How to Furnish a House on a Budget

Furnishing a house can be expensive and if you’re on a tight budget, you may be worried about your ability to furnish your home to suit your taste without breaking the bank. If you don’t have a lot of cash to work with while furnishing your house, the number of inexpensive solutions to your problem may surprise you.

Things You'll Need

• Your local newspaper

Instructions

1. Visit your local furniture retailer and talk to a sales representative about the possibility of in-store financing to help furnish your house while on a budget. Many high-end furniture stores offer in-store financing for customers with good credit. While it may be more expensive to finance your furniture, you can purchase the things you want now and pay them off over time without breaking your budget.

2. Enlist the services of a rent-to-own company. If your credit is less than perfect, you may have better luck renting your furniture instead of buying it. Some rent-to-own companies offer name-brand furniture at reasonable weekly rates and, unlike financing your furniture, renting will not affect your credit.

3. Visit your local thrift store to buy the things you need to furnish your home when you’re on a budget. If you don’t mind buying gently used items, you may be able to furnish your home in your own unique style by taking advantage of the great bargains at a local thrift store or consignment shop. Stop in and take a look but don’t get discouraged if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for on your first visit. These stores get new merchandise in daily and if the selection is poor one day, it may not be the next. Check with the store at least three times a week and ask about the furniture that’s in the back that may not have made it to the sales floor. Talk to the employees and let them know what you’re looking for and they may call you when something becomes available that meets your needs.

4. Look for furniture and household items at garage sales. You can find a wealth of used furniture bargains to help you furnish your home on a budget at area garage sales. Here, you’ll have the advantage of being able to negotiate prices and as long as you have a way of hauling your new furniture home, you may be able to furnish your entire house in just one day of garage sale shopping. Check your local newspaper and map out a route to sales that mention furniture in the ads and plan to leave early to take advantage of the deals before someone else can beat you to it.

5. Check your local classified ads. You can find high-end, name-brand furniture in the “furniture” or “miscellaneous” section of your local newspaper’s classified ads. Browse through the classified ads daily to spot any new bargains and don’t hesitate to call the seller if you see something that may meet your needs.

6. Get the word out that you need furniture. Your family, friends, and colleagues probably know a few people who need to get rid of their unwanted furniture and you may even be able to get some of the things you need to furnish your house free. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring the topic up in conversation and let others know that you need the furniture but your budget is a bit tight and you can’t afford to buy everything you need all at once. While this may sound like a sympathy plea, your friends and family will probably understand your situation and they’ll work hard to help you get what you need without breaking your budget.

Tips & Warnings

• If you choose to finance your furniture, only purchase sale items and make sure you’re comfortable with the repayment terms before you sign anything.

• When shopping at thrift stores or area garage sales, take only what you can comfortably afford to spend.

• Place an ad in local newspaper or online classified ads to help spread the word that you need furniture. The number of people willing to help may surprise you.

• For more tips to make living on a budget easier, see the resource below.

Resources

• Tips for Living on a Budget