My husband and I are planning to buy our first home in less than a year, so there’s a ton of stuff we’ll need to buy.
From furniture to kitchen appliances to bath items to organizing supplies, furnishing our home could end up costing thousands of dollars.
We definitely don’t want to spend that much when there are plenty of other things we’ll need to pay for when we buy a home, like a down payment, closing costs, realtor fees, a home inspection, and a sizable emergency fund in case of any needed home repairs or other emergencies.
Luckily, furnishing a home doesn’t need to cost a small fortune.
The secret? Bargain hunting.
Here are five ways to find amazing deals!
*Disclosure: This is a partnered post. Read our full disclosure policy here.
Garage Sales
Garage sales are a great way to find excellent deals. I’m not a huge fan of garage sales personally, but my mom is a garage sale addict and occasionally she’ll find a good one.
My old pair of running shoes were falling apart a while ago, and I found a brand-new pair of Asics at a garage sale for just $10. Score! The majority of my work clothes have also been garage sale finds.
Estate Sales
If you aren’t familiar with estate sales, estate sales occur when the owner of a home has passed away or is getting rid of most of his/her property in order to move.
I’ve purchased used furniture at estate sales for unbelievable prices. My husband and I have a double desk (it seats two people) that we bought for just $90. It was in excellent condition.
We also recently purchased a couch for $150 and a matching love seat for $125. Both items were barely used and looked almost new.
We looked up the brand online and learned that we would’ve spent over $2,000 if we had bought the furniture new. What a steal!
Sello
A new website called Sello offers hundreds of online coupons to help you save on products from the hottest independent retailers.
Sello advertises “No dropshipping. No mass-produced goods. No fine-print. Just great deals from independent merchants on the world’s most trusted e-commerce platform.”
Sello will have plenty of deals coming soon!
Side of the Road
This one might sound a little crazy to those of you who aren’t super frugal, but hear me out. My city offers a community “pick up day” once per year.
On this day, residents leave old furniture or other items on the curb and the city will come by to dispose of the items for free.
Most of this stuff is junk, but on occasion, you’ll find something worthwhile. My husband and I got our filing cabinet for free from the side of the road.
It was a little dusty/dirty, but once we cleaned it out thoroughly, it looked great. We still use it years later.
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are a great place to find discount clothing, shoes, designer purses, furniture, household items, and more. An added bonus: some of the proceeds go toward supporting a worthy cause.
Here are some of the most popular thrift stores:
- Goodwill: proceeds fund job training and other services
- Arc’s Value Village: helps people with developmental disabilities
- The Salvation Army: proceeds fund Adult Rehabilitation centers
Bargain Hunting Tips
Now that you know where to find amazing deals, here are some general bargain hunting tips:
- Be patient. You may have to sort through some junk before you find a gem.
- Do your research. If you’re looking for something specific, check online to see if an estate sale or garage sale is selling what you’re looking for.
- Don’t assume the worst about used items. Sometimes you can find used items that have barely been used and are in amazing condition!
Thrift stores and garage sales are my favorites! Sometimes you have to dig to find the treasures, but when you find them they are amazing. One time, I found a pair of tieks, almost brand new! Those are almost $200 shoes and I got them for like $3!
What a steal!