Second-hand shops Consignment shop is an American term for second-hand shops that sell used goods for owners (consignors), typically at a lower cost than new goods. Not all second-hand shops are consignment shops. In consignment shops, it is usually understood that the consignee (the seller) pays the consignor (the person who owns the item) a portion of the proceeds from the sale. Payment is not made until and unless the item sells. Such shops are found around the world.
What is 'Time Horizon'. A time horizon is the length of time over which an investment is made or held before it is liquidated. Time horizons can range from seconds, in the case of a day trader, all the way up to decades for a buy-and-hold investor or an individual who is investing in a retirement plan.
Short-term alternatives exist in target maturity bond ETFs, which become shorter-term as the target year approaches. One caveat, though, is that if you hold these ETFs until the end of the target year, you'll be left with cash to reinvest, which may or may not be what you're looking for.