George Kamel - 8 Items You Should Buy Used (and 8 You Shouldn’t . . .)

Episode Date: July 22, 2026

🎥 Click here to listen to the first chapter of my book, Breaking Free From Broke.   You can buy pretty much anything used these days—but should you? Today, I’m sharing my top eight things I’d personally buy used, along with eight things I wouldn’t darken the door of a Goodwill for.    Next Steps: • 🎥 Watch my video My Top 10 Buy-It-for-Life Items! • 💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app! • 📈 Are you on track with the Baby Steps? Get a free personalized plan.   Connect With Our Sponsors: • Go to Boost Mobile to switch today! • Get 20% off when you join DeleteMe. • Go to FAIRWINDS Credit Union for an exclusive account bundle! • Sign up with Privacy today and receive a $5 credit just for being a George Kamel fan.   Explore More From Ramsey Network: 🎙️ The Ramsey Show 🍸 Smart Money Happy Hour 💸 The Ramsey Show Highlights 🧠 The Dr. John Delony Show 📈 EntreLeadership   Ramsey Solutions Privacy Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can buy pretty much anything used these days, as evidenced by Facebook Marketplace listings like this one. Why? Why? This is where we're at in America today. I don't know if this is a joke. I don't know if this is AI. How they got that many glizzies on that rake is beyond me. And honestly, the worst part is it's not the worst idea. And for 20 bucks, does it come with the glizzies?

That's what I want to know. I got a lot of questions for this guy. And for that, I'll give him one point, but negative 1,000. just for the visual. So yes, you can buy anything used, but should you? And that's why today I'm sharing my top eight things I would personally buy used, along with eight things I wouldn't darken the door of a goodwill for. But first, a shout out to delete me for sponsoring the channel,

your number one in my heart. Starting off with the number eight thing I would buy used, kids' clothes. As a fellow parent, I want the best for my kids, but I'm not spending 25 bucks on onesies that will inevitably be ruined by carrot puree in about 13 seconds. And since kids grow out of their clothes so fast anyways, you can save a ton of money by buying use from thrift stores, consignment stores, and even Facebook Marketplace. Yes, they have more than glizzy gear. You wouldn't know it.

Now my algorithm is going to be just mostly glizzy based on Facebook Marketplace. So thank you for that, guys. You got it, dude. And this is something my family does. My wife will go to consignment stores and find really nice used clothing that my kids can wear for the next two months before we, I guess. send it back to the consignment store to complete its journey. Now, number eight on my would-not-buyed-lis list, shoes. Or for those of you who are old enough, shoes.

If you know, you know. Look, the only way I'm walking a mile in another man's shoes is metaphorically. The idea of putting my feet where another man hath trod is my personal ick. And look, I've bought used shoes that were new in box before, but gently worn? Sure, bud. How gently? It's a foot! It's all of your weight inside of that shoe.

You can't be gentle with that. So if you need shoes and you want nice shoes, you can still get a good deal on new, never-worn shoes by hunting for online deals or checking outlet stores. Enough said about that. Moving on to number seven on the would-buy list is baby gear. I'm talking strollers, bassinets, cribs, jumpers, walkers, Texas Rangers.

RIP King. All of that stuff costs a small fortune to buy new these days. And yes, you can put it on your registry in hopes that Aunt Brenda buys it. But if you're left your own devices, buying it for yourself, don't go out buying brand new name brand stuff. That's $1,600 Chris loves Julia Changing Table from Pottery Barn. Just know that your sweet little Magnolia Joe is going to,

how do I put this delicately, desecrate it. I think it's the nicest word I can use. Look it up. She will destroy the sanctity of that changing table. And some things that I've personally bought used for my now infant and toddler, a glider chair for the nursery, A crib, a dresser. Sometimes you've got to clean it up a little bit,

but overall, if it's got good bones and it's in good condition, take it at a discount. Now, there is one big exception to this category, which brings us to number seven on the don't buy used list, and that is car seats. It's the same logic your mom used when you brought home a stray cat. You don't know where it's been. That car seat could have been involved in a car accident.

It could be structurally unsafe and yet look totally fine on the outside. Plus, it might have been recalled or expired. And yes, car seats have expiration dates. That's a conspiracy theory for another day. But to be fair, car seats have come a long way. I searched some from the 70s, and boy, oh boy, we were just taking a gamble anytime little Johnny was in the back seat. Bottom line, your kid's safety is not worth saving a few bucks. Buy these new.

And what I do is I wait for a good deal at Target when they have their car seat sale and get 20% off. Plus get a car seat on sale. Bada bimk, bada boom. You probably just save 40%. Coming in at number six on the would buy used list is books. There's basically no reason to buy a new book when you can find a perfectly good used copy of any book for half the price.

And I do mean any book, even the one from yours truly, which I found on Facebook Marketplace from Brandon. $10, is that all worth to you, Brandon? This book is life-changing. And yes, I'm interested. The big question is, did he even read it? He better be selling this book to pay off some debt.

That's the only good reason to sell it, Brandon. Let's go, Brandon. And by the way, this doesn't just apply to physical books. If you've got a library membership, you can get audiobooks and e-books for free from apps like Libby. So check that out too. And if you want a free teaser of my book on top of that, I will personally read you the entire first chapter of my book on video. I'll drop a link to that episode in the description. Okay, number six on my would-not-buy-use list is tires.

Now, depending on what you drive, new tires can cost you anywhere from $100 to $500 per tire. But the problem with these is what you can't see. Tiny cracks, hidden punctures, weather damage. all makes use tires wear out faster, which means you'll probably have to replace them sooner. Not to mention the higher risk of a blowout, much like Magnolia Joe on that changing table. The desecration, remember? The desecration, yes, yes, you're getting it now. Moving on to the number five thing I would buy used, musical instruments. If you're picking up an instrument for the first time or you've got a kid in high school

band, this is always the way to go. The last thing you want to do is sing hundreds or even thousands into a brand new Gibson just to play Sweet Home Alabama twice and decide, It's not for me. I always hated that song. If you're an experienced musician and you know you'll stick with it, that's when I actually recommend upgrading to a higher quality instrument, whether it's new or used. On to the number five thing I would never buy used, mattresses.

Now, I'm aware, mattresses are not cheap these days. You could pay anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to thousands of dollars. But here's the deal with used mattresses. I don't know what happened to that mattress before I owned it. And I don't want to know. That is between you and God. Plus, did you know? Not so fun fact.

Mattresses absorb an average of 26 gallons of sweat per year. Gallons! That's a lot of ounces. 3,328 ounces, to be exact. And that is 3,328 ounces too much sweat in that mattress. And to top it off, bedbugs, dare I say, more idarant. So it's a note for me, dog. But here's the deal.

No judgment if you're in a place in life where to use mattress is the best option. I have put up mattresses that were used by my family on Facebook Marketplace. We're giving them to coworkers. And that's great. They're saving money and they're okay, taking the gamble on if my dog peed on that mattress. My dog did in fact pee on that mattress. But he knew. I told him he didn't care.

Okay, what have we learned so far? Buying used can be a good thing. Being used never a good thing. Especially when it's my personal info getting used without my permission. And that's why I'm a big fan of today's sponsor, Delete me. While you're perusing marketplace for discount joggers, Delete Me is busy wiping your personal data off the internet. They scour hundreds of data broker sites, the ones responsible for peddling your info to spammers

and scammers, and get rid of that data and make sure it stays gone. And I get a little thrill every time they send me a report with how much time they've saved me. Right now, it's at 136 hours. And also right now, you can get 20% off an annual plan by going to join deleteme.com slash George. Now, if you're resorting to buying used mattresses to save money, may I offer a less icky option. You can lower your cell phone bill with Boost Mobile, another sponsor of today's video. If you've had the same phone plan for a while, chances are good. You've been overpaying for a while.

But with Boost Mobile, you get unlimited wireless for just $25 a month. And that's not some promotional rate that ends. It's $25 a month forever for as long as you both shall live. It's easy to switch and you still get great service and coverage. So make the switch today at boostmobile.com slash Ramsey. $25 forever requires customers to remain active on Boost Unlimited plan. Okay, back to the list. Number four on my would buy use list is tools. Now, I've never been accused of being a handyman or even having manly hands, but I have been accused of being a tool. Some have even called me a tool bag, which is a multitude of tools. I mean, have you seen me with a drill? How strong is the Lowe's $5 bucket that I can't even drill a hole into it? It's not

pretty. So for me personally, I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on tools because I don't use them a whole lot. But when I have the need, I'm looking for brands known for their quality, like Milwaukee or DeWalt. They're the best. It sounded cooler in my head. George, please just leave me alone. Be careful with cordless tools, though. You never know how much juice is left in that battery, and the batteries are the most expensive parts to replace. Tread with caution. My number four, do not buy use item, helmets and safety gear. When I was in my skateboarding prime, I was apparently too cool to wear a helmet on the streets of Boston. Now I'm too cool not to. I gotta protect the moneymaker, baby. Can't risk it. There's not a lot going on up there,

so if I hit my head, it's gonna just get worse. I'm gonna go full Biden. Not getting around. Another thing. Hey, Jack. Brock. Brock. But really, safety gear is very important, and it's not always the cheapest, especially if you're required to have it. Like motorcycle helmets, for example. A new helmet can run anywhere from 150 bucks to 200 bucks or more. But just like infant car seats, you just can't 100% trust used safety gear. If it's been damaged in any way, it may not protect you in an accident, which is kind of the whole point of safety gear. So again, tread with caution. Moving on to number three of my buy used list is gym equipment. Let me tell you, it takes a lot of work to build a physique this underwhelming, but it's intentional. I'm telling

you, my greatest fear is getting ripped and it going to my head. I'm already borderline unbearable as it is. Can you imagine me now jogging shirtless, yelling rising grinded strangers? We can't risk it. Now, have I bought used gym equipment? Absolutely. Did I use it? No. Did it look good sitting in that room?

Yes. Every time I walked by, I went, I see you, girl. One day, I'm coming for you. I don't know how to sit on the bench. How? They'll put some weights in post. Don't put five pounders in my hand.

All right, I can do 15s. On a good day, I can rock a 15th. But listen, if you're the type who wants to get in shape or stay in shape, buying new gym equipment is wildly expensive. And Facebook Marketplace is your best friend when it comes to used workout gear. Someone tried and gave up, and now they're offering you that equipment at a steep discount. Someone like me. It's me.

Someone like George Campbell. All right, number three on the would not buy used list is vacuums. Used vacuums are a hard no for me. Think about what a vacuum literally does for a living. It sucks up every disgusting thing on your floor for years. pet hair, dust, mystery debris, whatever your kids tracked in. And now someone's selling it to you for 40 bucks on Facebook Marketplace, like that's a deal. Problem is the filters are clog, the suction is shot, the brush rolls, a matted disaster,

and you have no idea what that thing has been through. All right, it's got some PTSD from the last home it's been in. You're not buying a vacuum, you're buying a stranger's dirt collection with a motor attached. So no, I'm going to wait for a sale to drop and buy new. I don't even trust my own vacuum. That's how disgusting they are. All right, we're down to number two on the buy-use list, and in the number two spot is furniture. At a big box furniture store, you can end up dropping several hundred up to a few grand on a single piece of furniture.

Plus, you run the risk of getting suckered into some bogus deal like 24 months special financing. How special is it? What makes it so special? It's 0%. It's a scam. Don't fall for it, Caleb Hammer. Oh, he already did. Oh, he did.

You have an Ashley furniture loan to furnish your almost milburgh. $1. Dollar home. Still paying off that couch. Rooting for you, bud. Rooms to go. Ashley furniture. Sprints with a Z. I don't like it. With little patience, you can find something gently used for way less. Coffee tables, chairs, anything solid wood or leather is usually a good buy used. Now, a small caveat here, be careful with upholstered furniture. That personally gives me the willies because I don't know what's been living in that fabric. Oh, can I give you a hack to? Life hack. the Google app and take a picture of whatever the thing you want, upload it into Google, and you can find a similar item for less if you are buying new. You're welcome. Now, for the number

two thing I'm not buying used, large appliances like stoves, dishwashers, or fridges. Now, look, I don't disagree that you can get a great deal on a secondhand appliance. For me, I'm just not considering the monetary cost. I'm considering the logistical cost. First, you've got to find a legitimately good deal. Then you have to harass your one friend with a giant truck to borrow it, Drive all the way there, pull a hamstring loading the thing, drive it home, heft it into your house, install it yourself, and hope it works. I have neither the patience nor the upper body strength for that. As I have been telling you, not a lot going on under this. And if it needs a repair, God help you.

You might as well have just purchased it new because that's going to cost you a pretty penny. Appliance repair ain't cheap. And a good scratch-and-dent appliance, I'm all for that. Other than that, I'm going to buy new. Finally, the number one thing I always recommend buying used and with cash, The average cost of a new car is now $49,000, with a car payment of $767 a month. The moment you drive it off the lot, you instantly lose 10% of the value. And on average, new cars lose 60% of their value in the first five years.

So that $49,000 car will only be worth less than $20,000 five years later. And by the way, with interest, you've probably paid $60 grand for it. And the car just keeps going down in value. By comparison, the average cost of a used car is $26,000. Look, even millionaires buy used cars. According to our millionaire study, the average millionaire drives a paid-for, four-year-old car from a reliable brand like Toyota or Honda. Now, there is a huge caveat when it comes to buying used cars,

and that is you should never buy a used car with a rebuilt title. You can find these things all over Facebook Marketplace, and it seems like such a great deal. What's this? A 2019 Tesla Model 3 for $14,000? Did I just find the deal of a century? No. There's a reason it's so cheap. It's got a rebuilt title, which means at some point. point, an insurance company declared it a total loss. But it's been repaired, re-inspected, and

redeclared roadworthy. And sure, it may look fine on the outside. The seller may even claim there's no structural damage, but you just don't know. There could be major mechanical or structural problems that would be wildly expensive to fix. Plus, insurance companies are allergic to these. You'll pay higher rates for crappier coverage. And never, ever, ever, ever get a rebuilt title due to flood damage. That's a disaster waiting to happen. So avoid rebuilt, always go for a clean title and always save up and avoid car loans altogether. That's the rule. That's the rule. Okay, that's it for the list. But if you're clamoring for even more of my opinion on how to spend your money, check out this next video. I'm going to give

you my top 10 Buy It for Life items that are absolutely worth buying new. Click right here to watch it or use the link in the description. That's it for today. Thanks for watching.