I don't buy/use second hand, ie clothes, electricals, toys, shoes, etc (New to MN)

[HowTerriblyEngliscOfMe]

Nor have I ever. Not as a child, not as a teenager, not as an adult and now, not as a parent. If you have the money to not to need to go second hand for things, why are others so disgusted at the concept that you don't? I understand why people do it even when they don't need to, and I know there are plenty of people who don't have any other choice, but why can't people just leave me to it? It's my family, my home and my decision.

It's my mil who gets the most distressed about it. She will go on at me about it every chance she gets and I really don't understand what her problem is. I don't NEED to save that extra few hundred pounds, I don't NEED to buy toys and clothes in charity shops, I don't NEED to buy my electricals from eBay, so what is her problem?

When we started collecting things in preparation of our first child's birth, she was so weirdly mortified that dp and I were going out buying new nursery furniture and clothes, car seat, soft toys etc. She would utterly panic when we would mention that we were researching cots or buggies.

"But this person had a baby last year, you could have theirs! I'm sure they wouldn't mind! Let me get you their number..."

It got worse when dd was born she would come and thrust other peoples old baby clothes at me and continue to suggested people who had things they could give us, or come bringing baby toys from charity shops. Eventually I got so frustrated with it, I just told her outright to stop, quite forcefully actually. But it just continued a few years later when ds was born and it still continues today.

Do people really think IABU? Why? Anyone else out there like me?

[specialsubject]

up to you if you have the money, and have enough spare money that when you or DP lose your job (because everyone does at some point) there won't be a panic.

I find it incredible that new buggies cost hundreds of pounds, but it is really hard to sell second hand ones for a fraction of the cost. I've seen rows of them lined up in shops for about £30 each.

your money, you decide. I think second hand is more fun!

[thegreylady]

I understand though I have bought from charity shops for myself I wouldn't buy soft toys or baby clothes. I do have lots of plastic/wooden cs toys at my house for dgc and I enjoy a good rummage. If I was broke I wouldn't hesitate.

[SoldeInvierno]

I fully understand, as I am nearly the same. I have never bought anything from a charity shop, although I do donate a lot to them. My cars have always been brand new, but the house was "second-hand", as I couldn't afford a newly built one. So, given the choice, I would never buy second hand.

As for antiques, I can't stand them. For me they are just old things.

[threesypeesy]

were the same i would never buy or wear or use second hand anything.

i would and have been offended when we were given 2nd hand baby clothes for dd3 they went straight in bin as we bought everything for each dd new

i see why some need to buy second hand but have no idea why those who can afford not to still do?

[Pandemoniaa]

I actually said I understood some people don't have a choice but to buy second hand...

I've never needed to buy second hand but I like a bargain and can't see the point of paying full price when there's an excellent alternative at a fraction of the price. When the dcs were small, my friends and I would regularly pass good quality but outgrown clothes on since it seemed such a waste not to. It also makes sense to take advantage of other people's rampant materialism.

Having said that, I'm very fussy about what I buy and wouldn't be tempted by anything that's clearly fit for a skip. So there are things I wouldn't buy second hand and I've never been tempted to fill the house with boot fair crap just because it is cheap.

[lljkk]

I love 2nd hand stuff, tickles my desire to do the green and frugal thing.

Do folk who don't like 2nd hand clothes also shun... 2nd hand cars? 2nd hand houses? Offices, office equipment? What about having a boyfriend who isn't a virgin? Could you bear to borrow a pencil or must you buy that new for your exclusive use, too?

What about money: can't get more germ-laden and well-used-by-other-people than money. How do you stand handling that?

[MurderOfGoths]

"i see why some need to buy second hand but have no idea why those who can afford not to still do?"

Because you can often find things second hand that you'd be unlikely to find new. (I've found some beautiful 1950s dresses in charity shops)
Because paying full price for baby clothes when they are barely going to be in them for 3 months seems excessive.
Because I like giving my money to charity shops rather than corporations.

[MurderOfGoths]

"i would and have been offended when we were given 2nd hand baby clothes for dd3"

Why offended?

[MrsKeithRichards]

To me it's more a green, reusing, saving from landfill type of thing and being a bit tight.

Car seats, pram, cot all new for ds1 but loads of second hand clothes.

Do what you do, meh.

[MrsKeithRichards]

What I mean is I could afford to dress my baby in brand new clothes but when I can get a black bag full for £20 second hand that'll see him through 6m why would I spend any more?

Frugality, cheapness, tightness, green -
call it what you may.

Dh will not wear 2nd hand. I wear almost nothing but!

[amillionyears]

Am I right in thinking the second hand issue is really an ew issue.
But in which case, what about your own familiy's clothes.
What would happen for example, if someone was sick.
Would you throw the clothes away?

[bishboschone]

To be honest you sound snobby . I had a privileged childhood and dh has a great job now but I love a bargain and happily buy second hand or take hand me downs from people. I have friends who were very poor when children who aren't well off now that won't have second hand . I think they are fools but each to their own .

[scottishmummy]

up to you,not compelled to buy 2nd hand.nor do you needy justify why you don't
your mil maybe another generation,maybe she scrimped and values money
it's great you're solvent,i hope it continues.mn can get competiteve over who most frugal

[threesypeesy]

offended as i wouldnt have had another child if i couldnt have afforded to kit them out and i wouldnyt like the thought of my new wee baby in another childs used clothes but thats just me clothes and furniture and household good i buy new

[HollaAtMeBaby]

I will buy second hand clothes e.g. charity shops, but never vintage. Vintage has a weird smell and makes me think of dead people!

Your OP comes across like a stealth boast though. As if you're turning your nose up. Also, unless you literally have unlimited money, it's a bit odd not to want to save money by getting second hand/free things in cases where you wouldn't know the difference. You could always use the money you saved to buy more diamonds or a pet unicorn or something

[amillionyears]

Just noticed though, that you dont do second hand electricals for example. No sick on them I presume!

So is it a germs issue?
But we can all have germs.

If all this sort of stuff became a problem for you, we could break it down into finding the actual problem, but you seem quite at ease with it all,so I am not sure there is a need for that.

[MurderOfGoths]

"i wouldnyt like the thought of my new wee baby in another childs used clothes"

You can wash them you know

Actually on the subject of wearing clothes that (shock, horror) others have worn, after working in a few clothes shops I wouldn't count on new clothes being free from others bodily fluids.

[MrsKeithRichards]

I'm itching to go charity shop raking now but they are all shut!

[threesypeesy]

i know it can be washed, its just not for me never stepped foot in a charity shop as a child or adult, even clothes and toys etc cleaned id think where have they been!

each to there own some people get some great finds

[WorraLiberty]

Congratulations on the most attention seeking thread title ever

As for the rest of the drivel, I lost the will to live after the first paragraph...

[scottishmummy]

no idea why you're getting a pasting,compared to the braggy stuff some do post
real stealth bragging is the competitive oh we eke out existence on 75p a week
dress baby in artisan hemp 2nd hand clothing and shop in haze of smuggery

[ILoveTIFFANY]

Worra

[scottishmummy]

some crucial mn mistakes op. 1.you're solvent and not apologizing for it

1. new to mn=folk will rip the piss as you're oblivious to mn where all are fair trade,2nd and,living on tuppence
   

3.should have posted about were can you get naice ham and waitrose,that'll flush out the affluents

[breatheslowly]

We can afford new for most things (we would probably struggle to easily afford new cars) but I have bought a lot second hand for DD, mostly from ebay. I do this because:

• you get a better choice of clothes than in the shops as they are from a range of seasons
  
• I have a bit of a shopping habit for DD's clothes and can afford 3x the number of dresses or better brands by buying secondhand. I don't bother with basic tops and tights as the postage wipes out the saving.
  
• they get delivered to the door