Post: #1

I'm looking to settle down for a few months in an area with really no affordable furnished rentals. Leasing place for three months and furnishing it would probably be cheaper. I don't have a car though and know no one in area, and don't know how I would furnish place, could I realistically just buy a mattress then get everything else off craigslist then sell it when I leave and hope to only lose a little? Still seems like it would be really pricey

Post: #2

(12-06-2015 07:45 PM)swfter2456 Wrote:  I'm looking to settle down for a few months in an area with really no affordable furnished rentals. Leasing place for three months and furnishing it would probably be cheaper. I don't have a car though and know no one in area, and don't know how I would furnish place, could I realistically just buy a mattress then get everything else off craigslist then sell it when I leave and hope to only lose a little? Still seems like it would be really pricey

Are you in a city or something? It depends on your location. I have a car but I can't really fit a shelving unit inside it so I don't think having a car it really all that essential.

The cheapest options I found for bedding was at ikea and I'm pretty happy with it. You're looking at a 200 dollar mattress vs. 500+ at a traditional mattress store.

Post: #3

I'm in the same exact position right now. (90-day lease in a blank room)
The best combination for a quick furnishing is some craigslist, walmart, craiglist, and a bit more walmart.

Walmart: can return anything after 90 days (as long as you don't break it)
Craigslist: awesome cheap (if not free) stuff. I got a free mattress, free chair. Just throw the mattress on the ground, perfect for banging. $10 bedsheets from Ross. $10 fan from walgreens if it's hot. I don't have a car so that's been the only wrench in the system but thankfully i make friends quick.
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Post: #4

(12-06-2015 09:51 PM)Cyclone Wrote:  I'm in the same exact position right now. (90-day lease in a blank room)
The best combination for a quick furnishing is some craigslist, walmart, craiglist, and a bit more walmart.

Walmart: can return anything after 90 days (as long as you don't break it)
Craigslist: awesome cheap (if not free) stuff. I got a free mattress, free chair. Just throw the mattress on the ground, perfect for banging. $10 bedsheets from Ross. $10 fan from walgreens if it's hot. I don't have a car so that's been the only wrench in the system but thankfully i make friends quick.
.

My plan was to go the craiglist route and was hoping to sell stuff really cheap back but was told it's really hard to get money back on CL for any furnishings.

Post: #5

shack up with a girl with furniture

Post: #6

(12-06-2015 11:40 PM)offthereservation Wrote:  shack up with a girl with furniture

IF you are in the US, some overlooked resources include Goodwill and ARC - Arc (Thrift Stores Association For Retarded Citizens). Rock bottom prices, variable quality, but they repay selective smart shopping.

And unlike Craigslist, you will be able to recoup your investment.

You ought to be able to buy and have it held until the next day (at least) to accommodate borrowing (or renting) a suitable vehicle.

And since that can be pricey, why not introduce yourself at the local church - or better still, ask the minister to introduce you! - and offer money for help in moving furniture. (It's bound to be cheaper than a daily car/truck rental.)

Post: #7

(12-06-2015 10:52 PM)swfter2456 Wrote:  

(12-06-2015 09:51 PM)Cyclone Wrote:  I'm in the same exact position right now. (90-day lease in a blank room)
The best combination for a quick furnishing is some craigslist, walmart, craiglist, and a bit more walmart.

My plan was to go the craiglist route and was hoping to sell stuff really cheap back but was told it's really hard to get money back on CL for any furnishings.

I don't understand? Why would selling stuff that you bought on CL be any different from selling stuff that you bought from a regular store? Used is used.
.

Post: #8

If you live in a decent sized city in the U.S., you can furnish your entire place for free on CraigsList pretty easily. Hit up a friend with a truck, or rent one from U-Haul for $19.95 per day plus mileage. Especially if you're near a university, anytime you are at the end of a semester, people are just giving away all their furniture.

Post: #9

I'd skip any of the craigslist and goodwill used crap. Depending on where you live, bedbugs are way too common these days for the risk to be worth it. Besides that, it would be more difficult for you to coordinate getting various pieces from various sources since you don't have transportation. You can buy new items for a decent price, and getting them to your place would be much more straight forward.

You don't need as much furniture as you might think. In my past I lived for years with just this:

-A cheap bed
-A $20 table from Ikea.
-A chair for table
-1 or 2 Ikea chairs in living room

You don't need a sofa, a kitchen table, night stands, book shelves etc. You might be surprised how few items you can live with once you've done it.

Look in services on Criagslist, there'll be a dozen people offering pick up/delivery of items. If you buy all the items from one place then it won't cost too much to have someone go get them and deliver them to you.

Post: #10

Don't buy, rent: I don't know about other countries but in Canada they have these furniture places that rent out pieces, they're not particularly cheap and I always thought "who would be crazy enough to rent furniture from one of these places?" but in your case, it may be a decent option. http://www.easyhome.ca/

Post: #11

I strongly believe that the fancy, overpriced apartment makes zero difference in converting bangs. I used to spend way too much money on a nice place in NYC and it made no difference vs. the more basic place I have now.

You can find anything on Craigslist quite easily. U-Haul or Zipcar can help you pick it up. You can find everything on CL, although obviously I'd recommend getting your own mattress. If you pair this with student move in/out at the local universities, the stuff will be practically free.

Post: #12

Yeah, I second the 20 dollar Uhaul truck option for local buys. It works great.