Are you looking for cheap toys that will keep your children entertained, and provide a valuable learning experience? DadLabs suggests battery powered electronic toy robots known as Bristlebots.

It’s almost always a good idea to shop used, especially for kid stuff, since they grow out of it so quickly. However, there are things best left behind on your trip to the neighborhood garage sale.

1. Cribs and children’s furniture – Only because you may not be aware of safety recalls. If you buy, be aware.
2. Car seats – a good, new car seat can be very cheap. With used, you don’t know the quality of the seat and padding which degrades greatly in an accident, with use, or by being dropped on the ground. Heaven forbid, your child ever needs the protection of a car seat, but if he or she does, you want it to work.
3. Swimsuits and undergarments – For obvious reasons, though a wash on “very hot” and some bleach will render this a non-issue. But still….
4. Bicycle helmets – Helmets too don’t show the kind of wear that would reduce their protection.
5. DVD players – too many moving parts and high repair costs.
6. Digital and video cameras – Same problem. You don’t want to repair for someone else’s accident.
7. Hats- Here the issue is lice, so don’t even try on hats at a used store.
8. Mattresses and bedding – Mattresses are only meant to last 10 or so years anyway. Hazards here are mold, especially, but dust mites and even bed bugs.
9. Shoes – Shoes mold to the feet, so this is not a good idea, even for small kids.

Other than this, happy shopping.

1. Houses – buy old, even by a few years for savings. Old construction is usually better and a better value. The exception is historical houses.
2. Pets – Let someone else pay for the puppy shots.
3. Books – A book is a book is a book.
4. Video Games – Buy on eBay, usually for a lot less than retail, especially if more than a few months from release date/
5. kea Furniture – Look on Craigslist or if you live near a university, look for great deals at the end of term in June.
6. DVDs and CDs – At this point, they are an anachronism, and should be getting even cheaper. Most haven’t been abused so used is a good bed.
7. Musical Instruments – Lots of kids give up playing, so deals are to be had here.
8. Recreational Items – Another hobby people invest in on a whim, before they really know if they like it.
9. Jewelry, especially diamonds. Decreases hugely outside the little blue box.
10. Sports Equipment. Kids and sports where kids also outgrow small mitts and pads.
11. Office Furniture – Office furniture is built for heavy duty and can last for years.
12. Cars – Off the showroom floor, cars drop immensely in value.
13. Hand Tools and gardening supplies. Buy used for pennies on the dollar, or borrow from a neighbor.
14. Consumer Electronics – But only those with no moving parts, so skip on DVD players.
15. Timeshares – You miss out on all the sales gimmicks, but you’ll get far better deals on the open market.