Is it time for a new sofa?
Even in the midst of a recession, a lot of consumers don’t necessarily need to 
get payday loans in order to replace that old sofa or get their hands on a new TV if they need to. Home furnishings are an expenditure that you sometimes just can’t afford to skip. There are ways around having to spend the big bucks to get what you need if the precious kitty that you share a home with has decided to soil the couch as well as claw all upholstery beyond repair.
Rent to own stores posting gains
The rent to own appliance and furniture industry has been picking up while other retail chains have been slowly slipping. The appeal of the industry is that people who have bad credit are able to purchase new appliances, furniture, or electronics that they otherwise would not be able to afford. The stores typically will offer higher end consumer products for the home at a markup, but give the leaser/buyer a contract which gives them a monthly minimum payment, with interest, to make for the length of the payment agreement. If the whole balance isn’t paid off by the time of the expiration date, the customer can purchase the item for the remainder of the balance. The industry has drawn plenty of criticism, however. Several government agencies have accused rent to own furnishing stores of predatory lending and other unfair practices.
Need furniture? Here are a few tricks!
Here’s a few good tips for you if you are in need of home furnishings and want to avoid payday loans just to get a love seat:
First, for chairs and couches, you can go the tried and true method used by college students all across the nation – keep an eye out for anyone getting rid of a chair or couch in decent shape. You can pick it up for probably next to, if not exactly for, nothing. Also, second hand stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army will have some furniture that is in decent shape for not very much.
Also, if you happen to live in a city that is home to either a community college or university, or several of them for that matter, look out for when the school is having a liquidation sale. Desks, tables, couches, chairs, file cabinets, even dormitory bed frames, can be had for less. Granted, they may not look like much, but it will keep you in furniture long enough for you to save up for the good stuff.
Sofa, So Good
Furniture is an essential, and many of us can’t afford to plunk down a few grand on furniture every few years. There are plenty of tips out there for those of us who need to find a less expensive way to furnish our home, and don’t want to get payday loans to be able to do it.
In addition to saving money on the furniture by getting it at the yard sale, thrift store, a friend, etc. You are also saving the environment, keeping the used, perfectly good piece of furniture out of the landfills. Not to mention, you can use a couch cover slip to make the couch match your style – saving you a boat load of money. No one will ever know it is used. Great article, thanks for writing it.
~Vicki Priebe
Wish Grantor
Getting a new couch can be very expensive and saving up for a new one takes time, I know when I bought my new one I decided to make payments but not from a rent to own place I got mine from a local furniture place and they had an easy payment set up. I mean yes I did pay interest but to me that interest was worth it when I didn’t have to lay on my old uncomfortable couch anymore.
I found it amazing that the couch we bought brand new (at a going out of business sale, but still more expensive than used) didn’t last any longer than the used couches we’ve picked up at yard sales.
I can’t even imagine financing furniture. You’d still be paying 18% interest while dumping the stuff and buying used at the thrift store.
Great post!
HAHA! I love it! Thanks for posting this one, Perky! I would not advice anyone to go out and spend a hefty load of money on a sofa. I agree with Perky. If you need a couch that bad, get a cheap couch or better yet, a free couch.