Whether you are moving into your first place or decided to upsize, filling your home with furniture is often a costly venture. According to For Rent, the average person spends $3,596 on bedroom furnishings alone. If you want to buy a new sofa, the average cost, according to Forbes, comes in at about $1,025. For many, spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to furnish their home just isn’t a realistic option. Luckily, it is possible to save big while outfitting your new place. Here are four steps to furnishing your new place that ensure you won’t break the bank.
1. Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops
If you are outfitting your home and need practically everything, thrift stores are a great place to start. Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Salvation Army stores are filled with useful household items for incredibly low prices. Plus, if you head to thrift stores near affluent neighborhoods, you might be able to find some high-end brands for cheap.
Consignment shops are also worth exploring when you need to furnish your new place. Like thrift stores, you are buying used items for lower prices. However, the costs can be higher, but the quality might be upped as well, making it a reasonable tradeoff.
2. Reselling Apps and Websites
Apps like LetGo and OfferUp allow shoppers to connect with local sellers who want to get rid of their excess stuff. You can find nearly any item imaginable, especially if you live in or near a big city, including furniture, housewares, and home décor items.
Similarly, Craigslist is still a popular option for people who want to sell items they no longer need, making it worth checking as well. Facebook also has thriving community marketplaces, usually hosted in groups focused on a location. If you need something and want a chance to get it for free, consider signing up at Freecycle as well as people are not allowed to charge for anything they offer up on the site.
Since people can list nearly anything for sale, the prices, quality, and condition can vary greatly. However, it does give you a chance to score some bargains if you are patient and vigilant.
3. Garage, Yard, and Estate Sales
If you don’t mind doing a little traveling, garage, yard, and estate sales can give you a chance to get some nice items for significantly less than retail. As with shopping the reseller apps and websites, the quality, condition, and price can vary. You also have to deal with the travel costs and understand that you could spend hours scouring sales only to find nothing that piques your interest.
However, you do have the option to negotiate to bring prices down further. This means that you could spot a bargain and get it for even cheaper than the usual sticker price.
4. Discount and Big Box Retailers
If the idea of having used furnishings makes your skin crawl, then focus on discount and big box retailers. Stores like Ross Dress for Less, TJ Maxx, Big Lots, and HomeGoods have new items at prices far below traditional retail, and you can actually check out the items in-person at the stores. Walmart, Target, and Ikea also have reasonably priced furniture and household items, and some may be on display, allowing you to get a closer look at a piece before you buy.
For those who don’t feel the need to try before they buy, Amazon, Wayfair, and Overstock could be worth checking out. While the prices can run the gamut, it is possible to score some deals here as well.
Ultimately, it is possible to furnish your new place without breaking the bank as long as you shop in the right places. Consider following the steps above and see if you can’t score some bargains while you outfit your new home.
Do you have another tip that can help people furnish their new place without spending a bundle? Share it in the comments below.
Read More:
- Sofas in a Box – Making Luxury Couches Affordable
- Upcycling for Your Garden
- 5 Brilliant Online Shopping Tips to Help You Save a Ton of Money with Every Purchase
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