As a college student, it’s not always possible to get the best furniture and appliances from the store. Even the most minimalistic furniture products can be very expensive.
But I’m spilling some tea on how I got some of my furniture for free, and the rest of it for unbelievably cheap.
Even if you’re familiar with Facebook, you might not be aware of school buy/sell pages.
Many colleges and universities have a Facebook Buy or Sell Page. It’s a place where students can literally buy or sell anything they own.
This is different from Facebook Marketplace because most of the items on a school Buy or Sell page are owned by students and are EXTREMELY cheap. The items are usually in great condition because the furniture that many students are selling were only owned for their short college stay.
When students move from dorms to apartments, or they simply graduate, they are DESPERATE to get rid of furniture before their moving deadline.
As a result, they sell their items for cheap and even give some of them away for free.
I’m no even kidding, I have gotten so many things from my school’s Buy or Sell page that I still use today. And my family couldn’t even believe they weren’t new items. I have also sold some stuff and made a little bit of cash myself.
The best time to check for items on the page is towards the end of spring semester. That’s when most students are desperate to move out.
Some of the items I’ve gotten from the Buy or Sell page are:
- 3 Lamps
- Desk Chair
- Large Sectional
- 2 Flatscreen TV’s
- Loveseat
- Bookshelf
- Keurig
- Textbooks
- Microwave
- Saucer Chair
- Mini Fridge
What I also love about the Buy or Sell Page is that it’s local to your university. Meaning, many of the sellers and buyers live near the school, which makes it easily accessible. The pages are also open to that specific school’s students.
Most students are nice and willing to negotiate prices. And they’re usually willing to send you more pictures or information on the product.
In addition to selling items, you can also sell your services to other students. Check out my post on How to Make Easy Cash in College for the perfect example!
Check out some of my favorite items that I’ve gotten from my school’s Buy Or Sell page:
Bookshelf
What I paid: FREE!
This shelf was in such amazing condition that I couldn’t believe they were giving it away for free! But I’m telling you, college students are the most desperate to get rid of bulky furniture.
Bedside Lamp
What I Paid: FREE!
I got this lamp along with the bookshelf and they’ve both been very useful.
Small Loveseat
What I paid: $25 (original price was $175…gurllllll!)
The material on this was so soft that I fell asleep on it the first week I had it.
The seller accidentally left the original price tag on the leg, and I saw that it was originally $175. She was so desperate to sell it that I snagged it for $25!
Living Room Lamp
What I paid: $5
Such a simple piece of furniture made a beautiful accent piece in my living room. And it was only five bucks!
Desk Chair
What I paid: $20
I ended up giving this chair to my dad after his old office chair broke. It’s faux leather and was in great condition!
Floor Lamp
What I paid: $10
This simple floor lamp was a needed addition to my place. Plus it’s three lamps for the price of one.
Microwave
What I paid: $25
Sis, I’m still using this microwave.
Desk Lamp
What I paid: $5
This was one of the best items I’ve gotten. It’s such a versatile desk lamp with storage and two charger ports. It’s been a trusty partner through college. Now, it’s my sister’s turn to use it.
Large Sectional
What I paid: $250 (what?! unreal!)
This couch was in great condition when I got it from my school’s Buy or Sell Page. And it made the perfect college furniture. Since it came from another student, it was VERY lightly used and sold for cheap. The ottoman part of the couch also doubles down as a storage. I’m still in shock at how great of a steal this was!
Flatscreen TV
What I paid: $30
I LOVE this 32-inch Vizio flatscreen I got from the Buy or Sell page. It was like new and I ended up finding out it was a Smart TV…for 30 bucks! (Don’t mind the Haitian news, my family was over watching it lol).
SCHOOLS WITH FACEBOOK BUY/SELL PAGES:
(This is not an exhaustive list. Do your research to find out if your school has a page on Facebook)
- UMass
- Temple University
- University of Connecticut
- University of Michigan
- University of Mississippi
- Arizona State University
- University of Arizona
- Valencia College
- MIT
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Carleton University
- Roehampton University
- University of Washington
- More!