#1 tip: think like a lazy rich person. Am I a wealthy college student at the big-name university who dumps perfectly good furniture when I leave for the summer? Find out when their move-out dates are and keep your eyes open. Look through thrift stores on the outskirts of rich-ville (truer in spread-out Southern US or Midwest towns than big cities); they're not driving across down to donate. Don't forget the corporate world; they're rich and lazy, too! When a business closes its doors they are looking to get rid of modern, contemporary and/or industrial furnishings ASAP and recoup a little of their losses. If you like, say, a piece of waiting room furniture, just ask the receptionist if there are any redesign plans coming up and if they might sell it; it's not a personal residence so it's not offensive (people sometimes inquired when I was a receptionist).

The as-is section of IKEA. Best selection of random shapes and sizes of wood/doors/legs/casters/mirrors/fabrics.

I've made tables and desks from $5 parts in the as-is section. :)

Yes to kittywrangler: My favorite couch, for decades, came from the dump at a rich person's college. The only reason I don't still have that couch is that when I bought my house, all of my friends banded together and refused to help me move it. Also got a great blender, and lots of other stuff.
Another place for cheap stuff is one of those office furniture places that gets paid to haul old (fully depreciated) office furniture away, and then resells it. You can often find bookcases, etc., that can be repainted there.

Craigslist. (Free section and Furniture by Owner section).
Flea Market.
Sample Sales.

The Dump--often people throw out perfectly good items because they just don't want/need them anymore. This is true of cities and rural areas--though I have been told you may need to be able to deal with smell. Some places, in rural and semi-rural areas, where folks dump their trash have recycle/trade sections where people can leave items they don't need and others can 'shop' for free.
Trash day in wealthy neighborhoods--I've found sterling silver jewelry and other nice items in the 'clean' trash.
Church/Charity Rummage Sales--especially in larger cities--often have great deal on nice furniture and housewares.
In some large cities like New York, people put out items they no longer want on the street for the taking, separate from trash, in neighborhoods with houses. Just keep your eyes open.
Yard/Garage/Stoop/etc Sales--usually the cheapest before absolutely free.
College/University Surplus--there was a AT post on this recently.
Stores that are closing--things get more and more discounted as the closing date gets closer.

Don't forget to check out eBay. I got $80 Pottery Barn blackout drapes for $12.50 apiece because someone had moved into a new home and she didn't want the drapes that the builder had installed. I'm not sure she knew the retail value of them, she just wanted them out of her hands. I bought 10 panels from her for $125 and it would have cost me $800 plus tax if I had gone to my local Pottery Barn store.

Freecycle.org is my favorite way to get rid of clutter -- I'm famous for deciding to purge, then changing my mind. But if I send an email offer to the list, often the person who needs an item comes and gets it from me right away. Less junk in my house, less expense at their house. I've also put in "wanted" emails when I need specific odd items or replacement parts -- mixed results, but it's worth the try if you're able to wait a few days. Leftover paint & sheetrock are hot items on our local freecycle list.

My girls used to call me the 'queen of spray paint'; an easy fix for things. But, we also have many freight sale stores in our area, great places to score new and slightly damaged items on the cheap. Another tip, check out apartment buildings on trash days,--diva dumpsters, anyone??? I always put out things, good condtion, next to the dumpster, that way anyone could get it if they want it, and others also do this, especially on moving days. I've seen perfectly good ten speed bikes, vacuums, lights, chairs, sleeping bags, etc. Some things you just don't want to reuse, but others can be treasure. happy hunting...Di

Goodwill!! If there's one around you these places can be a gold mine! I'll also throw in Marshall's/Ross/TJMaxx - the home goods section of these stores are very well stocked with exceptional prices. Marshall's in particular has started to sell fun furniture pieces at great prices. And finally, HomeGoods - the best!

I used to live in a large apartment complex near Microsoft -- perfectly good furniture and general STUFF got left at the dumpsters on a regular basis.

- The secret antique dealers don't want you to know: estate sales. Unfortunately most get picked over early on their start days (usually Fridays) when most of the population is at work. However, I've scored plenty of gems on the second day as well. The best part is they only have one or two days to get rid of EVERYTHING so items are always priced to move!
- Another great secret interior designers utilize: Hotel Surplus / Hotel Furniture Liquidator stores. Just plug those search terms into Google. There's one in almost every major city and because most of the better hotels regularly update their interiors you'll find furnishings from chic boutique hotels to the Ritz.
I personally know of two in Chicago: http://cooperhotelliquidation.com/ and http://fortpittfurniture.com/

Good luck and happy shopping!

-Stacy
http://vintageredesign.wordpress.com/

Declutter, then gradually reclutter! I periodically give the surfaces in my house a clean sweep. The knickknacks that have been out on display for the past few months get stored away in my closet. Over the following weeks/months, I take them out again, considering new combinations of objects and ways to display the things I love. It feels like you're shopping in your own closet!

i'm not in texas so it might be different, but in minnesota we have great garage sales + estate sales. don't assume a rich neighborhood is going to sell things for cheap. some of our best finds have been from the working part of the city. be patient to fill your space and be flexible with what you are looking for

my fave topic. i got a baker's shelf thing from the trash behind a bakery, 30 years ago. it is wobbly but nice for stacking sweaters on, etc. many many other similar things. attics in rental apts, basements. college towns warehouses full of rejected stuff, mostly free.

i would have to agree with juliaf just because it's the rich neighborhoods doesn't mean they are going to have the best prices at garage sales. i feel like these people think their stuff is worth more so they mark it up even if it came from tar-jay (target). and there's definitely a lot more interesting stuff that's not from big box stores in the 'working' neighborhoods.

and i love when kids are moving out of dorms/apartments. I moved last year and we put a bunch of stuff out by the garbage and droves of cars were stopping by. Unfortunately for them, when I throw stuff out it really is garbage.

Whenever I'm in a period where I can't spend any money, I focus on printing and framing photos of family, friends, pets, etc. Sure, you might want to splurge on expensive accents and art, but without photos of the ones you love, a house doesn't feel like home.

We just did a complete kitchen overhaul for $92.00. All using the existing cabinet doors, countertops and and everything! Using creativity, paint, and more creativity, freecycle and buy and sell sites to trade out old appliances and hardware, we created a pretty DIY GRRRL inspirational country barn kitchen. We actually have people knock on our door randomly to see it after we posted all the pictures on our facebook page. Feel free to look .. its under the album called $92.00 Kitchen Makeover. www.facebook.com/gypsybarn
<3 The Gypsies <3

We have a place called the ReStore. It is a donation center that benefits Habitat for Humanity. Anyone can donate and there is plenty to choose from and any given day. Lots of building supplies, paint, doors, hardware....etc...you get the idea. I found a replacement for my very old door lock (I live in a home built about 1900) and I got the lock for $5, and it worked perfectly.

Definitely thrift stores. Yard sales. Or simply look around your space and think about it differently. I rearrange our furniture constantly... like once a week... not everything, but simply swapping two chairs, rearranging the books on your shelves, changing out or recovering throw pillows can make a world of difference. One great thing about rearranging is that otherwise "forgotten" nooks and crannies get a nice cleaning!

If money is tight, use what you already have. Simple as that.

Home Goods (especially the clearance section.)
Thrift stores (Goodwill, Savers)
Flea markets (locally, at least, around noon when things are starting to wrap up)

I advocate for buying things you really like/love and imagining them as parts of vignettes.

For instance, I once saw a flower arrangement on this site with a rectangular glass vase lined inside with large tropical leaves and with orange orchids. I had a similar vase, I bought some cheap dollar store big silk leaves, and some slightly nicer craft store orchids (on sale) and replicated the look for a few dollars. I placed the arrangement on top of some little nesting occasional tables ($3 flea market) on the landing of my stairs. Over it hangs a resin replica of a gorgeous Indonesian carved panel (Home Goods sale, $5). The tables are draped in an real handwoven Ikat (flea market, $5). Recently added a replica Asian goddess bust ($6, sale, Goodwill). So for about $20 I have a really nice welcome as I climb the stairs! It kind of makes the adjacent hallway!

For those who can't afford to whimsically pick up random items, study vignettes that you like. See how many items are shown, relative sizes, and what you especially like about the display. (Obviously, for me, ethnicity, real or faux, is attractive.) Think about other options you could substitute to get a similar effect, then keep an eye out for them. If you know that you love that vignette with the oversized candlestick and rustic basket full of pine cones, you can sometimes get old lamp bases, especially if they no longer work, really cheap. Remove the electrical components, spray paint, and voila! Candlestick! Add a pillar candle and one component is done. Baskets are easy to find thrifting, and pine cones are free.

grandma's house

craigslist free section (scored a vintage file cabinet like this one last week http://img0.etsystatic.com/il_170x135.245186184.jpg)

ask goodwill/thrift store associates when they re-stock (mine just happens to be wednesdays)

estate sales near closing time

friends/family moving

dumpsters - i grew up dumpster diving with my dad. is it classy? no. do i find awesome stuff? yes. case in point...a vintage rectangle heavy oak table (about 2 inches thick, about 5 feet long) with 2 fold-down leaves. this weekend, i'm repurposing it...the tabletop is going to have ikea legs added to it for a landing strip table, and the 2 leaves are going to be mounted to the wall as floating shelves for our tv wall. and it was FREE!!!

oh...and i'm a sucker for spraypainting my own accessories when i get bored with them. lamps, picture frames, bird statues...anything that paint can adhere to can be spraypainted and give it a completely different look. it's a nice way to trick yourself into thinking you have NEW things.

Got a great white chair cover from the IKEA as is bin for $1.00. The stain came right out in the wash.

Kittywrangler is correct: Years ago, I landed a position in a new doctor's building, the office was newly decorated by a designer and it was gorgeous colorful contemporary. To my delight, their original location was decorated by the same designer with MCM pieces and they wanted to dispose of it all free to a good home. New to the position I didn't want to be greedy, but I did get two fabulous chairs that I still own. More recently, a school was remodeling some classrooms and I purchsed a couple of great old bookcases for $20/ea. Keep an eye out for remodeling jobs in your area. It's not impolite to walk inside and inquire about the furnishings. They will usually be happy to get some cash for it.

@E53 - In my bookcases I dedicate some shelves as a mini vignettes. I box souvenir, knick-knacks, etc, away and periodically update my 'exhibition'.

Upcycling is a biggie using my stuff and opp-shops (goodwill)- re-paint, re-purpose, re-sew - curtains become lampshades, pillowcases to cushion covers (a great resource is IKEA as-is), glasses to tealight holders, quilt covers to outdoor furniture covers........it's a fun challenge.

Craigslist is usually good, especially if you can wait things out. I scored our dining room table ($75) and a lovely vintage hutch ($50) on there - should have held out longer for nice dining room chairs instead of buying some!

It seems like thrift stores around here are kind of expensive for furniture, but very affordable for decorative things or odds and ends.

If you're handy, building furniture can get you exactly what you want for a much lower price. Ana-white.com has great plans, as do a few other sites. So far I've built two picture frame ledges just like you see at Pottery Barn (about $8 for both), a set of hook for coats in our handing strip (about $5 including hooks), and an adorable side table (about $15-20). Right now I'm building a king bed which will probably end up costing about $200 total, but it's built to our exact needs and wants and I have enough leftover supplies that I can build a sofa table I've been wanting for about another $5 for some trim.

Our local library has a section that has books for sale that are no more than $2.00 for the hard-cover books. I have purchased some Wonderful Art books by artists I admire. Then I cut out the pictures I like and block and frame them. When folks come to visit they always ask where I get these wonderful "Works of Art", and when I tell them the place and cost, they can't believe it!! Also, with this method I can change the artists with my mood since my supply is almost unlimited and CHEAP!!

My local dump has an informal section where people who don't want an item, but don't want to throw it away, put stuff. I've taken a printer (no one on Freecycle wanted a good but cartridge-needing printer after I upgraded to a multi-function machine), old computer parts, even a painting.

Find out when trash pickup day is in a favorite neighborhood then troll the streets when trash is on the curb. I have been able to find great things this way in perfectly wonderful condition.

Almost everything I find at a thrift store or garage sale looks 10 times better spray painted either black or white....try it on old vases, ceramics or knick-nacks..

Habitat for Humanity Re Stores are a great place to hunt for new furnishings, hardware and even paint! The little bit of money that you'll spend here also goes to a good cause.

In NYC: http://www.bignyc.org/ Build It Green--recycled and money goes to building rehab for the poor.

I live in Madison, Wis. where we observe Hippie Christmas mid-August, when most apartment leases expire.

The sidewalks near downtown/campus are filled with stuff. Ja, there's lots of junk but there ARE treasures. Two folks I know who work for apartment management companies scored newish computers AND a sleigh bed!

Another beloved university resources is SWAP(Surplus With a Purpose). SWAP is a dependable source for bookshelves and mid-century office furniture.

Two years ago I started volunteering at a thrift shop a few blocks from my apartment, in a large city. As a volunteer, I get an enormous discount on everything--sometimes 95% off! I'm only there a few days per week, but do see a lot of the donations that come in before they hit the floor, so I get a good choice. I also have a few people there, staff and volunteers, who know what stuff I like/need, and they'll set things aside for me. We get donations 7 days/week, and put stuff out every day, so there is always something new. Aside from the great deals I get on stuff, volunteering at the thrift store has saved my sanity (I've been unemployed for more than 2 years), resulted in friendships, dates, a new apartment via another volunteer, and given me the feeling of being useful, and my help valued. Not to sound cliche..but you can't put a price on those things.

@KittyWrangler Good idea!

Sorry but I don't agree that staff, volunteer or not, should get to pick over the best of donated goods.

I used to skip over the linens section at thrift shops, but now I cruise them for fun funky fabrics and extremely well crafted crocheted peices. All they need is a wash! Most smells and funk will come out, if not, you're out 2 bucks.

And when i go to someplace like Target, I shop the end caps. You can score ridiculously low prices randomly. I recently bought 2 comforters, king size with shams, originally 129 for 24.99. cute lamps for 9 bucks or less. And lowes has great finds in clearance, you just have to look hard.

Buy secondhand or thrift store furniture that has nice lines and get painting. Don't be a shop snob - cheapie stores often have a few simply designed items that are just as good as expensive ones. For affordable art, scour etsy or make your own like this (basically free) paint chip artwork - http://www.somethingalittle.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/paint-chip-art.html

The street! Or the sidewalk, as the case may be. New York City is always a godsend for garbage pickers. There used to be a "bulk pickup day" and people would cruise around the night before looking to see what was being thrown away. But lately, it seems anytime is a good time to pick up something "sulla strada" (Italian for "on the street," but sounds so much better:-) Go here to see my latest and greatest Brooklyn sidewalk acquisition: http://casacara.wordpress.com/2011/09/02/of-sunsets-and-street-finds/

My garbage furniture days are now over since bedbugs have come to Halifax *sadface* but I got some great furniture back in the day! My favorites are kijiji (the Canadian craigslist) and little old grandma antique stores in the boonies whenever I'm out on a road trip.

Although I don't usually find anything good, I also love going on really loooong community yard sale trips.

Ikea As-Is section - I purchased the Docksta table this past Sunday for $99(regular price $179)

Target end caps - purchased 2 lovely white pillows for $5.98 each. They were regularly $19.99 each

Salvation Army - although a lot of their furniture and household items are overpriced, but I have come across some great finds, such as a mid-century modern dresser for $40, which I currently use as my media center. I also bought a pair of side chairs for $20.

My best are:

* remake what you have, a coat of paint or stain does wonders, change the hardware (can be found for pennies at garage sales & salvage yards). My favorite remake tip of late is taking those abandoned clear glass vases and coating the insides with paint like this (the first one that turned up on a Google search but I'm sure AT's covered this too):
http://www.marthastewart.com/268444/bottle-beauty

* trade a piece of furniture with a family member, friend or neighbor. I'd been admiring a spool leg table at a neighbor's home and was hunting for one to buy when she said she needed a piece of furniture and didn't know where to find one (I happened to have one in my garden shed and didn't want it anymore) so I asked if she had anything to trade. Surprisingly, she was tired of that spool leg table, now it's mine. Cost to each of us: $0. And now we're combing through all our leftovers looking for more trade possibilities.

* thrift shops... this was my biggest recent miss. I loved a rose painting at a thrift shop, and didn't pick it up for under $20 (hey, I was counting my pennies!), a month later I see it on a local 'antique' site and it's selling for many hundreds (I know the owner and she confirmed where she got it). It taught me that great finds are absolutely everywhere. Also if a thrift shop's price seems high, make a reasonable offer or ask for their best price, they're often willing to deal to move the merchandise (it depends on how long the merchandise has been in the shop).

@Adelaidean
It's a perk of the job, whether you're paid or unpaid. Every job has its perks. Who says a thrift store is required to offer to the public every item that comes in? Do you want a shot at the dirty underwear and socks that get donated, the half-eaten box of caramels, or the used tubes of lipstick? Besides, what the public finds to be highly desirable isn't necessarily what those who work or volunteer there find desirable, so enough stuff hits the floor to earn more than half a million dollars yearly for the charity the store benefits.

I have found auctions to be a wonderful source for adding furniture to my home. It's incredible the pieces that some will shun that you can acquire for a mere $2, slap on some paint, change out the fabric, or just give a good cleaning and touch up with a scratch cover.

The boxes are amazing at auctions also. Often in the trashy looking cardboard boxes that go for a dollar or two, treasures can be found. One day I found an antique leather drs bag in a pile of junky stuff. You can see some of my finds at www.theoldblockhouse.com

Again. I don't agree that staff, volunteer or not, should get to pick over the best of donated goods.

--trash eve in wealthy neighborhoods. you can look up trash pick-up days on the city website. for example, Beacon Hill in Boston has TWO trash days (and I will just leave the civic service inequality outrage for a different website)

--Habitat for Humanity's ReStore http://www.habitat.org/restores/

--for the world's cheapest, easiest, and funnest window treatments: tension curtain rods (a couple of bucks at home depot) plus curtain clips plus calico/quilting cotton fabric for a few bucks a yard at Jo-Ann Fabric, trimmed (not hemmed!) with pinking shears.

Freecycle is definitely a big resource for me - they have groups all over the world, so just about anyone can benefit from it. We got a pair of couches and a great Leolux chair and footstool that way, and we've gotten rid of so much unwanted stuff there as well.

Hardware stores sometimes have bins full of odd stuff they want to get rid of. I recently found a bunch of frames for a buck each. They were weird colors, but I spray painted them black when I got them home and they look lovely on my wall of frames next to all the more expensive ones.

Ikea is a great resource not just for the as-is section, but for free inspiration (and a free cup of coffee with it, if you have an Ikea Family card) and, even more importantly, cheap stuff you can hack and make amazing things out of. And if you're crafty, you can make some really cool (and dirt cheap) shades to hang on a HEMMA lamp.

@ Adelaidean & DrexWigPix

I agree with Drex. If they were turning around to sell it that would be a major no no. But for home use. That's another story. With all the people that are buying at thrift stores these days the turnover rate of product is pretty high. Chances are your tastes and those of the people who work there are going to be different. And even if you do share the same interest chances are they have either found something like it already or they just don't have the room. Most people who work at thrift stores can't afford to hoard things and have to have a discerning eye for what they truly love for fear of burying themselves in their own belongings. I can't tell you how many times I've been congratulated for buying cool stuff the salespeople had thought about buying but hadn't knowing they just didn't have the room. Trust me they are happy to see most of the things go to happy homes. Other people's happy homes.