Gypsy
Super_Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2005
- Messages
- 40,225
So, my mother, when I was young was HORRIFIED at the thought of my buying anything second hand.
Seriously. My grandfather used to go to garage sales and buy second hand furniture (not upholstered pieces, but wood, which was what he liked). And I'd go browse with him. And I brought home a used something or other one time and my mother seriously acted like I had brought home cholera. She could not throw it out fast enough. She hated my grandfather buying furniture second hand, but he was her dad and she couldn't do anything about that, but when it came to me... nope, nope, nope.
I think for her, as an immigrant, it was a pride thing. Coming over to the states after a revolution where my family lost a lot of assets and prestige was hard enough. Her daughter buying second hand stuff was just too much. So, I never did it.
Now I'm an adult though and... honestly, so some things it just makes SENSE to buy second hand if you ask me. I started with jewelry. Both real and costume. And with furniture-- I like mid century pieces. And then I talked to some of my friends and they were buying all kinds of things second hand and... I started to browse.
On ebay and bonanzale I saw handbags from purseforum folks that are practically new and... I just made sense to me to buy one. So I bought my first second hand piece of non-jewelry.
And *gasp* then, I had to go to a wedding and needed a pair of evening shoes and didn't feel like spending the 200 bucks for a new pair (my feet are problematic and I have to wear super comfortable shoes) so I actually bought a pair of second hand shoes! They were worn once and a steal and I wiped them down when I got them. And well... I'm happy I did. Saved me a ton of money. Although I didn't tell the husband at that time, I did tell him later. (He also had an issue with me buying things other than wood furniture and purses second hand. Pride there too.).
And last month I even went ahead and bought a second hand suit. I love Lafayette 148 Suits. All wool and very little synthetic (just a little for stretch) is what I like in a suit. And they cost about 800 a pop new. And that's just out of budget right now. So... I looked on ebay and found one that was gorgeous and in like new condition and got it for a 120 bucks. Got it cleaned before I wore it and I gotta tell you... very happy I bought it. It's GORGEOUS. This one I did tell the husband about from the get go and he was surprisingly okay with it.
So it's been like a whole new world for me. Although I have not admitted any of this to my mom!
So... how about you guys? Second hand stuff yay or nay?
Seriously. My grandfather used to go to garage sales and buy second hand furniture (not upholstered pieces, but wood, which was what he liked). And I'd go browse with him. And I brought home a used something or other one time and my mother seriously acted like I had brought home cholera. She could not throw it out fast enough. She hated my grandfather buying furniture second hand, but he was her dad and she couldn't do anything about that, but when it came to me... nope, nope, nope.
I think for her, as an immigrant, it was a pride thing. Coming over to the states after a revolution where my family lost a lot of assets and prestige was hard enough. Her daughter buying second hand stuff was just too much. So, I never did it.
Now I'm an adult though and... honestly, so some things it just makes SENSE to buy second hand if you ask me. I started with jewelry. Both real and costume. And with furniture-- I like mid century pieces. And then I talked to some of my friends and they were buying all kinds of things second hand and... I started to browse.
On ebay and bonanzale I saw handbags from purseforum folks that are practically new and... I just made sense to me to buy one. So I bought my first second hand piece of non-jewelry.
And *gasp* then, I had to go to a wedding and needed a pair of evening shoes and didn't feel like spending the 200 bucks for a new pair (my feet are problematic and I have to wear super comfortable shoes) so I actually bought a pair of second hand shoes! They were worn once and a steal and I wiped them down when I got them. And well... I'm happy I did. Saved me a ton of money. Although I didn't tell the husband at that time, I did tell him later. (He also had an issue with me buying things other than wood furniture and purses second hand. Pride there too.).
And last month I even went ahead and bought a second hand suit. I love Lafayette 148 Suits. All wool and very little synthetic (just a little for stretch) is what I like in a suit. And they cost about 800 a pop new. And that's just out of budget right now. So... I looked on ebay and found one that was gorgeous and in like new condition and got it for a 120 bucks. Got it cleaned before I wore it and I gotta tell you... very happy I bought it. It's GORGEOUS. This one I did tell the husband about from the get go and he was surprisingly okay with it.
So it's been like a whole new world for me. Although I have not admitted any of this to my mom!
So... how about you guys? Second hand stuff yay or nay?