A Saturday score!

In trying to get this house put together on a budget, I've realized that one of the biggest challenges will be finding inexpensive patio furniture.

Outdoor furniture is really expensive to buy new.  And it's pretty hard to find used, because people generally tend to keep it until it wears out, with occasional exceptions, like if they're moving and can't take it with them, or combining households in a marriage, etc.

On rare occasions this summer I'd see something good pop up on craigslist or at an estate sale, etc, but it was always purchased immediately by someone else.  I looked around for something at end of season sales, but the only things I saw leftover weren't discounted at all.

(Even patio cushions are expensive.  It's usually at least $25 to buy a small seat cushion new.)

One other thing that has made my search a bit more difficult: I know exactly what I'm looking for, so just anything won't work.

I don't want patio chairs with straps on the seats or netting, because I've had those in the past and they tend to not to last very long.  I've been looking for furniture that is all metal.

Because the covered porch is a good size, but not too huge, I decided a bar height table with four chairs will be best.  Bar tables tend to be a bit smaller and shouldn't take up as much room on the porch.

I also want to have two chairs with ottomans, and a side table between them.  They can be extra seating when eating on the porch, but will also be my area to sit and read in the morning.  So the chairs will need to be comfortable, I can read for a while!

Anyway, my husband was back at the home/house last weekend, and I saw this posting on nextdoor.com 11 minutes after it was put up:

It was $100 for all 4 pieces, with the cushions!

It was worth it just for the 2 all-metal chairs.  The coffee table and love seat were a bonus.

Because there is a covered outdoor area under the porch, and a "beach house" down by the water, I can use those pieces down there.

So I've got a start on the patio furniture.

Now I can say goodbye to the lounge chair I spent the summer reading in, that came in the carload of stuff we got from Denise's basement for $55.  That chair can be saved for the beach area, when we get it finished.

A lot of great books were read here!

When I find the right dining table and chairs, we will also be moving this little bistro table and chair set somewhere else.  It is SO cute, but the chairs are definitely "10 minute chairs" that are not comfortable any longer than that.  That is why I'm being so particular in my furniture search, for the whole house.

We were given these free from the first mother lode house.  What a blessing it's been to have something to use for the last six months!

It's a little easier to find used patio furniture during the off season, hopefully I'll find another great deal in the next couple of months.