability is a thing.
This... I never find my size in thrift stores or consignment
I never find my size either, especially with pants; I'm 6 feet tall.
Me too. I have an awkward body shape rarely find anything good
Some second hand websites allow returns, not sure where you are based but Micolet in Europe accepts returns and gives quick refunds. I tend to look for brands I know are likely to fit but have returned things with no problem.
Same here… you are not alone! Don’t give up the hope tho I’m pretty certain that it will change in the future 💓
Yess adopt don’t shop! And since you mentioned it, can we get a video about how to be sustainable with pets? I have such a hard time since food/litter/etc comes packaged
It is not you. It is the system.
Yes please!
And needing to use plastic bags to dispose of their bowel movements. Does anyone know a less wasteful way to take care of a cat’s bathroom needs? Without having to ensure that your compost reaches a certain temperature?
@@ckdraws410 The most sustainable way I could think of is using a litter genie. it still is with a plastic bag but it does keep in the smell so you don't have to throw away the bag until it is actually full. i wish there was a better way though
I’m a teacher, and I’m constantly “rescuing” all the plastic shopping bags that get thrown away there for my cat litter. I’ll scoop into the same bag for four or five days before I throw it out. I leave it in the garage so the smell isn’t a problem. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best system I’ve found.
I only buy socks and underwear new from sustainable brands. I haven’t bought new clothes besides that in 2 years.
Please share what these brands are, so I can do the same.
@@sct4040 I usually just buy underwear and socks from Pact
My house was built in 1899. I love it. I try to find all storage used... but I did breakdown and get a new instapot. 🙃
Something that always shocked me was that my friends didn’t save their jam jars to be cups afterwards. They were always so pretty, I don’t understand why they would ever get thrown out
I've had my current iPhone for 4 years and everything you've taught me has helped me keep onto it as long as I can
Carseats and helmets need to be bought new. It's a safety issue. However, there are carseats that age up with the child. They can go from newborn to 13 years old. Buy one once, and only replace if it has been in an accident.
There are databases that publish children's items which have been recalled. If there were a database that could publish whether a safety item has been in an accident, one might be able to confidently purchase a used safety item. Perhaps a list of serial numbers of carseats and helmets that have been in an accident.
Yes yes yes yes yes. I went to our local landfill a few years ago, seeing all of the waste really convinced me to stop buying things new. So important this time of year
Always love yours videos! I’m in animal rescue and would love to hear the topic of pets talked about more. So many die in shelters or homes less outside. Many people don’t know the importance of spaying and neutering and many don’t know there are eco friendly options for pet supplies.
My fav thrift find this year is my Misto! It was new and never used for just $4. I absolutely love it. I am continually surprised how often I have been finding new or like-new items second hand.
Also - while this list was still long, I feel like it could still be longer. For instance, wood furniture (especially coffee tables and end tables), small home decor and high heels are also very plentiful in second hand markets.
Noooo I bought them brand new because I've never found them before 😭
Something Shelbi usually adds but I didn't hear in this video - buying some things new in order to support the creator can be great. Buying from ethical, sustainable clothing companies, or buying a book or music to support an artist or author you love. It doesn't apply to everything, like tools and electronics, but it is important to note where applicable I think.
I moved into my first own flat recently (yay) and I didn’t get anything new and the best part of it (besides not contributing to the waste circle) is that most of my relatives had a lot of “old” things, they didn’t use anymore so that I didn’t even had to thrift a lot. I basically only got a thrifted couch, water carbonater (idek if this is a word) and a washing machine :))) it saved me a lot of money ^^
About the home thing:
I live in Germany and my aunt and uncle got an old house like a year ago that needs remodelling and there have been so many delays because shortages especially in wood because so many new houses are being built. And I have heard the same thing from many other people too. The waste of resources, it's just crazy.
You should not buy car seats used. It’s about the only thing you should buy new. There’s no way to verify if it was in a car accident or not.
Came here to say that! Charity shop's won't accept/sell them I think it's illegal (U.K) due to safety.
I just said the same thing
Yes, this. Though I did buy a used one, it was specifically to go in a stroller that was meant to "click in" the car seat so you could move the infant in and out without waking them up. I only used it in the stroller. We had a separate new car seat (that's actually meant to change into a booster seat eventually, so we shouldn't need to ever replace it unless it's in an accident) for the car.
I love this list!!
My husband has thousands of dollars worth of snap-on tools and a giant tool box that he got FOR FREE because people were going to throw them out. These are perfectly good tools too. Some were literally sitting on the side of the road for bulk pick-up... 🤦♀️
Haha I'm actually using the dishes that belonged to my great grandmother. They are even wayyy fancier than everything you could buy in a store. :)
Christmas decorations too! There's so many cute, good quality stuff at thrift shops from October onwards and it's much cheaper than buying new glass baubles. Also, the 'trendy' Christmas ornaments you can buy in shops are usually not my style anyway.
I always hit up the op shop when I need anything…and usually find exactly what I need every time ….👌🏽
i live on an air force base and am part of the Curb-Side Pick Up FB Page in my neighborhood. It's insane how many BASICALLY NEW items people are tossing on the curb! We are about to have a baby and probably saved about $1000 so far on baby items, like a crib, changing table, jumper, stroller, high chair etc etc. The only thing I plan on buying new is a car seat for safety reasons. It definitely helps to use these resources!
The issue with car seats used is you can't guarantee it has not been in an accident. Which can compromise the safety of it. And also you car insurance might not cover a used seat. I had to show my purchase of mine, because they also expire
Yeah that is the one thing I was like ummm no don’t buy that used
Agree. A car seat is the only baby item i buy new because of these reasons. You can get the trade in deals at Target.
Yep!! Always new car seats ❤️
Yes I agree with everyone about Infant car seats being bought new. There is the issue of the expiration date , not to mention the fact that a car seat that has been in even a minor accident may develop micro cracks that could cause the car seat to fail in a subsequent accident. For these reasons, it is illegal for thrift shops in California to sell donated/used car seats, because there is no way to certify that a used seat has never been in an accident.
Oh that is interesting, thanks for sharing!
My sister and I have five little girls between us and they all shared clothes going from my house to hers and back again as they outgrew them. I even found a little girl that we are friends with to pass their clothes on further. Six girls are wearing the same set of clothing. And a lot of them were second hand in the first place!
Sounds like my childhood wardrobe we used to swap clothes with my mother's best friend's kids constantly. New clothes was usually the stuff our mom's found on their yard selling weekend outings where they would go from yard sale to yard sale trying to find the best things that they needed and would compete to see who could spend the least amount of money. I am still using the dresser my mom found for me at a yard sale when I was 6 years old and I am now 52.
My sister & I have four girls & three boys between us & we’ve also been trading clothes back & forth for years :)
I've inherited 3 cast iron skillets from my grandmother and aunt who passed away years ago. So many things you can make in a skillet (including pineapple upside down cake). And the hand me downs are already seasoned.
The best dishes I've EVER seen is the set of 20s diner dishes my husband's grandma gifted us years ago. I see dishes all the time at antique stores. They're just so much better quality and have the bonus of doubling as a weapon for emergencies.
Also, pet breeders (cats and dogs at least) are trash.
The tools is SO RELATABLE. My uncle has a garage, 2 sheds and now a 3rd giant shed all dedicated to tools. It’s insane how much he has. He could open a tool shop and make sooooooooo much money!
Totally agree! Didn’t realize how beneficial it was to shop second hand for most of my clothes and household furniture and belongings all my life…was doing to be frugal. So glad I have instilled that in life and my family! Now seeing the huge benefits!!
I'm watching this as I'm literally in Walmart about to buy a pot for a Johnny Appleseed costume. I didn't even THINK about going to the thrift store. I feel SO ashamed. 🤦♀️ Thank you Shelbi for reminding me that I can make better choices!
Just watched this video! I agree so much! I have always said if you can wait you can find what your looking for used or second hand!! I laughed when you talked about mugs! I’m always saying they’d never have to make another mug and the world would never run out of mugs!!😊
83 mugs at my local good will. Bought a sticker tag still on it gorgeous mug for my friend for her birthday for $2.00 and she uses it every day
YES THE TOOLS!!! My grandpa used to be a plumber and he gave me a starter set for my first apartment, all used and in great condition! He’s the neighbor everyone should be borrowing tools form
Loving this list Shelbi! I’ve never bought dishes, mugs, cups and silverware. I get hand me downs from family and I’m happy!! There’s so much treasures at yard sales and thrift shops. I usually keep my car for about 10-16years until the engine blows before I get another. We really do live in a materialistic world and need reminders!
1. about tools, I guess I'm lucky that I'm living in latin america, because of costs and importations dificulty they are luxury items so I see a lot of youtube channels about diys. Recently I saw a peruvian youtuber explain how he gave life to a sander that had no lock with glue, cardboard and regular sandpaper (not the specialized) and totally stealed the idea.
2. Are there repairs clubs in texas?
3. You did no appear in my principal page anymore Idk why, I resuscribed so It pinges me when you upload but after some time I watched your channel with new eyes and dayum! such quality videos. shelby you're a total pro in edition, filming and also gotten better comunicating ideas.
So happy San Antonio made the law about chain stores like pet land can’t sell breeder puppies and they need to come from a shelter. I agree, why are breeders even allowed to force their dog to have litters ?? Like what ??
Not to mention, most pet store pets don’t come from places where their parents got love and warmth and a soft bed. Most come from puppy mills which are extremely cruel. Yay, San Antonio!
Supply and demand unfortunately
I just vaguely started thinking about our wedding registry today and dishes are definitely something I want to be guilty of for a second time (not only do we have a perfectly serviceable 8 place set, but I really wanted to get new cute dishes). Your video has reminded me of my values and pointed out that we could get exactly what I want second hand. Thanks for all you do!
there can also be safety issues with used dishes that are of a certain age. lead has only been regulated by the FDA in dishware since 1971, and there has been lead detected in the paint on popular vintage items, like Corelle and Pyrex.
My financial situation has always dictated that I canr buy new. Over the years I've fallen in love with the fact that used is still good! And its helping our planet, so I'm all for it! My last phone I had more than 5 years! It finally kicked the bucket this year
Loved the video🌼 I bought de iPhone 6s the day it came out (6 years ago) I want to get at least 2 more years out of it 🙂 and maybe more! I got a new battery installed 1 year ago, the guy in the store looked at me a little weird and looked at the phone: 'its an old phone, but it looks new?' Thank you Pela and my parents who learned me to be careful with my stuff.
New subscriber! I have always thought of myself as an environmentalist and minimalist, now I have a name for it because of you! Now to go and watch all of your videos xD Thank you!
I feel like you can rent almost any major tool from a hardware store. Example, I love doing a deep cleaning on carpets and sofa once a year, I just rent a steam cleaner.
Carseats need to be bought new, it's a safety issue
Hey Shelbi, I love your content and really appreciate the work you put into it. At the risk of asking you to perform more labor, do you mind organizing your videos with the labeled timestamps that youtube now has? I'm not sure exactly what they are called but I have seen many youtubers now do this, especially with videos that list things like yours tend to. It is very helpful for my attention span to be able to see a breakdown of things covered in a video, and I am sure others would find it useful as well. Thank you for doing what you do!!
I moved into an appartment with my boyfriend almost 4 years ago, and basically everything we own was a hand-me-down. My family especially never got rid of anything (more of a hoarder-thing than an eco-thing though) and we've been absolutely privileged. I still like to go to interior shops to find some inspiration; and when I look at the prices I can't imagine the amount of money we've saved thanks to our family's tradition of keeping (and giving) basically everything. From big pieces of furniture to odd kitchen appliances, from photo frames to plant pots and table cloths.
My favourites include: a set of dishes (from the time it was the norm to buy everything x24!) from my great grandmother, a Le Creuset dutch oven from my grandmother, marble side tables from my grandmother, and a cupboard from a greataunt. Almost everywhere I look in our little home I see the history of our family and friends, and it makes me feel so warm.
That's so cool! Half of things that I have at my current apartment were from my partner's aunt, who used to live here before, or her sister, who lived here before her.
In fact, the apartment itself is a hand me down from his grandfather. We are living there while we don't have enough money to get our own place. Probably more people from his family will live in this place on the future, and they will have some things from us.
I just bought a second hand espresso machine. Best. Investment. Ever. WAY cheaper than new, and saves me from ever having to go to a coffee shop again unless I’m traveling and can support a small business (basically all that’s near me is Starbucks)
I'm in my 60's and I live the way you suggest. Always have. Was ridiculed by folks my own age, back in the day. Now when younger people come to my home, the admire and appreciate the life choices I've made.
Shelbi, you are voicing every feeling I have about environmentalism in this video. I feel all of this because of you though! Thank you for teaching me HOW to care for the planet.
My husband and I rarely get new electronics, we wait until they die. Our smart TV is from 2013, our kindle fire is from 2012, laptop is from 2008. My husband built us a new desktop this year to replace our desktop from 2011. Our cell phones are iPhone 7 Plus that we bought new with cash. Our next phones will be refurbished, my iPhone is starting to really slow down and not hold a charge. I’ll keep it until it dies.
Estate sales too for items- While thrift stores are great, often the sets are incomplete and items damaged. I look for estate sales that have a similar aesthetic to mine. I find the things to be of good repair and sets complete. These are items people cared about in their homes (as opposed to garage sales or thrifting - good but hear me out). When I was looking for a used sewing machine? Estate sale. Linens? Estate sale. I picked up some beautiful 100% linen tablecloths I’m guessing from the 50’s in mint condition. Kitchen tools/gadgets? Luggage? Estate sale. Second-hand can come from thrifting, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, friends…. And whenever we’re ‘done’ with something? Before we take it to the thrift store, run a garage sale, etc? The family group chat gets pinged pictures of what we’re looking to re-home where items will get used.
Also, while I do still purchase items new in addition to used, I always view whatever I purchase with the mindset I saw another RUclipsr put exquisitely into words - I am but a steward of the non-consumables in my life. It is my responsibility to take good loving care of these items so that when their time with me is done, they can go to the next steward to find good use and take care of whatever it is to pass on when they’re done. This is how we’re handed down cast iron pans, dishes, quilts, etc. It’s a heavy assessment of the manufacturer/brand, practices, longevity, planned obsolescence, etc. that determines what and where I will purchase from when new. Also as a maker of things, everything is made with the intent of passing on to future generations when possible. I like to make unique pieces and learn new things via my creativity, but assessing waste and footprint is just as important as when buying anything else, used or new.
I’ve gotten SO MANY free working iPhones from friends/family and resold them. Somehow $800++ phones are considered disposable it’s crazy. Maybe I have to do minor repairs that I learned how to do on RUclips
Agreed. Too many dishes. Use the phone until it no longer works or starts glitching. Adopt pets or Rescue.
City San Antonio has a free tool shed, to borrow yard tool etc.
The only clothing item I've ever HAD to buy new was my Jean jacket, because I really needed it to go with a good amount of my wardrobe (for cooler fall weather with my tank tops and t-shirts) and it was only because I went around to all my local thrift stores and none had a Jean jacket at all, let alone in my size, so I had to go to T.J.MAXX (so at least I still got it for a bit cheaper lol). But yes, this is something that will stay in my wardrobe for probably the rest of my life, honestly.
i wish germany had so many second hand options like the us :(
Maybe that’s a good thing lol
First time coming across your channel, and I've only posted 2 comments on RUclips ever before. You are fantastic. Everything you articulated makes so much sense, but when you discussed PETS - you had my heart. I say this ALL the time and feel so exhausted by the apathy that comes back. Each animal purchased means an existing animal dies. It's rare to hear anything on RUclips that so honestly calls out the atrocity behind the annual euthanization of millions of innocent and deserving dogs and cats. Thank you for speaking on this! Subscribing now!
But what if I need a textbook that I can’t buy second hand in my country? I am sorry, but I have to buy new one 🥲😭
I bought my dishes before college at a garage sale. 17 years later and they're still going great. My spouse wanted to register for new ones for our wedding and I explained why it's not necessary. Also, I've never ever bought a mug for myself, I've just wound up with a ton of them as gifts.
I agree with a lot of the stuff you shared, especially clothes. However, the things I won't buy used when it comes to clothes is my undergarments like my bras and underwear. I like knowing my undergarments have only been on my body. Plus they do stretch out over time too and need to be replaced.
I swear you have some really nice thrift stores near you. All of the ones near me have no jars, plates, good appliances. I am currently going to nursing school and live near campus so nothing is available. I stole all of my kitchen stuff from my mom
You shouldn’t buy plastic toys for kids second hand though! Plastic is much more regulated nowadays, while old plastic can contain any number of harmful chemicals.
Buying tech second hand was one of the easiest things to do for a more sustainable life. And also small appliances like a waffle maker or an instant pot, or an immersion blender. There is so much second hand stuff out there (of course this doesn't apply to the hole world, but definitely to the global north) that you don't need to buy new.
Car seats should never be bought used because it is a serious safety risk--they can look just fine but be compromised and not able to protect the child. But everything else, I agree!
I absolutely adore my dishes, I got them from my mom when she got my grandmother's set! And it's super nostalgic for me because they are the plates I grew up with.
Edit: I also inherited a large portion of my grandpa's tools, which only made my DIY tendencies worse lol
When my mom was thinking about getting a dog I was adamant that he had to be a rescue.
Love this!
I miss thrift stores 😩 I have to drive 6 hours to get to one that's not just a small office style one
Thank you so much for talking about pets 🙌
What do you think about stores such as Ross, Marshall's, TJMAXX? Discount stores but new stuff.
I bought my 1960/1970 fine China at a rummage sale for $15, the whole set is worth hundreds but I love them and won’t let them go.
I buy second hand dishes and I decided to use all the glass containers as cups
Here in Colombia we don't have a lot of thrift stores or garage sales ☹️
loved this video! Wish thrift stores here were more like the ones in the US, i find it really hard to find any dishware or cups or anything in thrift stores, usually i have to go online.
DISHES! My great grandmother had a 70s set from Corelle (you know the ones, with the little green hippie flowers in a wreath around the rims) for the rest of her life and my mom inherited much of it but continued to collect matching pieces from thrift stores (including a teacup set with sugar/cream cups) over the course of her 20s-40s so when I graduated college she had double-triple the amount and set me up with my own which I will cherish always. They are so lightweight, stackable, indestructible and back on trend once again!
I inherited a Corelle set (with brown flowers) from my great grandmother too.
I'm 48 and still using a pot and pan set I bought second-hand in my college town when I was 21. Best bargain EVER.
I'm so happy you mentioned pets 😍
I wish I lived in an area that had good thrift shops. Our thrift shops are so small and junky. I can never find anything there. And since I don't live in or near a big city, Facebook Marketplace isn't usually very successful either. I would have to travel an hour + to get most things. Ugh.
Yeah. Most thrift shops where I live are just for clothes. Never seen a thrift shop for other things in my city.
@@KarolYuuki Same. But even my thriftstores don't have large selections of clothes, either. It makes second hand shopping very difficult! I hate having to buy clothes online but I now just try to go through Thred Up to get secondhand clothes. And there definitely isn't a good selection of anything else in my thriftstores, either. I also live in an area where sustainable grocery shopping shopping is not a thing, either. No bulk foods or anything. So I try to make as many good choices as possible but it is very difficult.
I agree with most of these and do a lot of secondhand shopping, but having moved to a smaller, more rural community, I will say the local secondhand options are much more limited here in both quantity and quality versus a larger or younger city. I can see the difference even in our Facebook marketplace versus the big cities a few hours away. . I've just had to pick my battles and recognize availability is really a regional thing. So for anyone who finds themself in that situation, just do your best!
I have to fight with my mother so she doesn't buy me a new phone. I've never heard of somebody having to do that.
Mom: "Jesus christ, your phone drives me nuts. It's junk."
Me: "No! I swear it's fixable (I think)! Don't take it away from me!"
I always use my phones until they completely die on me, and I do he same with all my tech.
I have to do this with my parents too. They don't understand why I wouldn't want the newest phone possible.
Thank you for the tips! I really love your plants and your advocacies!!!! Hope to see more videos from you doing plant hauls! Yay!😍❤️
Thank you for bringing out the subject of adopting pets. I think it's something that's overlooked sometimes and just a few people realises that breeding pets is kind of the lowest and darkest point of consumerism. Putting that much pressure and expectations on an innocent being, choosing all of their qualities like they were puppets. Manipulating their lifes to the point of overpopulation. And the wost thing is that they go in and out of style too. It's horrendous... I will never understand it
The car thing completely shocked me. My car was originally my mom’s, and it’s from 1999. I don’t plan on getting a new car until this one falls apart-it’s a Toyota, so it’ll be a looooong time lol
I am always in awe when people talk about changing cars every few years, buying the car of the year... my parents always bought second hand, and only changed cars when really necessary. They usually lasted for many years, and as kids we'd even name the cars, making them part of the family haha
This resonated with me, back home my grandma gave me my grandpa’s car from 1995… it was my college car, and although I don’t use it anymore that car it’s still ALIVE! My “new” car is a 2012 model, used 🙌🏻
I would love a video on how to be more eco friendly with pets. I have two cats and I just can’t seem to find a good way to be eco friendly will also giving them what they need. Please help! You have shown me so much on being a better person for the planet I would love to be able to go all the ways with my cats included
Cats love boxes.
Since the charity shops are completely inundated with covid decluttering mania, I have chosen to list items for FREE on marketplace This morning, I removed from my house 3 dining chairs, a cabinet (still in box) 2 pieces of salon equipment (along with other salon items any new stylist would love to have), and a ottoman (still in box). These items were not up for chance to be used again or a dumpster.
I am a big gal so for years I have donated all my unwanted clothes to an abuse shelter because they rarely receive these sizes and victims come in all sizes. I only buy leather second hand. Take a few minuets or a day to research, make a better choices that benefit humans and the planet they live on!