I can't explain the excitement I have to move back to Troy in 22 days because it's a great thing to not be a freshman anymore. No more crammed and cluttered dorm room, no more eating every meal at the dining hall and no more sharing one bathroom between four girls. I'm sure a lot of you are in the same spot as me right now. Daydreaming about how to decorate and furnish your brand new apartment or house can be fun until you actually have to start shopping. Well, I don't know about you but I didn't work my butt off all summer to not have any spending money when school starts. I have to give credit to my roomie for helping me furnish and decorate this place on a tight budget. Together we have found some great ways to save money, and I want to share them with you.
Take the time to thrift shop
You will be absolutely amazed at what you can find in a Goodwill, Salvation Army, Waterfront Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity or just a regular old thrift store or resale shop. One thing about thrift shopping is it takes time and patience. When you find something you have to snatch it up right then because there isn't any stock. I've seen couches and recliners for $10 that are in decent shape, and yesterday I bought a nightstand for $15. Let me assure you that it is absolutely worth your time.
Keep an eye out for garage sales
I would kill to see a sign for a garage sale right now. I've been driving around looking a lot lately in hopes of finding a good one. So, if you live in the type of town who has them all the time, just stop by to see what it has to offer. My roommate got most of our dishes for $10 at a garage sale. Totally worth it.
DIY, DIY, DIY
Pinterest is a beautiful thing, you guys. No matter what it is that you want to DIY, I promise Pinterest and YouTube have you covered. Crafting your own decor for cheap is so much better that buying it all. Plus, you get a great sense of accomplishment after you paint that beautiful canvas, make that door wreath, or make your own headboard like I did. I did it for less that $30, too.
Amazon has everything, literally everything.
You can find almost anything you want for way less that normal retail price on Amazon. I bought the majority of my dorm stuff on the site last year, and this year I snagged 1200 thread count sheets for $25. If that isn't a steal then I don't know what is!
Buy in bulk
You know when you run out of shampoo, soap, deodorant, face wash, toothpaste and razors all at the same time and then you have to go to Walmart and drop at least $50 on all that stuff? There is a way to avoid that. Go to Sam's Club or Costco and buy yourself some backup products for when you run out of everything at the same time. It will save you an unexpected big purchase during the school year, it will be cheaper to buy in bulk and it will save you a trip to the store! I would highly suggest doing this for things like laundry detergent and toilet paper as well.
These are just a few tips that I thought may be of good use to the people like me who are in the middle of getting their own place for the first time.
