Ten things best bought new.

Some used items are wonderful finds, sold at a great price.  This is a follow-up to last weeks post about items you should always buy used online.  However, there are items are worth shelling out a few extra dollars to buy new.  Here are a few items that we think you should stay away from buying second hand.

1. Bedding.  You shouldn’t even consider buying used bedding of any kind.  Used mattresses, sheets and pillows are all things that should be off limits.  Think how hard it is to clean a mattress.  Do you really want to sleep in a stranger’s germs?  A mattress should be changed every 5 years anyway.  Here is a link that will further explain why you, and only you, should be the owner of your bedding.
2. Plasma TVs.  This is one item buyers should be very careful about purchasing.  Used plasma TV’s will no longer be under warranty, so you’ll have do a lot of research and personally check out the TV before you buy it to make sure it is in good condition.  When plasma screens are damaged they either leave permanent ghost marks on the screen or no longer turn on at all.  The repairs might cost you more than you bargained for. 
3. Swimsuits.  You wouldn’t want to wear someone else’s underwear.  Its the same concept with a swimsuit.  Something that close to your body is a one time ownership deal.  Enough said.
4. Car seats.  Children grow out of most of their things very quickly and it can be easy to buy used items to save a little money, however you should never buy a used car seat.  Sometimes cars can be wrecked and put back together but they will never be the same.  The same goes for a car seat.  You don’t know what the seat went through with it’s previous owner or how long it has left in it’s life span. Your child’s safety is worth spending a few extra dollars on a new one.  You can always save a little extra by buying them a used toy.
5. Laptops.  These computers are made to take with you where ever you go and from this they get a lot of wear and tear.  The more times you take your laptop with you the more opportunity you have to bump it or even drop it.  And laptops are expensive.  If you are considering buying a used laptop, make sure it has an extended warranty.  That way if it has been dropped one too many times at least you won’t be out of pocket.
6. Lawn Mowers.  Mowing the lawn is a laborious task.  It can be hot and exhausting.  Nothing is more frustrating than using your whole body to continuously pull the chord to a lawn mower that won’t start in the dead heat of summer.  Save yourself a few curse words. Lawn Mowers don’t last a lifetime, but buying them new might ensure that they will at least have a longer life span.
7. Camcorders.  If it is a moment that you want to keep in time forever than don’t take the chance of missing it.  Camcorders are hand held items where the user is focusing on something else other than their surroundings so, let’s face it, they get dropped and bumped.  And it always seems that there is no minor repair when it comes to something that has a lens.  Make sure you buy a camcorder that is new and drop free so that you don’t miss the moments you want to cherish later.  And extended warranty here isn’t a bad idea here either.
8. Styling products.  Never buy used make-up or hair products.  When you apply make-up to your face the make-up collects germs, dirt and oil.  Don’t apply someone else’s germs to your face.  The same applies for hair care products.  Many diseases can be spread by sharing any kind of styling brush.  You might save some money on the products, but you might have to spend extra money on lice shampoo.
9. Software.  Be careful when you buy used software.  CD’s can often be scratched or unreadable.  Make sure you buy software that is compatible with your system.  And be careful that the software you are buying doesn’t have a license for one time use. 
10. The obvious.  If it looks questionable, then it probably is.

As we would recommend when purchasing anything off the Web, use your best judgment.  Make sure you do your research and whenever possible purchase used items that come with warranties.

What are some items that you think should never be purchased used? 

Advice from the experts on things that you should always try to buy from someone else instead of from the store.

The classifieds can be a scary place.  It can sometimes be tough “window shopping” through the classifieds and wondering what is safe to buy and what isn’t.  Some things are common sense.  Buying used underwear?  No.  Never.  Buying a used coffee pot?  Of course!  I know I’ve sold stuff that hadn’t even been used for 1/3 of the price it was being sold in stores for.  As long as you are buy smart, buying used items is a great way to find amazing and unique stuff at a great price.

I love to read what other experts have to say on the topic of buying used.  Here is a great article by Sara Noel that might help you along TheFreeWay.

12 Things You Should Buy Used

Buying used isn’t for everyone, and that’s terrific news. That means there’s more for the rest of us. The prices on just about everything are out of control, so more and more people are practicing frugality to beat the high cost of living. While some people will continue to buy things new, many admit they wish they hadn’t wasted the money.

Let’s consider everything you’ve bought brand shiny new in the past year. How much do you think you could have comfortably bought used? I’ll share my top-12 list of everyday items you can buy used, so you can potentially save hundreds of dollars this year. Not only that — they often have enough usable life for you to pass them on, too. Think price and planet.

TOYS AND GAMES: Wash used toys, and they’re as good as new. Many kids quickly grow tired of toys or simply outgrow them, so there’s never a shortage of them available used or free. Preowned video games are sold at a considerable discount. You can trade back your old games, too. Consider just bikes and outdoor play equipment, and the savings add up quickly. Many youth bikes, scooters and roller blades are rarely used before outgrown. And how many times have you seen Little Tikes items at garage sales and even on the curb?

BABY ITEMS: Babies grow fast, so clothing (this can be applied to the entire family) and gear can be found cheaply secondhand. If you’re buying gear, check for recalls at http://www.cpsc.gov and http://www.recalls.gov. Let people know you’re open to hand-me-downs, too. What you save can go straight to the baby’s college fund.

CARS: Let someone else take the depreciation hit. To avoid problems, research before buying. Know the value of the car, and get a mechanic’s inspection and opinion. Test drive and check the car’s history at Auto Check (http://www.autocheck.com).

RECREATIONAL ITEMS: Campers, boats, motorcycles, jetski and athletic and fitness gear are some of the higher ticket items that should be bought used for a considerable discount. Heck, You can even look for hot tubs, too. The best part? You can use these items and often trade up later.

MUSIC AND MOVIES: Cassettes, CDs, DVDs and instruments are often sold after the owner has lost interest. It’s difficult to know whether a child will maintain interest in an instrument, so buying used is a practical decision. Used instruments can be donated at places such as Charity Music Inc. (http://www.charitymusic.org/websiteindex.html). Instruments are loaned at no charge to disadvantaged children.

HOUSEWARES: Even professional designers look for secondhand accessories. You can find great deals for your home on items such as appliances, tableware, linens and framed art, to name a few — all for a fraction of the cost.

FORMAL DRESSES: It’s become fashionable to wear used vintage formal gowns. Teens attending the prom have a chance to wear a unique dress that was probably worn only once by someone else. Consider paying it forward after the prom by donating it. The Glass Slipper Project (http://www.glassslipperproject.org/yostate.htm) has a listing of programs that accept them. Help make the prom special for someone else.

FURNITURE: Consider floor models to get deep discounts. Antique furniture is interesting and unusual. For next to nothing, you can find quality used furniture that needs only upholstering or a little sanding or paint. Furnishing an office can be expensive, but with liquidations, closeouts and plenty of resellers, it doesn’t make sense to buy new.

CRAFT SUPPLIES: Whether it’s small items like yarn or big items like a kiln, craft hobbies don’t have to be hard on your wallet. Have craft supplies collecting dust? Consider joining a craft swap. Swap-bot (http://www.swap-bot.com) has swap listings and helps organize swaps.

BOOKS: Textbooks are expensive, so buying used cuts costs. Places such as Abe Books (http://www.abebooks.com) can help you find titles for less. Or try Direct Textbook (http://www.directtextbook.com) which compares prices from 30 bookstores. Between libraries, used bookstores, garage sales and thrift stores, books can be found cheap or free. You can buy books or donate to help support literacy at Better World Books (http://www.betterworldbooks.com). Consider swapping books you’re done reading and pick up some you want to read by visiting Paperback swap (http://www.paperbackswap.com) or your local used bookstore. Before throwing books away, consider donating them to organizations such as Books for Soldiers (http://www.booksforsoldiers.com) and Books for the Barrios (http://www.booksforthebarrios.com).

GARDENING SUPPLIES: Split perennials with friends, neighbors and family. Place an ad looking for used reclaimed and repurposed materials such as brick, mulch, grass clippings, stones/rocks from farmer’s fields and wood. You might be able to get these items free, too. Shop garage sales for tools and garden machinery such as mowers, saws, hedge clippers, etc.

HOUSES: Many older homes are better constructed and have more character than their newer counterparts. In many areas, they are on larger lots, on a street where all the homes are architecturally different and with mature landscaping, too. Often, buyers can get more features for their money in an older home than by building new. You might find hidden treasures, too.

What items do you think are best to buy used?  We want to hear from you!  Send in your comments to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Also coming this week:  10 Things you should NEVER buy used

If a garage sale sounds like a hot mess to you, try logging in and hosting a virtual garage sale.

Summer is coming to a close.  The heat is slowly starting to subside.  It’s the time of year when families are returning from their vacations and school is starting again. But if your garage is as messy as mine, than you may still be feeling the heat from your spouse to clean it up. 

Most people find that garage sales are an easy way to get rid of the unused clutter around your home while making a couple bucks in the process.  However most garage sales are time consuming.  There are signs to be made, items to be priced and then drug out into the yard.  Then the family has to sit in the hot morning sun on a Saturday while the community takes their time looking at your goods.  All the while hoping it doesn’t pour down rain on all of your hard work.

All though garage sales are so much fun for people to go to, it means work for some people.  If you are the kind of person who just doesn’t have that kind of time on your hands, try having a virtual yard sale.  Take an hour on Saturday coming up with a list of your unused items and go out into the garage and take a picture of each one.  Log in to your account on the freeway and upload your items with their pictures and prices. 

It will take less work and time than an actual garage sale and you don’t have to worry about your spouse nagging you about getting rid of that awesome foosball table that you still have from college.  All you have to do is take the picture, upload it online

Helpful hints on how to buy online the smart and safe way.

      As much as we would like everything to work perfectly all the time, sometimes things just don’t turn out the way we want them to.  Sometimes people aren’t completely truthful when they post things online and that sucks.  Nobody wants to be on the bad end of a deal and we want to ensure that happens as little as possible.  Our users are important to us and we wish we could guarantee that it would never happen, but there are some things that we can’t control.  So here are a few tips about online buying that may help you along your journey.  If you are buying online, trust your instincts and have fun!

- Be sure you ask plenty of questions.  You want to make sure that this is a legitimate transaction.  Asking questions will fill any informational gaps you might find in the listing.  Make sure this is the right item for you and make sure the seller knows enough about the item to ensure that this is a good buy.

- Give limited personal information.  Other than the credit card information that TheFreeWay.com will ask you, you should NEVER give out any of your information to a seller.  To protect yourself in a face-to-face transaction always use cash.

- Do you have to meet the seller?  Make sure you choose a public, well lit place.  It is always a good idea to bring a friend along as well.  As the old saying goes there is safety in numbers.  And always tell a friend where you are going and what time you will be back.  The more information a friend has about your meeting the better the opportunity they have of making sure you are safe.

- Do research on your item and how much it should be worth.  Those Beanie Babies people were saving in hopes that they would be worth their weight in gold in the future, but now are only worth about $2 - $10 for the most part.  Be careful that you are not buying an item for $1,000 that is really worth a lot less.  Let your fingers do the clicking and check the estimated worth of the item today.

- See it before you buy it, especially if there is no picture with the ad.  If someone is selling a slightly used TV and does not have a picture of it listed online, go and check it out in person.  Plug it in and make sure it works or doesn’t have any scratches down the front.  Sellers should always be honest in their descriptions, but people are not always as nice as we would hope them to be.  And these items are used or pre-owned.  Although well-loved, some of items may tend to look a little antiqued.  Make sure you are buying what you are looking for… or at.

Find great tips on how to sell your home quickly.

Your home has been a place of laughter, tears and great memories.  Now it is time to move on to a new place and new memories.  But getting your home sold can be a major hurdle these days. Here are a few tips to help you get your home sold quickly.

Multiple Listings
Just a sign in your yard won’t cut it these days. One of the best ways you can ensure selling your house quickly is getting the maximum amount of exposure.  That’s how the pros do it.  They know that they more ads you place in print and online the more opportunity potential buyers have to see your great house!  The write up for your ad should be short and full of facts about your home because most people scan ads to find what they are looking for.

Pictures are worth a thousand words (and dollars!)
Always add pictures with your listing!  People want to visualize the house before they take the time to visit it in person.  It is important to remember that people want to see the house and its amenities.  Moving cars, bikes and lawn furniture helps give prospective buyers a better view of the actual house and not of your stuff.  If you don’t have a picture of your home or it is currently being built, a great idea would be to add a picture of the floor plan.  A floor plan can give buyers a mental picture – which is better than no picture at all.

Put it in the spotlight
Show off your home by turning on soft lights throughout the house or open up all of the windows to let the sunshine in.  People are there to see your house, so make sure they can!

Make it sparkle
Cleaning your home is the cardinal rule for selling a home.  Clean obvious clutter around the house and don’t forget to clean things like windows, fans, and of course bathrooms! Storage space is a big concern for many buyers, so don’t forget about your closets and attics.  After cleaning, placing fresh flowers in the house is a nice touch to give it an inviting look (and they help keep your house smelling great too!)

Just like mom used to make
People want to buy a house that feels like home.  When people come to view your house a helpful hint is to bake cookies right before they get there.  Not only is the smell of cookies delightful, but it also brings up good memories for most people.  Who doesn’t like a cookie right out of the oven?