Great Furniture Does Not Have To Cost a Fortune

You’d be forgiven for thinking that now, with the economy in the state it’s in, is the absolute worst time to think about buying that new wardrobe you’ve always been dreaming of. It’s no lie that sales of large and more costly items like furniture tend to dip during a recession. But it can open opportunities to get those large furniture items now on the cheap.

Here are my tips on buying furniture in the credit crunch:

1. Get it for free. In recent years the concept of recycling and swapping unwanted furniture has really taken off on the internet. Make sure you check out sites like freecycle.org, gumtree.com and craigslist.com and see what’s available in your area. Of course, you can’t be choosy with this option – but stay open minded and you could end up with the best price of all – Free!

2. Dont turn your nose up at charity shops. In this day and age you can’t afford to be a snob. Actually, you’d be surpised at the quality of some of the things you’ll find in a well-stocked charity shop. Yes, of course they will no doubt have their fair share of hideous yellowing spring beds from the 1970s. But I’ve often come across some really solid pine and painted furniture at my local YMCA store!

3. Bargain Bargain Bargain. If you are intent on visiting the big showrooms, there’s never been a better time to bargain for a better price. These companies are fighting it out to get you to buy from them. And believe me, they are expecting to throw in a discount to sweeten the deal. If you want to pay a little less for that dining room furniture set, just ask them to knock some money off. Youll be surprised at just how often they agree.

4. Find it cheaper online. There have been a swarm of furniture sites online in the last couple of years. They can very often save you a lot of money. Furniture sites often get the same branded goods as big department stores, but their lack of overheads allows them to sell the same items at lower cost. The numbers speak for themselves on this one. In 2009, online furniture sales increased by 31% when compared to the previous year.

5. Look for a local furniture seller. It may seem counter intuitive but finding a local furniture can actually end up cheaper than a national chain. First of all, there is the friendliness factor – local furniture dealers are often also owners and are far more willing to cut a deal with you. Furthermore, the smaller places often have exquisite handmade real wood pieces as opposed to factory built veneers you find in large chains. I’m speaking from experience here – I recently came across a gorgeous showroom close to where I live, offering great white bedroom furniture and accessories. I ended up stocking up my entire bedroom from there!

My point is, don’t be put off from buying those big household essentials at this time. It could get you a real bargain