You are a person who does things for yourself. You want to organize yourself. You have the motivation; energy; the plan … but you don’t have the cash. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can still achieve your goal without investing in expensive supplies. With a little effort and / or planning, we can find creative and inexpensive solutions.
I once bought an old green sewing closet for a small amount of money. I removed the green paint and found that the wood was oak and also had brass hinges. Once I had the oak stained again and polished the brass, I was thrilled with the results. I also bought old water stained sideboards, repainted, bought new knobs and I look shabby chic!
Let’s say you need a good used filing cabinet. Where would you find one? You can drive from one garage sale to another, or just go straight to a fountain. By looking in the yellow pages or on the Internet, you can find a used office furniture store in your area. I bought everything from used cubicles, task lighting, desks, filing cabinets, bookshelves, task chairs … and all I needed was patience, cash, a truck, and a good pair of walking shoes. I’d rather buy a used, dented heavy-duty filing cabinet than a new, shoddy one.
One year, a local business went bankrupt and announced that it was selling its furniture. On the day of the sale, I arrived at 5:00 am. Although I found myself in a long line of smart shoppers, there was more than enough inventory for everyone. I bought a full U-shaped cubicle, file drawers, top shelves, and task lighting for only $ 60 cash. I did not expect perfection in furniture; but it was functional, durable, and affordable.
There are other opportunities when model home furnishings companies sell their existing inventory. Again, it is a cash and carry business, but most of the furniture is immaculate and like new.
I also recommend building materials stores. These warehouses receive trucks loaded on a daily basis and inventory comes from many sources: manufacturer overproduction, discontinued items, manufacturer errors, general contractor buying too much of a product. All inventory is new, not used or damaged. Whenever a customer has needed inexpensive storage solutions for their sewing room, I have gone to my local warehouse and purchased a kitchen pantry. They come in a variety of woods and stains, and most items are half the retail price. I once bought a beautiful maple cabinet and since one of the drawer fronts was not screwed in perfectly, I bought it for less than half off. However, keep in mind that in these types of stores, the merchandise is sold as is and all sales are final.
So, put on your thinking cap and get creative. It takes time to research and walk the aisles of these huge warehouses, but if you’re on a budget, it’s an invaluable investment.
