used furniture

The 5 Best Deals in Every Thrift Store

Kentin Waits — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:00:36 +0000

If you’re an avid thrift shopper like me, you know that every second-hand store has its own unique personality. Some stores are great for furniture, others for clothing; some seem to have the market cornered on books, and a few just seem to have older and more unique items than all the rest. But regardless of the personality of your favorite store, there are five standard items that you should always be on the lookout for in every thrift store. Here’s my not-so-scientific list of the top five items that offer the highest savings when compared to retail. (See also: 10 Things to Look for Every Time You Visit a Thrift Store)

1. Shoes

If you can get over the mental roadblock of buying used shoes, it’ll do wonders for your budget. With decent-quality leather shoes ranging anywhere from $65.00-$85.00 retail, scoring a gently used pair for $6.00 means you’re saving at least 90%. Focus on condition and pay special attention soles and heels wear; avoid wear patterns that might affect your stride. Give leather some TLC with mink oil or shoe polish.

2. Belts

When did a buckled strip of leather with some holes at one end become worth $32.00? I’m pretty picky and my wardrobe reflects it, but I haven’t paid more than $4.00 for a belt in years. Sure, sometimes you walk away empty-handed. But if you’re willing to look and wait for just the right item, you can find great deals on all kinds of leather accessories like belts, wallets, and purses too.

3. Jeans

When I was teenager, I saved for three months to buy a new pair of Guess jeans. I still remember the price back then ($40.00). Even in all their acid-washed glory that seemed like an outrageous sum. Today, that’s a bargain price for an off-brand. Thrift stores are great places take advantage of the growth spurts and fickle tastes of kids and pick up good-quality jeans for around $7.00. Deals on adult denim are easy to find too. It’s just takes a little patience, a few trips to the dressing room, and maybe a quick alteration.

4. Furniture

After you’ve been thrifting for a few years, strolling through most retail settings is like visiting a foreign land — you can appreciate the beauty, but you just don’t understand the locals. Nowhere is this feeling more pronounced that in furniture stores. $219.00 for a nightstand and $389.00 for an accent chair? What language are they speaking? Last month I made a quick pit stop at a local charity’s thrift center and found a club chair and matching ottoman for $80.00. It was so new it still smelled like the furniture store that had donated it. All it needed was one small repair to the roping detail along the top edge of the ottoman. It took all of ten minutes to make it look showroom perfect.

Check your local thrift store for lamps, nightstands, coffee tables, and bed frames. They can usually be found in perfect or near-perfect condition. Items in rougher shape can become weekend projects and get a second life with a bit of sanding and varnish or paint. Often the sheer quality of older items makes them worthy candidates for a salvage project. Look for quality markers like solid wood construction and dove-tail joints.

5. Books

Even if you have an e-reader, sometimes it’s nice to hold a book in your hands. And thrift stores are treasure-troves of good used books. Retail prices for paperbacks range from $12.99-$14.00; at most thrift shops, they’re $.89-$2.99. That’s a minimum savings of around 75%. Thrift stores in college towns and larger cities seem to have the quickest turnover in books and the best selection. Grab some coffee and stroll through their stacks.

Successful thrifting is all about persistence, knowing what you need today, might need tomorrow, and seizing a good a deal when you find it. If you know the right categories to mine, thrift shopping can be a way to save some serious cash by avoiding retail prices on as much as you can whenever you can.

Do you focus on certain categories when you thrift shop? What’s the best deal you’ve ever scored second-hand?

This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Don't Let Bedbugs Take a Bite Out of Your Next Thrift Store Deal

Elizabeth Lang — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:48:32 +0000

Bedbugs are not only gross, causing nasty itchy bites, they're also insanely expensive to treat once you have them. And perhaps the scariest part about bedbugs is they are difficult to discover until you have an infestation. With the recent surge in bedbugs across the U.S., anyone who buys used furniture has to be especially careful. (See also: Unexpected Roommates: How to Get Rid of Roaches)

It's probably a given that bedbugs are residing in a used mattress you find on the street corner (uhh, just leave it), but bedbugs can also be found in a couch you buy on Craigslist or under that pillow you slept on at the hotel.

So whether you are trying to bring home used furniture (but not bedbugs) or trying to prevent bedbugs from traveling home with you, follow this guide to help you spot those pests before it's too late.

General Tips for Preventing Bedbugs

The first step in preventing a bedbug infestation is to take precautions and be aware before you even start inspecting furniture.

1. Be on Alert in Thrift Stores

When shopping in thrift stores, if you see bedbug evidence anywhere in the store, buy nothing. I'm a huge fan of thrift store shopping, but you don't want to contaminate your house just to save a few bucks.

2. With Craigslist, Ask in an Email First

If you're shopping on Craigslist, ask in an email why the sellers are selling. If their answer seems a little off, follow up and ask directly — "Just wanted to be sure, but have you had any problems with with bedbugs? I just read an article about them in used furniture so I wanted to check." Some folks may be a little put off by this question, but asking directly will give the seller the opportunity to assure you. And if there is a problem, they probably just won't answer your email.

3. Know Your City

Bedbugs can infest anywhere, but some cities have had larger problems than others. Read your local newspaper and talk to your friends. If you hear about a lot going on, it might be best to be extra cautious.

4. Trust Your Gut

If something doesn't feel right — whether the item, the price, the situation, or the people — walk away. Even if you've already purchased an item, you don't have to bring it into your house. Store it in the garage wrapped in plastic until you've had a chance to inspect it.

5. Beware of Overly Cheap Prices

Watch out for ridiculously good prices; if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it's not clear why someone is selling something for such a good price, it may be that they are just trying to unload an item infested with bedbugs.

How to Search for Bedbugs

Once you're actually in front of a purchase, you want to do a good job inspecting the item. Bring a flashlight and magnifying glass and look carefully.

1. Pull Up Cushions and Turn Over Mattresses

If you are buying a couch or chair, pull up the cushions and carefully examine the the piece of furniture. Similarly, turn over mattresses and box springs. Bedbugs don't typically crawl on the outside of furniture — they bury themselves in it.

2. Look Around Seams and Buttons

Again, you are going to have to do some serious inspecting to search out and discover bedbugs. Seams and buttons are good places to check for either the bugs themselves or droppings.

3. Look for Droppings

Old bedbug droppings look sort of like moldy spots. (At least to me.) Black/brown spots that are clustered together could be bedbug droppings. They are frequently found on the corners of box springs and in the crevices and corners of couches. BedBug Central has some good pictures.

4. Look for Bugs and/or the Eggs or Cast Skins

This is pretty obvious, but look for bedbugs themselves. They will be tiny, but you may also notice the bug eggs or cast skins. Bedbugger.com has some really good (and by "good" I mean disgusting) photos of bedbug eggs and skins. (Just don't look while you're eating!)

Next time you go used furniture shopping, be sure to be on the watch for bedbugs. Do a thorough search and you should be fine. (If you're not thorough, then you better sleep with your shoes on and get your bug killing practice tips from the "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite" rhyme!)

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This article is from Elizabeth Lang of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Furnish Your Home for Less Than the Cost of a Moving Truck

Craig Ford — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:48:46 +0000

During a recent move, our family decided that we could sell our furniture and buy used furniture for less than the cost of renting a moving truck. We moved into a completely empty rental house and furnished it for about $1,500. (There were major appliances already in the house.)

After you've decided to used furniture, don't back down. Buying used furniture takes more time than buying new furniture, but the time you invest in shopping around and waiting will bring huge returns. Many people end up buying new furniture simply because they get lazy. (See also: Build Your Own Furniture: 9 Helpful Tips for Non-Carpenters)

3 Essential Resources for Any Frugal Furniture Hunt

Depending on your preferences, there may be some items you'd like to buy new. Lots of folks refuse to buy used mattresses and upholstered furniture because of the possibility of bedbugs. If you want to buy these items used, you should research how to uncover those pesky pests. You can check out this Dateline story to discover how to find bedbugs.

Craigslist

Before using Craigslist, I was nervous about getting scammed; I'd heard a lot of horrifying stories. However, by using some common sense and a few simple tips, I found that Craigslist can be a great place to buy used furniture.

Always ask sellers why they are selling an item. I've found this to be the most important question — you want to make sure they're not selling an item because it's broken, stained, or harboring pests. There is no science to knowing the accuracy of their answer, but you'll need to trust your gut. If their answer doesn't make sense to you, then just wait for something that seems more legitimate. In our case, most of the furniture we bought was from individuals who were moving. By looking at the house, it was quite clear that their story was true.

Also be sure to ask about the history of the item; the answer could reveal potential problems.

Garage Sales

Going to a garage sale must be viewed as a treasure hunt. You never know what you're going to find. I found it frustrating going to garage sales looking for something in particular, but when I just went to see what I could find, the trips were always more enjoyable.

The good news is that when you find something at a garage sale, it will usually be cheaper than anything you'd find on Craigslist or at a second hand store. The hassle factor does pay off eventually.

Most folks at garage sales are willing to negotiate, but I found the asking prices were typically something I was happy to pay, so I skipped the negotiation step.

Secondhand Stores

When you start visiting the different stores in your town, you'll find that the prices can vary dramatically. My experience has been that secondhand stores have higher prices than either Craigslist or garage sales. Furthermore, different stores have different purposes. Some are clearly in business to make a larger profit than others; some stores are more mission-based while others are profit-based. You'll quickly discover the nature of the stores as you visit them. We spent a day visiting the different used stores in town (without buying anything) just to get a sense of which store had the best price on furniture.

The biggest disadvantage of secondhand stores (other than the price) is that it's harder to get the history of an item. You won't know if the dresser is 2 years old or 20 years old.

Tips for Buying Used Furniture

Searching for used furniture can be frustrating, but rewarding — these tips will help with your search.

Be Patient

Most new furniture stores offer the advantage of being able to find exactly what you want when you want it. However, when buying items used, you'll need to be prepared for days or a few weeks of shopping around and watching for offers.

Be Willing to Borrow or Buy a Cheap Substitute

When it came time to move into our house, we still didn't have a table. We went into the furniture store and realized that we were looking at over $2,000 for a new table and chairs. We decided to borrow a plastic folding table from family members. Even if we had to go to Sam's Club and buy one for $100, we would have been much better off in the long run.

You could also consider buying something really functional now and upgrading later. If you have a specific table design in mind, you might just pick something up for $100 to buy time, so that over the next few months you can monitor secondhand sources and try to find the exact item you're seeking.

Be Flexible

The more specific your imagination is with what you want, the more likely it is that you won't find it. In other words, a person who is looking for a dresser is much more likely to find a great dresser than the person looking for a long cherry colored dresser with five drawers and bronze handles.

Scratches Can Easily Be Covered Up

For less than $10, you can buy furniture pens. Don't pass up on otherwise nice furniture just because of issues with the finishing. If the furniture is really nice, it might be worth sanding and refinishing.

Inspect the Furniture Closely

For dressers, check all the draws to make sure they slide out well. Test tables to see how sturdy they are. Sit on chairs to feel how comfortable they are. Don't rush the inspection process.

What tips do you have for saving money on furniture?

This article is from Craig Ford of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Buy Used Furniture

Linsey Knerl — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:00:03 +0000

Dealista MP3:

Dealista #30: Buying Used Furniture

This article shares tips from the newest episode of Dealista, our podcast that'll help you get more for less.

Furniture can be an expensive purchase. With so many people listing their used items for sale, why not give it a try? But there are some things to look out for before you give up cash for that previously-owned piece of furniture.

1. Sofas or living room furniture made from pine lumber: This isn’t solid enough to support the weight of some people, and most definitely won’t survive another move.

2. Sofas with mesh support or Styrofoam peanuts instead of cushions: Need we really say more?

3. Chairs with joints that have been stapled: Look for glue and bolts to signify that a piece has been put together with care, and will last for many years to come!

4. Lamps that freak out when you plug them in: You don’t want a fire on your hands, do you?

5. Cribs: With so many recalls, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

6. Mattresses: So many things can live in there (bedbugs, odor, and more!). It’s best to skip this one.

While we love the idea of repurposing old furniture, some items aren’t meant to be used for anything other than their original purpose. Be mindful of whether pieces will be exposed to dust, heat, or moisture before you place it in your home.

Looking for the rest of our guidelines? Check out all of our Quick and Dirty tips in our most recent episode, How to Buy Used Furniture.

Dealista is a collaboration between Wise Bread and Quick and Dirty Tips, the producer of popular podcasts such as Grammar Girl, Money Girl, Winning Investor, and Mighty Mommy.

If you enjoyed these tips you can find more in our show's archive.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Get Huge Savings With Used Office Equipment

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:00:07 +0000

Link:

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/money/article/how-to-get-huge-savings-w...

Whether you’re running a typical office-based business, a janitorial service, or a custom manufacturing company, the rising cost to purchase and maintain equipment will directly affect you in 2010. While the most efficient way to cut costs is to regularly maintain and service your existing inventory, even the most carefully cared-for pieces will eventually need to be replaced. Here is our quick expert guide to knowing when to buy used, what to look for, and how it can benefit your bottom line for years to come.

Use the Recession to Your Advantage

An unfortunate casualty of the recession — small business failures — can work in your favor when looking for high-quality, used office, retail, and manufacturing equipment. Auctions, which traditionally haven’t fared well for sellers, can be a viable option for small businesses looking to go used. Ed Castagna, president of Nassau Asset Management, notes that the low prices will require a bit more discernment when making purchasing decisions. “Buyers will need to be careful to note the condition of the item up for bid. Some auctions will require sellers to upgrade the condition of the equipment as a “make ready” requirement for the event, which can also increase the price.”

Those who aren’t finding success on the auction block may discover Craigslist to be a rewarding alternative. Within each local “For Sale” category resides a section just for used business wares, which can include anything from goose neck trailers to angel food cake pans to commercial freezers for a fraction of new retail cost. Adam Kruse, of the St. Louis Hermann London Group, shares a recent experience where someone else’s misfortune became his small business gain. Mr. Kruse found a Craigslist ad for a liquidation company reselling the contents of a Holiday Inn hotel, and he immediately took advantage. “They had hundreds of high quality matching wood desks almost exactly like the ones I found at Target, and they were 15 dollar each.” By purchasing 25 of these units, he spent less in total than he would have for just five of a similar product at retail.

What Should You Buy Used?

Whether you go the private route, or prefer to do business with a more established company dealing specifically with used business assets, there are some basic tips that can help you determine what makes a good deal:

Most business owners agree that furniture (restaurant, office, hotel, etc.) is almost always appropriate to buy used. The savings is usually significant, and even the most outdated looking pieces can be given a facelift or used in a “vintage” setting for a unique fashion statement. Savings may vary, but it’s not unusual to realize savings of 50%–75% over retail.
Electronics purchases seem to have our experts split. While many will risk cash on used PCs, monitors, or printers, others need the assurance that only a new product warranty can provide. If in doubt, consider the overall value of the warranty options, remaining useful life, and technologies against the cost of the equipment. If the math doesn’t add up, skip the second-hand option. If used is the only choice for your budget, try to buy through a dealer with a warranty and service contract — and don’t be afraid to ask for extras like regular cleanings or upgrades.
Heavy duty or manufacturing equipment will vary by industry, but one thing is for certain: Just like cars, used equipment will need repairs. Factor in the cost for a good service agreement or provide an ample budget for upkeep, as needed. If you can’t afford to put that kind of cash aside, consider financing on a new model with a generous service plan.

Use What You Have, Only When You Have To

Despite the growing market for used equipment, many businesses continue to outsource large tasks that require specialty units. Even bulky print jobs may be more economical at your local Kinko’s and can save you the headache of a last-minute breakdown or performance issue. When it’s all said and done, putting hours on your own equipment should only be done when it’s cost-effective. The storage, liability, and maintenance of any used purchase must make absolute financial sense for your business.

Tax Benefits for All

While the advantage of purchasing used come tax time won’t be as significant as if you bought new, it’s still a consideration to be taken seriously. Buying before you really need a replacement item may make sense at the end of a very good tax year. Small businesses that foresee replacing an item in the next 6 months and that would like to realize the deduction immediately may want to strike right away on a good end-of-the-year bargain. Speak with your accountant to see if depreciation on used equipment will be of any benefit to your business. (Some companies reserve depreciation for items with a value of over $500 and handle these on a case-by-case basis.)

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: