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Filling Your Place on a Budget:
snap's Guide to Used Furniture
Story and photos by Brad Maulucci
 Used furniture can be found to suit any taste and budget. |
Eventually most of us will leave the confines of the on-campus dorms in search of bigger and better living quarters. However, moving to a bigger place poses a problem: how to fill all that extra space. Of course, the answer is furniture. To most college students, new furniture is out of the question due to high (and sometimes ridiculous) cost. The solution is used furniture. At the mention of used furniture, most people conjure up images along the lines of ugly yellow and orange tweed sofas or "rustic red" flower-patterned recliners. While this type of furniture is certainly available if it fits your decor, most of us prefer more modern stuff. And as it turns out, modern furniture or even not-so-modern furniture that can be rescued and redecorated is rather plentiful. The trick is knowing where to go and whom to talk to.
Each category below is rated based on average prices, selection, and quality. A four-star rating is the best; a one-star rating the worst.
**** Parents or Relatives
This is the ultimate best way to get your hands on some nice used furniture. Pricewise, it can't be beat, as many times you can fill a nice-sized apartment for next to nothing. If you think about it, sometime in the four or five years you are in college, it is likely someone in your family will need new furniture. And of course, if they are undecided, you can always sway their decision by offering to buy their used furniture. Ask around and see what you can dig up.
***1/2 Garage Sales
This is another great way to buy furniture or other items for your place. While not every garage sale has furniture for sale, it is worth looking at as many sales as possible. The best place to locate garage sales is actually your local paper. Pick up a copy of Eau Claire's Leader-Telegram and flip to the classifieds--garage sale listings start at section 40. In the warmer months, you will find many listings of garage sales, with sales most plentiful in early to mid-May.
 Garage sales will be most plentiful in mid-May to June. |
Be aware that most sales start Friday afternoon and end mid-day Sunday. The best deals will be on Fridays or Saturday mornings. Avoid shopping garage sales on Sundays as many sales are picked over by this point. Usually, furniture items are very reasonably priced, as the seller often just wants to get rid of the item without the hassle of moving or disposing of the item themselves. And of course, you can always haggle with the seller to negotiate an even better deal.
***Newspaper/Tradin' Post
The items you will find listed in the classified section of the local newspaper are similar to those items you will find at garage sales. Furniture for sale in the classifieds is generally a bit more expensive than what is sold at garage sales, but is often very new or only a few years old. Also, placing an ad does cost the seller, so they may not be very willing to haggle over the price. Check the furniture classified section of the Leader-Telegram, section 545, or pick up a copy of the Tradin' Post in Davies' Center near the information desk. The Tradin' Post is a publication dedicated to classified listings of all kinds (furniture listings start at section 25). Selection in the Tradin' Post is usually much better than the listings in the Leader-Telegram. Asking prices seem to be about the same for each publication, though the larger selection in the Tradin' Post usually contains some items with lower prices. Keep in mind that the Tradin' Post covers a large geographical area, so some sellers may live outside of the Eau Claire area.
In the Tradin' Post and newspaper, on average couches sell for about $195, often with a love seat included. The majority of couches also are equipped with a sleeper, a bed that stores inside the couch when not used. Sectional couches (larger couches often in the shape of an L) or couches with recliners sell for around $300 or more. Loveseats can be bought for an average of $100, or may be included with a couch. Complete living room sets (usually consisting of a couch, loveseat, coffee table, and a chair or recliner) usually go for around $350. Chairs, recliners, and papasan chairs average $60.
***For Sale Boards
Don't forget about the For Sale board in Davies' Center, to the left of the information desk. Selection on the board is somewhat limited, but furniture will almost always be reasonably priced. You will find a much better selection near the end of each semester, in April and particularly mid-May. The type and quality of advertised furniture will vary considerably from week to week, so check the board often.
** Thrift Stores
When most people think of used items, they probably think Goodwill or Saver's. While these can be great stores for smaller household items (cookware or small appliances) and clothes, they seem to fall short in the furniture department.
 With a little bit of cash and time, any piece of furniture can be made like new again. See snap's articles on cleaning and decorating used furniture for some tips. |
As many students have found, it is quite possible to fill an apartment on a budget. With furniture and even complete furniture sets selling for a fraction of what they cost new, nearly every student's budget can afford furniture. For those of you that are unsure about the cleanliness of used furniture, read on, as there are some helpful tips on how to return that couch or chair to like-new condition. Or for those of you that have found furniture that doesn't quite fit your decor, there is hope. See the section on decoration for tips on how to get that furniture up to date in the appearance department. It's easier and cheaper than you think.
Decorating Your "New" Furniture
Internet Shopping
Pets for Students
