How much of a need is a new couch? - Page 2

[xmysticprincessx]

Originally Posted by mamamilkers

Thanks for the tips. The number one reason I worry about getting a used couch is something a pp brought up, you just don't know if there's wierd stuff in (ie fleas or worse). I also really like the idea of buying something that we will have a warranty on.

dont get a down couch if you have pets. we got one from family a few years ago, and the fleas *bred* in there. it was a miserable summer... till we threw those couches out and brought our old ratty ones back down from the attic.

like others said, if you get a used one, be sure you know who you get it from. MIL works with kids/teens and deals with headlice often. she says lice are extremely difficult to get rid of and live in things like pillows, beds, couches, etc.

[January---]

What about getting a thick blanket out of a closet and setting that on the ground with some nice big pillows. If you're really afraid of the futon breaking and hurting somebody, get it out of the house. Then see how much extra money you have with all the wedding gifts and use that like you mentioned you could. Just hold out. We bought our first bed on credit and we ended up paying so much more for that piece of junk that it was worth it made us sick once we realized it. Try to make due the best you can, and yes, do ask friends and neighbors if they are getting rid of any couches in the near future. All our couches have been used from people just giving them to us when they didn't need them anymore. Good luck!

[Purple*Lotus]

When there is a headlice outbreak at the shelter I work at, we spray the couches down with lice spray. You can get it at the drug store. We've never had a problem with lice in any of the furniture, but then again it is uncomfortable furniture so I am not so sure that my clients spend a large amount of time really laying on it.

[shelleyd]

I'll be the voice of dissent. I charged my couch. Art Van had a no interest deal. I just made sure to pay it off before the interest was charged. We didn't pay any more than if we'd paid cash. We don't buy a lot of things and we live pretty frugally. I have chairs from the salvation army. But all the used couches I could find were so worn out they were uncomfortable to sit on and not worth the 200-300 our local thrift stores charge for couches. I want a decent couch to sit on. I don't think that's a huge luxery. We went to a clearance center and bought a floor model. We didn't go crazy or anything but I think owning a decent couch isn't an over the top luxery. If you can get a no interest deal, I'd go for it. You can pay it off with your wedding money.

Oh and our new couch was replacing an old futon like the one you describe. It was well worth it to replace it with a decent couch.

Shelley

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by mamamilkers

*sigh* I KNEW no one would tell me to charge a couch!

Thanks for the tips. The number one reason I worry about getting a used couch is something a pp brought up, you just don't know if there's wierd stuff in (ie fleas or worse). I also really like the idea of buying something that we will have a warranty on.

You really don't need a warranty on a couch... warranties are generally a crappy deal from a financial point of view, and you're talking about a couch -- not exactly full of moving parts.

Also, in all my years of buying used furniture I have only ever once run across something with pests -- and it was a futon someone grabbed off the curb. If you're really worried about the issue, you can chose only to buy from non-pet households (which removes the flea issue) and quarantine your new furniture for a period of days in a garage or basement until you've had a chance to inspect it for vermin. But seriously, buying from Craigslist or the local thrift store I have never had a problem.

[mommaof3boz]

We have bought several things with no interest. As long as you pay EVERY SINGLE penny before the interest period hits you are fine. Just DO NOT let yourself get into the interest period or they charge back from day one.

[ReikiMommy07]

Originally Posted by Belleweather

You really don't need a warranty on a couch... warranties are generally a crappy deal from a financial point of view, and you're talking about a couch -- not exactly full of moving parts.

Also, in all my years of buying used furniture I have only ever once run across something with pests -- and it was a futon someone grabbed off the curb. If you're really worried about the issue, you can chose only to buy from non-pet households (which removes the flea issue) and quarantine your new furniture for a period of days in a garage or basement until you've had a chance to inspect it for vermin. But seriously, buying from Craigslist or the local thrift store I have never had a problem.

:

[Satori]

I agree with everyone else, craigslist or freecycle and as long as you like the shape you can put a cover on the darn thing if you hate the color

[mom2cal]

If you want a new couch--i would start a couch fund. Every 2 weeks or month put money in. You will feel like you are working towards getting your goal met. It will feel even better when you buy the couch and pay in cash.

[Carlyle]

Originally Posted by mom2cal

If you want a new couch--i would start a couch fund. Every 2 weeks or month put money in. You will feel like you are working towards getting your goal met. It will feel even better when you buy the couch and pay in cash.

YES! Do this instead--way better than paying every month WITH INTEREST to pay off a loan. In the meantime, if your futon really feels unsafe, you could take the futon off the frame and use just the mattress to sit on... (I have had great luck with used furniture too--no bugs, and we just scrub the HECK out of it with nasty soap before we bring it in to the house. Easier to do in the summer, when you can just hose it down outside, but still worthwhile!)

[Sol_Solved]

I agree with the Craigslist recommendation. We got our lovely cyan Ikea Nikkala couch for $50 a year ago, and it was practically perfect. We just made sure it was from a pet-free smoke-free home.

[kijip]

Originally Posted by ~*Jaime

When there is a headlice outbreak at the shelter I work at, we spray the couches down with lice spray. You can get it at the drug store. We've never had a problem with lice in any of the furniture, but then again it is uncomfortable furniture so I am not so sure that my clients spend a large amount of time really laying on it.

That lice spray is not particularly effective or safe, especially with kids in the house. Just a heads up, from someone who battled head lice this summer. Lice are now mostly immune to the typical commercial sprays. Also, lice can't live without a human host...so leaving something unused for a few days covered up is the most effective way to get rid of any lice on upholstery. Bedbugs and the like, far more common in furniture are a different story entirely.

[kijip]

Originally Posted by shelleyd

I want a decent couch to sit on. I don't think that's a huge luxery.

I agree, but in cities with an active Craigslist, used furniture can very often be had that is equally decent and comfortable. I am sitting on one now. The family that owned it before me had it for a couple of years in a smoke free, pet free home and then they sold it to me for $100. Also, if you can pay something off quickly, you can save up just as quickly to pay cash.

[gnutter]

we have just been pricing futons-now if you don't mind staying the futon route then big lots and kmart and walmart all sell futons for around 250. If you have anything you can sell on craigslist you might be able to come up with that and not dip into your wedding money.

[Red]

We got our futon frmo a futon store. The frame was $100, WITH their cheapest mattress. I upgraded to a slightly better one, and when It was out of stock, the upgraded us to an even better one! It wound up being about $150 and it's much nicer than the walmart one.



I love the couch fund idea. I think once I finish BS#1, I'll start a ;aptop fund. Our puter is old and slow and I lust. (For a new puter!)

[mamamilkers]

You guys are so awesome Thanks for talking sense in to me. I have been cruising CL and although people aren't getting back to me, I've found some nice looking ones at good deals. I'll keep looking and setting a little $$ aside.

[Krystal323]

heh, i feel your pain--we have 4 hardwood chairs in this house, and my kids have beds. that's the only places we have to sit! : We thought we'd have the $$ to buy furniture months ago, and *occasionally* i think if we had the credit line, we'd buy a couch! I am sick to death of not having anywhere to sit

But really, it feels better to pay with real money Even if it's used, sigh...

[beansmama]

A couch is a want. It's not a need. You can live just fine with no couch - even if your falls apart. I know it FEELS like a need...and i used to buy couches as often as i'd buy shoes, psh! But after reading (well, mostly looking at, since there aren't many words) "The material world" which shows familes with ALL of thier possessions - i realized, not much is an actual need. kwim?

[beansmama]

PS - didn't read all the posts - but check out thrift stores! You can find nice ones there - even funky ones from the 70's but they are usually in nice condition (must have been covered with plastic? LOL!) You can always buy a cheap slip cover at target