Most people love finding a bargain. For those looking for inexpensive functional or decorative pieces, hours spent in thrift shops are usually exciting and fulfilling. You might discover a collectible comic book, an antique table, or a good set of used golf clubs. You never know what you’ll find, and

Whether it’s called a garage sale, yard sale, moving sale, or rummage sale, you’re likely to find something worthwhile! Local garage sales are a great place to find used furniture. Prices can vary widely; someone just trying to get rid of extra clutter will price their products lower than someone

We’ve already discussed some of the benefits of buying secondhand furniture and refinishing it; aside from keeping useful furniture out of landfills, refinishing used furniture is rewarding and allows you to achieve a custom look- even on a budget. Buying furniture at thrift shops has even more benefits: providing jobs

If you want to decorate your home on a budget, there’s no better way to do it than by sprucing up free furniture. It’s amazing how a collection of disparate items can be pulled together by redoing them all in the same color paint or stain. Keep your eye out

Visit craigslist.org and you may just find you have a new favorite website. Virtually every mid-sized or larger city in world has classifieds on this site, and it’s free to use. Browse the furniture section or try a keyword search for specific items. You can narrow your search to include

One of the most obvious benefits of buying unfinished furniture is the avoidance of much of the nasty prep work. No stripping or scraping is required; you can jump right in to the fun, creative part. Both custom unfinished furniture and more affordably mass-produced items are available. There are other

Buying at auction is easier if you understand the terms and how the process works. Some terms are used for all types of auctions; others are prevalent only in the online auction ring. Below (in alphabetical order) is a list of common auction phrases. General Auction Terms Absentee bidding– a

You can often find furniture for refinishing at auctions.  Check your local newspaper’s classified section for listings. There are several types of auctions, and some are more profitable than others. If you enjoy the rush of bidding, however, visit each type to get a feel for the process! Storage Facilities/Lien

In theory, you should be able to snag antique furniture at thrift stores, garage sales, and hanging out in friends’ basements. After all, that’s where everyone recommends searching first. In practice, it’s rarely that easy. If you’re serious about collecting antique furniture, here are some fool-proof places to find it.