Home furnishing ideas for those on a budget

You're in that new house and it looks pretty barren. You don't have enough furniture, the walls are bare, and the kitchen needs quite a few new items.

Maybe this is your first home. Maybe you've moved up to a larger home or you just moved from a faraway city. Either way, you need furniture and accessories to make that house a home.

You're tempted to go to the furniture store and charge a whole houseful. Then, of course, you'll want to go to the mall and buy all the accessories to make your home beautiful and functional.

SLOW DOWN! Before you whip out those credit cards and rack up a big bill, look at these alternate sources for furnishing a home. These sources may be a little less convenient than the furniture stores and the mall. You may not get everything at once. You will, however, save a lot of money.

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In our mobile society, people are always selling good quality furniture and accessories. People who are moving or redecorating often have good quality furniture for sale.

Besides the newspaper at your corner newsstand, look online for newspapers in communities that are nearby, but whose newspapers are not at your news stand.

You can save yourself a lot of running around by asking detailed questions about the items before you go look. That way, for example, you won't drive 10 miles to look at a mahogany table when you are looking for oak.

Don't be afraid to make a offer if you feel the seller will come down. Be prepared to pay with cash when you buy from private parties.

CONSIGNMENT STORES

These are big in some areas. People bring in furniture and other home-related items and share the proceeds of the sale with the shop owner. These can yield some good buys.

CLOSEOUT STORES

Large manufacturers of houseware items often sell their extras to closeout stores. Here you will pay a lot less than you will at the mall. Nationally known closeout stores include Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Tuesday Morning. These stores are great sources for linens, towels, pots and pans, and decorative items.

ONLINE AUCTIONS AND MERCHANTS

Great for kitchen items and accessories. Not so great for bulky items because you will have to pay for shipping. Be sure you read carefully the descriptions before you bid or buy. Pay attention to payment methods, shipping prices, and the like.

GARAGE SALES

One man's junk is another man's treasure. If you have time and patience, going garage-sale hopping can pay you big. Don't be afraid to haggle on the prices and be prepared to pay in cash.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF LOCAL SHOPPING EXPERTS

Most medium and larger cities have local shopping experts who have radio and TV segments, websites, books, and other ways to tell you about local bargains.

In many cities, for example, there are hotel surplus stores that sell furniture that the best hotels sell when they are redecorating. You can find a lot of good merchandise there.

Check with your neighbors or with your local TV station, newspaper, and other media outlet to find these outlets.

Setting up a new home is an expensive proposition. It gets even more expensive if you put these expenses on a credit card and pay it off over time. Using these alternate sources may involve a little more work and may delay your having your home the way you want it, but often the financial savings are often worth it.