Furnishing Your Home on a Budget!

by Jayne Holden
(Kansas City, USA)

Whether you are setting up home for the first time or have recently moved to a new state or even a new country, it can seem like a daunting and expensive task to furnish your new home from scratch. However, furnishing your home on a budget is not an impossible task. Here are some tips on furnishing your home comfortably for less.

Make a List of Essential Items

The first thing to do is to make a list of all the essential pieces of furniture that you will need. This could include:

• a bed,
• a couch (or a couch that converts into a bed if you have a small living space),
• television set,
• refrigerator,
• washing machine,
• stove and/or microwave oven.

If you don't have much money to spare, you may decide to forego some of the above items. For example, if you are prepared to go to the Laundromat regularly, you could decide to delay purchasing a washing machine. Or, if you decide that you can live without a television for a few months, you may decide to omit a television from your list.

Your list of essential items may also include items not on the above list. For example, if your new home has little or no built-in storage space, you may need to buy a free-standing wardrobe, chest of drawers or a hanging rail.

Decide on a Total Budget

Once you have made a list of the essential pieces of furniture, the next step is to decide on a total budget for furnishing your new home. Don't worry if you don't have a large amount of money at your disposal, it is possible to furnish a home on even a very small budget of $1,000 or less.

Consider the Options

Do you want to buy only new furniture or would you consider buying second-hand furniture? Would you prefer to rent new furniture or buy used furniture outright? It is really is a matter of personal choice, but, before you decide not to consider second-hand furniture, bear in mind that you will almost certainly be able to purchase used furniture in excellent or very good condition at a much lower price than comparable new furniture.

Purchasing New Furniture

New furniture is not always expensive, although lower-priced new furniture is often of a lower quality than second-hand furniture in very good condition. Stores like IKEA sell reasonable quality furniture at fairly low prices Bear in mind, however, that the least expensive new furniture may not be very durable and may not have a very long life.

Renting New Furniture

If you would like to furnish your home with good quality, new furniture, renting furniture may be the best option for you.

Furnishing Your Home on a Budget!

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