Post by Muhammad Twaha Ibrahim, GIC Peer Mentor 2021
When I started working as a software developer in Wisconsin, I thought I would be there for many years. So, I looked for a nice apartment and bought some great new furniture and household items. But two years into my job, I applied for the Ph.D. program at UCI and got admitted. I started wrapping things up, including selling all my furniture and preparing to return to student life which meant, among other things, living on a much stricter budget. I had to make some important changes to my lifestyle, including buying used household items and furniture, etc. In this post, I will share some useful resources where you can buy good-quality items at significantly cheaper prices.
Before you start shopping for used items, it is important to set the right expectations. First, patience! You won’t find that perfect sofa for under $100 immediately. You will find it eventually, but after doing some digging (kind of like grad school). Second, not everything will be in mint condition. Remember, items are used and will exhibit signs of wear and tear, so always inspect everything carefully before buying. This is important because, three, there are typically no returns; once you buy it, it is yours. And finally, you can (and should) haggle and bring the price down.
Let’s start with the most useful resource: The Internet. There are a number of great websites and smartphone apps out there that can help you look for and buy good quality used items and furniture.
- Facebook Marketplace: The best place to buy and sell used furniture, books, household items etc. There are also UCI-only groups where you can buy items from fellow UCI students. I’ve used Facebook Marketplace to buy and sell a number of items. Remember that good items tend to get sold quickly, so act fast!
- OfferUp (https://offerup.com): Download the app on your smartphone, register and get started. OfferUp is a great resource to look for useful items. Like Facebook, it has its own messaging system, so you can reach out to sellers to enquire about existing items. I like OfferUp since I bought a smart leather sofa, a coffee table, a spacious bed and an elegant dining table with chairs for under $600!
- Craigslist (www.craigslist.com): A very barebones and minimalist website, Craigslist is a great resource for buying and selling almost anything. You can look for housing and apartments, furniture, books, etc. When you visit Craigslist, make sure that the region you select is Orange County, OC, (Irvine is in OC) so that you see the relevant listings. When a listing looks interesting, send a message to the seller. I most often use Craigslist when looking for apartments/housing in a particular region.
I love IKEA, and although it is not the first place that comes to mind when buying used furniture, they do have a section, typically close to checkout, where they sell items at reduced prices. These items have been recently returned and may have some flaws e.g. the polish might be a little faded. If you’re an IKEA fan like me, definitely check that section out. The closest one to UCI is in Costa Mesa, just a 20-minute drive away!
Other places to buy good quality used stuff are second-hand stores or thrift stores such as Goodwill and Salvation Army. It is definitely fun browsing these stores since they offer discounts on a wide variety of items, from furniture, pots and pans, cute decorations, and even clothing! You never know what you might find.
My last suggestion is one that I’ve benefited from a lot: discarded furniture and items. Yes, you read that right: discarded. People are regularly moving out of their apartments and often leave their perfectly good items close to the garbage disposal. Those items are up for grabs. I live in campus housing and see that happening a lot. If I ever see any good items left around like that, I inspect them and, if they are in good condition, I bring them home, clean them thoroughly and start using them. I’ve brought in lamps, picture frames, a grill, an immersion blender, and even an espresso machine! Of course, this option is the least reliable, but sometimes, you can really hit a jackpot.
If you’ve never bought used items before, you might take some time to learn how to sift the good stuff from the bad. Keep in mind that you will also have to arrange for transportation of items (e.g. sofas, desks, etc). The only thing I hesitate to buy is electronics, but that is a personal choice; I know plenty of people who’ve bought used electronics too. Be sure that you never give out any personal information like your credit card number, social security number, etc to your sellers. Do watch out for scams too!
As a fellow student, I will strongly recommend buying used items. That will not only save you a lot of money, but you won’t need to worry about selling brand new furniture or arranging for transporting the furniture because you have to move to another city for an internship or a job. Buy new furniture when you’ve graduated and have a nice job :).