Saving Money on Apartment Rental Furniture & More
Furnishing a brand new apartment rental can be a little tricky, especially for first-time renters. Since you need to spend money on food and bills, you may not have the budget to buy a lot of furniture at once. Fortunately, there are ways to get good apartment furniture without overspending.
Use this guide to furnish your apartment and save money at the same time.
Measure Everything First
Before you go shopping, the first thing you should do is take precise measurements within your unit. Walk around and get the dimensions of the areas where you want to set up a table, a couch, and other pieces of furniture. That way, you can develop a plan for what you need to shop for.
Remember, you have a limited budget to work with, so you can’t afford to make mistakes. If you don’t take measurements ahead of time, you are at risk of buying furniture that the wrong size for your living space. Getting complete refunds isn’t always possible, so make sure you plan ahead.
Opt for Used Furniture
One of the best ways to save money while furnishing an apartment is to focus on buying used furniture. Used furniture is not always fashionable, but you can get it for more reasonable prices. And if you look in the right places you can find good quality furniture that has been barely used.
Websites like Craigslist have plenty of used items for sale, so be sure to give them a look. Try to find local thrift stores as well, since you could always find some interesting items hidden away. With a little refurbishing, any older items you buy will look good as new!
Before you make any purchases, make sure you test the quality of the products you want to buy. That way, you can be sure your furniture will not break after a short amount of use.
Reach Out to Friends & Family
You may be moving into your own apartment soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help. Friends or family members may have furniture that they want to get rid of. Reach out to them, and see if they are willing to give some things to you for free.
This is a great way to get essential items, like chairs, tables, and dining sets, without spending a single cent. When you are working on a small budget, there’s nothing better than free furniture.
Look for Clearance Sales
Another way to save money is to keep an eye out for clearance sales, both online and from local retailers. When sales for particular products slow down, retailers will slash prices to get them moving again. This gives you the chance to grab high quality furniture for your apartment at unbelievable prices.
Companies need to make space for the holidays, so keep an eye out for out-of-season furniture in the late summer. After holiday sales end, furniture that hasn’t been sold may be put on clearance as well. You can get some nice stuff during these sales, so don’t let them pass you by.
Shop for Energy Saving Devices
There are other ways to save money besides looking for sales and cheap furniture. One of the hottest tech trends for apartment renters is buying energy saving devices. These devices can help you save money on your electric bill each month, so using them will net you some extra money.
Smart thermostats, for example, learn from your behavior, and learn how to set temperatures that reduce energy consumption. Compact fluorescent lamps are great lighting options, as they consume a lot less energy than regular bulbs. Shop for solutions like these to save lots of money in the long-term.
Looking to move to Connecticut in the near future? Plan ahead and check out the apartments for rent from Garden Communities CT.