Help me furnish for 1k
July 1, 2012 3:05 PM Subscribe
Next month I’m moving into my own apartment, for the first time, and starting grad school. My domestic possessions consist of a respectable stainless steel stockpot, a coffee grinder, and three different kinds of coffee makers (people tell me I’m a great fit for grad school). How can I get maximum utility out of a $1000 budget to furnish the place?
I’m moving into a duplex that’s unfurnished except for major appliances (fridge, stove/oven). I have a soft limit of $1000 to spend on furnishing the place. It’s likely that I won’t move for a minimum of 3 years, and will certainly be in the same area for at least 5 years. I think I’ve reached the stage of life where I need to begin acquiring long-term furniture and other such possessions.
So, my question – how should I distributed the $1000 or so I have to spend? What few splurges should I shell out for, and what things should I get super cheap versions of that I’ll have to upgrade and replace a few years down the road? Off the top of my head, my main acquisitions will be:
-Work space (desk, bookshelves, chair)
-Kitchen (I really like cooking, and cook respectably, so I want it fully stocked, eventually anyway)
-Bedroom (probably don’t need anything but a bed)
-Living room (not especially big – just a few pieces of furniture)
There’s going to be an ikea about 2 hrs drive from where I am, so I could go there for small to medium-sized purchases, but not anything huge. (I have a fairly big jeep). It's not a big town, so no freecycle.
I’m interested in general advice (drop x percent on a great z, and go cheap on everything else) and links to specific products or tips on where to go for stuff. For what it’s worth, my tastes tend toward simple, functional, and slightly rustic. (Think: reclaimed barnwood.)
Ideas?
I’m moving into a duplex that’s unfurnished except for major appliances (fridge, stove/oven). I have a soft limit of $1000 to spend on furnishing the place. It’s likely that I won’t move for a minimum of 3 years, and will certainly be in the same area for at least 5 years. I think I’ve reached the stage of life where I need to begin acquiring long-term furniture and other such possessions.
So, my question – how should I distributed the $1000 or so I have to spend? What few splurges should I shell out for, and what things should I get super cheap versions of that I’ll have to upgrade and replace a few years down the road? Off the top of my head, my main acquisitions will be:
-Work space (desk, bookshelves, chair)
-Kitchen (I really like cooking, and cook respectably, so I want it fully stocked, eventually anyway)
-Bedroom (probably don’t need anything but a bed)
-Living room (not especially big – just a few pieces of furniture)
There’s going to be an ikea about 2 hrs drive from where I am, so I could go there for small to medium-sized purchases, but not anything huge. (I have a fairly big jeep). It's not a big town, so no freecycle.
I’m interested in general advice (drop x percent on a great z, and go cheap on everything else) and links to specific products or tips on where to go for stuff. For what it’s worth, my tastes tend toward simple, functional, and slightly rustic. (Think: reclaimed barnwood.)
Ideas?
My basic advice would be to buy everything made of cloth (couch, bedspread, mattress, etc.), new, and get the rest off of craigslist or from other various secondhand sources. I would specifically look at "antiques," and by that I mean things that have some age on them and are made of solid wood. These will stand you the test of time.
posted by backwards compatible at 3:19 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by backwards compatible at 3:19 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
First, congrats on grad school!
When my cousin moved to town after college, we bought him a kitchen starter set from Ikea. It had pretty much everything he needed in one box. Don't forget to set aside for kitchen basics: spices, oil, flour, condiments, etc.
Ikea is tremendous value for basics, but you might get one move out of it. It's not meant to be disassembled too many times. Even so, it's your best choice for good, functional stuff.
IMHO, the place to spend money is on a good desk chair and a good reading/lounge chair. You will spend a lot of time sitting, reading, thinking, so you should be comfortable.
posted by Argyle at 3:20 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
When my cousin moved to town after college, we bought him a kitchen starter set from Ikea. It had pretty much everything he needed in one box. Don't forget to set aside for kitchen basics: spices, oil, flour, condiments, etc.
Ikea is tremendous value for basics, but you might get one move out of it. It's not meant to be disassembled too many times. Even so, it's your best choice for good, functional stuff.
IMHO, the place to spend money is on a good desk chair and a good reading/lounge chair. You will spend a lot of time sitting, reading, thinking, so you should be comfortable.
posted by Argyle at 3:20 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Start perusing Craigslist and hitting garage sales; even at Ikea, you'll blow through your budget long before you complete that list.
Will you really need a desk? A laptop is just as happy on a kitchen or coffee table (or, you know, on your lap).
posted by jon1270 at 3:20 PM on July 1, 2012
Will you really need a desk? A laptop is just as happy on a kitchen or coffee table (or, you know, on your lap).
posted by jon1270 at 3:20 PM on July 1, 2012
Where are you at ?
If you are in Madison, WI, August 15th is known as Hippie Christmas. It's when all the college students move out and very often put very good furniture and other stuff to the curb instead of taking it with them.
As a result, there is a ton of very good stuff free for the picking. I don't know if other college towns have similar rituals, but I would imagine that they do.
Also, St. Vincent De Paul and Goodwill often have furniture and stuff at pretty decent prices.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 3:25 PM on July 1, 2012 [5 favorites]
If you are in Madison, WI, August 15th is known as Hippie Christmas. It's when all the college students move out and very often put very good furniture and other stuff to the curb instead of taking it with them.
As a result, there is a ton of very good stuff free for the picking. I don't know if other college towns have similar rituals, but I would imagine that they do.
Also, St. Vincent De Paul and Goodwill often have furniture and stuff at pretty decent prices.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 3:25 PM on July 1, 2012 [5 favorites]
Ditto on good mattress and used furniture for else. Used stuff will carry you through and you can get rid of it without any regrets at the end. Even the mattress will end up being disposed of. Odds are after grad school you'll move to a different city.
A desk is useful because having a consistent workspace to return to. It'll lower the barriers to working if you don't have to lay out all your reference materials and papers new each time.
A good filing cabinet is indispensable. You'll end up with an amazing amount of paper in the end. Getting to it easily is key. And later it'll make it simple to throw out what you don't need.
A restaurant supply store is a great place to get good quality/low cost cooking wares.
posted by Mercaptan at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
A desk is useful because having a consistent workspace to return to. It'll lower the barriers to working if you don't have to lay out all your reference materials and papers new each time.
A good filing cabinet is indispensable. You'll end up with an amazing amount of paper in the end. Getting to it easily is key. And later it'll make it simple to throw out what you don't need.
A restaurant supply store is a great place to get good quality/low cost cooking wares.
posted by Mercaptan at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
By all means, don't scrimp on getting a good mattress. Shop sales - mattresses go on sale all the time, there's no reason to pay 'full price' for a mattress. Your quality of life will improve if you can sleep on a good mattress.
posted by Elly Vortex at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Elly Vortex at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think Craigslist (or something similar; you could still use Freecycle if you're close enough to a larger town to drive) or yard sales, as noted by others, is really going to be your friend here. For $1000, you really can't get multiple genuinely good pieces of furniture. I guess if I had to pick one thing to really get right, I'd pick a bed—you're going to want to sleep well, especially in grad school—but you could easily blow most of your budget on that.
If you do go the IKEA route, since many things really don't disassemble well, consider going for things that you can get out of your apartment without taking them apart. (Case in point: I got a large corner desk when I moved into my current place. It's super handy, for a grad student who also has a work-from-home job, but I'll never got it out of here without destroying it.)
Going used, just beware of bedbugs, &c. Nasty things.
On preview: a good desk chair is also excellent, but could also be expensive. Whether this is really a priority probably depends heavily on whether you expect to be doing most of your work at home or at the library. You may not need a separate desk if you have a kitchen table and laptop, but you will probably want some surface to work on other than your lap, at least some of the time, if my experience in grad school is any guide.
I also love that Madison Christmas is a thing. Here in Boston, we call it Allston Christmas, and it is both disgusting and glorious.
posted by divisjm at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you do go the IKEA route, since many things really don't disassemble well, consider going for things that you can get out of your apartment without taking them apart. (Case in point: I got a large corner desk when I moved into my current place. It's super handy, for a grad student who also has a work-from-home job, but I'll never got it out of here without destroying it.)
Going used, just beware of bedbugs, &c. Nasty things.
On preview: a good desk chair is also excellent, but could also be expensive. Whether this is really a priority probably depends heavily on whether you expect to be doing most of your work at home or at the library. You may not need a separate desk if you have a kitchen table and laptop, but you will probably want some surface to work on other than your lap, at least some of the time, if my experience in grad school is any guide.
I also love that Madison Christmas is a thing. Here in Boston, we call it Allston Christmas, and it is both disgusting and glorious.
posted by divisjm at 3:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Craigslist is a good bet for furniture. I'd definitely recommend Ikea for a lot of your needs if Craigslist doesn't work - they make a beautiful table for $100, have decent beds, and ok cheap furniture. they make an awesome convertible pullout L-shaped couch that I would totally consider using as a bed for about $700, which might be a bit out of your price range, but it takes care of all of your bed and couch needs.
A Lodge cast iron pan will be great. Inexpensive and easy to take care of. A Pyrex bowl with a lid or two will be indispensable as well.
Marshalls and TJ Maxx often have great kitchen stuff for good prices. Things like measuring cups, a spatula, silverware, a mixing bowl, and wooden spoons can be picked up cheap there.
I'd warn you against any single use items like a flour sifter or salad spinner. You can use multi purpose items instead and get a lot more bang for your buck, both financially and spatially speaking.
Good luck! Have fun furnishing your new home.
posted by k8lin at 3:27 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
A Lodge cast iron pan will be great. Inexpensive and easy to take care of. A Pyrex bowl with a lid or two will be indispensable as well.
Marshalls and TJ Maxx often have great kitchen stuff for good prices. Things like measuring cups, a spatula, silverware, a mixing bowl, and wooden spoons can be picked up cheap there.
I'd warn you against any single use items like a flour sifter or salad spinner. You can use multi purpose items instead and get a lot more bang for your buck, both financially and spatially speaking.
Good luck! Have fun furnishing your new home.
posted by k8lin at 3:27 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Kitchen gear is great and cheap at Ross -- even great brands like Oxo and Kitchenaid are priced half of what they are at Target.
Ross is also good for sheets, blankets, pillows, things like that.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:36 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ross is also good for sheets, blankets, pillows, things like that.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:36 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
I recently furnished my studio off Craigslist. I got a coffee table (to use as a TV stand), bookshelf, desk, side drawers, kitchen table and 2 chairs for $100 even. Everything I got is decent quality and sturdy. I bought the TV new for ~$400. I got a couch from a relative. Since I live in a college area and a lot of people move out mid-May, I was able to take advantage of a lot of low pricing.
My mom got me a lot of kitchen items at her local consignment shop for really cheap, and also a couple yard sales. The best bet for yard sales is when people advertise a neighborhood yard sale -- you'll get a much larger selection in a small area, and a lot of the time people price low so they can just get rid of stuff. Also try estate sales, though they tend to be a bit more expensive.
posted by DoubleLune at 3:44 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
My mom got me a lot of kitchen items at her local consignment shop for really cheap, and also a couple yard sales. The best bet for yard sales is when people advertise a neighborhood yard sale -- you'll get a much larger selection in a small area, and a lot of the time people price low so they can just get rid of stuff. Also try estate sales, though they tend to be a bit more expensive.
posted by DoubleLune at 3:44 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
IMHO, the place to spend money is on a good desk chair and a good reading/lounge chair.
Nthing this, and a mattress as well!
posted by jgirl at 3:50 PM on July 1, 2012
My move to grad school was simplified by moving to a city within driving distance of where my mother lived at the time and her love of Craigslist. (And the fact that she and her partner had recently moved in together, so had a lot of unused furniture in their garage.) I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but, basically, my mother spent a lot of time on Craigslist and found most of my furniture for me. I got bookshelves from Ikea and some of those little side tables, but everything else was Craigslist or my mother's garage.
I've had an Ikea mattress everywhere I've lived since moving out of the dorm after my first year of college. I have no idea if they're a particularly good deal, but I've been happy with the two I've had. (Amazingly enough, I managed to sell the mattress with the bed when I moved across the country for grad school.)
My kitchen stuff came from yard sales, TJ Maxx and a little from Ikea. If you'll have the ability to take it with you, buying decent pots and pans is likely worth it. (My TJ Maxx wok bit the dust after three years.) But yard sales were a gold mine for things like mixing bowls and a tea kettle--I think they were a quarter each. My yard sale knives were crap, but they were enough to tide me over for a while.
If you live near an Ikea now, make a scouting trip so you can pick things out or see how much things cost to compare with what you find elsewhere. It makes the one massive Ikea trip way less stressful. I believe you can even look up the aisle/bin numbers online, so you wouldn't even have to wander round the showroom when you actually go to buy stuff.
A good filing cabinet is indispensable. You'll end up with an amazing amount of paper in the end. Getting to it easily is key. And later it'll make it simple to throw out what you don't need.
This. I had a random file draw on wheels as an undergrad (it was scavenged on campus by a friend) and my apartment would be drowning in a lot less paper if I still had one.
posted by hoyland at 3:53 PM on July 1, 2012
I've had an Ikea mattress everywhere I've lived since moving out of the dorm after my first year of college. I have no idea if they're a particularly good deal, but I've been happy with the two I've had. (Amazingly enough, I managed to sell the mattress with the bed when I moved across the country for grad school.)
My kitchen stuff came from yard sales, TJ Maxx and a little from Ikea. If you'll have the ability to take it with you, buying decent pots and pans is likely worth it. (My TJ Maxx wok bit the dust after three years.) But yard sales were a gold mine for things like mixing bowls and a tea kettle--I think they were a quarter each. My yard sale knives were crap, but they were enough to tide me over for a while.
If you live near an Ikea now, make a scouting trip so you can pick things out or see how much things cost to compare with what you find elsewhere. It makes the one massive Ikea trip way less stressful. I believe you can even look up the aisle/bin numbers online, so you wouldn't even have to wander round the showroom when you actually go to buy stuff.
A good filing cabinet is indispensable. You'll end up with an amazing amount of paper in the end. Getting to it easily is key. And later it'll make it simple to throw out what you don't need.
This. I had a random file draw on wheels as an undergrad (it was scavenged on campus by a friend) and my apartment would be drowning in a lot less paper if I still had one.
posted by hoyland at 3:53 PM on July 1, 2012
I would also spend on a mattress (unless you can get a used one *from a relative* so you know there are no bedbugs) and on a desk chair. You can get great kitchen stuff used that will last you ages; I have a bunch of mid-priced random stuff from defunct department stores that my grandma had for 20+ years, and so far I've had it for 12. None of it would fetch more than a dollar or two at a second-hand store. (Some of it has held up better than my newer stuff, since anything that was going to get battered out of service had been battered to death long before it got to me!)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:53 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:53 PM on July 1, 2012
In the kitchen, Mark Bittman's NYT article is a good overview. I personally use my a decent 8 inch chef's knife, a plastic cutting board, a cast iron skillet more than anything else.
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:00 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by Homeboy Trouble at 4:00 PM on July 1, 2012
One of the best investments I ever made: Chantal enamel cookware. It is not cheap. I would start outfitting the kitchen, make sure I had sleeping arrangements covered and try not to spend over half the budget on those two things. Then let other stuff evolve organically over time. If you haven't done this before, you probably can't pull off planning the whole thing from scratch in one go by yourself. Trying to do so is likely to leave you pretty unhappy with the results.
Best of luck.
posted by Michele in California at 4:03 PM on July 1, 2012
Best of luck.
posted by Michele in California at 4:03 PM on July 1, 2012
Everything I own I got from craigslist for free or under $100, except for a desk (actually a kitchen table) that is a family heirloom.
posted by small_ruminant at 4:04 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by small_ruminant at 4:04 PM on July 1, 2012
Okay, my PC was a gift from someone.
posted by small_ruminant at 4:04 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by small_ruminant at 4:04 PM on July 1, 2012
In ga, we have habitat for humanity stores. Consignment stories where the profits go to hfh. I outfitted a 6 bedroom lake house shopping here. Great deals, see if you have one in your area.
posted by pearlybob at 4:15 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by pearlybob at 4:15 PM on July 1, 2012
I've been spending the last 6 months or so building a furnished apartment from scratch. Here are some tips:
- IKEA for kitchen supplies, bedding and small, basic furniture (ie, side tables, wooden chairs). Larger/upholstered furniture will be too expensive. For cookware, buy the second-most expensive stuff. This has served me well.
- Thrift stores and yard sales are great for household goods and kitchen appliances. Just test any electronics before you buy them.
- For electronics and other random household stuff that you can't find at thrift stores or Goodwill, Amazon.com can be great. It can also be good for stocking your pantry (yes, Amazon sells a lot of non-perishable food!)
- Definitely craigslist for furniture. Warning: there is a LOT of crappy 80s furniture on craigslist. Figure out some good keywords to search for ("retro", "vintage", and the names of stores you like might work well). And set your searches for items under $100 so you won't be tempted to blow all your money on the perfect couch. One particular tip: you can always find pretty new IKEA Poang chairs dirt cheap on craigslist. These are great basics until you find that great couch.
- Mattress: go to one of those super-cheap mattress warehouse stores. I bought my mattress and boxspring at one of those for $200 3 years ago and it's served me very well.
Oh, and, when you're trying to furnish a place for so little, it can take a while to find everything you want. So figure out a few things that you need right away, and give yourself time to find everything else. In my current place, I made sure I had a surface for eating and working (a coffee table), a mattress, and a comfortable chair to sit on. Everything else, I've been buying slowly. It does mean that my apartment was (and still kinda is) pretty empty, but it's also allowed me to keep my budget low and make sure that I actually like everything in my place. You don't want to buy that super-ugly, massive couch now because it's only $50 and then be saddled with it for years.
posted by lunasol at 4:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
- IKEA for kitchen supplies, bedding and small, basic furniture (ie, side tables, wooden chairs). Larger/upholstered furniture will be too expensive. For cookware, buy the second-most expensive stuff. This has served me well.
- Thrift stores and yard sales are great for household goods and kitchen appliances. Just test any electronics before you buy them.
- For electronics and other random household stuff that you can't find at thrift stores or Goodwill, Amazon.com can be great. It can also be good for stocking your pantry (yes, Amazon sells a lot of non-perishable food!)
- Definitely craigslist for furniture. Warning: there is a LOT of crappy 80s furniture on craigslist. Figure out some good keywords to search for ("retro", "vintage", and the names of stores you like might work well). And set your searches for items under $100 so you won't be tempted to blow all your money on the perfect couch. One particular tip: you can always find pretty new IKEA Poang chairs dirt cheap on craigslist. These are great basics until you find that great couch.
- Mattress: go to one of those super-cheap mattress warehouse stores. I bought my mattress and boxspring at one of those for $200 3 years ago and it's served me very well.
Oh, and, when you're trying to furnish a place for so little, it can take a while to find everything you want. So figure out a few things that you need right away, and give yourself time to find everything else. In my current place, I made sure I had a surface for eating and working (a coffee table), a mattress, and a comfortable chair to sit on. Everything else, I've been buying slowly. It does mean that my apartment was (and still kinda is) pretty empty, but it's also allowed me to keep my budget low and make sure that I actually like everything in my place. You don't want to buy that super-ugly, massive couch now because it's only $50 and then be saddled with it for years.
posted by lunasol at 4:26 PM on July 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
Oh, and I am really bad about buying way too much kitchenware. But you don't need much in the beginning. This is what I made sure I had when I moved in:
- A large pot and a small pot
- A large cast iron pan
- A small nonstick pan for eggs
- A baking sheet
- A mixing bowl and a colander that I bought together
- Cooking utensils: Spatula, measuring cups/spoons, serving spoon, wooden spoon
- 4 of each: dishes, bowls, glasses, flatware.
You can buy most of these at IKEA very cheaply, or at thriftstores even more cheaply. And then buy other stuff as you need it.
posted by lunasol at 4:35 PM on July 1, 2012
- A large pot and a small pot
- A large cast iron pan
- A small nonstick pan for eggs
- A baking sheet
- A mixing bowl and a colander that I bought together
- Cooking utensils: Spatula, measuring cups/spoons, serving spoon, wooden spoon
- 4 of each: dishes, bowls, glasses, flatware.
You can buy most of these at IKEA very cheaply, or at thriftstores even more cheaply. And then buy other stuff as you need it.
posted by lunasol at 4:35 PM on July 1, 2012
Start by getting yourself a toolbox. You don't need everything, but with a good hammer and set of screwdrivers (flat and phillips-head), a level, pliers, a measuring tape and if you're handy a socket wrench set, you can handle a lot of stuff that will come your way (including putting together furniture and hanging art and stuff you may already be planning on doing).
Ikea furniture is touch and go, but their Kitchen-in-a-box is hard to beat - it will pretty much fully outfit you with pans pots, utensils, etc, for way less than doing it individually.
Also, for me, nothing says 'my new home' like installing a new toilet seat. But that could just be me.
posted by Mchelly at 4:43 PM on July 1, 2012
Ikea furniture is touch and go, but their Kitchen-in-a-box is hard to beat - it will pretty much fully outfit you with pans pots, utensils, etc, for way less than doing it individually.
Also, for me, nothing says 'my new home' like installing a new toilet seat. But that could just be me.
posted by Mchelly at 4:43 PM on July 1, 2012
I'd actually recommend not buying bedding at ikea. Their sheets are low thread count, scratchy and uncomfortable (though cool looking). Instead, I'd buy a full-sized (not queen--it's very hard to find vintage queen sheets) bed (we love our Otis futon mattress and I will sleep on it till the day I die if I can) and buy sheets and pillowcases vintage on etsy. You can find really nice quality vintage sheets for like $20/set on there.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:52 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:52 PM on July 1, 2012
So this is how it all broke down, pre-tax and off the top of my head, when I moved to Chicago 3 years ago for grad school with hardly any worldly possessions:
Mattress/box spring (discount mattress store) - 300
Love seat (ikea) - 149
Desk (ikea) - 49
Desk chair (ikea)- 15
Kitchen stuff (dishes, pots, pans, flatware - amazon; blender- target) - 80
Living room rug (ikea) - 25
Bathroom stuff (rug, shower curtain, showerhead (yep)- target) - 30
TV stand (target) - 10 (clearance)
Side tables (2 - ikea) - 26
Sheets (target) - 15
Towels (target) - 20
Trash can (family dollar) - 10
bookcases (2, one from walmart and one from target)- 40
Comforter (ikea) - 50
I've since upgraded some of this stuff but I was fine with just this and occasionally shopping for more decor items and what not for the first year. I can say that I wish I had saved the money I spent on the love seat for the sofa I have now, and the same for the desk chair.
posted by sm1tten at 4:58 PM on July 1, 2012
Mattress/box spring (discount mattress store) - 300
Love seat (ikea) - 149
Desk (ikea) - 49
Desk chair (ikea)- 15
Kitchen stuff (dishes, pots, pans, flatware - amazon; blender- target) - 80
Living room rug (ikea) - 25
Bathroom stuff (rug, shower curtain, showerhead (yep)- target) - 30
TV stand (target) - 10 (clearance)
Side tables (2 - ikea) - 26
Sheets (target) - 15
Towels (target) - 20
Trash can (family dollar) - 10
bookcases (2, one from walmart and one from target)- 40
Comforter (ikea) - 50
I've since upgraded some of this stuff but I was fine with just this and occasionally shopping for more decor items and what not for the first year. I can say that I wish I had saved the money I spent on the love seat for the sofa I have now, and the same for the desk chair.
posted by sm1tten at 4:58 PM on July 1, 2012
I want to nth the "Watch out for bedbugs" (and other critters -- a friend of mine has had really atrocious luck with secondhand/antiques/etc.), but it depends on where you're moving to.
posted by Casuistry at 5:09 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by Casuistry at 5:09 PM on July 1, 2012
Yeah, the bed is the only thing you absolutely have to buy new, and if you're into rustic you can just get a mattress and put it on the floor until you find some old barn wood to make a platform for it. Everything else you can get used, although I suppose you might worry about bugs in anything upholstered.
If you have basic carpentry skills and a few tools you can build a lot of furniture like bookcases and tables and desks. And it gives you a totally different kind of thing to do when grad school is grinding you.
posted by mareli at 6:21 PM on July 1, 2012
If you have basic carpentry skills and a few tools you can build a lot of furniture like bookcases and tables and desks. And it gives you a totally different kind of thing to do when grad school is grinding you.
posted by mareli at 6:21 PM on July 1, 2012
Random advice: Target puts their clearance items on the endcaps that do not face the main aisles. They also sometimes set up a clearance section towards the back corner of the store where they put the seasonal stuff (outdoor furniture, school supplies, etc). I always cruise those areas just to see what's on clearance. They are stocking all of their dorm stuff now and clearing out their summer stuff, so you might be able to find casual dishes, etc. for cheap. I'd also cruise through there again after school starts to see what dorm stuff they are clearing out. JCPenney also puts their homeware clearance stuff on aisles that aren't usually facing the main walkways and are closer to walls and corners. I have no experience with Ikea so I can't comment on that. Kohls is constantly rotating stuff out and you can usually find kitchen stuff (and bedding) at 50% or 60% off.
I don't have a desk. Instead, I use my kitchen table when I need to spread out, or I have a nice wood lapdesk (from Barnes & Noble) that I use. I keep "office" supplies in plastic storage I have stashed out of the way (and the side table I bought for my living room is actually a nightstand with two drawers I got at Bed, Bath, & Beyond) so it does double duty.
I agree with everyone else cautioning you on buying "soft" items used. However, if you keep a sharp eye on the furniture stores you can usually find discontinued styles on sale, especially if it's a local (non chain) furniture store. Sometimes you can go in and make an offer if they really want to get rid of something.
posted by MultiFaceted at 6:22 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't have a desk. Instead, I use my kitchen table when I need to spread out, or I have a nice wood lapdesk (from Barnes & Noble) that I use. I keep "office" supplies in plastic storage I have stashed out of the way (and the side table I bought for my living room is actually a nightstand with two drawers I got at Bed, Bath, & Beyond) so it does double duty.
I agree with everyone else cautioning you on buying "soft" items used. However, if you keep a sharp eye on the furniture stores you can usually find discontinued styles on sale, especially if it's a local (non chain) furniture store. Sometimes you can go in and make an offer if they really want to get rid of something.
posted by MultiFaceted at 6:22 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
When you move in, you will need, at a minimum:
If you're able to get by with very little at first, you can use the advantage of a grad student's flexible schedule to watch Craigslist and swoop in on great free and cheap stuff.
You can stretch your budget a lot if you're able to scavenge secondhand items from family and friends. When I started grad school and moved into my first apartment, I brought with me some 1970s bed linens and dish towels from home and a TV, VCR, and a set of supremely crappy living room furniture sold to me for $25 total by a friend. (The crappy living room furniture got slipcovers sewn by my mother and served very well for about ten years before the springs completely gave out and I left the set on the curb, whence it was picked up less than an hour later by a group of undergrads delighted with their find.)
Rather than try to outfit your kitchen all at once, you might buy stuff on an as-needed basis, which is kind of what I did. I started with some basics (one frying pan, one large sauce pan, one mixing bowl, two wooden spoons, four place settings of cutlery, etc) and then acquired new pieces as I found that I needed them. No point setting yourself up with a lasagna pan, a cheese grater, and a citrus reamer if you go months without using them. Sometimes you can even get away with disposables—for example, if you're going to cook a big roast once in a year, it might be cost-effective to get a disposable aluminum roasting pan from the supermarket instead of buying something more permanent. (You might even wash and re-use the disposables.)
For book storage, since you like the rustic look, make plank-and-brick shelves. If you're handy, you can go further than that; these shelves look reasonably do-able if you own a drill and get your lumber store or big-box home improvement store to make the cuts for you. There are lots more DIY furniture ideas on the web. Even before I owned a drill (and before Instructables and Wikihow existed), I made some very basic furniture for myself (a step stool and a kitchen shelving unit) with just a hammer and nails, by getting the planks cut at the store. (I should have used wood glue in addition to the nails, but didn't know that at the time.) You don't even have to spend money on lumber if you find a source of free pallets.
posted by Orinda at 6:31 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
- a shower curtain - a plain vinyl liner from a big box store will work fine
- something to sleep on
- one set of bed linens, a pillow, and one set of towels
- something to sit on (might be the same as the thing you sleep on)
- sufficient kitchen equipment, dishes, and staple ingredients to prepare and serve the foods you consume on a daily basis
- a floor lamp or two
- toilet paper, a couple light bulbs, dish detergent, dish sponge, dish towels and/or paper towels, cleaning supplies, personal toiletries, etc.
- plastic baggies, containers for leftovers, foil, waxed paper, etc. — perhaps not strictly necessary, but you miss them if you don't have them around
- bottle opener and/or corkscrew
If you're able to get by with very little at first, you can use the advantage of a grad student's flexible schedule to watch Craigslist and swoop in on great free and cheap stuff.
You can stretch your budget a lot if you're able to scavenge secondhand items from family and friends. When I started grad school and moved into my first apartment, I brought with me some 1970s bed linens and dish towels from home and a TV, VCR, and a set of supremely crappy living room furniture sold to me for $25 total by a friend. (The crappy living room furniture got slipcovers sewn by my mother and served very well for about ten years before the springs completely gave out and I left the set on the curb, whence it was picked up less than an hour later by a group of undergrads delighted with their find.)
Rather than try to outfit your kitchen all at once, you might buy stuff on an as-needed basis, which is kind of what I did. I started with some basics (one frying pan, one large sauce pan, one mixing bowl, two wooden spoons, four place settings of cutlery, etc) and then acquired new pieces as I found that I needed them. No point setting yourself up with a lasagna pan, a cheese grater, and a citrus reamer if you go months without using them. Sometimes you can even get away with disposables—for example, if you're going to cook a big roast once in a year, it might be cost-effective to get a disposable aluminum roasting pan from the supermarket instead of buying something more permanent. (You might even wash and re-use the disposables.)
For book storage, since you like the rustic look, make plank-and-brick shelves. If you're handy, you can go further than that; these shelves look reasonably do-able if you own a drill and get your lumber store or big-box home improvement store to make the cuts for you. There are lots more DIY furniture ideas on the web. Even before I owned a drill (and before Instructables and Wikihow existed), I made some very basic furniture for myself (a step stool and a kitchen shelving unit) with just a hammer and nails, by getting the planks cut at the store. (I should have used wood glue in addition to the nails, but didn't know that at the time.) You don't even have to spend money on lumber if you find a source of free pallets.
posted by Orinda at 6:31 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
Is there a listserv for your graduate program? We had one when I was in school, and lots of people would offer up their gently used furniture on there before they'd post it to Craigslist or wherever. You're more likely to get an awesome deal if someone feels like they have something in common with you AND they're being forced to sell all their stuff to head to their awesome new jobs in other cities.
posted by itsamermaid at 6:31 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by itsamermaid at 6:31 PM on July 1, 2012
Craigslist craigslist craigslist! People get rid of fantastic stuff at dirt cheap prices.
Buy your mattress and your sofa as decent quality as you can afford. (These are the two items your body will spend the most time on, and you'll hate them if they're uncomfortable or get lumpy quickly. Throw a housewarming party and ask for gift cards to your favourite economically priced housewares store, and get a decent chefs knife and a decent medium sized pan. Everything else, cheap out! (And remember, a $100 item new ikea is often much worse quality than a $100 item bought used on craigslist.)
posted by Kololo at 7:29 PM on July 1, 2012
Buy your mattress and your sofa as decent quality as you can afford. (These are the two items your body will spend the most time on, and you'll hate them if they're uncomfortable or get lumpy quickly. Throw a housewarming party and ask for gift cards to your favourite economically priced housewares store, and get a decent chefs knife and a decent medium sized pan. Everything else, cheap out! (And remember, a $100 item new ikea is often much worse quality than a $100 item bought used on craigslist.)
posted by Kololo at 7:29 PM on July 1, 2012
My husband and I furnished an apartment mostly from Ikea and our local Salvation Army - and one thing off Craigslist - for under $1000. Everything that we bought fit into a station wagon. I decided not to go with much from Craigslist because I didn't have a car and thus I couldn't easily pick things up.
We bought bookshelves - 8 of them (we are historians). A few years ago, the Flarkes were $20; the Kilbys are now available for $25 in the USA. (They are a bit better than the Flarkes).
We bought Vika tables (cheaper tabletops, legs - came out to about $20-40 per table) and used them as one large desk (1x2 metres) and one corner desk (two 0.5x1 meter tables arranged as an L). The legs come off easily for moving and storage.
We bought an Antonius frame and drawers instead of a chest of drawers - it cost about $40-60 and was very movable. (We now have a whole wardrobe made from Antonius, which cost $200 instead of the $800 a Pax or other wardrobe would cost).
We bought their second cheapest mattress, and we loved it (we like foam). And in our kitchen, we supplemented the almost non-existant counter with a beautful kitchen cart/island, and a less beautiful but very practical metal shelf. We didn't buy a couch (we had found papasan chairs instead), but my friend bought this couch for his apartment down the hall, and it was okay.
We also got a kitchen table ($35) and chairs ($5 each) from the Salvation army, along with some occasional tables and a neat telephone table; we're still using the kitchen table and telephone side table 5 years and one country later.
As for moving: We moved the 8 ikea bookcases, the Vika tables, the kitchen island, etc, from the USA to Canada by Uhaul. The bookcases have since been moved several times in Canada -- and they are still good. I think it helps that they are much, much lighter than the Billy bookcases, and thus less prone to sheering action (they can be moved by one person just lifting them - I carried one upstairs by myself the other day).
Now I'm feeling like some kind of weird Ikea salesperson - I don't actually like the company that much. But for cheap, functional furniture, they really are just about the best choice.
posted by jb at 7:46 PM on July 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
We bought bookshelves - 8 of them (we are historians). A few years ago, the Flarkes were $20; the Kilbys are now available for $25 in the USA. (They are a bit better than the Flarkes).
We bought Vika tables (cheaper tabletops, legs - came out to about $20-40 per table) and used them as one large desk (1x2 metres) and one corner desk (two 0.5x1 meter tables arranged as an L). The legs come off easily for moving and storage.
We bought an Antonius frame and drawers instead of a chest of drawers - it cost about $40-60 and was very movable. (We now have a whole wardrobe made from Antonius, which cost $200 instead of the $800 a Pax or other wardrobe would cost).
We bought their second cheapest mattress, and we loved it (we like foam). And in our kitchen, we supplemented the almost non-existant counter with a beautful kitchen cart/island, and a less beautiful but very practical metal shelf. We didn't buy a couch (we had found papasan chairs instead), but my friend bought this couch for his apartment down the hall, and it was okay.
We also got a kitchen table ($35) and chairs ($5 each) from the Salvation army, along with some occasional tables and a neat telephone table; we're still using the kitchen table and telephone side table 5 years and one country later.
As for moving: We moved the 8 ikea bookcases, the Vika tables, the kitchen island, etc, from the USA to Canada by Uhaul. The bookcases have since been moved several times in Canada -- and they are still good. I think it helps that they are much, much lighter than the Billy bookcases, and thus less prone to sheering action (they can be moved by one person just lifting them - I carried one upstairs by myself the other day).
Now I'm feeling like some kind of weird Ikea salesperson - I don't actually like the company that much. But for cheap, functional furniture, they really are just about the best choice.
posted by jb at 7:46 PM on July 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sell two of your three coffee makers. Or at least all the ones that aren't french presses. Also, buy some nice coat hangers, and also some that you can use for pants. You could easily keep underwear and socks in rubbermaid boxes while you save up money. When you're done with the rubbermaid boxes, you can use them as planters on your balcony if you have one suitable for gardening, and also they rock for moving (buy a bunch before you move, they're $8.00!). First priorities should be:
1. Place to sleep - don't you dare buy a used mattress. Buy a nice mattress, new. I like the mattress I bought from Ikea a few years ago that's made of foam and rolls up - it's fairly firm and cost me maybe $400.00? Don't worry about a bedframe just yet - it isn't immediately important, and maybe you'll dig sleeping closer to the center of the earth. Walmart has decent sheets actually if you pick the highest thread count (the Canopy brand).
2. Things to create food with. Get a frying pan and learn to love eggs for a little while, assuming that you aren't vegan. Stock up on common spices such as salt, pepper, sugar, flour, cayenne, etc. Get a rice maker and a huge bag of rice. Buy a large jug of soy sauce, and don't waste space in the fridge with it either. If you are into either pasta or pickles, keep the jars and slowly accumulate more and more cups and various containers for storing things. Get a decent knife, like a global or something, and get something you can sharpen it with. You won't need much else for starting off. If you're comfortable with the idea of doing so, buy a used cast iron pan and season the shit out of it.
3. Curtains. It is SO important to get enough sleep when you're in grad school (or in general). Get something that exceeds the standard issue blinds that don't really work that well when you're sleeping less than 50 feet away from a street light or two. I got mine from Ikea, but you can get Blackout curtains from Walmart. Alternatively, you could just use aluminum foil.
4. Spray bottles. I keep a few of these around, one filled with vinegar and one filled with water. Vinegar and baking soda will clean most things! I do my laundry with baking soda and vinegar, and I also clean my kitchen/bathroom with vinegar, adding baking soda for especially resilient gunk. You will save a lot of money by not buying into the laundry detergent scene. Make a clothesline to save money on utilities if your climate is suitable. I have found these at supermarkets such as Kroger.
5. Hammer, nails, screwdrivers. You never know, and it's cheap. Keep them in one of the aforementioned rubbermaid boxes until you have spare cash to justify buying a toolbox. Buy everything separately - starter DIY kits usually suck.
6. Microfiber quick drying towel - this trendy new item won't mildew as quickly as old fashioned cotton ones. Amazon is good for this.
7. Lighting. Try and get stuff without dimmers, so that CFLs will work well in them. Ikea is good for this.
I'm probably leaving stuff out, but hopefully this helps.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:47 PM on July 1, 2012
1. Place to sleep - don't you dare buy a used mattress. Buy a nice mattress, new. I like the mattress I bought from Ikea a few years ago that's made of foam and rolls up - it's fairly firm and cost me maybe $400.00? Don't worry about a bedframe just yet - it isn't immediately important, and maybe you'll dig sleeping closer to the center of the earth. Walmart has decent sheets actually if you pick the highest thread count (the Canopy brand).
2. Things to create food with. Get a frying pan and learn to love eggs for a little while, assuming that you aren't vegan. Stock up on common spices such as salt, pepper, sugar, flour, cayenne, etc. Get a rice maker and a huge bag of rice. Buy a large jug of soy sauce, and don't waste space in the fridge with it either. If you are into either pasta or pickles, keep the jars and slowly accumulate more and more cups and various containers for storing things. Get a decent knife, like a global or something, and get something you can sharpen it with. You won't need much else for starting off. If you're comfortable with the idea of doing so, buy a used cast iron pan and season the shit out of it.
3. Curtains. It is SO important to get enough sleep when you're in grad school (or in general). Get something that exceeds the standard issue blinds that don't really work that well when you're sleeping less than 50 feet away from a street light or two. I got mine from Ikea, but you can get Blackout curtains from Walmart. Alternatively, you could just use aluminum foil.
4. Spray bottles. I keep a few of these around, one filled with vinegar and one filled with water. Vinegar and baking soda will clean most things! I do my laundry with baking soda and vinegar, and I also clean my kitchen/bathroom with vinegar, adding baking soda for especially resilient gunk. You will save a lot of money by not buying into the laundry detergent scene. Make a clothesline to save money on utilities if your climate is suitable. I have found these at supermarkets such as Kroger.
5. Hammer, nails, screwdrivers. You never know, and it's cheap. Keep them in one of the aforementioned rubbermaid boxes until you have spare cash to justify buying a toolbox. Buy everything separately - starter DIY kits usually suck.
6. Microfiber quick drying towel - this trendy new item won't mildew as quickly as old fashioned cotton ones. Amazon is good for this.
7. Lighting. Try and get stuff without dimmers, so that CFLs will work well in them. Ikea is good for this.
I'm probably leaving stuff out, but hopefully this helps.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:47 PM on July 1, 2012
My husband and I slept very well on this $90 mattress from Ikea.
posted by jb at 7:52 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by jb at 7:52 PM on July 1, 2012
Sorry - maybe it was this one for $129 - it definitely was not a sofa-bed mattress.
posted by jb at 8:01 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by jb at 8:01 PM on July 1, 2012
Definitely buy houseware-type stuff at Ross/Marshalls/TJ Maxx/SteinMart. You can get all kinds of name-brand kitchen and household stuff there for way cheaper than at Bed Bath and Beyond or Target.
posted by radioamy at 8:49 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by radioamy at 8:49 PM on July 1, 2012
Look for used cast iron before new. We got all ours for under $5 each at Goodwill. They just needed reseasoning. Goodwill is also a great place for kitchen utensils and silverware dirt cheap -- who needs matching silverware anyway? Each person in our house likes different kinds of spoons, so having them mismatch is great.
posted by linettasky at 10:26 PM on July 1, 2012
posted by linettasky at 10:26 PM on July 1, 2012
$1000 is not a lot to play with for what you need. Considering you have no beddings, kitchen tools or small appliances, all of this small stuff eats up your budget really quick. Also, save some money for small repairs - you might need a new shower head, toilet seat, do small repairs around the house, this stuff adds up fast.
Hit all of your friends and family for kitchen supplies. Almost everyone over a certain age have more pots and pans then they need or want, an extra set of wine glasses they got as a present, furniture in their attic, whatever. Other stuff for the kitchen, buy as you need. I would disregard any advice to buy a "real chef knife, like a global" - $150 knives are a luxury for people with real salaries.
You can probable scavenge some tools from your parents' tool box, or your grandparents'. By the way, hitting them up for unwanted stuff is usually a gold mine. A hammer and a couple of screw drivers should cover most of it.
Also, the advice about shower curtain, shrink wrap etc. is spot on!
posted by ye#ara at 4:54 AM on July 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hit all of your friends and family for kitchen supplies. Almost everyone over a certain age have more pots and pans then they need or want, an extra set of wine glasses they got as a present, furniture in their attic, whatever. Other stuff for the kitchen, buy as you need. I would disregard any advice to buy a "real chef knife, like a global" - $150 knives are a luxury for people with real salaries.
You can probable scavenge some tools from your parents' tool box, or your grandparents'. By the way, hitting them up for unwanted stuff is usually a gold mine. A hammer and a couple of screw drivers should cover most of it.
Also, the advice about shower curtain, shrink wrap etc. is spot on!
posted by ye#ara at 4:54 AM on July 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Definitely put the word out to family and friends that you are looking to furnish your new place. Lots of people have things they would love to get rid of--especially kitchen items. This is probably the only way I would get used upholstered furniture or mattresses (bedbugs!).
For kitchen stuff, you can manage pretty well with just a stockpot, a small saucepan, a frying pan, one chef's knife, some kind of container for leftovers and some wooden spoons. Dollar stores often have a pretty big selection of utensils...you can't go wrong with 3 wooden spoons for $1. I would wait to see what you actually end up cooking and missing before you get any more than this.
Also keep an eye on Amazon's 4 for 3 deals. It doesn't seem like they have a lot of good stuff on sale right now, but I got almost all my good kitchen items through there!
posted by inertia at 7:22 AM on July 2, 2012
For kitchen stuff, you can manage pretty well with just a stockpot, a small saucepan, a frying pan, one chef's knife, some kind of container for leftovers and some wooden spoons. Dollar stores often have a pretty big selection of utensils...you can't go wrong with 3 wooden spoons for $1. I would wait to see what you actually end up cooking and missing before you get any more than this.
Also keep an eye on Amazon's 4 for 3 deals. It doesn't seem like they have a lot of good stuff on sale right now, but I got almost all my good kitchen items through there!
posted by inertia at 7:22 AM on July 2, 2012
We were at the Sears Outlet yesterday to buy a treadmill. RUN, do not walk there for a mattress. There was a Queen set for $191! Outrageously great prices on very high end mattresses. Their website is pretty great in that they will show you a particular item, and then, based on your zip code, they'll direct you to nearest store.
Also, microwaves, and random other stuff.
For tables, chairs, etc, I'm with those saying Thrift Store/Yard Sales. Also dishes, glasses, etc. Although I bought a huge set of dishes at Target for $20. Service for 6 and I think it was 67 pieces (including napkin rings, serving pieces, salt and pepper). You can get new glasses for under $10.
You can do without a sofa until you can save up.
I got our family room sectional at a consignment store for $600. It's lasted 6 years, but I'm thinking I have to start looking for a replacement.
Save the sofa for the last thing you buy because it will be the most expensive. Unless you can find one on Craigslist or at a yard sale at an outrageous price.
Kroger and other grocery stores have household items in their "flog off" section. If you're not naturally a bargain hunter, you may go right past these things in the store. It might be in the back, or on a small kiosk next to the greeting cards. Whatever they're discontinuing, or clearing their shelves of will be on it. I got my cutlery at Publix for $50, 1/4 the price, on one of these. Also, look for end of summer deals on grill stuff, plastic plates and dishes and brightly colored napkins and table clothes.
nth ask around. If you're in Atlanta, come to my house, I can give you a shit load of stuff right now!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:28 AM on July 2, 2012
Also, microwaves, and random other stuff.
For tables, chairs, etc, I'm with those saying Thrift Store/Yard Sales. Also dishes, glasses, etc. Although I bought a huge set of dishes at Target for $20. Service for 6 and I think it was 67 pieces (including napkin rings, serving pieces, salt and pepper). You can get new glasses for under $10.
You can do without a sofa until you can save up.
I got our family room sectional at a consignment store for $600. It's lasted 6 years, but I'm thinking I have to start looking for a replacement.
Save the sofa for the last thing you buy because it will be the most expensive. Unless you can find one on Craigslist or at a yard sale at an outrageous price.
Kroger and other grocery stores have household items in their "flog off" section. If you're not naturally a bargain hunter, you may go right past these things in the store. It might be in the back, or on a small kiosk next to the greeting cards. Whatever they're discontinuing, or clearing their shelves of will be on it. I got my cutlery at Publix for $50, 1/4 the price, on one of these. Also, look for end of summer deals on grill stuff, plastic plates and dishes and brightly colored napkins and table clothes.
nth ask around. If you're in Atlanta, come to my house, I can give you a shit load of stuff right now!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:28 AM on July 2, 2012
Also don't overlook the opportunity to buy someone's entire apartment (possibly even leasing the same space as well). We did this at one point: found a great apartment that someone was advertising on craigslist that was what we were looking for, and he was offering a bonus great deal for anyone who wanted to take over his lease AND buy the contents of his apartment because he was moving.
Though the style may not be perfectly yours, getting a package deal is a really cheap way to go and you might find these ads either in the furniture section or the apartments section of craigslist. What we did was sell the stuff we really didn't like but keep the rest that worked just fine for us.
posted by arnicae at 8:31 AM on July 2, 2012
Though the style may not be perfectly yours, getting a package deal is a really cheap way to go and you might find these ads either in the furniture section or the apartments section of craigslist. What we did was sell the stuff we really didn't like but keep the rest that worked just fine for us.
posted by arnicae at 8:31 AM on July 2, 2012
Mattress and sheets and pillows from CostCo
Kitchen cooking gear from Ikea
Wooden chairs and furniture from the curb and Craigslist
posted by zippy at 8:44 AM on July 2, 2012
Kitchen cooking gear from Ikea
Wooden chairs and furniture from the curb and Craigslist
posted by zippy at 8:44 AM on July 2, 2012
I have had the best luck for sheets and pillows from Ross Dress for Less (sheets) and Macy's sales (for pillows)
Kitchen cooking gear from Tuesday Morning or Ross Dress for Less. The IKEA stuff hasn't lasted.
Everything else from craigslist.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:37 AM on July 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Kitchen cooking gear from Tuesday Morning or Ross Dress for Less. The IKEA stuff hasn't lasted.
Everything else from craigslist.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:37 AM on July 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Glasses, plates, utensils from Ross Dress for Less and/or Thrift Town.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:38 AM on July 2, 2012
posted by small_ruminant at 9:38 AM on July 2, 2012
Along with what arnicae said. See if you can get in touch with the current tenant. The relator or landlord can help. Often times, people move out of apartments because they are upgrading, moving to another town, or because they are moving in with someone. All of those scenarios are great! Those mean the tenant has stuff they don't want, stuff that would be a pain for them to take to the curb, or dispose of otherwise.
Milk crates are great. Storage in closets or as bookshelves or end tables. Anything sturdy and clean can have a new use in your home. A friend of mine put her mattress/boxspring on cinderblocks when she was in college. Don't know how safe it is, but made her feel more like it was a real bed than just a mattress on the floor.
For some reason plastic bins and drawers can be pretty expensive at target. I'd check Marshalls and Big Lots first if you have them. I also really went crazy without a dishrack, even though it seems like a little thing you can skimp on. Ikea is the best for dishracks. Dishes you can get for cheap at thrift stores.
In college I put cardboard in my bedroom windows cause I couldn't afford light-blocking curtains. Not sure if that will fly with your neighbors but worked for me. Being in school gives you weird sleep schedules.
Also to consider in your budget: will you need a fan, an a/c, or a spaceheater? That, along with the vaccuum, can really add up.
posted by manicure12 at 8:37 PM on July 2, 2012
Milk crates are great. Storage in closets or as bookshelves or end tables. Anything sturdy and clean can have a new use in your home. A friend of mine put her mattress/boxspring on cinderblocks when she was in college. Don't know how safe it is, but made her feel more like it was a real bed than just a mattress on the floor.
For some reason plastic bins and drawers can be pretty expensive at target. I'd check Marshalls and Big Lots first if you have them. I also really went crazy without a dishrack, even though it seems like a little thing you can skimp on. Ikea is the best for dishracks. Dishes you can get for cheap at thrift stores.
In college I put cardboard in my bedroom windows cause I couldn't afford light-blocking curtains. Not sure if that will fly with your neighbors but worked for me. Being in school gives you weird sleep schedules.
Also to consider in your budget: will you need a fan, an a/c, or a spaceheater? That, along with the vaccuum, can really add up.
posted by manicure12 at 8:37 PM on July 2, 2012
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I would probably sink half of your $1000 into a decent new mattress. Ikea is great for bed frames, book shelves, and living room seating. I've had mixed experiences with their kitchenware. The cheap glasses are fantastic, the cheap dishware sucks (it starts chipping and cracking in about 3 months).
posted by kimdog at 3:18 PM on July 1, 2012 [1 favorite]