Furniture

There are plenty of fine and easily accessible options from big box stores, catalogs or specialty retailers named after Barns or Barrels. But for a handful of items, you should aim to buy secondhand, because they're just better if they're a little lived-in already. They're unlike anything else and they imbibe your place with a little history. Items like rugs or small tables. Some pieces, like lamps, can be oddly expensive when purchased at full retail price—find a secondhand one on sale, and you could save hundreds of dollars. As for where to look, eBay remains a treasure trove, but Chairish is another large marketplace, while Kaiyo offers great deals on high-end items.

George Nelson Sling loveseat,
$8,000 / $2,116 by Herman Miller

Workout Gear

We're not telling you to buy used gym shorts or sneakers. Those are items you want to pick up fresh. But something like dumbbells? No need to pay the full retail price, which is often surprisingly expensive. The same goes for any other exercise equipment. Especially when resale sites are chockfull of options that people tried and gave up on. Check out retailers like Play It Again Sports or Global Fitness to find used, intact sporting goods that can be shipped directly to you. And this is a great category for Facebook Marketplace, where you could find someone in your area willing to give it away for free, as long as you'll come pick it up.

GX Studio rowing machine,
$795 by WaterRower

Tools

Much like luggage or jeans, when the item in question is something that you plan to beat the hell out of, there's no need to buy it brand new. That pristine condition is going to get ruined the first time you use it, so save yourself the stress and the money by purchasing it used at a great discount. Hand tools are the perfect example of this. With some luck on Facebook Marketplace or even garage sales, you can often find amazing deals on gently used tools secondhand. It's best to ask if you can test the item or plug it in if it's a power tool. Make sure it has all the necessary parts and examine the power cord closely to make sure that it is working properly and doesn't have any defects. Keep in mind that many brands like Craftsman offer great warranties for any repairs and replacements, too.

Books

Whether you're a voracious reader or simply looking for books to fill a shelf in your living room, buying used is an easy way to score a product that doesn't lose much value after it's been used a few times. Remember your college text books? There are big savings to be had when skipping retail. And thankfully, there are all sorts of local independent shops or online resources available, like ThriftBooks and SecondSale.