In August, my family of five moved into a new home on the Gold Coast, Australia. We’d been living in my parents’ house since January, following an interstate move from country Victoria.
When we left Victoria, we put all our belongings in storage because we weren’t sure how long we’d be staying on the Gold Coast. So, when it came time to move into our new digs, we literally only had a handful of items.
We did a quick online search, asking how much we would likely have to spend to furnish a three-bedroom duplex in that area of the world. The AI-generated estimate was anywhere from $8,000 to $16,000 AUD (about $5,580 to $11,150 USD). We’re a family of five on a tight budget, and that kind of outlay seemed pretty steep.
And so, we decided to furnish it with secondhand items. We purchased almost everything on Facebook Marketplace or in op shops, aside from our bedding and some kitchen staples like a cutlery set.
Buying secondhand proved to be a fun experience with all kinds of perks.
It’s saved us thousands
Saving money was a biggie for us. All up, it cost roughly $5,200 AUD to furnish the property, which meant we could put the money we would have spent on buying new items to other use.
As we found items online, I’d often check the recommended retail price for comparison. For example, we purchased a king-sized bed, mattress, and two side tables for $650 AUD. The same exact package would have cost $2828 AUD new (without the mattress). We scored a barely used cream couch for $800 AUD, which would have retailed for around $2800 AUD.
In general, buying secondhand meant we were only paying a fraction of the price compared to buying new. This has saved us thousands of dollars overall.
It removed indecision and time-wasting
When my husband and I were furnishing our first home together in Melbourne, we shopped around and visited multiple furniture stores before purchasing our furniture. This was time-consuming and frankly, quite torturous with a 2-year-old trailing along. But buying everything secondhand this time made the process easier and more streamlined.
There was no agonizing over which type of fridge or table was right. If it looked reasonable, fit the space, and was affordable, then we took it.
It’s injected more personality into our home
I don’t have much of an eye for decor, but buying on Marketplace has helped add flair to our home. When I came across a lady selling a bunch of plants and different styles of stands in a bundle, for example, I snapped it up. It’s now one of my favorite areas of our home.
The thrill of the hunt was fun
As the weeks passed, I found myself getting addicted to shopping for secondhand items, both online and in stores. There’s something about finding a beautiful piece for a fraction of its original price that gives you a real buzz.
One of my favorite op shop finds was a beautiful oversize white fruit bowl. Underneath, it says, “Made in Italy,” and whenever I look at it, I find myself wondering about the journey of where that bowl began, who it once belonged to, and how it made its way to me.
I enjoyed the bargaining process
We’ve traveled through many countries where bartering is part of the culture, and I secretly loved dusting off those dormant bargaining skills.
When we turned up to buy a fridge only to discover a dent on the front, I negotiated the seller down $50 AUD. A small win, perhaps, but one that helped our hip pocket.
The sustainability factor appealed to us
Giving perfectly good secondhand furniture a new lease on life, rather than contributing to landfill, has made us feel good about our choices. Along the way, we’ve discovered so many beautiful pieces, and many of them have their own stories.
There’s the beautiful oak dining table whose owner was genuinely sad to part with it, as he and his late wife had shared countless meals around it. A stunning king bed and bedside tables purchased from a Scottish man living in a high-rise overlooking the ocean. A repurposed lamp, handmade by a grandma and given new life.
Of course, buying secondhand requires patience. Sometimes you show up only to discover that the seller’s version of “good condition” is different from yours. But for us, the trade-off has been 100% worth it.
We’ve saved thousands of dollars, rehomed perfectly good furniture, and ended up with a home that feels more interesting than a cookie-cutter style setup ever could.
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