Furniture is one of the biggest expenses when moving into a new place. If you are wondering how to manage debt and afford furniture on a budget, there are a few different ways to furnish your new house or apartment without going into more debt. Here are some affordable furniture options to try out.
Look for affordable furniture options to avoid derailing debt management efforts.
How to Manage Debt With Affordable Furniture Options
Budgeting for furniture while still focusing on debt reduction at the same time is a tough but totally attainable goal. First, start with the basics: a budget and a timeline. This can help guide you to the best affordable furniture options for your finances.
Setting a Budget for Debt Reduction & Furniture
A budget is a big part of buying furniture while you are working on debt reduction. You need to determine how much money you will have to buy furniture at the time you need it. Follow these steps to get started:
- Have a working budget.
- After covering all your fixed expenses, necessities and debt repayments, see how much is left over.
- Designate some money towards your new furniture fund and the rest towards the other left over categories (entertainment, eating out, etc.). Save as aggressively as you think will be successful (leave some money to have fun with rather than blow your budget).
- Estimate how much money you will have saved by the time you need to purchase furniture. This is now your furniture fund budget.
How to Find Affordable Furniture Options
Now that you have a budget to purchase furniture, it’s time to make the most of your money. Consider buying both new and used furniture to help avoid credit card debt.
Here are a few affordable furniture options:
- Wait for big sales, like Presidents’ Day or Black Friday.
- Search online for deals on items that have good customer reviews.
- Negotiate with the salesman or store manager. Use any and every angle you can to get a discount.
- Pick up the furniture yourself if delivery isn’t free.
- Pay in cash. Many retailers will more willing to offer a discount if you can pay cash.
Used furniture is a great idea when working on debt management. Here are some tips for buying used items:
- Shop thrift stores, yard sales, and auctions. Items can go for pennies on the dollar.
- Keep an eye on Craigslist and other online resources.
- Transform ugly pieces with your own DIY style.
- Reupholster a chair or two.
- Ask friends and family if they have extra furniture they intend to get rid of.
Buying used furniture doesn’t always yield the fastest results, but it definitely saves money. While there are some pieces of furniture that are best bought brand new, like mattresses, used furniture is a great budget-friendly option, especially if you have some DIY projects you are dying to try out! You can also delay certain purchases until you have more saved. Milk crates and storage containers turned upside down make great end tables.
By keeping debt reduction as a priority and continuing to use a budget, you can start saving for a furniture fund and tackle debt at the same time. If you receive any gift money or generate more income, consider using that money for your furniture fund or additional payments on your credit card debt.
