Whether you’re moving into a rental apartment for the first time or you’re just simply looking to save some of your hard-earned cash, there are ways that you can reduce the amount you spend on furnishing your home – and they don’t all have to come from Sweden!
Used Furniture
When you think of used furniture, you may envision something that is worn, torn and stained. But that is not always the case! Sure, there are some duds out there, but there are some gems, too. A little persistence can really pay off in this case. Check the usual suspects online, like Craigslist and Kijiji, and hit up yard/garage sales. Sometimes you’ll even come across someone who is moving out of the city and needs to sell their possessions quickly. You’ll be helping them and you’ll get a great deal on otherwise perfectly good furniture. It’s a win-win!
Hit Up the Clearance Centre
A number of big furniture chains (Leon’s, Sears, and, yes, IKEA) have clearance sections or centres that feature mismatched, dented, discoloured or otherwise unsuitable for the showroom floor pieces. These centres are treasure troves of items that are generally in great condition, they just may not look as pretty as their more expensive counterparts. Show these cast-offs some love in your rental unit and save yourself some money in the process.
Practice Your Negotiating Skills
If you simply cannot live in your apartment rental without new furniture, it’s a good idea to brush up on your negotiating skills. Many stores are willing to negotiate on prices, but you’ve got to do your homework first. How much are other retailers charging for the item you’ve got your eye on? What is your ideal price? It never hurts to ask nicely, but don’t rely on this trick. However, if you’re buying used furniture off of Kijiji or another online source, negotiating on pricing is pretty much expected (and it’s a lot easier to do than in a big box store!).
Bring the Outdoors In
Sure, it’s not the fanciest furniture, but you can easily dress up lawn furniture and make it comfortable and, dare we say it, stylish. While a plastic chair in the living room may not be your ideal situation, it can work in a pinch. Add some pillows and pretty throw blankets or, if you can, spray paint them. Another bonus? They are easy to move around, so you can rearrange your living room set up as often as you want.
Yahoo Voices offers even more great tips for saving some cash on furniture – read on and keep your wallet full!
Shop at the right time
The first thing you will need to do is shop at just the right time of year. If you shop at the end of a season you will be able to get many items on clearance. During the spring and summer months you will find that a lot of furniture goes on sale as they approach the end of the season or the end of the year; many of the older models will be placed on sale. This would be the perfect time to get some of your shopping done. You should have no problem getting huge discounts and markdowns on furniture.
Never Pay Full Price
Keep in mind that if you waited this long to get your furniture you can wait a few more days or months. Even if you think you cannot wait any longer to get your furniture, paying full price will certainly hurt you in the long run. You will also find it beneficial since you may not actually have to finance your purchase with a credit card. By waiting for the discounted price you may be able to pay cash for the items that you have purchased.
Keep it simple
Instead of purchasing large amounts of furniture and throwing everything out, it may prove to be beneficial to just get what you really need. Sometimes furniture can easily be repainted and sanded down to look better. Add a little bit of paint to a table and it will look brand new.
Don’t buy the first thing you see
Just because you may see something on sale, it does not mean that you have to purchase it. Many tend to fall for the first items on sale that they see. Why not take the time and shop around? You may be surprised when you find an even better deal available.
Happy shopping and furnishing!
The RentSeeker.ca Team
