When you move to a new apartment rent isn’t the only expense you should consider. Furniture is one of the biggest overheads and will significantly affect your quality of life.
While your new apartment may contain the basics, you’ll almost certainly have to fork out on a few new items before you move in – sofas, dining table and chairs, etc. – and this can really add up.
However, there are ways to significantly reduce or even eliminate your upfront costs, especially if you’re willing to use second-hand goods.
Freecycle
If you’re really strapped for cash, there’s no better place to find decent furniture than Freecycle. Here you can find furniture completely free of charge. If somebody wants to get rid of furniture quickly they will post a listing and give it away rather than go through the hassle of posting advertisements and trying to sell it privately.
You’ll be surprised what people are willing to give up for the sake of convenience. If you’re lucky you may be able to kit out your whole apartment for nothing more than the transportation costs.
Use Warehouse Stores
Warehouse stores are like any other, except they sell furniture wholesale. They may not have a constant selection of one particular item, so it can be quite hit or miss; however, there’s always plenty of deals and absolutely nothing wrong with the quality.
Warehouse stores sell items directly from the manufacturer; therefore, you get to avoid paying the markup that would be added if you bought the same item through a standard retail store. This can result in hundreds of dollars of savings.
Internet Listings
Classified ad websites such as Craigslist and Gumtree are perfect for finding decent quality second-hand furniture. Of course, before you commit to purchase anything make sure you actually check out what you’re buying in person before you hand over any cash.
You can also find cheap first and second-hand furniture off Ebay and Amazon. While delivery of large items may be expensive, the prices are often very reasonable and provide enough savings to make buying new furniture a worthy investment.
Reupholster Old Furniture
If you want to give second-hand furniture a new life, reupholstering can turn an otherwise torn, ripped and stained piece of furniture into something that looks brand new. You’d have to hire a professional to undertake the process; however, providing the frames are all intact, it will be significantly cheaper than buying new products.
Furniture is hugely important. It not only defines the style of your apartment, but is the most important element of comfort. Buying new furniture for the first time can be daunting, especially if you have a low budget, but if you follow these tips, there’ll be no reason why you should leave yourself out of pocket.
For more information on where to find affordable furniture, feel free to get in touch with us at Apartment Agents. Or if you have any advice for our readers, please leave a comment below.
Image: Escape from BK
