Ooof, that stings. I've been thrifty and anti-consumer for years, but I'm also 50. I hate admitting I'm no longer one of "the young people."

it comes at a social cost though.

i have lost a lot of friends because I live below my 'means'. whereas most folks I meet are 'struggling' because they are living beyond theirs.

Especially travel and restaurants. consumption is now re-branded as 'experience'.

The better quality is the key here. The shit made today are intentionally made to be replaced.

Pyrex is the best example. The old-school Pyrex logo means it's made from really tough glass whereas the newer logo means it's shit and will shatter when going from hot to cold (oven to countertop).

Tools! With the exception of a few big power tools like a table saw or miter saw, where the new safety features make it worthwhile, I get everything I can used. I prefer stuff passed down from family with sentimental value, but I get a lot of my tools from Everything is Free, junk stores, yard sales, estate clean outs, swap shops etc.

Older tools tend to be simpler, easier to fix, and remarkably sturdy. I've read that the metallurgy wasn't as good sixty+ years ago so they overbuilt them a bit to compensate, and then decades of use weaned out the weaker ones, so anything left still working is basically survivorship-bias guaranteed. I've got a drill press that's been in the family for four generations and will probably outlast my grandkids.

They're cheaper, sturdier, easier to fix, generally well-documented online (sometimes better than the new stuff), and they don't come with sheaves of unnecessary styrofoam and plastic packaging. And they have history and stories in them, even if I don't always know what those stories are.

Got to be careful with old cutlery and kitchenwares, and test for lead.

Definitely most furniture (i.e., without cushions so you avoid bed bugs). New furniture is incredibly expensive and (seems to be) lower quality. Second hand furniture can still be expensive but it's usually heavily discounted, especially if someone is trying to get rid of it quickly.

Local thrift shops are a good option of course, but also try garage/yard sales, Craigslist, OfferUp, etc. If your area has estate sales you can find some pretty killer deals on good furniture there too.

If you actually need one (most don"t), I wouldn't buy a truck sold on the North American market since about 2005.

Clothes, furniture, equipment related to hobbies… Most things

Honestly a better question might be what do people prefer buying new?

Start at freecycle.org

Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World

first of all, the irony in this comment is incredible. Second of all, literally just start buying used shit first and foremost (it's already out there, using it is better for the environment) and if you do buy something new, try and buy something that you know you can get a good lifetime out of.

have a proper sit down, and think about what you really need to keep going in life. Focus on that. I'm not saying you should drop every hobby you've ever had, but if you collect newly released shit, maybe pivot into finding older stuff that's interesting to collect. If one of your hobbies has a consumable material/s maybe think about how you can better fill that gap. Perhaps try a different hobby every once in a while.

I've always enjoyed computer hardware, i recently got my hands on a few older thinkpad models. x20 series and an x50 series. Both used, both seen some shit in their day and age. Gave me a handful of usable laptops, most of the parts i bought for them were used. All of them are fantastic machines though.

No.

It's as simple as stop buying shit you don't need, and rather than buy new stuff, replace/fix/renew old stuff.

Like... stop buying a new car on lease every 2/3 years. buy a car and keep it for 10+ years.

Stop vacationing to foreign countries, go on a road trip. etc