If money is a concern, you may have a difficult time furnishing your home. However, just because you are on a budget does not mean that your house will not look stylish when furnished. There are many options to furnish your home on a budget, and these methods work as long as you take some time to find the best prices available for the furniture you need. Here are some great tips you can use to furnish your home, even if your have limited amounts of money to spend:

Tip #1: Don’t look down on hand-me-downs.

If you are in the process of furnishing your home, make sure that friends and family know that you might be interested in anything they have outgrown or no longer use. This may mean that you get items that are worn or do not match, but it is a lot cheaper to refinish wood furniture or make slip covers for couches and chairs than it is to buy new items. You may be surprised how fresh and beautiful hand-me-downs can be once they’ve been refinished.

Tip #2: Stay up to date on furniture sales.

Sometimes waiting just a few weeks can save you money. There are sales going on all the time, especially online. In many cases you can find new furniture at half off the original price, or even further discounted. Similar to other kids of stores and websites, most stores and websites that sell furniture run sales at certain times of the year. Being patient can help you save money. Check these sales weekly and you may eventually find something to furnish your house for a price you can afford.

In addition, companies typically put furniture on sale when they have a newer shipment coming in. Fashionable furniture sells better than last season’s design, but in the right setting, furniture that is a season out of date will still look beautiful. Search for the page on a furniture website which is marked “clearance”. Even though a newer style is available, this clearance furniture will look just as good while saving you a large amount of money. This is beneficial to anyone looking to save money while furnishing his or her house.

Tip #3: Purchase the floor models.

When furniture stores begin to sell a new style or model, they get a show model to keep on their floor. Customers can view these models, as well as sit on them, try any moving parts, open drawers, and so forth. In most cases, floor models do not get a lot of wear and tear in the store, but they are not perfect either. Thus, floor models are sold at a discount price. Many times floor models are not advertised as “for sale”, but if you ask, you can often find a number of options with reduced prices.

It is also a good idea to ask if there are price reductions on any items which many have been shipped as broken or returned open. Stores usually have an inventory of lower-priced options, but they often do not advertise these because they want you to pay full price for something. All you have to do is ask!

Tip #4: Pick up the newspaper.

Chances are that others in your neighborhood are interested in getting rid of furniture that is in great condition. You can check out yard sales, but a more efficient way is usually to pick up your local newspaper. Browse the classified ads to look for furniture at low prices. You may find that people are willing to sell beautiful furniture for little money, just because they want to get it out of their house.

Tip #5: Take care of the pieces you have.

Once you have furnished your home, you can save money by taking good care of any furniture you do have. Keep your furniture clean, do not allow your pets to chew or scratch your furniture, and fix anything that is broken right away before the problem gets worse. Doing this is a great way to save money in the long run, as you will have to replace your furniture less often.

Keep in mind that you can wind up spending less money overall if you spend a little more right away. It is always a good idea to purchase the higher quality furniture you can afford. That way, you will have to replace the item less often. Cheap items can turn out to be very expensive in the end if they break and you have to replace them often. Read reviews online and make smart choices with your money.

There are many options available when deciding to furnish you house on a limited budget. Furnishing your house does not have to be expensive if you take the correct approach. If you shop around and look for discounts, you will be able to find tons of choices in your price range. You may want to ask friends or family if there is anything they are looking to replace. With the right game plan and effort, furnishing a home is possible with any budget.