Category: House and Home

Perhaps you’re moving into your first college apartment. Or maybe you’re low on funds and are trying to furnish your new home for as cheap a price as possible. Does that sound like you? If so, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of options available. 

Wondering about the best places to find affordable furniture? Read on! We’re going to provide you with the top 8. 

Top Places for Affordable Furniture 

The simple fact of the matter is that, as long as you put in enough effort, you can find cheap furniture everywhere. Here are the absolute cheapest places to buy furniture for your home. 

1. IKEA

Perhaps the best place to buy high-quality cheap furniture is at IKEA. This Swedish furniture megastore has everything anyone could ever need to furnish a home, and all at discounted prices. 

Why is IKEA’s furniture so cheap? Primarily because it requires you to assemble it.

While the company tries to make assembly as easy as possible, assembly doesn’t always end up being as easy as it’s intended to be. However, considering the deals you can get, it’s generally worth the time and effort. 

There are approximately 40 IKEA stores currently located in the United States, all of which exist in major city centers. If you live within a few hours of one, you should consider stopping in. 

2. Overstock.com 

If you want to buy cheap furniture without leaving the comfort of your home, there are a few different websites that you can use. One such website is Overstock.com. 

Overstock sells just about everything in the way of furniture, including couches, chairs, recliners, tables, and much, much more. You’ll be able to find recliners for under $250, kitchen sets for under $300, and a variety of other deals. 

A good many of the furniture pieces on Overstock ship for free. So, at the very least, you should give it a browse. If you don’t find anything, you’ll be out nothing more than a few mouse clicks. 

3. Wayfair.com

Another cheap furniture website is Wayfair.com. This site is very similar to Overstock, possessing a large selection of sofas, recliners, kitchen sets, coffee tables, and more. Regardless of the piece of furniture you need, you can find it on Wayfair for a fairly affordable price. 

As with Overstock, most of Wayfair’s furniture items ship for free. So, if you can find a piece of furniture on sale on Wayfair, you can make off with an incredible deal. 

Looking for Wayfair and Overstock-type of sites in the United Kingdom? If so, this company is what you’re looking for. 

4. Big Lots 

While IKEA is generally regarded as the premier discount furniture store in the United States, Big Lots is a solid store to visit as well. This store sells a bit of everything, all of which is available at a budget price. 

Though their furniture selection isn’t nearly on the level of IKEA’s, it’s, at the very least, respectable. In other words, if you’re looking for furniture under $300, you should be able to find decent pieces at Big Lots. 

There are currently over 1,400 Big Lots stores in the United States. These stores are scattered throughout 47 states, meaning that regardless of where you are in the country you should be in fairly close proximity to one. 

5. Estate Sales  

If you’re looking for used furniture, you have quite a few options available to you. One such option is to check out estate sales. These sales are held after homeowners die or are forced to vacate their property, and typically involve the sale of furniture. 

While not all estate sales are ripe with high-quality, inexpensive furniture, a good many of them are. For this reason, you should check them out. 

Looking for estate sales in your area? You can find them by using estatesales.net. 

6. Garage Sales 

Another option for finding cheap used furniture is to frequent garage sales. While not all garage sales are going to be selling high-quality furniture, you will eventually come across one that is. 

Make sure to walk the streets on neighborhood garage sale days. If every house in the neighborhood is selling old possessions out of the garage, there is bound to be furniture available in at least one of them. 

Wondering how to find garage sales in your area? Your best bet is to check out garagesalefinder.com. Also, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for physical signs around your neighborhood. 

7. Social Media 

The internet has made everything extremely easy to do. It’s even made it easier for us to find cheap used furniture. This is especially true of social media platforms. 

If you’re not taking advantage of social media platforms during your furniture search, you’re making a huge mistake. Facebook, in particular, is filled with used furniture that individuals are trying to sell. You can view this furniture by simply get into Facebook’s marketplace section. 

Of course, there’s also the option of Craigslist. While Craigslist isn’t technically a social media site, buying furniture from sellers on it is the same process as buying furniture from sellers on Facebook. 

8. Thrift Stores 

If you don’t care much about the look of your furniture, your best bet might be to go to thrift stores. Thrift stores sell used furniture for exceedingly low prices, allowing you to get your hands on everything from couches, to chairs, to tables, and more for under $100 a piece. 

Be aware, however, that thrift stores are not always going to have the pieces of furniture you’re looking for. You’re probably going to have to peruse a few different stores in order to fully furnish your new home or apartment. However, if you’re looking for the cheapest option possible, this is probably it. 

Looking for More Thrifty Tips?

If you’re looking for affordable furniture, you should be able to find it in one of the above-reviewed places. Low-priced, high-quality furniture is floating around everywhere. You just need to search for it. 

Looking for more thrifty tips? If so, you can find them right here at Thrifty Momma Ramblings. 

Check out some more of our thrifty tips now! 

Original man cave ideas are tough to come by, especially if you’re on a budget. But saving money and designing an awesome man cave is possible if you know how to shop and know what to look for.

You don’t want to spend your life savings on a room you’ll use to watch the weekly game–but you also don’t want to build the exact same generic man cave every other has. Part of having a place to yourself is making it yours, after all. 

Maybe this is part of your house redesign or your spouse’s dream.

The good news is you can do it without . Here are 8 cheap man cave ideas that will help finish your set up faster than you thought possible.

1. Do Inventory

The best way to save money on your man cave is to identify what you already own that’s going to go inside of your space. There may be some obvious things, like a TV or a sofa, but think about the little things, too. Maybe even do some spring cleaning of the garage or attic.

Before you worry about any other man cave ideas on a budget, see what you can come up with that would look good in your new space. Maybe you’ll surprise yourself by digging out something useful that will make your friends think your space is awesome.

2. What’s Your Space Like?

One more prep tip, then we’ll dive into some original cheap man cave ideas.

Unless you own a huge house with multiple empty rooms, chances are that you have one location for your man cave available: an empty room, your basement, or an extension room like a metal garage (Victory Buildings has some sweet ones if you’re in the market).

Consider your spacing-what do you have room for and what might not fit? Honestly, this is an overrated tip for saving money. You might buy too much furniture and realize you don’t have room for it, then have to resell it or be stuck with it. 

Don’t take away from your budget by buying unnecessary things.

3. Thrift Stores Are Your Friend

Hey, don’t judge thrift stores. In terms of do it yourself man cave ideas without going broke, they may just be your secret weapon.

Here’s what you should do: make a list of all the thrift stores in your area and hit them all in one fell swoop. You’ll be shocked how much $100 to $200 can buy you and what people give away to thrift stores. 

Seriously–furniture, TVs, movies, carpets. All the big things you need can be bought for pennies on the dollar at these stores. Hit them first.

4. Become A Master Craftsmen

If you want to make the process of building your man cave more fulfilling, considering building some of the elements of it. YouTube is home to hundreds of DIY workshops for building anything from desks to home bars.

You’re sure to find whatever you’re looking for in a video that’s less than twenty minutes long.

5. Discounts!

Search sites like Groupon and Coupons.com for discounts on some of your bigger purchases. You may be able to save 20% or more on items like TVs or couches by waiting an extra weekend or two for new sales.

Every dollar counts, after all.

6. Man Cave-Share

Here’s a funky idea for how to build a man cave on a budget: pool together cash with some of your buddies and build one together. Seriously, why not get the people who are going to use the space to help chip in?

The truth is, the person that owns the house should probably contribute the most. But you’d be surprised how many friends might be willing to chip in $50 for a minifridge if it means they’ll have a place to drink beer on Sundays.

Food for thought. I mean, Airbnb and Uber did it and that worked out, didn’t it?

7. Sports Equipment Decorations

You ready to kill two birds with one stone? Okay, here goes: garage cleanup and man cave art. 

How? Use your old sports equipment to make furniture and decorations for your new pad. Hang picture frames from a hockey stick on the wall or use baseball bats to make something that stands.

You can easily repurpose stuff that has been cluttering the garage by looking at Pinterest or any other site. Just type in “sports decorations”.

8. Save Your Bottles!

Similar to number seven is the advice to repurpose your stuff. Just this time, you’ll be repurposing domestic beer bottles or saving up beer caps.

Seriously, you can make tons of fun man cave art and gadgets out of recycled alcohol vessels. Make a table out of beer caps, lights out of beer bottles, or crush up some cans and make something a little funky.

Even though you’ll lose your $.05 deposit, you’ll save a few bucks by getting thrifty with your leftover beer paraphernalia. At any rate, it’s a good way to set the done for what’s about to happen in the room you’re designing.

Man Cave Ideas, Wrapped-Up

When it comes man cave ideas, the key is to decide on what you can do given the space and budget that you have, then to get creative. Truly, you don’t have to break the bank to build an awesome man cave that your friends will love come over to enjoy on game day.

Some tips we recommend include going to thrift stores, building your own stuff using YouTube tutorials, and making “manly” art with things like beer bottles and old sports equipment. If it’s any consolation, every penny you save can go towards buying a slightly bigger flat screen TV.

For more frugal living and craft tips, check out our website. Good luck with your build.

It’s the one room of our home most of wish we could spend more time in: the bedroom. After all, it’s where we sleep, dress, and ahem…get romantic. But quite often the bedroom gets regulated to the back burner when we start refreshing the look of our home.

If your bedroom is in need of a makeover, you may be tempted to start with buying all new furniture. But that move isn’t always affordable; a full set of bedroom furniture can set you back anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000.

Fortunately, it is possible to get a bedroom makeover on a budget by making some simple changes and knowing how to score a bargain. Here are some tips on how you can get the bedroom of your dreams on a budget!

First, Clear the Clutter

You can’t effectively redecorate any room without removing all unwanted items and clutter first. Clearing this away will help you see the space more effectively. Now is a good time to sort items to be donated, recycled, or thrown away.

While you’re cleaning the bedroom, you may want to think about making it a sacred and relaxing space. Many people avoid putting a television set in their bedroom for this reason. Removing the TV or any kind of entertainment center will also free up more space for you to work with.

Get to Painting

One of the quickest and most affordable changes you can make to your bedroom is to give it a fresh paint job. Darker colors will make a room seem smaller while lighter shades will open it up and reflect natural daylight better.

So if you’ve been sleeping in a bedroom with dark colored walls, painting it a lighter shade can work wonders. Neutral tones such as cream and light grey will allow for greater versatility when choosing window treatments and bedding.

Be sure to clean the walls first and remove any traces of cobwebs, dust, and dirt before beginning the paint job.

Another option is to cover just one wall with textured neutral colored wallpaper. Today’s wallpaper designs come in convenient stick-on sheets that eliminate the hassle of having to moisturize them before applying. These textured styles lend themselves naturally to modern bedroom design.

Shop at Affordable Home Stores

There are so many stores dedicated to affordable homewares and furniture that there’s really no excuse not to check them out. Home Goods, Marshall’s, and World Market are just a few places where you can find furniture and home decor for affordable prices.

Don’t forget online home shopping giant Wayfair, which has every furniture style you can think of for less money. If your bedroom is on the smaller side, seek out multi-functional furniture that does double-duty as sneaky storage spaces.

Update Your Bedding

Something as simple as buying new bedding can refresh your bedroom’s look. There are so many colors, patterns, textures, and styles in bedding now that it’s easy to find something that not only feels comfy to sleep in, but modernizes your sleeping space.

Purchase a complimentary accent pillow or two and a warm throw blanket and your bed will look and feel as good as new.

Add Personal DIY Touches

There’s a lot of simple do-it-yourself projects that you can incorporate into the bedroom for little money.

Don’t have a headboard for your bed? Attach a simple shelf the same width as your bed a few feet above it and use it to display framed photos, a floral display, or other decorative touches.

If you’re tired of the hardware on your dresser and nightstand, you can easily swap them out for knobs and pulls that are more your style. You can also lean a ladder against the wall next to your bed and use that to hang blankets and clothing on.

You can also devote a corner of your bedroom to your favorite hobby. If you’re an avid reader or knitter, consider making a cozy nook in one corner of the bedroom. Include a comfortable chair, blanket, small table, lamp, and a bookshelf to store your favorite reads or storage for your yarn.

Part of your bedroom can also serve as a mini office or inspiration space if you spend a lot of time on your computer. Set up a small desk and chair and consider hanging a board over the area where you can pin ideas or appointments you need to remember.

Don’t Discount Walmart and Target

Many national big box stores such as Walmart and Target have upped their furniture game in recent years. You may be surprised by the selection, styles, and yes-quality-of the furniture pieces these two retailers now offer.

Walmart in particular has a partnership with Better Homes and Gardens, the iconic home decor magazine. The store sells a line of BH&G furniture that includes mid-century modern pieces that look like they’re straight out of Mad Men. Even if that’s not your style, you’re sure to find one you love on the website or in stores.

Did we mention that these pieces are affordable? This BH&G Flynn mid-century modern nightstand retails for only $169.00, a fraction of what a similar looking designer piece would sell for. It contains mahogany and weighs in at a solid 42 pounds.

These stores are also great resources for affordable bedroom accessories including bedding, pillows, artwork, throws, and more. Definitely consider them if you have enough in your makeover budget for new bedroom furniture.

Are You Excited For Your Bedroom Makeover?

These ideas just scratch the surface of the endless possibilities you can explore for a budget bedroom makeover. We hope they have inspired you to start making a few changes!

Have you enjoyed reading this post and learning about these tips? Here at Thrifty Momma Ramblings we’re all about teaching others how to be stylish and enjoy life on a budget. Be sure to visit our other frugal living posts for more home decorating tips!

Protecting your family is your number one priority. That’s why you need a sufficient and reliable security camera system in your home. A security camera will notify you of intruders and could even scare them away before they even try to enter your home.

Most home security cameras are equipped with night vision and motion sensors for optimal protection. Some are designed to work both indoors and outdoors while still others even offer time-lapse recording so you can see what was happening on your property when you weren’t looking.

So, what’s the best security camera system and why? We’re here to tell you.

Keep reading for a comprehensive breakdown of eight of the best home security systems available today. 

What is the Best Security Camera System to Protect Your Home?

If you’re looking for protection from more than a standard burglary, you may consider LifeShield for your home security. It also shields against fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. You can get the best protection for a great value on your home or apartment that includes security cameras.

LifeShield boasts ‘quadruple defense’ with four layers of protection even if your internet is down, power is out and phone lines are dead, you’ll stay protected.

Otherwise, there are some basic security camera models on the market that will suffice if you want to protect your home on a budget. Here are eight hot models in the order of cost:

Wyze Cam V2

For an inexpensive, yet reliable security camera model, the Wyze Cam V2 doesn’t get much better. It’s a small camera loaded with features like sharp 1080p video and motion and sound-triggered recordings. It also comes with free local and cloud storage.

One drawback to this device is that it doesn’t integrate with other smart home devices nor does it support IFTTT. If you’re looking for this support, it may be wise to think about a bigger model.

Wyze Cam Pan

As one of the less expensive cameras on the market, the Wyze Cam Pan is loaded with features including motion tracking, pan and tilt, and IFTTT and Alexa support. It offers crisp 1080p video on free cloud and local storage. It also comes with a built-in CO2 alarm.

Installation is easy. All you have to do is download the mobile app, create or sign in to your account and off you go. Once setup is complete, your new camera will keep a close watch on your home.

Tend Secure Lynx Indoor

One of the more affordable models on the market, the Tend Secure Lynx Indoor security camera retails at only $40-$60. It’s also easy to install featuring sharp 1080p video and face recognition. You’ll also appreciate the motion sensor capability and free cloud storage, not to mention, two-way audio.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive security system that pulls all the stops, this is a great choice. 

D-Link Full HD Wi-Fi Camera DCS-8300LH

Starting out at less than $100 for a unit, the D-Link Full HD Wi-Fi Camera is a great choice for budget shoppers. It serves up 1080 p video with free cloud storage and includes local storage. This device supports IFTTT integrations and Alexa and Google voice commands.

The bottom line is that this is a relatively affordable home security option packed with features that you’ll use like motion and sound alerts as well as integration with other connected devices.

iSmartAlarm iCamera Keep Pro

One way to make your home smart is to invest in the iSmartAlarm iCamera Keep Pro. It starts the trend toward a pricier model at around $100-$200 MSRP. But you’ll absolutely love the sharp image quality, mechanical pan and tilt, and free cloud and local storage. 

Some reviewers said the pan and tilt feature is a little slow but you’ll have to decide for yourself. Otherwise, enjoy the many features it comes standard with such as IFTTT integration and motion tracking.

Ring Spotlight Cam Battery

The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery is easy to install and completely wireless. One drawback is that it requires a subscription to view recorded video, but the video quality is sharp.

The bottom line on this model is it’s IFTTT capability as well as working with Alexa smart home devices. It offers motion detection and triggered recording that won’t let you down. All of this for around $200 and you’ll be on your way to securing to your home.

Nest Cam IQ

The Nest Cam IQ is a pricier home security system, but for good reason. It’s loaded with features like a 1080p video that offers automatic zoom tracking and facial recognition. It also has sound triggered alerts and motion detection with two-way audio.

One of the most popular features includes interoperability with other smart home devices.

You can find the Nest Cam IQ for around $300 at select retailers.

Netgear Arlo Go

If it’s time for a whole house upgrade, then you can’t forget to include an updated security system like the Netgear Arlo Go. It’s designed for outdoor use so it’s weatherproof with excellent 1080p video quality. It also supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands.

One of the major drawbacks to this system is the price. You can find it for about $400 on Amazon and other retailers. The bottom line is that this is a completely wireless system that works well with other smart home devices.

Final Thoughts

Finding the best security camera system to protect your family doesn’t have to be overwhelming and confusing or stressful. Just keep this list in mind when you start shopping so that you’ll have a reference to help you make your final decision. 

Securing your home is one of the best things you can do for your family. Why not save a little money doing it?

If you have questions or comments about how to save the most money on your next security camera system, feel free to contact me! I am all about the thrifty lifestyle and here to help in any way I can.

Outdoor spaces are often sought after in new homes. This isn’t surprising given the many health benefits of being out in Mother Nature.

Do you have an outdoor space that is looking a little sad due to old or damaged concrete? Is this the main reason you’re avoiding hosting a summer party?

Don’t worry. Do you want to get that beautiful stamp concrete look without the financial blow to your wallet? Keep reading for all the tips and tricks you need to know!

Choose the Right Color and Texture

Before you jump into mixing concrete, think about your space. What color or style would play well with the environment? If you have a minimalist style home, choosing bright orange or blue is likely the wrong choice.

No matter your specific tastes, there are many decorative concrete options for you.

Easy to Follow Steps for Stamp Concrete

It seems more complicated than it is. Follow these simple steps to get a beautiful surface that will last.

Clean

Get your existing concrete area clean before taking any further steps.

It has to be squeaky clean so the new layers will adhere to one another. This means any remnants of paint must go. If you are struggling, consider using a diamond blade with a grinder.

Power wash as the last step to remove any remaining debris.

Etch

Mix one part muriatic acid with eight parts water. This solution will etch the concrete. Spread it with a broom and be careful, as the solution can cause burns.

Once the fizzing stops, add a second solution (eight parts water, one part ammonia) to the concrete. This will neutralize the acid. Power wash the surface once more.

Prep Porch and Skim Coat

In preparation for the skim coat, tape off any edges next to doors and your home. Follow manufacturer directions for your specific skim concoction.

Once mixed, apply the skim coat to wet concrete. Work away from the house. Let this coat sit for a few hours.

Apply Finish Coat

Once the skim coat has set, you will apply both the finishing layer and a textured layer. The textured layer will be thicker, as this is what you will be stamping the pattern into.

Be careful to spread the layers nice and even across the entire surface.

Stamp, Wait, Color and Seal

After the texture layer has set, start from an edge and stamp the pattern you’ve decided upon. Pay attention to placement. Alter the direction and orientation to ensure a random look.

Let it dry between six and eight hours. Once it is dry, smooth any noticeable bumps and edges. Once you are happy with the appearance you can grab the paint!

Tape off the house and doors. Apply a stain using a pump sprayer. You likely will need to use a primer before applying the color. Wait around an hour between paint coats.

Avoid letting paint pool in any puddles and clean up spills immediately.

Put Your Personal Stamp on the Project and Enjoy

As you can see, it 100% is possible to create a stamp concrete look on your own!

Looking for even more DIY projects you can do around the house? Check out these 10 simple remodeling ideas!