What if one of the smartest financial moves isn’t earning more money but simply buying differently? Because right now we’re living through something unique: millions of Baby Boomers are downsizing, and they’re releasing an enormous amount of high-quality household goods into the secondhand market.
Between documentaries revealing the dark side of overconsumption, corporate greed, and the tricks major brands use to make us buy too much stuff, and my social feeds pushing me to buy stuff I don’t need, it’s too much. We literally have too much stuff so why not reuse what already exists?
The Hidden Opportunity Sitting in Estate Sales, Thrift Stores, and Facebook Marketplace
For decades, Baby Boomers filled homes with furniture built to last — solid-wood dining tables, quality dressers, kitchen tools used for years rather than months, holiday decorations collected over decades, tools, gardening equipment, books, artwork, serving dishes, and home décor.
Now many of those items are being donated, sold through estate sales, listed on Facebook Marketplace, or given away through community groups.
While retailers continue to raise prices and “influencers” push us to buy cheap, quality things we don’t need, there is a growing supply of perfectly usable goods already in circulation.
The result?
You can often furnish a room, stock a kitchen, or replace a household item for a fraction of what you’d pay new. Or my favorite reason for buying second-hand: gifts.
Why This Isn’t Your Grandmother’s Thrift Store
When some people hear “secondhand,” they imagine worn-out furniture and dusty shelves. But today’s resale market is very different. Many shoppers are finding:
- Pottery Barn furniture
- Crate & Barrel pieces
- Restoration Hardware décor
- Le Creuset cookware
- High-end tools
- Barely used exercise equipment
- Designer clothing
- Vintage pieces with better craftsmanship than many modern alternatives
In many cases, the quality is actually better than what you’d find new at a comparable price point.
Need some inspiration? Check out some of my favorites.
There are some creative people who have figured out how to take second-hand goods to the next level, and helping to reduce the footprint on this planet. Seriously, these people are an inspiration. Some accounts I recommend:
These creators regularly show:
- Curbside, estate sale, and Facebook Marketplace deals and finds
- Secondhand home decorating
- Tips for spotting quality pieces, selling quality items to keep them out of the landfill
Following a few of these accounts can completely change how you think about shopping.
The “Secondhand First” Rule
One of the simplest habits I’ve adopted is this: before buying something new, I ask myself if I find this secondhand first?
I check:
- Facebook Marketplace: I like to start local to see if what I need is nearby. If not, I have been known to pick something up when driving to visit my parents or shopping in the nearby city.
- Buy Nothing Groups: This is a great resource if you have kids. I often send recommendations to friends.
- Estate sales: If I have some free time, you will find me at one. Partially to check out what’s for sale but also for a good story.
- Local thrift shops: I buy all of my greeting cards, books, fabric scraps, kitschy gifts, and party supplies at thrift stores.
- Habitat for Humanity ReStores: If you’re going through a home remodel, please stop by your local stores. Quality supplies are sold at a fraction of the cost of new items.
Sometimes the answer is no. But surprisingly often, the answer is yes. And sometimes the secondhand version is better than the new one.
What I Almost Always Buy Used
Over time, I’ve learned there are certain categories where buying secondhand makes almost too much sense.
- Books: A used book tells the same story as a new one. And I have access to so many thrift stores and little free libraries that I never have enough time to read them!
- Gardening equipment and decor: Rakes, shovels, planters, and yard tools often have decades of life left. And I always find flower pots and sweet little additions for free on the curb.
- Home Décor: Frames, baskets, mirrors, lamps, and seasonal decorations are abundant in the resale market. And often have more character.
- Sporting equipment: I started cross-country skiing this past winter and purchased used skis and poles at the annual ski swap.
- Gifts: Just this month, I gifted a friend a cane (it was a fun gag gift), and another friend mint condition cookbooks. All purchased second-hand.
Buying Secondhand Is Also a Decluttering Strategy
This may sound counterintuitive. But buying secondhand often encourages more intentional purchasing.
When you can’t click “Buy Now” and have it arrive tomorrow, you become more thoughtful. You ask yourself: Do I actually need this?
The truth is that most homes already contain more than enough stuff. As someone who helps people declutter, I’ve seen firsthand how much value is sitting unused in garages, closets, storage units, and spare bedrooms. Sometimes, the bigger opportunity is giving a perfectly good item a second life.
The Bottom Line
At a time when many people feel financially stretched, buying secondhand can be about being resourceful. And it’s about finding quality without paying premium prices.
Thanks to a generation of homeowners downsizing and passing along decades of accumulated belongings, there may never have been a better time to shop secondhand.
Before you buy new, take a look around. Someone may already have exactly what you’re looking for. And think about the impact you make on the planet.
