Frugal Furniture Guide
Shopping for furniture can be an intimidating task, especially when you’re on a budget. With many factors to consider and an overwhelming amount of options, it’s easy to feel a little lost. To get the best deal for your money on pieces you’ll love for years to come, consider a few budgeting tips.
Compare Prices
After choosing a general room theme and measuring the space, your next concern should be deciding on a budget. Shopping online allows you to look over a wide variety of choices and compare products more easily, so it can be a smart choice for bargain hunting. By browsing a variety of sources, you can get an idea of how much it would cost to furnish each room and make sure you’re getting the best deal on each piece.
Stay Organized
To keep track of funds while planning your purchases, consider creating a spreadsheet. Include the projected cost of an item as well as actual cost to keep track of money spent and saved and allow for reallocating funds as necessary. For example, if the total budget for the sofa doesn’t get used, the balance can be put towards the purchase of accent furniture, lighting fixtures, or wall decor.
Focus on Necessary Decor
Cutting down on initial costs is crucial, especially for those who need to furnish an entire house. The easiest way to keep costs down while creating a tastefully appointed home is to furnish public rooms first. Living rooms, for example, often give guests their first impression of your house. Therefore, you want furniture that looks attractive and will hold up with time and use. Dining areas are also commonly employed for entertaining, making solid, durable, and elegant pieces important. On the other hand, bedrooms are private spaces not typically seen by guests. Less expensive furniture here can serve your needs and still look great at a fraction of the price.
Check Online Retailers
Frugal shoppers often have satisfying online shopping experiences. Retailers pass along savings to customers by eliminating brick and mortar overhead, while also making it easy to view numerous collections all in one place. Many web-based retailers offer free and direct shipping as well, or even local sales finders, such as the one available on Furniture.com. Furniture.com’s comprehensive site conveniently displays complementary furniture, rugs, lighting, and much more. To keep shopping for decor simple, make use of these online resources during your hunt for budget-friendly finds.
Great tips! I really don’t enjoy shopping like this. But furniture is one of those things where a little planning goes a long way. The right quality pieces can last you a lifetime!
Jay recently posted…Trend Following Trade Ideas for May 2017 (Part 5)
Hi Jay,
You get what you pay for. I remember many of the furniture pieces my parents had lasting decades. Quality does come at a cost but it can be worth it if you loathe furniture shopping or shopping in general. Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
Thanks DH. I have been looking into IKEA, but online is even better
dividendgeek recently posted…New buy: VIVAX
Hi dividendgeek,
IKEA furnished most of our apartment after I got married. I happen to like their offerings and so far, almost a decade later, the items still look and function great. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Good info. It’s all about shopping for what you actually need and comparing prices. Usually you can find the same item in multiple stores if not online for cheaper. Never used the online route myself for furniture since we have an IKEA is so close to where I live. But sounds like a win win if you can find a great deal on exactly what you are looking for.
Dividend Daze recently posted…Dividend Update – May
Hi DD,
I think it comes down to the effort you want to put into buying furniture. For me, furniture shopping was never “fun” but a chore I had to do. No doubt, taking time to visit multiple stores, look online and peruse newspapers/ads for local sales can reap substantial benefits in the form of savings. As always, I appreciate your comment.
I still live with no furniture lmao. All I have is my bed and two bar stool to eat on the kitchen countertop.
FiscalVoyage recently posted…FRIP Buy
Hi FV,
Whatever works 🙂 When my wife and I got our apartment after our wedding we used an IKEA box as a coffee table for many months. How about some inflatable furniture in the meantime??? Thank you for commenting.
DH,
I remember reading in “The Millionaire Mind” that most wealthy people will buy high quality furniture and then simply reupholster it over the years. So, while they may pay more initially, they really look at the life cycle cost as this furniture winds up lasting much longer.
Interesting read.
Take care!
– Ryan
Get Rich Brothers recently posted…Early 2017 Dividend Growth
Hi GRB,
Thanks for sharing that point. Sometimes it’s better to pay up for quality, especially if you know that you’ll be getting a lot of usage from that specific item. As always, I appreciate your comment.