Used Furniture!

Second attempt since the last time I typed this up it vanished!

On Wednesday, Mom and I set out on our journey early in the morning.  She had a doctor's appointment, then we headed south!  I showed her the apartment.  Then we went to the Family Dollar (my third time in two days).  She found notebooks she needed, I found contact paper for the kitchen cabinets.

We headed over to the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store to look for a couch and a dinette.  There were a few tables, none without blemishes, but one I liked.  They wanted $79 for it.  My furniture voucher should be more than enough!  Then we looked at the couches.  Most of them were beat up and lumpy, some were smelly.  We found one that might do.  We spoke to the lady at the desk.  She says they do not deliver, but they could hold stuff until Saturday.  Unfortunately, they only had two people who could work with the voucher so I had to come back 10am the next day.

There were two more stores in Northern Ocean County on the list of contracted places Social Services gave me.  We drove to the one furthest west on Rte 37 figuring we could back track to the last one.  We pulled into the parking lot of an obnoxiously bright green and yellow building.  The sign said, "Don Fount It."  As soon as we pulled in, I spotted a couch set up outside.  I told Mom I think I found my couch!

We went over and looked.  It was a sofa bed!  Just what I was looking for!  It would be perfect for when Dayna's with me and her friends sleep over.  It was a nice white/ivory color with blue flowers.  It will go nicely with my blue recliner chair!  The marked price was $179.  Sold!  Now to find a table!

We went in the "warehouse" and saw several table sets with hutches.  Most were big and heavy and I didn't think they'd fit in the dining area.  Mom asked one of the men working if they had any more.  He said he would check trailers.  In the meantime, Mom and I browsed the air conditioned (Ahhh!) showroom and spoke with the ladies working there.  They were all very nice and very helpful.  They had bedroom furniture, living room furniture, wall hangings, beautiful paintings, and a ton of knick knacks. 

The man came back in and said he found one more table, it has six chairs and a leaf.  We went out to see it.  I wasn't even at the trailer yet when I decided that was the table I would take.  It's a nice oval, good size but not too big, not to heavy, nicely kept wood.  There are a few scratches on the legs, but nothing awful.  I looked in the back of the trailer.  the chairs have blue upholstery.  It's a sign!  I looked at the man and said, "Sold!  Now what do I do?"  He led me back inside to talk to the ladies again.

The one lady grabbed a calculator, a pen, and a pad.  She came outside with me and took the price tag off the couch.  She called for a price on the table.  They wanted $130.  I'm still WAY under my furniture allowance.  She asked what else I needed.  I drew a blank saying that I think that was it.  She said how about kitchen stuff?  I said, "Do you have blenders?  I don't have a blender."  She led me to another room and there were several blenders on the wall.  We picked out a nice one.  I eyed a rolling pin and said, "Add this on too, I could use a good wooden rolling pin."  I saw a toaster oven and we added that in.  She asked if I had a crock pot.  I do not have a crock pot.  We added one on.  We went back downstairs and added two lamps.  For $40 they would deliver the couch and table, I did not have $40.  They would hold it for Saturday when I have the truck to pick it up.

In the end, I still didn't use my whole grant allotment.  I think I only used $420 of my $585, but I really didn't need anything else.  I'm very excited about the couch and table!  It will be my first couch, after all these years!  And it will be my first table that doesn't have a pizza box stuck in the leg to keep it on, and the first that has CHAIRS!  I had been using folding metal chairs.

Things are looking up!  Thanks for all the prayers!