In Part 3, I will be discussing how you can convert your home to farmhouse style on a budget by shopping Facebook Market, garage sales, yard sales and flea markets. This post may contain affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.
Let’s talk about the similarities of these 3 shopping venues. First of all cash is the preferable method of payment. Very few sellers will accept check or credit cards. Although, there are some flea markets particularly the larger ones that will but…..you will lose your bargaining power.
Bargaining Power……..
So what is bargaining power? I’m glad you asked. Bargaining power is something that is very important to keep you on your farmhouse budget. About the only way you can bargain is with cash! When the seller has priced an item, they will almost always take less if you ask. Be reasonable, do not offer $5 for something priced at $50, this could be perceived by the seller as insulting and you’ve lost your bargaining power. One of my favorite ways of asking is “will you take less for this”? If they say yes, ask how much. When they quote you a price offer a little less, sometimes they will accept it and other times they will come back with a counter offer and if it’s reasonable accept it! You have just negotiated and developed your bargaining skills!
Other similarities in these 3 shopping venues is some of the items for sale are mostly previously owned, vintage and some are new. Beware there are also a lot of knock offs. It’s unrealistic to think that you will pay $10 for a brand new trellis mirror specifically from Pottery Barn that ususally range in price of $250 – $300. If you’re okay with knowing it’s a knock off, then buy it.
I have found some really great items in yard sales, although yard sales can be very different they have a lot of similiarities to Facebook market and flea markets. For yard sales, long gone are the days of advertising in the newspaper. There are so many yard sale groups on facebook that you can join to stay up to date.
Yard sales require cash only. You can also bargain in yard sales. Most items are previously owned and in all 3 of these venues all sales are final!
Below are some wingback chairs I bought on Facebook Market. These wingback chairs were in pretty bad shape. Aren’t these chairs just hideous? I bought 2 of them for $25 total. The upholstery was torn and very worn. I ended up removing all of the fabric along with the upholstery and batting then, I stripped it down to the bare wood and springs. I then made new cushions and slip covered the chairs. The price of the foam, batting, fabric came to less than $250 for both chairs! I’m not sure you can buy one chair for less than $250 much less a slip covered chair. You can find foam at Joann’s Fabric Online store, and if you sign up for their mailing list, you get coupons for up to 40% off on certain items.
Instead of pricey upholstery fabric you can cover these with 100% cotton drop cloths from Amazon HERE. You can bleach these drop cloths or even dye them. Here is a diy post on how to bleach drop cloths.
Tips for converting your home to a farmhouse on a budget by shopping at garage/yard sales and facebook market
- Plan your shopping trip.
- Select more than one yard/garage sale to go to on that day.
- If the sale starts on Saturday at 7am and ends at 2pm, be there at 6:30 am and wait for them to open. You want to be there as soon as they open. Others will be waiting too.
- Take cash! Remember cash equals to bargaining power.
Tips for shopping at Facebook Market.
- When shopping at Facebook Market you will need to contact the seller through Facebook and set up a meeting time.
- If it’s a large item be sure you have a way of transporting it home like a truck or trailer and someone to help you load.
- Take cash! You can bargain with cash.
- All sales are final.
- Always have safety in mind when you’re meeting someone you don’t know. Take a friend with you preferably if you’re female take a male with you. My shopping buddy and transport is my son.
Tips on shopping at flea markets
- You can find previously owned, vintage and new items.
- Take cash so you can bargain!
- Some flea markets vendors will accept credit cards but you will lose your bargaining power.
- Find out what time and days they open and be there on the first day on time.
- If it’s a large flea market they usually provide a map online of the vendors so plan your shopping trip.
- Wear comfortable shoes you’re going to be walking a lot!
- Take a wagon or cart to haul your items. It’s possible that you will run out of arm room at the first vendor you visit.
- If you’re taking your child take a stroller.
- All sales are final.
- Have a vehicle that you can transport large items.
- If it’s a hot day take water with you. You don’t want to deviate from your planned path to buy pricey water.
- Know what you want to buy. There are a lot of vendors and you can easily get off course by buying on impulse
- Do not go on the last day day, more than likely the vendors will start packing early to leave.
- Flea markets are not like garage and yard sales or Facebook market, what they don’t sell they take to another show.
These are some beautiful adirondack rocking chairs, I bought at my local flea market from a wood crafter. They are heavy duty and I paid less than $50 each. Now that’s a bargain! My home is filled with flea market bargains. There is a flea market find in every room in my home.
Now that you have become a pro at converting your to a farmhouse style on a budget, the sky is the limit. Find resources for you to shop. Also be frugal, by this time you’re not buying on impulse but planning your budget around your decor and fine tuning your skills! Your diy skills have improved and you’ve become creative at repurposing items. So go out and have fun! You can do this!
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