Moving into your first unfurnished flat can seem somewhat daunting, especially when you are on a strict budget. With the price of bills skyrocketing and the cost of living crisis affecting people all across the country, it makes sense that you would want to furnish your flat as cheaply as possible. Luckily, there are ways of doing this, and you don’t have to splash out to make your new home a lovely place to live. Let’s take a look at how you can get cheap, and even free, furniture.
Facebook marketplace
Facebook marketplace is a great tool for helping you find the things you need near where you live. Simply type in your postcode and search for what you are looking for, the app will show you all the listings close to you. Marketplace is a popular way of selling items these days, especially furniture, and many people actually give things away for free. You can snag yourself a free sofa, chairs, or even a bed on there! Unfortunately, delivery is usually not an option, but it can definitely be worth driving or walking to pick something up if you can get it for free.
Charity shops
Getting furniture at charity shops means you can save money, you are supporting a charity, and helping the environment by not buying new.
British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, and Sue Ryder have charity shops which sell furniture. Check Google to locate your local store. May also offer delivery to your home for an extra cost, which can take some stress off.
Free furniture
If you are looking for free furniture and haven’t had any luck on Facebook Marketplace, you may be able to pick up some free furniture off the side of the road. If people are looking to get rid of stuff they will often place it outside their house with a ‘free’ sign, meaning you can take it home (just last week I got an entire bookshelf this way!). Of course, there are no guarantees you will actually get anything this way, but if you go to student areas at the end of June you are sure to be able to find plenty of bits and bobs left behind outside of student houses for anyone to take.
Ikea
Ikea is a fantastic place to get furniture from, especially if you are on a budget. They do essential pieces of furniture such as desks and tables for £19, which is definitely a bargain. Check out some of our finds from Ikea below:
Desk- £19. Shop it here.
Coffee table- £19. Shop it here.
Clothes rack- £8. Shop it here.
Double bed frame- £59. Shop it here.
Folding chair- £9. Shop it here.