Shopping for Furniture? 5 Tips to Save Money

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Every couple of years the need for buying new furniture will probably arise in your household. Perhaps one of your children is getting his or her own room, you’re moving into a larger house, or that couch you got as a wedding gift 25 years ago is finally needing a replacement.  Furniture can certainly be pricy (depending on exactly what you need), so before you start shopping, read on for some tips on how to keep furniture costs manageable.

1. Ask family and friends. Even if you’re at a place where you’re looking for some new furniture, you may have friends or family members who are hoping to get rid of some of theirs. They might be downsizing or trying to unclutter their homes, and it would be a benefit to both of you to make a furniture swap. This might not always be the answer for finding new furniture, but it’s certainly worth keeping your ears open as your furniture search process gets underway.

2. Buy second-hand. There are a large variety of options for buying used furniture, and you can often get an excellent price for pieces that are lightly used. Here are some options:

• Garage sales. Find some local garage sales in your weekend paper and let the furniture hunt begin. You might consider going to sales shortly before they close up; sellers are often desperate to get rid of large items at that point, and they will probably cut you an excellent bargain.
• Consignment shops. Shop around at local thrift or second-hand stores and peruse their furniture sections. If you’re not in a time crunch, you could look periodically for several weeks and probably find a variety of new items each time you visit.
• Online. Visit sites like Craigslist, Freecycle, or eBay to find online listings for furniture products.

3. Consider refinishing a piece you already have. Perhaps you’re considering buying a new kitchen table because your current one is nicked, stained, and beaten up after years of wear and tear. If the table is still functional, you should look into having it refinished or maybe even refinishing it yourself. With only a few supplies and couple of hours, your old table could get a significant facelift and save you a great deal of money in the long run.

4. Shop at the end of the month. If you’re buying large pieces or furniture sets from a local furniture store, consider shopping near the end of the month. Many stores receive new inventory at the beginning of each month, so they’re eager to sell off what the already have to make room for new products. Depending on the store, the employees may even come down in price for new furniture if you negotiate with them.

5. Rearrange what you already have. If you’re looking for a new piece to compliment your living room or bedroom, think about what you might already have in other rooms of your home. Maybe there is a dresser in a guest bedroom you could move somewhere new or a table from a child’s room that would be perfect for your living room. Be creative and see what new combinations you can come up with before taking the plunge and purchasing a new piece.

If you’re in the hunt for some new furniture for your home, it’s important to shop around, look for sales, and set a budget on exactly how much you are willing to spend. With a little research and some purposeful shopping, you’ll be able to get exactly what you’re looking for without spending a fortune.

Do you have some tips for furniture shopping? Please share them with us here!

Category: Frugal Living