Thank you for moving my post. And thank you all for the responses.

Hi Marsha, I have read tarot cards and have a few packs, some of which I bought myself. In my opinion they are no different to playing cards, infact tarot were once used as playing cards.  Tarot cards are simple made from cardboard and have pictures or images on them. These images contain universal symbols which enable people to interpret them.  
Whether buying your own cards or not, or even covering them in a silk cloth etc, will not make any difference whatsoever to your cards. They won't know who bought them or if you leave them exposed or covered up, and it certainly won't affect your readings in any way. Tarot cards hold no special secret or wisdom, that ability comes from within the reader. It's by using a combination of the symbols and using your own intuition which provides a helpful insight into peoples material situations.

sunny2

I bought my own deack and they have performed wonderfully. Wether they are given to you (new or old) or you buy them your self. If you cleanse them really well and them put your own energy into them you really should be fine. But as others have posted, there are different opinions on this. This is just my personal expierience.

Currently I think my tarot deck list is around 15 out of that only two have been giving to me. Most of my oracles on the other hand have been gifts. It is all about what you are drawn too. What someone else may think you like because of your other interest may not be something that will work for you.

I think the first few decks YOU should buy so you can understand your likes and dislikes of certain decks. Since there is thousands of decks on the market it shouldn't be that hard...and don't think that you have to stick to the Rider Waite to start with. I have been reading over 13 years and still struggle to understand that one.

The decks that are given to you hold a great deal more meaning. Every time you pick it up you think of the person who gave it to you, with a quiet thank you.