Think Before You Buy

American Culture trains us to gratify our senses. If we see something we want we go get it. That's part of what makes America great...unless you're racking up a bunch of debt trying to keep up. In the past several years a simple habit (discipline) has revolutionized my budget.

If there is something I need my discipline is to search high and low for a used (preferably barely used) alternative before I buy new. Our family is notorious for killing cameras so we don't want to put a ton of money into them. We decided to buy off Ebay for our last digital camera and we've had the best experience with our Nikkon. We paid 1/2 price for a camera that had been used once or twice.

Just recently we needed a video camera. Ours has not been working for about 2 years now and we were realizing how much of the kids lives we were missing. I decided to keep a watch for a video camera. Just the other day a woman (who bought a camera a couple of years ago and decided she didn't want it) posted a barely used video camera. $60! It's not the newest camera in the world but it will do us quite well for how we plan to use it. I can't even count the amount of money we've saved recently since we do this with clothes, furniture, tech devices...you name it.

Don't be afraid of buying used but do be careful. It's not always the deal that it seems.

Check out:
Craigslist
FreeCycle
Neighborhood groups like Craigslist
Moms groups in town (great for strollers, baby needs)
Play It Again Sports (or similar stores)
Resale shops in upscale areas of town

The moral here is this: Think before you buy...brainstorm ways to get what you need at the lowest price possible.