How To Furnish Your First Apartment On A Budget Bankrate Caret RightMain Menu Mortgage Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Bank Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Credit Card Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Caret RightMain Menu Loan Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Invest Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Home Equity Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Loan Home Improvement Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Insurance Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Retirement Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: On This Page
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images November 04, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Ana Staples is a reporter for Bankrate and an expert on all things credit basics and personal finance for the younger generation. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Moving into your very first apartment is exciting. You think about what kind of furniture you’re going to get, dream of what you’ll shop for at IKEA and put adorable throw blankets and pillows on your wish list on Amazon. Yet when it comes to actually budgeting for all the necessary things for your new place, everything suddenly starts to look so impossibly expensive. Especially considering that when you’re moving into your first apartment, you’re probably not making enough money to spend thousands of dollars in a matter of weeks (not yet—you’ve got to think positively, my friend!). It’s okay, don’t freak out. I’ve been there—moreover, I’ve been there more than once. Let me tell you all about furnishing your apartment from ground zero and buying all the things it needs without going broke. When I moved states, I didn’t bring any furniture—or anything for my new home for that matter. It took me over six months to get my apartment to where it is now, and it’s finally almost perfect. And I’m going to tell you exactly how I did it. Are you growing your credit and have a question for Ana? Drop her a line at the Ask friends and family
If you can avoid spending money at this point, do it. You can start buying furniture you like and other things later, gradually, without putting yourself in debt—and your budget in a state of perpetual panic. One way to get things for free is by asking your friends and family members if there’s anything that’s sitting around their home that they could give you. We all horde things unconsciously, and chances are, you’ll be able to score quite a few items. If you don’t live too far from your family, see if they won’t mind lending you some of those things that have been gathering dust in their garage for about a decade. And maybe give you that old, weird-looking side table they’ve been thinking about donating anyway. Even if you don’t get any furniture pieces that way, every little thing counts. Small purchases add up quickly. When I was buying all the necessities for my kitchen, from cutlery to glasses to a toaster, I stuck to low-cost options on Amazon and still ended up spending $500. Yes, I know. Trust me, I was shocked too. So, when my old landlady gave me a little chest of drawers and a couple of pans (she’s the best), and my former co-worker donated a dinnerware set and some pots to me, I was extremely excited. All I had to do was ask, and I highly recommend you do the same before you go and spend your hard-earned money. Get a 0% APR credit card
You reached out to all of your relatives and friends, but your new apartment still looks empty and sad. It looks like you’re going to have to spend some of your money after all. Don’t panic. First, let’s try and leave your debit card alone—it’s rarely a good idea to subject your checking account balance to a significant drop. Now is the time to get a . I can tell you’re looking at me weird. Am I really advising you to get into credit card debt? This sounds crazy and outright terrifying. But hear me out: Many good credit cards give you a period where you don’t accrue any interest, some up to 20 months. Set a realistic budget for your apartment expenses (err on the side of caution) based on how many months of zero interest the card offers, get everything you need and maybe even score some nice rewards and savings. Set a realistic budget for your apartment expenses based on how many months of zero interest the card offers, get everything you need and maybe even score some nice rewards and savings. Even better earn rewards too
You can benefit even more when your 0 percent APR credit card is also a rewards card. For example, when I was furnishing my apartment, I used the card that comes with 15 months of 0 percent intro APR on purchases (14.99 to 25.99 percent variable interest thereafter) and . No interest paid. The card also has 5 percent cash back categories that rotate every quarter (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter; activation required). At the time, the bonus categories were Amazon.com, Target.com, and Walmart.com. Other include: 5 percent cash back on purchases in two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1 percent), including department and furniture stores 0 percent intro APR for 15 billing cycles, then 18.24 percent to 28.24 percent variable Unlimited 2 percent cash rewards on purchases 0 percent intro APR for 15 months on purchases from account opening, then 18.74 percent, 23.74 percent, or 28.74 percent variable APR : 5 percent cash back (on up to $500 each billing cycle, then 1 percent) on your top spending category each billing cycle (including home improvement stores) The main thing here is to make absolutely sure to pay your credit card bill every month as much as you can and to not overspend. The sooner you get rid of the debt, the better for your financial (and mental) health. On a side note: Many of the 0 percent APR cards target cardholders with good to excellent credit, but don’t let this discourage you. My credit is far from perfect—and a few points from good—and yet I was able to score a couple of nice rewards cards. Check to see what you can get. Avoid other types of debt
A 0 percent APR card is the only kind of debt I’ll recommend in this case. You don’t want to spend any money on interest. Many stores offer to pay in installments, but this way of financing is not sustainable if you’re buying multiple items. Plus, the terms are often unclear, and while you’re thinking you’re avoiding interest, you may find that you’re actually paying so much in it that your other credit card debt would get jealous. True story: When I financed my bed from a furniture outlet, I noticed my automatic monthly payments were too low for me to pay it off in six payments as I thought I was doing to avoid interest. That was what the salesperson and the financing language had led me to believe. As a result, I had to find the financing provider’s website (which wasn’t easy), create an account and make payments manually. Otherwise, I’d end up paying for my bed for two years and spend over $1,500 on an item that cost a bit over $600. Many stores offer to pay in installments, but this way of financing is not sustainable if you’re buying multiple items. Plus, the terms are often unclear. Shop used furniture
Now that you know the best way to secure the funds for your furniture shopping, it’s time to figure out where you’re going to shop to save you the most money. My next piece of advice is to shop for used furniture. You won’t believe the bargains you can find. Try your local thrift stores and flea markets, and of course, don’t forget to check the infamous . But remember to exercise caution when meeting with sellers, and never meet them by yourself. There are other great websites and apps for selling and buying used items. You can find practically anything. For instance, my friend was able to score a couple of adorable reupholstered accent chairs on . Sometimes you can negotiate with the seller for them to deliver to you for a small fee or even for free if you can’t come to pick up your purchase. If you’re an Amazon kind of person, it has an option to buy used as well. Just click “See Used & New” under the price of the item you’re looking at, and you’ll see a list of sellers that offer the same item used. You’ll be able to see its condition and description of any wear and imperfections. Look for furniture deals
If the idea of used furniture in your home just doesn’t sit right with you, that’s understandable. You can still get excellent pieces at a decent price. Check out furniture outlets that often carry great items at lower costs. Since that might still be pricey, make sure to also check big-box retailers like Target, Walmart and IKEA. They resell returns and pieces with slight imperfections, and this is one of the best ways to score a deal. On Amazon, you’ll find returns in the “New & Used” section when available. They might take longer to be delivered, but the savings are worth the wait. Finally, keep an eye out for sales. Amazon Prime Day is responsible for half the furniture I currently own. But even outside of big sale events, there’s always a chance to find a bargain if you’re looking hard enough. Happy housewarming
Congratulations on getting your very first apartment, a very important milestone on your path to actual adulting! Filling out an empty space with furniture, décor and all the necessities can be a doozy, but there are multiple ways to do it the smart way and on a budget. I’m so excited for you. Enjoy and shop carefully! SHARE: Ana Staples is a reporter for Bankrate and an expert on all things credit basics and personal finance for the younger generation. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Related Articles