10 Home Tips That Will Save You Tons of Money & Look Expensive
We are all about sittin’ pretty (on the cheap)
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We’ve been back in Los Angeles for several months now and despite the sometimes hectic post-move to-do list, we’re loving it. We have huge bay windows, a backyard, two offices, and a ton of natural light.
That being said, we got our dream house, but inherited its many problems: crabgrass, few outlets, a weird ink stain in the 1920’s built-in, and a super *not* fun tandem parking situation with our neighbors. Not only that, finishing and furnishing a new space can be costly, and we are definitely on a budget. Here are my tips from our house glow-up, that also added sophistication to our home.
OfferUp
We lust after West Elm and Crate & Barrel furniture like nobody’s business. But even budget furniture stores are a little out of our price range. However, it’s amazing how much you can find with a little persistence on OfferUp.
Decide what your price ceiling would be for something like “nightstands” and get searching. I was looking for something in a light to medium wood with a mid-century vibe. For weeks, I searched and everything I was finding was at least $150. Then, I found exactly what I needed for $30.
We jumped on them the very day we found them on the app, and brought them home. This doesn’t always happen, but I’m a firm believer in waiting to buy something you really love. We settled on a dresser that I’m not in love with, and every time I see it, I’m a little disappointed. The good news is, the app makes it really easy to sell things as well!
Facebook Marketplace
A lot of times, this app is used for moving sales or by people who want to get rid of things quickly. In this case, they’re often willing to be flexible with the price. We found an entryway bench that was never used and a wine rack from West Elm, each for $20. The only downside to Facebook Marketplace is that it’s often infiltrated with advertisements. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to buy something second-hand…
