10 Things You Should Always Buy Used

NEW YORK (MainStreet) -- If you're buying it new, you're paying too much.

OK, that's going a bit far. Certain products don't hold up as well to wear and tear and should probably be bought new most of the time. Think car tires or underwear, for instance.

Books, whether textbooks or meant for enjoyment, are among the many items best bought used by consumers trying to cut back on overspending.

But other products are much cheaper when bought secondhand despite experiencing little reduction in quality, so it would be crazy not to at least consider buying them used. Here are 10 examples.

Video games
These days most video games have extensive multiplayer modes, many of which will keep people playing for months and even years after they buy. But many gamers will nevertheless tire of a game shortly after completing the single-player campaign, and with even the longest games rarely taking more than 50 hours to complete, used games tend to flood the secondary market shortly after a game is released. That means big savings for patient gamers.

There are exceptions, of course. You'll want to check on the condition of the disc inside the package to make sure it's not scratched, and you'll also want to price compare -- we've seen games that can be found new on Amazon or Newegg for cheaper than you'd see them at a bricks-and-mortar used-game retailer. Finally, take heed that game publishers will sometimes offer extra content exclusively to people who buy their games new - for instance, the recent Batman: Arkham City game came with a one-time-use download code that let gamers play as Catwoman.

Still, with new games usually starting at $60, it makes a lot of sense to wait a few weeks after release and check Craigslist or GameStop (GME) for a cheap used version.

Cars
Obviously when you buy a used car you're running the risk of ending up with a lemon, but the economics of the car market make it hard to pass up.

"New cars depreciate by thousands the second you drive them out of the dealership," points out Brad Wilson of deal site BradsDeals.com. "Just never be an idiot and buy a car without having it inspected by your own trusted mechanic."

As Wilson suggests, you'll want to cover all your bases before buying a used car. You should also keep in mind that cars depreciate at different rates, so to maximize value you'll want to snatch up a used car that will hold its value well.

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