A growing affordable alternative for buying things you need and want is shopping at resale and second-hand shops. Your first reaction may be that you don’t want to waste money on other people’s ‘junk;’ that you’d rather spend more and get items that are in new condition, without damage or wear. Upon shopping at a resale or second-hand shop, however, you may discover that, not only are the prices unbelievably low but that the quality and condition of the merchandise is surprisingly good.

After all – many items bought new are only used for a short period of time. When we’re finished using them, there’s still plenty of ‘life’ left in them. Take sports equipment, for instance. Outfitting a child for a sport can be a bank-breaking proposition. Add to that the fact that children grow – and grow tired – rapidly. That in itself is a perfectly good reason for purchasing sports equipment at a second-hand shop. There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with the equipment; the child has simply outgrown or grown bored of it or he or she would still be using it. Note that helmets should always be purchased new as they are built to sustain only one impact and you would have no guarantee as to the history of a helmet purchased second-hand.

There’s a plethora of items for sale worth your consideration at resale shops.

Smart items to purchase at resale/second-hand shops

• Toys and video games (another case of children outgrowing perfectly functional items)
• Exercise equipment (one person’s abandoned best intentions can help you get into shape)
• Clothing (an inexpensive way to add something new to your wardrobe)
• Accessories (costume jewelry, scarves, belts, shoes/boots, hats…)
• Furniture (find interesting pieces for your home or inexpensively procure the basics when just starting out)
• Kitchenware (dishes, flatware, pots and pans to equip a first home or augment your kitchen)
• Household accessories (lamps, mirrors, framed pictures, empty frames, figurines, vases…)
• Books (fortunately, reading it doesn’t use up a book)
• Musical instruments (many people purchase instruments, then abandon their intention of learning to play)
• Costumes (find vintage or distinctive items to create and accessorize do-it-yourself costumes for parties or performances)

Since shopping resale/second-hand shops is a bit like a treasure hunt, it’s important that you approach shopping them as an educated consumer.

Tips for wise resale/second-hand shopping

1. Know prices – When you know what items cost at retail stores, you’ll be better able to identify a bargain.
2. Shop on sale days – Even resale shops have bargain days and sales. Take advantage of those opportunities to save even more.
3. Buy out of season – Unlike many retail stores, out-of-season merchandise is often still available. Find off-season bargains when you purchase, for example, patio furniture, in November.
4. Time is on your side – Resale shops like fast turnover, which works to your advantage. The longer something is on the shelf, the more it will be discounted. Watch for price reductions on items you’ve had your eye on but don’t wait too long, or another frugal shopper may snatch up your bargain.
5. Early birds find especially good loot – There’s often a particular day when the new merchandise is put on display. Shop early on that day when you have the greatest chance of finding the best items the store has to offer.

Rather than offering other people’s ‘junk,’ resale shops present the opportunity for you to shop for quality merchandise with plenty of use left in it at considerable savings. It’s a good way to round out a household or meet short-term needs.

What bargains have you discovered at a resale or second-hand shop?

Eating a healthy diet full of fresh produce is one of the best investments you can make towards your long term health and well-being. The best news is that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune as long as you eat foods in season when they are at the peak of tastiness and nutrition.

Here are some foods to look for in the cooler months that are kind to your wallet, good for your figure and full of flavor!

1. Sweet Potatoes. These aren’t just for putting in a casserole topped with marshmalllows. Sweet potatoes can be used as a substitute for plain potatoes in many recipes, used in curries, soups and stews, used with black beans as a filling for enchiladas and burritos, served roasted in salads and even made into dessert.

2. Winter Squash. Baked acorn squash stuffed with wild rice is a wonderful, filling main dish (use sausage in the stuffing if you crave meat or a bit of cheese for protein). Butternut squash makes tasty pasta dishes and soups. Many people find spaghetti squash to be a good substitute for pasta and an easy way to ease young children into the idea of eating squash. In many places of the world, pumpkin isn’t just for decoration and pies, it’s also used as a savory ingredient like any other winter squash. Just don’t try the pumpkins grown for jack-o-lanterns, they are edible, but very watery and fibrous. You can, however, roast and eat the seeds.

3. Apples of all kinds! Honeycrisp and other artisanal apples might be on the expensive side, but plenty of places see apples go to 99 cents and less a pound during the Fall months. Don’t just think of apples as a snack or dessert ingredient – try using them as an ingredient in savory meals, too. Apples pair particularly well with roast pork and chicken sausage.

4. Brussels Sprouts. Think you don’t like brussels sprouts? Try them roasted with bacon and a hint of balsalmic vinegar or shredded into a salad. Fresh brussels sprouts are very affordable in the Fall months and are worlds better than their frozen counterparts.

5. Broccoli. One of the most versatile and widely popular vegetables. Go beyond just raw and steamed and try roasted broccoli and featuring broccoli as the centerpiece of your meals instead of the co-star. Stir fried broccoli and tofu is nutritious and inexpensive meal. And if you like broccoli soup, try this dead simple recipe from celebrity chef Gordan Ramsay that just calls for broccoli, olive oil. salt, pepper and water.

6. Cauliflower. If you’re trying to limit your carbs, cauliflower is a good and inexpensive substitute for rice and potatoes. You can grate it and steam to use in place of rice or steam and mash to use as a mashed potato analogue. Some have even made pizza crust using cauliflower! Purple and orange cauliflower might be slightly richer in certain nutrients but good old fashioned white is at it’s peak and half the price of the fancier varieties in the Fall.

7. Pecans and other nuts. Nuts are usually quite expensive, but in the Fall, you might be able to find locally grown nuts at a huge discount (or maybe even a neighbor with a tree who will let you harvest some!). Many stores put nuts of all kinds on sale during the run-up to the holiday season. If you have room in the freezer now is the time to stock up! Costco, Sams Club and Aldi all are known for having good prices on nuts.

What are your favorite Fall fruits and vegetables?

Businesses are in business to make as much money as they can. And one way that food processors and household goods manufacturers can make a little more money is to “downsize” what you are getting. In frugal living circles, downsizing is often thought of as a good thing. You want to downsize your lifestyle and your costs. However, when it comes to what you are buying at the store, downsizing is the antithesis of frugality.

Here are some ways that you might be experiencing downsizing when you go to the store:

• Keep the same size package, but fill it a little less.
• Indent the bottom of the package so there is less product.
• Whip certain products up (such as spread, ice cream and yogurt) so that there is a little more air and less product.
• Shrink the size of the package (and the amount inside).

Of course, even though you are getting less product, you are still paying the same amount. This means that the processor/manufacturer can make their product go farther without having to pay more.

What Can You Do About It?

Of course, it is difficult to know what to do when you are faced with downsizing. You still need to buy certain products. And, unfortunately, you will be paying the same amount (or more) for less. It’s inflation at its sneakiest. But there are some things you can do to ensure that you are still getting the best possible value for your money:

• Check unit prices: The first thing you want to do is check the unit prices of different products. Most tags include a unit price for the ounce, or the gallon, or the sheet. You have to be careful, though; sometimes the unit prices are shared in the same units. You might find that one brand is expressed by the ounce, while another is expressed by the pint. Be sure you can convert to the same units (your phone, or a calculator, can usually help).
• Don’t assume that bigger means better value: We are used to thinking that a big package is a better value. However, the cost per unit may not actually be better when you get a bigger package. I was surprised when I discovered that a smaller package of laundry detergent was actually more cost effective than the big size. As a result, I bought several smaller packages.
• Look for sales: Sales on items tend to go in cycles. Track the cycles, and watch for sales. When possible, stock up during the sales so that you can get the best prices on staples.
• Ask for coupons: Look online for coupons, but also ask the company. In some cases, the company or manufacturer will actually send you a coupon if you complain about the smaller sizes. This can be an excellent way to get a little bit better value for your money.

There is no way to completely inure your pocketbook to downszing. There will always be something that gets in the way of your attempts to save money. Living frugal is about paying attention, and doing your best to stretch your dollar as much as you can.