Here is list of things to avoid when hitting the resale shops.

For most of us, this time of year is the time that we looking for the best bargains around. With the holidays around the corner, we all know that money will be tight, so we try and save where we can. Yet, that might not be the best idea.

There are so many great resale shops, Goodwill stores and Mom to Mom sales happening that sometimes we purchase items that could prove to be dangerous and not worth the price.

I read two great articles, one from the web-site Reviewed and the other from the New York Times that gave solid advice on not what to buy used

1. Car seats

Reviewed reported, when it comes to secondhand car seats, you can't be 100 percent sure a car seat hasn’t been involved in a crash (rendering it ineffective), if it’s been recalled, or if the expiration date is correct (yes, car seats have expiration dates!).

2. Mattresses

When you buy a used mattress, you risk bringing home bed bugs. Jeff White, director of innovation and technical content for BedBug Central told Tonic. Trust us: That’s never worth the risk.

3. Perfume

Reviewed stated, Apart from the obvious risk of buying bottles that are fraudulent or tampered with is the simple fact that perfumes go bad fairly quickly, says Bart De Pelsmaeker, founder of Splash of Scent

4. Cribs

In 2011, safety standards for cribs changed dramatically. According to the New York Times, manufacturers had to stop selling then-very popular drop-side cribs, enhance hardware, strengthen crib slats and mattress supports, and test products more stringently. Many of those older models are still floating around at garage sales—it’s not worth the risk.

5. Bike helmets

According to the New York Times, once bike helmets are involved in any sort of crash, they no longer provide adequate protection. Helmets also deteriorate over time, simply due to exposure to the ozone and sunlight

So the next time you think you have discovered a great deal, remember it just not might beworth it.

WKFR