How to buy (almost) whatever you want without blowing a tight budget

Want an electric bike? A better wardrobe? A cordless drill? You can get whatever you desire delivered to your door at a fraction of the price if you choose to buy second hand. And if you also list some of your own unwanted items, the impact on your bank account could be less than zero. Veteran thrifter Frances Cook explains.

One of the biggest myths in the money world is that being “good with money” means going without.

Living a smaller, less joyful life.

Whereas it’s often about finding the tactics that help you live the biggest life possible, in the way that makes sense for your priorities, and values. And embracing the second-hand economy is a key way to make that happen.

We’re not doing the version of this that starts with “every little bit counts” and ends with a tip about buying slightly dented tins. We’re doing the version that helps you both save, and make money, whichever you’re needing most right now.

Trade Me’s 2026 Circular Economy Report found the average New Zealander had 19 items they would happily on-sell, worth about $1300.

That’s $1300 of stuff you've already forgotten about, sitting in a cupboard or a garage, which someone else would pay real money for right now.

Everything you own used to be money. So how about turning some of it back into cold, hard cash?

If your house feels messy, and a declutter could be in order, a $1300 reward is a pretty good way to give yourself some motivation.

Go room by room, identify anything you never really liked or haven't used in 12 months, and list it.

You don’t have to do it all at once, because honestly, that’s how a task gets so big that you give up entirely.

And you wouldn’t be alone on that, because the same report found 72% of us plan to sell unwanted items, but only 43% of us have actually sold anything in the past six months.

So keep the task manageable, one room at a time, eye on the prize with the money you can make by the end of it.

Don’t forget, that $1300 estimate is an average. Families with kids and hobby equipment, or a person with an expensive clothing habit could be sitting on significantly more.

When you’re trying to get the best bang for your buck, getting strategic about where you list can really help.

As a dedicated second-hand enthusiast (I once challenged myself to only buy second-hand clothes for a year, and have barely looked back), I’ve found there’s a difference in the strengths of the main platforms.

Trade Me has higher verification of users, so can be better for anything high-value or trust-sensitive.

Meanwhile, Facebook Marketplace is a little bit more of a wild west, but has a wickedly fast turnaround.

If you have bulkier or lower value items, or you’re targeting people who live closer to you, it can work well and often get things sold in only a day or two.

Then you have your specialist outlets, particularly for the fashion fiends.

Designer Wardrobe is one where you can get a better price for high-quality clothes, with a buyer base that wants well cared for second-hand clothes.

Selling is one thing, buying is another.

Obviously, the fastest way to save money is by not spending it at all.

But beware the financial crash diet.

Just like a regular diet, creating an incredibly strict system with no enjoyment or perks is usually a recipe for surviving two days, then crashing out and gorging yourself on everything you’ve denied yourself. Tell yourself you can’t have something, and the brain is likely to fixate.

So my tactic for enjoying life for less, is to go second-hand.

It’s an easy way to decorate your home, try new hobbies, or enjoy a little luxury like a new top you feel cute in.

It’s a fraction of the price of new, is sometimes still in the box or has the tags attached, and is far higher quality than what you’d get spending a similar amount on something like Temu.

How much can you save?

That depends what you’re wanting to buy, but globally electronics can go 40-60% off for second-hand and refurbished, while things like furniture can be 50-80% off when they’re second-hand.

I once got an entertainment unit for $100, and Googled it to find the original price was $2000.

Bargain.

I often think that community is the underrated way to save money, such as swapping power tools between family members for DIY projects.

But if your family isn’t handily inclined, you can still create your own frugal community.

Buy Nothing groups operate on Facebook, organised by suburb or neighbourhood.

The idea is simple: members offer items for free, and request items they need, with no money changing hands. The exchange is based on gifting and community.

It can be particularly useful in certain seasons of life, such as households with young children, as there’s a high flow of outgrown clothes, toys, and gear passing through these groups.

Search "Buy Nothing [your suburb]" on Facebook to find your local group, and start sharing your surplus, while benefitting from what others have to share too.

The second-hand economy works best when you stop treating it as a last resort and start treating it as a first option.

Pay less, get higher quality, and stop things heading to landfill. What’s not to love?

List five items this week, to get rid of clutter in your home and make some extra cash while you’re at it.

Spend five minutes on Trade Me before your next big purchase, checking if there’s a better option someone else has listed.

Before you know it, you’re living large on the tiniest of budgets.

The information in this article is general in nature and should not be read as personal financial advice.