And guess what?! Not including the light fixture (which was the only thing I had to buy new), I furnished the room for $70 !! Corner cabinet (free), rolling bar cart ($50), and counter-height table + 6 chairs ($20). And, I ended up selling the non-LED bulbs that came with the light fixture on NextDoor, so I even got some of my money back for that.

I know that buying furniture can be overwhelming – and expensive. But it doesn’t have to be – it can actually be kind of fun! 🙂 I’ve got 10 insider tips for you so that you can easily utilize online platforms (like NextDoor and Facebook Marketplace) to furnish a room on a budget.

1. Message the seller ASAP: If you have ANY interest in the item, message the person as soon as you see their post. Even if you are not 100% sure you need it yet, message them! Often sellers prioritize by the order in which people reach out (seems only fair, yes?). You get your foot in the door and then can find out some more information on the item if needed.
2. Personalize your message: Don’t just say, “Is this available?” Say something like, “Is this still available? I think it would be the perfect addition to my new condo!” If the seller gets a lot of messages, your message may stick out to them because it is unique.
3. Tell them when you can pick it up: As soon as you can, offer them a timeline of when you could pick up the item. Say something like, “I would love to buy this from you. I can pick it up tonight!” When people have posted something for sale, they usually want it out of their house ASAP. A short timeline like this will be very appealing and can put you at the top of their list!
4. Don’t be afraid to bargain: If the price seems a little steep, kindly ask if they would be willing to take less. Again, most likely they just want it out of their house, so they may be a little more flexible on price. Or if the item has been posted for a while with no sale, that would be another appropriate time to ask if they would be willing to take less for it. Just make sure your offer is respectful. Offers for like 50% of asking price are pretty insulting 😉
5. Offer them a bundle deal: If you see that they have other items posted, you can ask them if they would be willing to take a lump price for multiple items. This would be appealing to them because it gets the stuff out of their house faster.
6. Bring a buddy: When going to meet someone off an app, bring a buddy. For loading purposes AND safety purposes 🙂
7. Be on time: When you have set up a time to meet them to purchase the item, be on time! If you change your mind or need to change the time, be in active communication with the seller. This way, they can move on to the next buyer if necessary.
8. Message the seller afterwards: Take a quick second to message the seller after and thank them for the item (just to be courteous)!
9. Don’t be afraid to do some DIY: A fresh coat of paint or new handles can go a LONG way. Have a little imagination when you see the items posted, and think about what they COULD be and how they could fit into your space.
10. Re-selling is OK: If you bring the item home and it doesn’t fit or doesn’t work right in the space, there’s no problem with posting the item for sale on your own. If you’re self-conscious about posting it back on the site you found it on, just use a different site! Chances are, you’ll be able to get your $$ (or at least a large portion of it) back.

Now I’m hoping I didn’t just equip a bunch of you to be my competition here in the Minneapolis area…LOL. I’d love to see what gems you guys end up finding – HAPPY HUNTING! 🙂