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We Brits have an insatiable appetite for furniture.
In 2018 alone, we spent £19.1 billion on the stuff.
Gone are the days when a chair or a table would last for several generations.
In this throw away culture of ours, much of the furniture in our homes will experience a shorter lifespan than some lesser species of fruit fly.
It’s not our fault – we just want the kind of luxurious homes that we see in the movies.
And fashion just seems to change so fast these days.
But there’s no way of sugar coating it; furniture is expensive.
Furnishings like beds, tables and chairs are among the heaviest purchases most of us will make in our lives, after houses and cars.
Unfortunately, as repeated use wears our furniture down and the passing of time makes it look out of place, buying furniture for many of us is a lot like seeing the dentist: we accept that it is necessary, but it is painful and expensive.
And with the economy crashing spectacularly before our very eyes, saving money is a top priority for many people right now. So, the question upon many people’s lips is this: can I keep up with the Jones’ without breaking the bank?
There’s no denying that furnishing your home out in the way you want can be very expensive.
But it doesn’t have to be.
If you’re willing to think out of the box and be cautious with your spending, you can create the space you want without bankrupting yourself or compromising on style.
Below are five cheap purchases and thrifty furniture ideas to save you money. You might also enjoy these other thrifty tips.
Shop around
Don’t rush to buy the first things you see. Take your time to consider your options. Many consumers believe that the first price they see is the same price across the board. But the same sofa might be hundreds of pounds cheaper at another store. Make sure that you do your research before you buy. Take the time to shop around and compare prices. Price comparison websites online make this easy and you might even find a few “online only” specials offered by some companies.
Consider home improvement loans
Spending all of your cash flow on furniture isn’t a great idea. You still have bills to pay and expenses to cover. You might also find that store credit accounts come with hefty interest attached. Avoid the high interest of an account and don’t take the risk of spending all of your savings and available cash flow by considering a home improvement loan instead. The best home improvement loan is one that can be applied for online, comes without collateral requirements and is offered in a small amount that can be repaid easily, such as those offered by iThink Finance.
Buy second hand
Students have been buying pre-owned furniture for years. But recent times have seen it develop into something of a trend. Many people buy pre-owned pieces and spruce them up. With a bit of care and attention, you can have beautiful furniture for a fraction of the price.
Wait for a sale
They say good things come to those who wait. If you have a sofa to sit on, you may as well wait for the sales to come around. Sales can offer as much as 20% to 40% discount on a furniture item’s regular price. Sign up to your favourite furniture stores newsletters, enquire about upcoming sales regularly, and spend a weekend or two a month wandering through the stores looking for sales. If you’re willing to wait, your bank balance will be happy.
Check Freecycle
If you’re in a tricky situation and you don’t have much or any money to spend on furniture, you can check out the Freecycle Network. This is a website that people use to give their unwanted household items to other people in need. Some of the items might need refurbishing, but often you will find a great piece that someone is being kind enough to give away. By using this service, you can burnish your green credentials by reducing your dependence upon the consumerist cycle of production.
Last Word
Furnishing your home doesn’t have to break the bank. Apply these tips with an open mind and you will be surprised by how much money you can save the next time you need to freshen up your home.
For more money saving tips, check out Money’s on the Mind blog.