The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 1

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

16 Mar 2008 04:32 PM

When you are shopping for something new, consider buying it used instead. Many items can be purchased "like new" for a fraction of the cost.

Since I am a parent of three young children, I have a lot of experience with buying toys, both new and used. And for toys, used is the best bet 90 percent of the time. Kids quickly grow out of their toys or become disenchanted with them. Then parents get rid of the old toys and buy a bunch of new toys. Made of plastic, most toys are easy to clean and disinfect. Here are some specific toys that are always cheap and plentiful at yard sales, thrift stores and consignment shops.

Just a reminder here. Before buying toys used (or even new), familiarize yourself with toy recall lists.

Cozy Coup Car. Every house seems to have one of these. I can't count the number of these cars that we have either been given for free, found abandoned, or spotted at yard sales. At one time, when all three kids loved these cars and we had a lot of play dates at our home, we kept three of these cars in our yard and sold, gave away or donated a stream of at least four more. The most I ever paid for a car was $5. At $40-$50 retail, that adds up to a lot of money. I could have had my own little cozy coup car lot, if I wanted to go into business.

Little Tykes Items. From kitchen sets to outdoor play equipment, everyone loves the large Little Tykes toys. Right now on Craigs List for my area, I could find seven Swing Along castle playgrounds, selling for between $25 and $50. These sets retail for around $120 plus tax. There are also plenty of kitchen sets selling between $2 and $25, (compare at $40 to $159), and at least one toy box for $5 that normally sells for $50.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

The Best Things to Buy Used

Frugal Strategy: Delayed Spending

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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Angie (20) 16 Mar 2008 06:14 PM

I so agree about those Cozy Coupe plastic cars! There's ALWAYS one at my local thrift store. Freepeats.org and Freecycle.org are other good places to look for used toys (free!). Consignment sales, too, and 'tis the season for those.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 17 Mar 2008 04:51 AM

You are so right. I'm headed over to check out freepeats right now! It is new to me.

thequeenofthecastle (413) 21 Jan 2009 09:05 AM

I am a huge fan of buying toys 2nd hand and I'm worried about a new law out that might make it illegal for thrift stores to sell 2nd hand toys. I understand they are trying to raise the standards of toys and limit toxic plastics and lead paint, but this is going to be a real economic hardship for us, because it's going to knock out a huge source of toys for the kids. This law is suppose to take effect some time in Feb. I'm not sure of all the details. Have you heard of it??

thequeenofthecastle (413) 21 Jan 2009 09:19 AM

Okay, so here is the law: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act effective starting Feb. 10th. It sounds like it won't make it illegal to sell used toys, but it will require testing that is so expensive it essentially will make 2nd hand stores pull all their toys off the shelf. It's still a little unclear whether clothes will be included too. If anyone else has information about it, I would love to better understand it's implications. I've seen some sellers on Etsy (hand made goods for sale online) who are worried it might keep them from being able to sell their children things.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 21 Jan 2009 11:02 AM

Second hand stores are exempt from having to test their toys and children's clothing, but at the same time, they are not allowed to sell clothing or toys containing lead. So at this point I would say that it shouldn't affect these stores, although the wording is a bit iffy.