Furnishing a House Doesn’t Have to Break the Bank
Furnishing your house doesn’t have to be expensive. Finding the right sales and having the patience to wait for the right pieces can save you a lot of money and keep you out of debt.
Craigslist is a great place to start. Most ads not only have a description, but pictures as well. Craigslist narrows down your search to your surrounding areas, making it easy to meet with the owners and pick-up the piece if it ends up as something you’re interested in. If you don’t feel comfortable going alone to the seller’s house to look at an item, bring a friend or two. Keep it safe.
Gotta say, I love going to garage or estate sales. I have to admit, I’ve become quite addicted in the past year. When I see a sign on the side of the road my car tends to veer in that direction. I’ve seen plenty of nice quality furniture at these sales.
Estate sales tend to be the best places to find furniture because people have passed away and the majority of their estate is up for sale. I have seen the range of furniture run from antiques to vintage to brand new items. I’ve giggled quite a few times when I spot an old chair or piece of furniture I remember from my childhood. Vintage items are making a comeback and I’ve been tempted to buy a piece after it tugged on my heartstrings a little bit. My husband’s “no” voice usually wins out in my mind and I pass or I’d have a house jam-packed with great furniture.
Estate-sale companies handle many of the estate sales out there. Get their phone number or sign-up for their email list and get pictures before the sale. I’ve seen a lot of items worth showing up for early, and saved on gas when I realized they didn’t have anything that interested me.
Garage sales don’t always have matching bedroom sets or dining room tables and chairs, but they are still a great place to find items for bargain-basement prices. I’ve purchased antiques for less than ten dollars, refinished them and had beautiful pieces worth showcasing in my house.
There are plenty of places to find good deals, it just takes the willingness to wait for the right item and the right sale. But patience and a keen eye will keep you happy and debt free.
