To think we all need to learn to love second hand

[Ravenspeckingontheroof]

Second hand almost everything? Go onto eBay; there are 92000 used size 10 tops for sale, 4500 used travel systems, 1700 used Bluetooth speakers. Go to your local recycling centre and watch people throw perfectly useable furniture away.
We are literally drowning in cast offs many of which will go to landfill, but which are perfectly useable.
I’d say about 1/3 of my wardrobe is preloved and maybe 10% of our household furniture. I love going and choosing new things. But I think choosing preloved needs to become a first choice, and we should be incentivised to do so.
But if I walk down any high street, read any magazine, pick up my phone I am bombarded with ads for all the new things I ‘need’. Every single shop is rammed with more stuff to buy. Our society depends on us buying more stuff. How do we fix this?

But if no one bought any new clothes for 5 years, all the clothing shops would go under. And then after those 5 years are up and everyone needs new clothes because the old ones are ruined, what do you suggest then? We all start making our own? Considering there are people in Britain alone who struggle to boil water, I think you're asking too much of people these days.

My biggest second-hand bugbear is the "stuff" associated with celebrations - halloween costumes, world book day costumes, christmas decorations etc. All the "seasonal" aisle stuff at Home Bargains, basically.

I do buy a lot of that stuff second hand, when my kids were small all their halloween outfits were handed down, or bought at car boot or charity shops. In most normal years we have boxes and boxes of baubles and stuff donated to the charity shop which flies off the shelf, some of those Christmas tablecloths or centrepieces can be really expensive to buy new and when you're really only using it for one meal second hand makes far more sense.

I'm currently on the lookout for some storage jars for the kitchen for tea, coffee and sugar. The ones we have are fine, and about 15 years old, but very plain and grey and I'd prefer something with some colour. Will keep looking until something pops up.

"Pre-loved" is an awful, mealy-mouthed term! Second hand is far more to the point.

But if no one bought any new clothes for 5 years, all the clothing shops would go under. And then after those 5 years are up and everyone needs new clothes because the old ones are ruined, what do you suggest then? We all start making our own? Considering there are people in Britain alone who struggle to boil water, I think you're asking too much of people these days.*

Interesting point. I'm a big fan of 2nd hand stuff - clothes, furniture etc although I do regularly buy new as well. But my job relies on people buying new (non essential!) purchases.
I make and repair jewellery. Even if everyone bought vintage, they would still need someone to mend it when it breaks...but it would be hard to make a profit from only repairs and never selling a new item. However most elements in jewellery are pretty recyclable - gold, silver or platinum can be (and are) melted and reused and obviously diamonds and other precious stones are reused if something is remodelled - its possibly one of the few things people wouldnt throw away!!

I'm a big fan of second hand. The only problem at the moment is that our local charity shops have all closed their changing rooms which makes buying things like jeans impractical. So I caved and bought new from sainsburys. Apart from that I pretty much only buy new underwear, swimwear and shoes.

@Anonmousse

* But if no one bought any new clothes for 5 years, all the clothing shops would go under. And then after those 5 years are up and everyone needs new clothes because the old ones are ruined, what do you suggest then? We all start making our own? Considering there are people in Britain alone who struggle to boil water, I think you're asking too much of people these days.*

Interesting point. I'm a big fan of 2nd hand stuff - clothes, furniture etc although I do regularly buy new as well. But my job relies on people buying new (non essential!) purchases.
I make and repair jewellery. Even if everyone bought vintage, they would still need someone to mend it when it breaks...but it would be hard to make a profit from only repairs and never selling a new item. However most elements in jewellery are pretty recyclable - gold, silver or platinum can be (and are) melted and reused and obviously diamonds and other precious stones are reused if something is remodelled - its possibly one of the few things people wouldnt throw away!!

Yup suddenly you would have no income, for 5 years. Probably longer actually considering how long jewellery lasts in comparison to clothes. So you'd either have to lose all income or go into a new job you probably wouldn't like.

The ideas not looking so fantastic now is it?

@55378OO8

I'm a big fan of second hand. The only problem at the moment is that our local charity shops have all closed their changing rooms which makes buying things like jeans impractical. So I caved and bought new from sainsburys. Apart from that I pretty much only buy new underwear, swimwear and shoes.

I spoke to the manager about this last week - we're planning a vintage event as we have so much 60s/70s clothing but if you're buying vintage you really need to be able to try it on as sizes vary so much.

Apparently they've been told by the charity retail association that the changing room has to be cleaned and sanitised after each use. We just don't have the manpower to be able to do that. Most charity shops are happy to refund though.

I was talking about this at work yesterday... I think young folk tend to buy on credit and to buy second hand requires available cash.
I buy almost everything second hand, love it.

I've also learnt new skills during lockdown. I have mended my tumble dryer, re-covered chairs and fixed my shower. All thanks to You Tube.

I have also reduced my outgoings on clothes and stuff by about 90%. I have found it just don't need what I used to think was essential.

Second hand is not my preference, but I will on school coats, sport equipment.

I buy most things second hand. Today I’m picking up a huge vintage rug that I paid £20 for and they usually sell for a hundred +.

Really have to look around for a good bargain though as charity shops often aren’t as cheap as they used to be.

I don't think it needs to be as extreme as "don't buy anything new for 5 years".

But there is a huge issue with disposable, fast fashion. Instagrammers who will only wear an outfit once. Stuff bought for a holiday and then discarded afterwards. People who change their colour scheme in their lounge every couple of years and buy all new cutrains/cushions/rug/decorations. People who buy a whole new set of Christmas tree decorations each year and discard afterwards.

There is a happy middle ground between all of this mindless consumerism and buying nothing, which would still keep the charity shops and car boots ticking over with second hand, and the retailers in business, but without the huge impact on landfill and the environment from fast fashion and cheap plastic.

I buy a lot second hand-i was brought up with an eco warrior father who believes everything can be bought second hand
I also have 6 kids who loved getting a bargain and it was new to them
Id say all my furniture in my house (apart from my mattress) is from charity shops-i love the thrill of the chase
I spend my life on ebay-and when I'm done it goes back to the charity shop
Talking to the younger kids at work,it seems they live it as much as I do but the older ones don't
Definitely doesn't have the sigma it used to have when I was a kid

I am looking at the furniture in my lounge now
3 things were gifted second hand
1 inherited
1 corner unit bought new nearly 30 years ago
I nest of tables bought new about 20 years ago
Sofa and armchairs bought new 4 years ago but will probably still be in use in another 20 years.
The dining room was decorated over lock down. The table was gifted 10 years ago and the chairs were getting scruffy so I recovered. Table was polished and I will probably still be using it in another 10 years.
Wall unit that was bought at the same time as the corner one in the lounge was a bit scratched so I treated the scratches with wood stain and repolished.
There is nothing new about buying secondhand and using or up cycling the things you have already got. So of us have been doing it for years.

Other than my cars, none of which have been new, I've never had anything in my adult life second hand and have no interest or desire in purchasing secondhand items.

We grew up with little money. Most of our clothes shopping came from a couple of charity shops in town, meaning we didn't always get much choice in what we had. Our furniture was always from secondhand shops and didn't match in the slightest and was never good quality.

But there is a huge issue with disposable, fast fashion. Instagrammers who will only wear an outfit once. Stuff bought for a holiday and then discarded afterwards.

I wonder what happens with all the matching Christmas pjs people buy (kids one can prob be passed down in families but do adults have multiple pairs of xmas pjs after a few years?) , or hen night and stag do tshirts (do people wear them again?) Or bride/bridesmaid pjs and dressing gowns. If you were a bridesmaid more than once would you have a collection...?

There is a charity shop near me who pack up used toys in plastic bags with cardboard stapled to the top so it looks like they are brand new toys.
As much as I hate the unnecessary waste, I think this is the idea.
Packaging used goods as new goods. So keeping the boxes for toys stored flat in a cupboard for selling on or donating to a charity shop back in the box. It makes it more appealing to people who perhaps wouldn't normally buy second hand.

I have a Christmas t shirt. Bought after Christmas in the Tesco sale for a couple of £. Had it about 8 years now as I only wear it for a few days over the Christmas period. It will probably end up in the rag bag when someone sorts my clothing after I die which hopefully won’t be for a good few years yet.

I try too but I just don't like buying second hand. The thought of someone else using it or touching it beforehand makes me shudder. Especially things like baby clothes or sofas and I'm aware you can wash them and what not. But just not for me.
I do try to not waste food though.

Most of my furniture is second hand and I like it better than modern stuff, and it cost a lot less (it's all wood and good quality).

I don't get this shame about wearing second hand clothes as a kid. My older friend's mother passed on her clothes to me, my mother passed on my clothes to a cousin - we didn't feel any shame, in fact I was always excited when more clothes arrived. It wasn't done because we couldn't afford new, it was just what you did - surely better than throwing good clothing away because it no longer fit. I buy a mixture of new and used and always buy used bags as I like them to look worn in. I refuse to pay a fortune for something shiny and new which is soon going to look used when I can buy one already used for a fraction of the price. The bag I use everyday would have cost around $700 new - no way would I ever pay that, even if I could afford to.

I do agree that we need to buy less, and to fix things rather than replacing them.

@notyourmummy

I don't know how to fix it but I agree with you. My children both go to schools with vvvvvv expensive uniforms - both are largely kitted out from second hand uniform shop, where the stuff is in excellent condition and so much cheaper (daughter's full uniform for Reception around £100, would be £500+ new and they're changing uniform in September 2022!!) In this case it's a status thing, most other parents I know don't want their child in "old" clothes, and they say they can afford brand new so why not?!

Yes, I buy second hand uniform where I can and every second size only. Hate the trend of buying cheap new uniform every September. I think there needs to be more rules around uniform changes as it is such a waste of uniform that cannot then be passed on.

Oh, and jewellery - I never buy that new. I look at the prices in shops and shudder - then look at my jewellery, which cost a lot less and is far better quality.

I have a Christmas t shirt. Bought after Christmas in the Tesco sale for a couple of £. Had it about 8 years now as I only wear it for a few days over the Christmas period. It will probably end up in the rag bag when someone sorts my clothing after I die which hopefully won’t be for a good few years yet.

My xmas tshirt is from primark, I've had it about 5 years and no plans to ditch it unless it's too small or gets tatty.

It wasn't done because we couldn't afford new, it was just what you did - surely better than throwing good clothing away because it no longer fit.

I think this hits the nail on the head. If you are choosing to use hand me downs or charity shop for your kids, or were brought up in a house where adults were aware of waste and had a "make do and mend" mentality, second hand was seen as a positive choice and that attitude is passed on to children and down through the generations.

If however you felt you grew up in a house where you never had anything new because your parents were skint, and felt judged by all the other kids in new party dresses and smart trainers, you are more likely to have the mindset that second hand is second best and only for people who can't buy new.

A good friend of mine has twin girls, then a younger daughter the same age as my DD. As she had twins, she had 2 of everything in most sizes. Her DD got first pick, then she'd bring round black bags full of stuff for DD. DD thought it was like Christmas, she would get so excited over her new (to her) things.

There was also the famous Boden rugby shirt which I was given for DS (new), then went to a friend for her DS who is a year younger, then back to me for my younger DS, then passed onto a friend for her two younger DS. I think it went through about 7 kids before it was done.

I just wear pjs. I don’t care if I’m wearing Christmas ones when it’s not Christmas.

I don’t have a Christmas t shirt and my Christmas jumper is about 6 years old and I don’t see me buying a new one anytime soon

I worked for a while in the recycled goods shop at our local resource recovery park. The stuff there cost next to nothing, and there were people who called in every day, even two or three times a day, to check out the latest stuff. If there was something you were looking for it could more often than not be found there. As for the clothing, there was some fabulous stuff, especially for small children - much of it must have only been worn once or twice. One woman had moved from another country and had furnished her whole house from our shop. It was an education to see the people who shopped there also - many of them quite wealthy.