5 Incredible Benefits You’ll Enjoy When You Buy Second Hand Items
Many people don’t ever consider buying second hand when they are in need of something. Most of us are stuck in our routines of going to the same high street shops and never looking elsewhere. Part of the charm of second-hand items is their history; vintage clothes have become more popular in the past few years. But there are so many benefits to shopping second hand, which you might not have considered before.
1. Saving Money
The most obvious benefit of shopping for second-hand items is the reduced cost. Many people don’t realize the number of things available to buy second-hand from clothes to furniture- you can get pretty much anything you need. Buying a Whill mobility scooter is a great option to make accessibility more affordable. There are many websites that give you the option of buying used mobility scooters like KeepMovingCare.
A lot of second-hand items, particularly in the case of furniture, tend to be higher quality. Would you rather buy a cheap IKEA flat pack table or a solid wood one for the same price? Second-hand shopping can help you kit out your whole house on a budget. On occasion, you might also find designer items in second-hand shops. It means you get incredible quality for a small percentage of the cost. Regularly shopping for second-hand items, instead of heading to the high street, will make your money go further.
2. Helping the Environment
It is shocking to think about how something simple like buying a new dress requires manufacturing, transport, and packing, before eventually ending up in a landfill site. All of this damages the environment needlessly when there are perfectly good dresses waiting to be discovered in second hand or charity shops! When you consider the amount we consume on a day-to-day basis, and how much we throw away, it is hardly surprising the environment is suffering. Buying second-hand products, which would otherwise be thrown away despite being in good condition, prevents excess waste. So, second-hand shopping is helping you to do your bit for the environment.
3. The Excitement
We all love finding a good bargain. Taking the time to explore a second-hand shop is not dissimilar to a treasure hunt. You might not always find what you are looking for, but often it is the unexpected purchases that stay with us the longest and make us the most excited. Part of the thrill of second-hand shopping is that you will find a unique vintage item to spark your imagination. Most of us are led by the latest fashion trends when shopping for new clothes. You won’t find the same items cropping up again and again in charity shops, which means you have far more choice in your purchases than you would in chain stores.
4. Supporting Local Businesses
Many high streets have been overrun with popular chain stores, forcing smaller businesses to close down. It has taken a large amount of the personality and individuality away from towns and cities. It feels almost as if you could go to any city in the country and find the same town center. Shopping in second-hand stores means you are contributing directly to your community- helping to keep local businesses running or supporting local charities. You’ll find that these stores are less busy than others, so you’ll have plenty of time to browse at your leisure, and you’ll receive much more personal customer service.
5. Enjoying Clear Conscience
Not only does buying second enable you to help the environment, reducing the demand for clothing means that you are contributing to reducing labor in less developed countries. The clothing industry is, unfortunately, one of the most unethical industries in the world. Clothing companies take advantage of workers who are willing to work in overcrowded environments for a minimum wage. Producing clothes requires work with chemicals such as dyes and fabric glue, which can be very harmful to both the environment and the people working with them. By shopping second-hand, you aren’t contributing any money to the clothing industry. The impact of your actions might seem insignificant, but imagine if everyone started to shop like this. The clothing industry would be under huge pressure to improve working conditions.
Second-hand shopping is the perfect way to find everything you need, for a fraction of the price you’d find on the high street. The benefits span from helping your local community to thrive, to being able to diversify your wardrobe and stand out from the crowd. Second-hand shops and charity shops also tend to have fewer customers, which means you’ll get much better customer service than you’d find on the high street. There is nothing more enjoyable than finding a great deal, so head to your nearest charity shop today and see what you can pick up.
