Furniture Bargains for the Savvy Shopper

There is a new way to shop for home furniture these days.  No longer are high-priced decorating shops the only way to buy.  Many cost-conscious shoppers are turning to other ways to furnish their homes for less.  The trend is catching on but there are a few tips to keep from making a bad decision when buying bargain furniture.

6 Tips to Help You Save Money on Furniture:

1. Tip # 1:  Where will you use furniture?  What room in your home is it for?  If, for instance, you are looking for sofas do some research on new couches for the home.  Be savvy when shopping to make the best of second hand buys.
2. Tip #2:  Affordable furniture can be found many places.  Try your local second hand shop, yard sales, garage sales, church rummage sales, and the bargain basement at your local thrift shop.
3.  Tip #3:  Check the item carefully for scratches, tears, stains and the like.  While you might be able to use furniture that has some defects, it may give you a bargaining tool to lower the price.
4.  Tip #4:  Don’t be afraid to haggle.  Rarely is the price set.  Sometimes a thrift shop will even lower a price if you speak to the manager.
5.  Tip #5:  Most home furniture stores will deliver.  Try asking thrift store owners and people hosting garage sales if they can bring the item to you.  Often they are able and don’t charge any more.  It doesn’t hurt to ask.
6. Tip #6:  Beware of easy credit.  It's a lot more frugal to save the cash and buy used.  If you look at total cost when using a credit card you end up paying a lot more for the piece.

Bargains on home furniture and decorations are everywhere if you learn where to look.  Never rule out overstock stores or online auctions.  Going out of business sales are also a good way to look for things you need but beware of cost, as these stores often raise prices on other items and if you're an impulse shopper this could use a lot more cash.

Set a budget for yourself and stick to it.  Don’t let the thrill of the hunt let you get carried away.  Take a set amount of money along and don’t go over.  You can even purchase many vintage items at a low cost by doing your research and sticking to a plan.