How to Furnish Your Apartment Cheaply

When you get your first apartment or house, you usually don't have much money to kick around, and yet here you have the major task of filling your brand new living space. Which can be a scary thought when scanning the prices at many furniture stores. But fear not, there are many places you can get what you need for an affordable price.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. A bed can be one of your greatest expenses. If you've looked around at mattress prices, even the "budget" ones seem pretty expensive at most places. But you can't beat Ikea for affordable mattresses and bed frames. You can score everything you need for under $300. (You can order online, but it's best if you can visit a store in person and try the mattresses out first.) Ikea is also great for tables and chairs.

2. For sofas and recliners, Ikea is also good in the affordability department, but Jennifer Convertibles is similarly inexpensive (especially if you get something on sale) and generally has more attractive and comfortable offerings. Their microfiber sofabeds look great, are easy to maintain, and can cost as low as $300.

3. For all the myriad furnishings that you need for bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen (towels, bath mat, sheets, pillowcases, etc.), Ikea often has great deals and Bed Bath & Beyond has a fantastic selection of items at very reasonable prices. K-Mart, too, is very reliable for these types of items. K-Mart is particularly good for cheap kitchen supplies, as they let you purchase most items individually, not just in sets.

4. For bookshelves, desks, office supplies, and even functional lighting fixtures, the office stores like Staples, Office Depot, and Office Max are often your best bet. You have to assemble some of these items, but it's usually pretty easy.

5. Storage furniture, like wardrobes and drawer sets, are easily found at Ikea, and K-Mart often has a small selection as well. The Container Store specializes in storage and is worth checking out to meet your individual needs.

6. If you're really strapped, and don't mind secondhand items, seriously consider making several purchases on Craigslist. People are constantly selling barely used TVs, entertainment centers, microwaves, air conditioners, coffee tables, and, frankly, anything you can imagine. Obviously you're taking a gamble with the electronics, but if you get the price low enough (don't be afraid to counter-offer), it's worth it.

7. And finally, let's talk worst-case scenario. Say you spent all your money to secure the apartment and you only have a few hundred left, period. First, appeal to your family - they're bound to have extra towels and sheets, and maybe even some furniture in storage or collecting dust in the basement. Ask your friends if they have anything going unused, and offer a small payment. Visit the Goodwill or Salvation Army to see what they have. Consider buying an air mattress to sleep on (they're quite comfy) until you can afford a full bed. Also, scout the curbsides, especially on weekends when people are moving, to pick up free furniture that people might have discarded.

Tips & Warnings

• When taking items left on the sidewalk, avoid anything upholstered since you don't know where it's been or what it's been through
• Shipping charges will add to the price of many of your purchases, so if you can pick up items in person, all the better; if you don't have a vehicle, see if you can borrow one, or even rent one and then pick up as many items as you can in one day
• When buying on Craiglist, don't settle for someone's 6-year old appliances; try to wait until someone is selling something relatively new (which happens frequently)