5 Ways to Save 50 Percent on Furniture

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Ready to upgrade your furniture? You might want to wait a few months for price drops.

That’s one of the best ways to save big. Like clothing, home furnishings are seasonal: Major stock changes come twice a year, and that’s when you want to buy.

In the video below, Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson tells you exactly when the best deals hit, and offers some other ways to save. Check it out, and then read on for more details and links.

As you just heard, there are lots of tricks to getting half-off furniture. There’s no reason to ever pay full price for a living room set again with these tips…

1. Buy when inventory changes.

Most furniture stores see new goods come in around Memorial Day (the end of May) and Veterans Day (mid-November). That’s when sales start, as stores try to clear out the old stuff. But as with any clearance sale, prices drop more over time – stick it out until Independence Day or Christmas and you can snatch some real bargains on what’s left.

2. Shop online.

While it’s hard to get a good look at the merchandise from behind a computer screen, there are great deals online if you look in the right places. Here are a few sites that regularly have stuff 50 percent off:

Also keep an eye on daily deal websites like Groupon and LivingSocial, which may offer discounted credits at furniture stores. And never shop anywhere (including brick-and-mortar stores) without checking for coupons on sites like RetailMeNot and our deals page – you may be able to get additional discounts or free shipping.

3. Check consignment and thrift stores.

Gently used furniture is more gentle on the wallet, and nobody has to know what you paid for it. According to the CoStar group, hundreds more of these shops have opened during the recession – because people can’t afford their homes, much less pricy new furniture. Start with national chains like The Salvation Army and Goodwill and look for others locally. ConsignmentPal.com has a list of resale shops by state, including antiques and auctions. If you want high-end goods, find the stores closest to upscale neighborhoods: The story Stacy shot was withing walking distance of million-dollar homes.

4. Look for giveaways, yard sales, auction houses, liquidations, and estate sales.

If you’re not in a rush, monitor the classifieds online and off for great bargains. Craigslist has furniture up for grabs in your area (curb alert!) plus stuff for sale in a separate section. Freecycle is a similar service, although you have to be quick on the draw because fewer listings often means things go fast.

Garage Sale Finder or Yard Sale Treasure Map may help you find those, although you’ll see far more just by flipping through the newspaper, browsing Craigslist, or paying attention to handmade signage.

5. Haggle.

Whether it’s on the showroom floor or in someone’s yard, trying to talk down the price is almost always worth it. As we reported in Confessions of a Serial Haggler, 94 percent of people who haggle for furniture have gotten a better deal at least once. Learn the art of haggling and use it frequently.

Is your new furniture part of a larger redecorating plan? If so, check out 16 Tips to Save on Home Remodeling.

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