Author of How to Prep When You’re Broke
I have a lot of old school items that I consider preps. From manual kitchen items and tools to old-fashioned containers for organizing, many of my preps were acquired second-hand or inherited. Whenever I go to a thrift store or yard sale, or peruse online marketplaces, I always watch for items that could serve me well in an emergency.
I have loved thrift stores and second-hand shopping my entire life. I remember being a little kid and begging my mom to stop at yard sales. She was never really into it – during her upbringing, that just wasn’t something people did unless they had no other option.
When I moved out on my own, I immediately decorated my dorm room with yard sale goodies and thrift store treasures. Everyone
loved coming into my cozy room to hang out. I was forever hooked on the unique “other people’s trash” as my treasure.
Later, when I became a prepper, I certainly didn’t have the budget to go out and spend a fortune on shiny new gear. But I was able to acquire tons of things by shopping at thrift stores, yard sales, and online marketplaces.
My rotary beaters came from my granny, as did some sturdy kitchen canisters. I have a manual typewriter from my dad’s office, as well as his assortment of hand tools. I inherited his medical books from college, and even though they’re out of date, I have found them to be valuable resources.
I found an old Singer treadle sewing machine, like the one I learned to use to make doll clothes when I was a little girl, on a lucky outing to a church thrift store when I lived in Canada. Over the years, I’ve probably gotten hundreds of mason jars from yard sales. I have picked up Merrell hiking boots in my size with the tags still on. Once, I even scored buckets of unopened survival food from an estate sale that were still more than a decade away from the expiration date printed on the bottom.
A huge percentage of my furniture and home decor items are straight from the thrift or yard sale. I love the eclectic vibe and pieces that have a story.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Trying to figure out how to stock up while prices keep climbing? We can help with our free guide and newsletter!
If I’m about to make a bigger purchase, I always see if I can find it used first. And the sky is the limit. I didn’t have a place for it, so I didn’t get it, but I have even seen a Harvest Right freeze dryer on Facebook Marketplace.
Speaking of Facebook Marketplace – if you are making a purchase from an online marketplace like that or Craigslist, follow the appropriate safety rules.
- Meet in a public place if possible.
- Take someone with you if the item is too big for a meet-up.
- If you can’t take someone with you, let someone know when you get there and when you’re leaving.
- Always inspect the item before making payment.
Don’t forget, you can also sell your unused goods online and at your own sales. Please keep the above safety tips in mind if a stranger is coming to your home.
What can you buy second-hand?
Here is a list of a few things you can be on the lookout for when you hit this summer’s yard sales and visit thrift stores. It is by no means comprehensive but I hope it gets your wheels turning for things you can acquire.
- Cast iron cookware (don’t worry if it’s rusted – it can always be cleaned up and made like new)
- Mason jars
- Manual kitchen tools
- Manual hand tools
- Hardware
- Solar items (make sure they have all their parts: cords, charger, and accessories)
- Non-electric sewing machines
- Non-electric typewriters
- Camping gear
- Games and puzzles (for entertainment)
- Books
- Containers to stash and organize preps
- Winter gear like coats, gloves, and hats
- Clothes
- Shoes and boots (make sure they are new or lightly used, so the insoles are still supportive)
- Canning pots
- Gardening tools
- Old-fashioned washboard
- Buckets
- Food-safe water barrels (I bought one that had contained pickles)
- Farm gear
- Candles and candle holders
- Mobility aids like canes, crutches, and walkers
Basically, if the item seems to have all its bits and pieces and doesn’t require power, it could be a good addition to your off-grid preps.
Here’s a video about buying preps at a thrift store
I also found this video from our friend Fred over at Modern Refugee. It turns out that he too is a second-hand shopper.
What about you?
Have you ever made any secondhand prepping scores? What’s the best thing you’ve ever gotten from a yardsale, thrift store, or marketplace? What is your favorite source for used preps?
Let’s discuss it in the comments section.
One Response
It’s amazing the things people think are worthless or hardly worth anything because they aren’t electric, especially tools. Not long ago I gave widow who selling her departed husband’s tools more than she was asking for because she didn’t realize the value of his antique hand drill and other items, she was surprised when I told her I couldn’t give her what she was asking because I’d feel bad, then gave her some suggestions on some other things she should markup. Some people might think that was foolish, but, to me, being a prepper also means being a trusted member of your community and taking advantage of an elderly widower’s lack of knowledge wouldn’t have sat well with me. Yard sales aren’t just a great place to find deals, it’s a great way to meet people in your neighborhood, build some relationships, and it’s very easy sometimes to find out who else are preppers just by what they have out. Have conversations with the elderly people, they know stuff and have done things!