Well, Hand-Me-Down!

by Cat Spencer

It’s the New Year, and everything old is indeed new again—at least, psychologically speaking. We’ve all made promises, haven’t we? You shall be a new person; you shall have a new life. Out with the old, and in with the new! As for me, it’s pretty much the same resolution dance as last year: eat less sugar, save more money, get more stuff done early in the morning before work. If I’m making the same promises to myself as last year, nothing is really new, right? So why do I need to fool myself into thinking that something is new, just so I can feel revitalized?

A college friend of mine who is a self-proclaimed activist and devout vegan made a promise to herself to never buy anything new. Of course, there are boundaries, for whereas a t-shirt can be laundered and a coffee table repainted, a toothbrush has but one owner. In this day of cheap labor (ahem, sweatshops) and mega-consumerism, it is all too easy to purchase all goods previously unused. But wouldn’t you rather have a book that has been, as the Velveteen Rabbit was, loved? Wouldn’t you sleep easier knowing that your dining room table played host to a loving family for generations before it graced your own eating area? Isn’t it nice to buy a sofa that is affordable not because it’s constructed of wood pulp, but because it has been sat upon for decades?

Growing up, I was rarely afforded the opportunity to purchase new things for myself. My mom would occasionally buy me new clothes, or make me a new dress, but for the most part, any “new” things I received were hand-me downs from my sister. Investing in products that have stood the test of time—a test that can be proven by the object’s previous owners—can be immensely satisfying.

As a New Year’s resolution, I encourage all you Inquirer readers to go old. New York City is a treasure trove of used items, and you won’t have to schlep out to Jersey for a dish rack. Here’s a little list to get you started. And while you’re at it, aren’t you dying to get rid of some of your old shit? The Salvation Army is just a phone call away. (1-800-95-TRUCK)

Used Photo and A/V Equipment through B&H Used Equipment

Used Books at the Strand

Used Musical Instruments at the East Village Music Store

For a list of Thrift, Consignment, and Vintage Stores, click here

For a list Flea Markets in NYC, click here