Furniture Shopping
When you move into your first apartment, filling it is challenging, because you have to furnish everything at once. Typically you need kitchen supplies, furniture, linens and curtains. Then to top off the challenge, you usually do not have much of a budget to work with. So when you are trying to find furniture and you are on a tight budget, you can go a couple of different directions.
You can always go to a discount furniture store and buy cheaply made furniture. It will not last long, but it is not expensive either. Your other choice is to find good, used pieces of furniture at auctions, thrift stores and garage sales.
Shiny and New
Finding a discount furniture store is pretty easy. It seems like there is at least one in every city. You can find stylish furniture that is very inexpensive, and it will look great in your space. However, if you fast forward a couple of years, it will probably not hold up very well. So if you are not planning to keep the furniture for long, this is a plausible way to furnish a space cheaply. You may want to consider this option for pieces of furniture that do not get much use like a side table or display shelves.
Well Worn
When you buy used furniture, frequently you can spend just a little money and get a really nice piece of furniture. Sometimes you find great deals at garage sales where someone is just clearing out extra stuff that is crowding their space. They are happy to get a little extra money, and you get a great deal. Sometimes used furniture needs a little rehab work. However, when a piece of furniture is well constructed, you can refurbish it and bring it back to new.
Where to Look
Look in your local 'Pennysaver' and newspaper for garage sales and furniture sales. Check bulletin boards in your travels around town. Look at Craigslist and see what people are getting rid of, and look in local thrift stores, which have an ever-changing inventory of used merchandise.
Buyer Beware
Always be ready to snap up a good deal. Know the dimensions of the space that you are furnishing. Carry a measuring tape with you, and get a good look at any piece of furniture before you commit to buying it. Test out chairs and sofas and inspect for broken frames and springs. Look at desks and dressers to make sure that they are constructed solidly. Take out a drawer and look at how it is constructed, and this will give you a good indication of the quality of the piece. Ask the owner if any repairs are necessary and find out if it has been in a pet free, smoke free environment.
Rehab the Good Stuff
If you find a piece that you love, but it is in disrepair, you may decide that it is worth your while to refinish it. You can sand, strip, stain, varnish and paint and bring an old, worn piece of furniture back to its former glory.
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