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On the corner of free and cheap
Furnish and decorate your home for little or no money using classifieds, Web groups, local consignment shops, yard sales and even networking
By Abbie Beane / For The Bulletin
Published: February 10. 2009 4:00AM PST
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For once, no money was no problem.
When I moved to Bend this winter, it was with only two carloads, mostly packed with clothes, boxes of books and DVDs, and leftover Chinese food.
Now it would take two U-Hauls for us to move again. Our household now contains three sofas, a couple of rockers and several chairs, dining room and coffee tables, three end tables, two bookcases, two desks, a double bed and a single bed, a TV and entertainment center, a standing lamp, patio furniture, three dressers, and all the kitchenware, appliances, linens and even plants we need. All for less than $200.
But even if we were to move, we would likely give it all away just as it was given to us — through yard sales, classified ads, Web sites, Freecycling and quickly established networks of people with furniture in storage.
Many Central Oregonians who have moved — and even those who are simply renovating — are using a well-connected community to give away, trade or sell for cheap their furnishings and decorations, often out of convenience, efficiency or simple generosity. And in this economy, those in need of items are finding ways to furnish and decorate their homes for less money than a month’s utility bill.
Sure, the couch came straight from the 1970s time machine, but it can be covered. The love seat has a tear, but it can be sewn.
And the other sofa doesn’t match the flower-print rockers, but they can all be covered with comfy blankets.
Here’s a guide to using this network to unload your unwanted furnishings, or score some cheap stuff:
Web sites
Freecycle.org, an international nonprofit Yahoo group with a local network, exists to curb the number of items thrown into landfills. Instead, everything from kids’ clothes to kitchen appliances is offered or posted as “wanted” in a daily e-mail sent to all users.
Among forbidden practices on Freecycle are trading, offering or asking for animals, asking for extravagant items such as cars, requesting an item more than once every two weeks, and asking for food or monetary donations.
There are currently 2,450 members involved in the Central Oregon group, reports organizer Jan Farring.
“We lose a few now and again, but it’s grown by leaps and bounds at times,” Farring said. “When I first joined in 2004, there were 100 members.”
Sussie Due, one of the Central Oregon moderators on Freecycle, noted that more people are asking for expensive items, sometimes in order to sell them for profit, which is not the purpose of Freecycle.
“Despite statements made by (major media), Freecycle is not the place to come to find free high-ticket items, trade items or ‘find all the free cool stuff you want,’” noted Due. “If people are under that impression when they join, they will end up being disappointed.”
Another frequently used Web site is craigslist.org, on which community members can list anything from job openings to free or inexpensive household items.
“I decided to give my stove away for many reasons,” said Nessa Wilson, of Sisters, who listed the item for free on Craigs-list. “For one, it doesn’t work perfectly, (but) someone could really enjoy it if they didn’t have one. I also can’t move it, so coming and moving it is a favor for me. I give things away often, like my snowboard, an old car and whatever else I don’t use.”
Classified ads
Newspaper classified ads — in print and online — are still a great way to find furnishings for little or no money. Individual items may be listed under “Furniture & Appliances,” but don’t forget to check the yard, garage and moving sale ads for even more stuff. Garage sale ads increase over the weekend and are still advertised, despite chilly temperatures and possible snow.
For $20 at a recent yard sale, we thought we were getting a couple of wooden TV trays, a desk and an end table, but ended up with another chair, a floor lamp, handmade pottery, wall hangings, a hand mixer and a curling iron. At yard sales, don’t be afraid to haggle over the price (politely, of course).
Consignment shops
Consignment shops such as Deja Vu Experienced Furniture and Redeux A Consign Design, both in Bend, sell used furniture and return a percentage of the profit to the original owner.
Deja Vu has seen decreased business in the current economy, noted longtime employee Sandy Herschberger, yet business is strong compared to some furniture stores dealing exclusively in new pieces.
Markdowns are ongoing at the store. Pieces that do not sell are marked down every 30 days. A price may also be marked in half after a certain length of time.
“But if there’s a piece you like at a good price, there’s a good chance it will be gone in a month,” Herschberger said. “If people are on a quest for something in particular, they might keep coming back until they find it, or we can give them a call when it comes in.”
Herschberger noted that many of Deja Vu’s clients are students, people with temporary jobs in the area or those who simply want to swap out their furniture on occasion to keep their homes fresh.
“We’re a society that wants change. We don’t buy furniture and keep it forever anymore,” Herschberger said. “I’ve been recycling my house for a long time. It makes you feel good to make a change in your home.”
Nancy Glasser, owner of Redeux, says business is booming despite the recession. The store, in its fourth year, sells furniture, antiques, and “anything else that is interesting.” Redeux also marks down items each month and offers a “blowout price” after 90 days.
“We get people who are tired of the same furniture or want to update and redecorate,” Glasser noted. “People who bring things in to sell often end up buying. We get some excellent quality things that sell for a third of their original price. I’m very particular about what I put in the showroom.”
Thrift stores
The Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon is another popular venue for used furniture, linens, small appliances, kitchenware and even knickknacks, and there are many nonprofit thrift stores like it in Central Oregon. The foundation, which also employs the developmentally disabled, has stores in Bend, Redmond and Madras. All items are donated and include pieces from Redeux, Norwalk Furniture, McMenamins Old St. Francis School and more, noted Terri Randolph, Bend store employee.
As an example of pricing, a high-end sofa may run up to $100, while a sofa in less than perfect condition could sell for as little as $20.
There are also special promotions on tap every day of the week. All furniture is 25 percent off on Saturdays; Thursday means half off all linens and kitchen items; and Monday is half-off knickknacks, for example.
“Sales probably declined (in January) a bit because of the economy,” Randolph said, “but we’re still doing okay because people can’t afford new furniture anymore. We now have more incoming new customers.”
Abbie Beane can be reached at abbiebeane@gmail.com.
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