Tips for Decorating your Atlanta Home with Second-Hand Items

A great way to give your Atlanta home or condo a fresh, new look and feel, without breaking the bank is with second-hand shopping. Spring is the best time for second-hand shopping, as many Americans look to declutter and Spring clean, they donate or consign their items, and as the weather warms up, they hold garage and yard sales.

The Equifax Finance Blog shares some tips on savvy second-hand shopping in one of its newest blog posts, “Shop Second-Hand Stores and Garage Sales Like a Pro.” Here are a few:

Organize your stops – If you will be hitting multiple garage sales, map your driving strategy the night before so you can hit the most sales possible and avoid backtracking. The article also recommends getting started early to get the best selection and to look for multi-family sales to get a lot of shopping in one stop.

• Keep a list – Have a list of measurements on things like windows (for curtains), room size (for area rugs), picture or artwork sizes (if you’re looking for new frames), etc. 
• Carry cash – Consignment and thrift stores may be willing to offer you a discount, or go a little lower on a price if you pay with cash, since that way they won’t have to pay merchant debit or credit card fees.
• Stick to a budget - Don’t get stuck spending more than you intended, which can be easy when you’re surrounded by bargains. The article recommends carrying cash and only spending as much cash as you have on you, and no more.

Read the full article on the Equifax blog and spend some time on the site, which offers loads of financial management and money saving tips, as well as tips on identity protection, credit, insurance, retirement and more.