16 things you're better off buying used

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Certain things are absolutely worth buying new.

But in some cases, you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars if you go with the just-as-durable secondhand version.

Here are 16 things to consider buying used.

Mandi Woodruff contributed to an earlier version of this article.

Textbooks

Textbooks can cost upwards of $200 for some science courses, and for a pre-medical student with a full class schedule, that could mean dropping up to a grand on reading material — per semester.

When possible, renting, borrowing, or buying books secondhand are the simplest ways to save.

A few of our favorite sites to save on textbooks: Amazon's Book Rental, Chegg, and Half.com.

Children's clothing

We wouldn't recommend going the used route on important items like car seats or strollers, but when it comes to children's clothing — which they'll grow out of quickly and is likely to get wrecked by smashed carrots anyway — there's no shame in saving.

Try browsing reputable thrift shops in your neighborhood or, of course, asking friends and family for hand-me-downs.

If all else fails, try reseller sites like Swap.com or ThredUP.

Maternity wear

Outside the few months of pregnancy, maternity wear won't get much use, so skip the brand-new options and use the savings to buy clothes that you can wear all the time.

Look for gently used maternity clothes at reputable thrift shops, and again, ask friends and family for hand-me-downs.