Got A Tax Refund? How To Make Your Dollars Go Farther On Home Purchases
Whew! Tax season is over as of yesterday. Raise your hand if you got some cash money back from Uncle Sam this year! If you've got all of your essential financial needs covered, you may be thinking it's time to put that money to good use in the home improvement category. Investing in your home can definitely improve your quality of life - whether those updates are big or small. So if you've been putting off purchasing a new sofa, are ready to graduate from that hand-me-down dresser, or want to (finally!) redecorate an entire room, a little influx of cash may be just the push you need.
If you've been around Mix & Match for long, you've probably noticed that I'm all about stretching those decorating dollars, so I wanted to share four tips on how I maximize my purchasing power when it comes to furniture and home decor.
1. Sign up for a company's emails.
I know, I know - you don't want any more emails clogging your inbox, but if there's a store you shop frequently, or if you've been waiting for a particular piece to go on sale, being on their email list is a sure-fire way to stay informed on the latest sales and discounts. Also, many companies will offer you a percent-off discount for signing up for the first time, so if you're ready to make a purchase, this can be an easy way to save some money (just pay attention to the fine print since some of those coupons don't include big ticket items like furniture).
If you really dislike being bombarded with emails, create a rule or set up a filter for those messages so they bypass your inbox, but are still searchable when you want to find them. For Gmail users, most of the time those mass emails automatically go to your Promotions folder anyway, so they aren't too much of a nuisance. :)
Finally, if you aren't seeing the discount/coupon you need pop into your inbox, try this trick: put the item in your cart and leave it there - don't follow through with the checkout. Sometimes, in order to close a sale, a company will email you a coupon to motivate you to go ahead with that purchase! For example, I've seen this happen with West Elm* a number of times.
2. Check Ebay for coupons.
This tip may be a bit controversial, but you can purchase coupons for many furniture and home decor retailers on ebay for as little as $0.99. Though it might seem counterintuitive to buy a coupon, think about it as spending a little to save a lot if you've got a big ticket item to purchase like a sofa or dining room table. Think about it - buying a 15% off coupon for $1 to purchase a $1,000 table is definitely worth it since you would be saving $150 on that piece!
If you're uncomfortable buying coupons, see the next tip below for another way to get your hands on some!
3. Sign up for moving coupons when you change your address with the USPS.
If you just purchased a new home, or are moving to a new rental, you'll be updating your address with the USPS to make sure your mail gets delivered to your new place, right? Well at the end of the process, you'll have a chance to sign up to receive a packet full of coupons and deals in the mail - do it! Many of the large retailers like All Modern, Crate & Barrel, and Pottery Barn are typically included in those packets. I source a lot of items from places like those for my clients (and myself!), so those moving coupons can definitely come in handy.
Not moving? No problem! I bet you know someone who is, or will be soon. Ask around and see if friends or family received their moving coupons and if they have plans to use them. People are often happy to see them be put to use if they don't need them!
4. Be patient and wait for sales.
This tip certainly falls under the category of duh!, but sometimes it's good to be reminded that patience can pay off. If you're willing to wait, and don't need that piece of furniture or decor right this second, patience can be your best friend. Sales often happen seasonally as new lines are released, and some companies only put certain items on sale once or twice a year. For example, Crate & Barrel has a 15% off upholstery sale every year for a couple of weeks, so that can be a great time to purchase if you aren't able to find a discount another way. Smaller items like pillows and home accessories/decor tend to change out seasonally, and will likely go on sale at some point to make room for new designs, so if you're willing to play the waiting game and risk the item selling out, it may be worth it!
I hope those tips were helpful, friends! If you'd like some one-on-one help putting those tax refund dollars to use, e-design may be a good fit! You can read all about those services right here.
*This post contains affiliate links. That means when you buy through my links, I'll earn a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting Mix & Match in this way!