The point of owning your own equipment.

I drive a used car. It’s a nice one, a Chevy Suburban that we have been putting money in to for a while. Why not buy new? Because I own this one. The cost of repairing my car is less than the payments on one that is new. Buying a new one would be around $700 a month (for a similar model) and so far the repairs haven’t added up to that much in one year.

I paid cash for used display panels, and for my display tent. I added up the cost of replacing just my outdoor display once. The panels, the tent, the weights… $2,500 and that is without the thought of interest I would have paid for all of it. When I started out, I thought about putting all of this on a credit card. The idea of ponying up for everything was frightening. I used my mother’s display stuff for a while, because I didn’t want to try to find the money. I have loaned my set up to others and each time the tell me the compliments they have received on it. It doesn’t matter that it is used, it still looks good. I know artists who rent, or borrow but when it comes down to it; I like not having to pay to use stuff.

The other pay off is knowing what you have and how it works. I know how it all fits in my used car and what I can take. I know what will fit in any car, because it is all mine and I understand how it fits together. I can make different configurations, change the way it looks and use it in different ways. The first tent I purchased new, the second I found used. They are the same brand and they look good together. There is nothing wrong in buying used, as long as you know what you are getting.

When starting an art business, pay attention to what people use and where they got it from. Don’t worry about getting it used from an other artist when they upgrade. With any luck, someday you will be able to upgrade yourself someday. Make sure that you don’t torpedo your endeavor with debt. I have seen artists put everything on credit, only to go under in less than 3 years.

The last point to buying used for cash; if it doesn’t work out or you don’t want to do it anymore, you aren’t on the hook with credit for something moldering in your garage. If you bought it used, you can sell it for what you paid. No debt. I won’t lie, new is nicer. I would love to have new but I also understand that everything I get new will look like what I have in about 3 years. Using new makes it the same as the stuff I bought second hand. Would I like a new suburban? Oh yes. But in 2 years when I have driven through the warranty, I will be paying for repairs and making payments. I think I am ahead of the game right now, how about you?