Moving to a new apartment can be exciting, but it can also be costly. On top of rent, you will pay deposits, utilities, moving costs, and other expenses. One thing you can save some money on is décor and furniture. If you want to stay within a budget or move frequently, you do not have to sacrifice living in a well-decorated or comfortable home. Experts from our apartments in Gainesville, FL, recommend following these tips for furnishing your apartment on a budget.
If you need to see items in person before you buy them, check out the thrift stores and second-hand stores in your area. They get donations of building materials, decor, appliances, dishes, furniture, etc., in their service area. Then they resell them to the public at a deep discount, sometimes to support local charities and humanitarian causes. As a result, you can often score rare designer items at these stores for a fraction of the price they would usually cost. Plus, you can support a good cause, so everybody wins.
Craigslist remains one of the top online marketplaces for sellers and buyers. For the last 23 years, it has been a go-to source for Americans looking to sell or buy used furniture. You can even score free items, rare handmade pieces, and collectibles at a fraction of the cost they would be new. However, be careful to avoid scammers and never pay for an item before you get it. In addition, it is always best to meet in a public place whenever possible.
If you enjoy shopping online, check out LetGo or OfferUp. They are ultimately mobile alternatives to Craigslist that allow selling and buying locally with just a button click. The best part is that they verify sellers and buyers by driver's licenses or state IDs, so the risk of being scammed is really low. You can also quickly look for accessible or affordable furniture on Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace.
Never underestimate the buying power you have at yard sales and garage sales. You can register on the Nextdoor app if you do not want to drive around your neighborhood on the hunt for deals. The app lets you sign up for alerts for events in your community, and most people post their garage and yard sales to get a better turnout for their events.
Don’t forget to ask your friends and family if they have any old furniture or decor they might be willing to part with. You would be shocked by how many people hang on to old furniture because it is a hassle to get rid of it. And you never know, maybe aunt Glenda is looking for the perfect excuse to buy that new living room suit she has her eye on. So you might give her the ideal opportunity to get what she wants and furnish your new place in the process.