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Buying Affordable Furniture: Tips for Low-Income Families

Affordable furniture

Whether you want to fill up an empty room or create more space in one that’s already furnished, furniture shopping can be difficult when you’re on a budget. Though it may seem impossible to find a good deal on quality furniture, there are ways to get the pieces you need at a small fraction of the original price - you just need to know where to look. As you approach the process of buying affordable furniture, it’s important to have a few tips and tricks to fall back on in order to save as much money as you can.

Know Basic Wood Types

The type of wood used to make a piece of furniture plays a large role in how much the piece will cost. Solid wood furniture for instance, aside from being heavier than the other types, is typically the most expensive because it’s extremely sturdy. However, while solid wood looks great in any home, it’s also susceptible to scratches and water rings.

Veneers are slightly less expensive than solid wood, and they’re still relatively sturdy. Due to the fact that it contains an inexpensive wood base covered in higher-quality wood, this type of furniture acts as the perfect middle-ground if you want something cheap but lasting.

The cheapest type of wooden furniture is particle board, or composite wood, which contains a combination of wood pulp, plastics, and resin. Since there is very little real wood in these pieces, they’re often lighter and easy to transport. Particle board furniture will also look decent in a home; however, it is not built to last and will deteriorate quicker than the other types.

Be Open to Buying Used Furniture

The prices on like-new pieces can drop significantly just because they someone used them at one point. Looking around your local secondhand furniture store can yield some great deals so long as you inspect the piece carefully before you buy it. Things such as the legs, door, cushions, hinges, and springs could all have potential problems that you’ll want to know about before you make the commitment to purchasing.

Don’t be Afraid to Haggle

Though furniture shopping is an intimidating experience, and the thought of haggling seems impossible, it can get you a great deal on the pieces you want. Retailers have been known to reduce the price by a certain percentage with a little persuasion, and even if you don’t get a price reduction out of the deal, they may still include extra services at no cost to you. These extra features could be things such as transportation or extra accessories to add to the design of your home.

Find Ways to Not Buy at All

If you’re still not finding the deals you’re after, looking through the furniture donations at your local church could help. Though you’ll need to check the furniture for damage and quality (as you would at a secondhand store), you could find just what you’re looking for at no cost. Be sure to keep your eyes open for any furniture that those residing in your neighborhood throw out as well - your neighbors could be throwing out exactly what you need.


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