See the perfect piece? Don’t pull the trigger just yet. Instead, jot down the manufacturer, name of the piece, fabric color, and model number, so you’ll have everything you need to shop around for a better price. When we bought our last sofa set, we found two stores in my area that sold the same set. One had the sofa for $100 less. The other had the love seat for $100 less. So, we bought one piece from each store for an easy $200 savings. Do a quick web search, and you may turn up an even better deal. It can be nerve-wracking to buy furniture online, sight unseen. But if you shop in store first, you’ll know just what you’re getting. In love with furniture from a particular catalog company? They probably have outlet stores throughout the United States. Check their website for a list of outlet locations. Then, visit the one closest to you. Shopping in a store like Pottery Barn? Ask one of the employees if they ever do a stockroom sale. It’s common for catalog stores to unload floor samples and catalog returns this way. My local store does this about once every quarter. Since I’m on their e-mail list, I get an invitation each time. You have to be prepared to haul your purchases home right away, but if you save enough, it’s definitely worth the effort. Another good bet is to shop on a holiday weekend. Stores know you’re likely to be off work, so they run sales to entice you to shop. If you aren’t in a hurry, wait until January or July to shop. The latest furniture styles hit the showroom floor in February and August, so there’s major pressure to move out last year’s stuff — even if it means slashing the prices drastically. Shopping online? Save the items you’re interested in buying to an app, like Shoptagr, so you get a notification when they go on sale. This will save you from having to constantly check back, and from having to clog up your inbox with a bunch of store newsletters.
Ashley Furniture - Up to 30 percent offPier 1 Imports - Up to 21.17 percent offHome Goods - Up to 18 percent offTJ Maxx - Up to 18.65 percent offOverstock - Up to 8.63 percent offCrate & Barrel - Up to 8.64 percent off
Discount amounts are directly tied to demand and card availability, so these numbers are likely to change. Pair a discounted gift card with a store sale to save even more. Live in a town with large trash pick up? Curb shopping could be the answer. Just drive around, and see if you spot what you need in a curb pile. While I don’t recommend picking up upholstered pieces, curb shopping is a great way to find tables, chairs, shelves, desks, and other wooden pieces. And you can’t beat the price. I’ve found countless antiques this way, and without fail, it’s my curb finds that get the most compliments when someone stops by the house.
