Moving can be a taxing time on your pocketbook. You're paying deposits, rent, last month's rent, pet fees, buying all new groceries — the works. Instead of assuming you'll have to budget for new home goods as well, try out these 5 tips to making the transition a little smoother and debt free!
1. Craigslist: It's the first place many turn to, but instead of finding inexpensive goods to outfit your space, try bartering or consistently checking the free section. We've found countless goods this way and although some might call us obsessed, we simply add the rss feed for that page to our Google Readers and even check it while we're on the go.
2. Bulk Item Pick Up Day: There is absolutely zero shame in dumpster diving or cruising the curbs. Most cities and suburbs will list on their websites which days are bulk item pick up days. Believe it or not there's still those who would rather just leave it out for trash instead of making a few bucks selling things on Craigslist. We've found everything from rolling tool chests to patio tables and giant room sized rugs. Seriously, if you know which neighborhoods put out the goods, it can be like Christmas!
3. Sell Things Off: Obviously we'd suggest ditching the items you don't want in your new space before you move (so you don't have to lug them up your new 5 flight walk up), but that doesn't mean you can't use the cash you make to pick up an accessory or two.
4. Accept Donations From Friends: Asking for help is always an option and although it might be weird to make a house warming invitation that has a list of things you still need, it can work quite well. People always want to get you something you need for your new space and if they know a coffee table tops that list (and you have super cool friends) you'll probably end up with exactly what you need!
5. Be Happy With What You Have: Although it can be rough, there's many items in your home that can be repurposed to be given new life. A table can become an entertainment center, a bookshelf can be a headboard and so forth. Try using items in new ways or just being ok with them as they are. If you only keep what you love, then there's no problem with that!
Do you have a penny pinching tip to share? How have you saved money on a move or a new place? Share your story below!
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Bargain with the soon-to-be former tenants. No, really!
Over the course of my many moves, I've seen apartments that the current tenants is *almost* moved out of and the stuff that's left is kind of great. Find a way to get in contact with the tenant and call or email them with something like, "That bookcase looks really hard to move. How about you just leave it behind?" Usually they'll just leave it without asking for money.
Of course, though, now you've got to worry about bedbugs when it comes to curbside finds. Such a bummer.
I consider myself a champion dumpster diver and salvager of all things furniture.
I inherited my grandmother's bedroom set when she passed away - a gorgeous mid-century set in excellent condition. Talk about a find! - as well as a pair of rocking armchairs that fit great in our apartment.
I found a sewing table in the free section of craigslist, and picked it up from a porch on my lunch break 2 years ago. They thought it was broken. I then looked it up online, got an instruction manual from the manufacturer, fixed it, and saw that it retails for $300!
The coffee table in my living room is from college - my roommate found it on the street with a broken glass pane, and through senior year, we kept our DVDs in the broken section and used it as a side table. After college, I sanded down the top (it had water damage and bubbled), had new poly inserts cut to replace the glass, and spray painted it a nice chocolate brown. I put fabric underneath the glass, and have filled it with ticket stubs. Something I've always wanted to do.
I've pulled steamer trunks and awesome suitcases out of the trash, too.
One thing I'll recommend is watching the dustbins at apartment buildings at the end of the month. If there's someone there that's moving and lazy, there will be some cool stuff sitting in, on or next to the trash.
Enter the 1960s era Samsonite weekender briefcase I picked up Monday!
I just made a cross country move and this is quite useful. Thanks!
I had to get rid of my beloved counter/kitchen storage at my old place (it was an IKEA Norden Occasional Table and was fantastic) because it wouldn't fit in my new place. That left me with no new and much needed storage for my new kitchen. As a temporary(?) solution, I'm using a set of 4x2 and a 2x2 expedit bookshelves against an empty kitchen wall for storage. I brought the bookshelves from my old place knowing that they could be used somehow. Turns out they're perfect in my kitchen!
Unfortunately, I've moved to a relatively small town (~20,000 people) and so Craigslist is a bit barren. Maybe I should hit up some garage sales, instead?
bodicegoddess - I have been know for checking out dumpsters myself in my apartment complex around the first and last weekend of each month (when people tend to move) - people toss some really good stuff and I feel if I get it within the day they sit it out it's not likely to be ruined by bedbugs or whatever people rave about now already.
You can also try your local FreeCycle list, http://www.freecycle.org/ Everything listed is for free :)
Another good resource is Freecycle. It's like getting stuff from friends and family, only from strangers...
For the record...furniture doesn't pick up bed bugs from sitting outdoors. The bedbugs live in the upholstered furniture. They feed on the people who use the furniture...kind of like lice. I love picking up furniture by the dumpsters but stick to hard furniture (wood-like substances). It's just not worth having to deal with an infestation of my own furniture.
Family and friends are a great source, an probably the best deal you can get.
We inherited a lot of vintage MCM furniture from my in-law's side of the family. They honestly thought it was trash, and were going to donate it all. We were able to furnish a lot of our house with it (we had moved a couple months prior from a 560 sq ft apartment to a 1400 sq ft house, so the house was still pretty bare).
All we had to do was pay for a trailer to haul it down to Texas from New Jersey. Not exactly cheap ($500), but way cheaper than trying to find all those pieces on CL or thrift stores.
And things we already had - IKEA dining set, couch from a big box store, etc. - we were able to sell on CL and made about $1000.
We also received my father's (almost new) stainless steel refrigerator when he moved out of state and decided to leave it behind. The old fridge went within a couple hours of posting on CL.
Unfortunately, what was said above about bedbugs is sadly true - it's not hype or "whatever people rave about now". Bedbugs are a serious issue in the Northeast. So for folks up here, we touch nothing with a cushion or fabric.
We're lucky to live in a college town. August 31 is coming up, the *best* time of the year to cruise the curbs. It's remarkable, the lovely things people throw out!
If I only I had a car to help me get things home.
To be honest, I don't love bugs and I don't want to be invaded by bed bugs...but I do think people make a bigger deal out of something than there should be. Did you know tons of microbes, mites, etc live on your body as we speak?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-demodex-mite.htm
http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/your-body-is-a-planet
http://scienceray.com/biology/human-biology/human-body-host-for-bugs/
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Body+Bugs-a056459848
Makes you want to take a shower in tons of chemicals, huh?
We're dealing with our second bed bug infestation in our apartment right now. It is hugely inconvenient and expensive to wash all our clothes, pillows, bedding, etc., in hopes of killing any bugs/their eggs. Also, getting itchy bites is way uncool. Having experienced this, I doubt I'll be picking up any curbside furniture again in the future.