Furniture on a Budget

Furniture is expensive. It seems even the furniture that comes in a box and takes you four hours to put together is more expensive than it used to be. So how do you get furniture on a budget? It is simple … used furniture.
Now don’t frown or crumple your nose up at me. Used furniture can be really, really nice. It isn’t all like that first couch I had from Goodwill that was definitely on its last leg but it was only $20 and a good cleaning made it usable for a 20-something just out on her own!

We just got a headboard and dresser for the spare bed area in our basement. The two of them were $35. The headboard was from Craigslist ($10) and the dresser ($25) was from the Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity Store (check here for one near you!)

Other used furniture in our house right now …
* two large dressers from a second hand furniture store where we used to live ($300 for both including delivery)
* the bedroom set in my girls’ room includes 2 twin beds, dresser, and nightstand from Craigslist ($250 for all it!)
* a bassinet from a children’s consignment sale ($15 on half price day!)

Now that is just the list of what we have purchased. There is a list of items that have been passed onto us from family members too.

So take a look in your phone book or ask your friends if there are any second hand furniture store near you. The hole-in-the-wall places often have great finds in them (like our dresser where we had to climb over stuff to look around!) Check out your local newspaper or Craigslist classifieds for your next furniture find. I am still thinking about that great couch I saw at the Habitat Store yesterday but we have no need or place for another couch … someone is going to get a great couch for an awesome deal though! Is it you?;)

Tell me what your used furniture finds have been over the years. Or maybe this post will inspire you to hunt for a piece of used furniture so what will you be looking for? Share your thoughts with a comment!