When we moved into our apartment and we had to furnish it from scratch- it seemed like a daunting task. Furniture, bedding and everything in between can add up quickly and since we only planned to be here for about a year, we didn’t want to invest in anything we would be heartbroken to leave behind. That being said, with the pandemic limiting our time outside of the home, particularly mine since I work from home, we wanted it to still be comfortable. How do you strike that balance between comfortable yet frugal? Below I’ve shared what I did to make our place a home within a few weeks, all under our budget.
- Facebook marketplace is your best friend (for certain things)
- I turned to Facebook marketplace for items that can be easily sanitized, such as tables and chairs. I bought my desk and our coffee table second hand this way, and I paid $40 for each item. If I were to buy these items new I would have easily paid $100 or more each. This way I saved money and I got quality items in a sustainable way.
- Look to local businesses for furniture you’re buying new
- I bought several things new like our couch, all of the rugs in our apartment and our mattress. For these I turned to a local, family owned business. I compared the prices of these items from this store to chain furniture stores and the smaller business offered much more for the price. Shop local and compare your prices before making any purchases to get the most for your money.
- Headboards and bed frames from Amazon are the best deal
- I am not sure why, but Amazon has the best deals on headboards and bed frames. I got the most for my money this way, I cannot really say the same for anything else but if you need either of these items definitely turn to Amazon.
- Home goods for wall art or bust
- I definitely wanted to keep wall decor to a minimum just because the less stuff we acquire this year, the better for when we move again. The best deals on wall art are only at Home Goods, everywhere else is definitely over priced. The trick is to check back often since they get new inventory weekly.
Molly Thompson 