How to Find Cheap Furniture

Is your house bare because as a single parent, you think you can't afford furniture? Used furniture can fill your rooms without spending a fortune. And, since kids are rough on furniture anyway, why should you spend your hard-earned money on a new couch? There are many places that you can find nice used furniture for cheap or even free.

Yes, finding free furniture is possible. One way is to join the yahoo group freecycle, Go to yahoogroups and search for freecycle and your city. People use this email list to post items that they are giving away for free; you just have to come pick it up. You have to monitor the list frequently, because the good stuff will be claimed quickly. Another way to get free furniture is to find out the garbage day when large pieces are picked up. You might want to target pricey neighborhoods for this tactic although you can have success anywhere. Then,drive down the streets the evening before or very early the morning of large item pickup and look for furniture. Even though the furniture is obviously meant for the garbage, it is still best to knock on the door of the residence and ask if you can take the item. Another way to get free furniture is to redo something that you already own. A stained chair might be renewed with a new slipcover. Or, a fresh coat of paint could transform a wooden piece. Also, let your friends and coworkers know that you will haul away any items that they no longer want. You might be surprised at what you get! Some churches also will assist single parents with dire financial situations to obtain basic furnishings.

If you can afford to pay, there are many ways to get cheap used furniture. Yard sales can offer great bargains, but you need to go well before the opening time listed in the yard sale ad. Visiting a college campus in early May can be a good way to get cheap furniture since the departing students may not want to haul their stuff back home with them. The yahoo group cheapcycle is another email list where people list items for a relatively small price. Thrift stores often carry furniture items, too. You might want to ask them which days are busiest for furniture donations because the nicer items will tend to be sold quickly. The website www.craigslist.com is an internet classified advertising list where you can find items being sold in your area. You can also find furniture for sale in your local newspaper as well local specialty papers that carry classified ads.

Still other sources of relatively cheap furniture that tend to be more pricey than those listed above include used furniture stores and rent to own stores. Also, many consignment stores sell furniture, and some are even completely dedicated to home furnishings. Flea markets may have new furniture at reduced cost or antique furniture which may still cost less than new furniture and is often better quality. Estate sales can also have good buys, but they tend to be more expensive than yard sales. You might get a better price by going on the last day of an estate sale when they may be more willing to make a deal. Antique stores sometimes have reasonably priced furniture depending on the type of store. Estate auctions can also be another source; however, it depends on the auction house's specialty and the particular auction. If they cater to high-end antique dealers and sell contents of antebellum mansions, you probably won't find many deals.

There is one thing to keep in mind when considering used upholstered items. Bugs can hitch a ride into your home inside the furniture. Also, smells can be retained in the fabric and padding. So, be careful when purchasing these items or if the weather permits, leave the furniture item outside for a few days to air out.

You can have a well-furnished home without breaking the bank. You may have to invest a little more time than you would have by just walking into a furniture showroom and making a purchase, but your dollar savings will be substantial. And, you may end up with one-of-a-kind pieces and better-constructed furniture than you would have by buying new. You can find good, cheap furniture with some legwork and creativity.