Introduction
Buying new furniture can be a stressful experience. It’s not just that you’re spending money—you’re also committing to an investment in something that will have an impact on the way you live your life. But even though furniture is expensive, there are ways to save money without sacrificing comfort or style. Here are seven tips for buying affordable furniture while still getting what you need and want:
1. Consider the cost of delivery when budgeting.
When you’re trying to save money, it can be tempting to assume that delivery will be included in your furniture purchase. But this isn’t always true–and if it is, there might be hidden fees.
Delivery costs are often more than what you pay for the actual furniture itself, especially if you live in a remote area or have stairs leading up to your apartment. The delivery company may also charge extra for things like stairs and other obstacles (like narrow hallways). And if they have to do an evening or weekend delivery instead of during normal business hours? That’s another fee!
2. Lower the price in your mind before you walk into the store.
When you go shopping, start by thinking about how much money you want to spend. Many people go into furniture stores with the mindset that they can’t afford anything, when in fact they are spending thousands of dollars on their monthly mortgage payments and car loans. If this sounds like you, remember: it’s not going to help your budget if you buy something expensive!
Instead of lowering the price in your mind before entering a store, consider raising it instead. If a piece costs $1000 and has no sentimental value for me (I don’t know who made it or where), then why would I spend my hard earned cash? Instead of looking at price tags as absolutes–and thus feeling guilty when buying something expensive–think about them relative to what else is available on the market today.
For example: let’s say there were two couches being sold side-by-side at Macy’s: one was made by Pottery Barn ($1k) while another was from Target ($500). Both look nice enough but neither has much style; however we both agree that neither piece fits within our current aesthetic preferences nor does either meet our needs right now (we need something smaller). So instead of comparing these two options against each other–which would only lead us down an endless path filled with regretful decisions later down time line–we should consider which one would better suit our needs now without breaking bank account in process!
3. Shop for quality furniture at a discount store.
When you’re shopping for quality furniture on a budget, discount stores are a great place to start. They often have good deals on both new and used furniture that can last you years.
If you’re looking for something specific, like an entertainment center or dining room table, check out the store’s website before going in so you know what they have in stock. If the piece of furniture isn’t there yet but is expected soon–or if it’s been discontinued altogether–the salesperson may be able to order one for you at no extra charge.
4. Get more bang for your buck by looking for furniture with simple designs and neutral colors that will match with most anything.
- Buy furniture that is functional. The best way to make sure you’re getting a good deal on the furniture you buy is to make sure it does what it’s supposed to do. This can be as simple as making sure all of the drawers and doors work properly, or as complicated as checking if there are any hidden flaws in construction (like poorly glued joints).
- Buy furniture that is stylish. You don’t want something ugly sitting in your house! But don’t go overboard either–you want something nice enough that people will think twice before they criticize its appearance, but not so fancy-looking that it doesn’t match up with anything else in your home decor scheme.*
- Buy comfortable chairs and beds with plenty of padding so they feel good when sitting/lying down on them.*
5. Look for furniture that’s made of hardwood, which is durable and less likely to warp or crack than pressed wood or particleboard.
Hardwood is a good choice for furniture that will be used frequently. Hardwood is more durable than pressed wood or particleboard, so you won’t have to worry about warping or cracking over time.
If you’re shopping for something that will get a lot of use–like a dining room table–it’s worth spending extra money on hardwood construction.
6. Look for sofas with performance fabric upholstery, which can be dry-cleaned or spot-cleaned without worry of damaging the fabric’s color or texture.
Performance fabric upholstery is durable and easy to clean. It can be dry cleaned or spot cleaned without worry of damaging the fabric’s color or texture. Performance fabrics are also stain resistant, flame retardant and comfortable to sit on.
While performance fabrics do cost more than regular upholstery fabrics, they’re well worth it because they last longer and look great for years to come!
7. Look for a low price guarantee from the retailer to avoid getting stuck with an expensive piece of furniture that doesn’t fit into your budget once you get it home!
A low price guarantee is a feature of some furniture retailers that allows you to return or exchange an item if it drops in price after you have bought it. Low price guarantees are not always available, but they are worth looking into if they are offered by the retailer that you’re considering buying from.
One major benefit of a low price guarantee is that it protects against overpaying for something you really like and want to keep, but which isn’t quite as affordable as you first thought. For example: say there’s this gorgeous armchair sitting on display at your local furniture store and it’s priced at $250; however, after doing some research online (and realizing how rare these chairs tend to be), we learn that similar models go for about $200 elsewhere online–which means if we buy this armchair now then sell our old stuff later down the road then maybe even make money off our purchase! But what happens if someone else buys this same chair while we’re waiting around trying other options? Well luckily since they offer their customers protection against rising costs through their “prices won’t rise” policy then we’d still get paid back any difference between our original purchase price plus shipping costs versus what we could sell them now for later on down road when everything sells out again…
When buying new furniture on a tight budget, look for something affordable yet comfortable, functional and stylish
When you’re looking for furniture on a tight budget, it’s important to keep in mind that you don’t have to sacrifice comfort, function or style. You can still find pieces that fit your needs and look great in your home.
While there are plenty of affordable options out there for people who want new furniture without breaking the bank, not all cheap furniture is created equal. When buying used items or discounted items from big-box stores like Walmart and Target (which often carry mismatched sets), it’s best not to expect anything higher than “functional.” This means that if you plan on keeping them forever (or even just for several years) then stick with wood construction rather than pressed wood or particleboard; these materials tend not only warp more easily but also crack easier over time as well–making them less durable overall!
Conclusion
Buying furniture on a budget can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as you’re willing to spend some time searching for deals and shop smartly, you’ll be able to find furniture that fits your needs at an affordable price.
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