So you had a rough or long-distance move that made it impractical to bring furniture and all that glamorous stuff. What to do? Your home may look like you’re in college for a while, but you can scrounge practical items to get by with, and then keep an eye out for better stuff as you have access to more resources.

You have a folding chair, a little storage ottoman, and a yoga ball. Ta da! Three seats.

Big thrift stores will have furniture and housewares.

Some towns have a swap shop with housewares and clothes for free.

Don’t hesitate to grab something off the side of the road, just check it for damage, cat pee, or bugs.

*Bonus tip: OdoBan can be found at hardware stores, it gets the stink out of almost anything.

Put the word out to friends and neighbors.

Check Freecycle, Craigslist, and local Facebook groups for stuff free or cheap. Post an ask on your local Buy Nothing group.

Keep a critical eye on items for multiple uses. Try to stretch what you have to fill various needs.

Next: Need Help?

Dire Straits Moving – Make a Plan, Stan – Moving Truck Budgetness – Preparation – Computery Preparedness – Binder of Doom – Organize, Sort, Declutter, and Otherwise Blow Your Stuff Up – What Do I Do With All This Junk I Don’t Want? – Needful Things for Packing – Where Do I Get Boxes? – How To Pack – Moving Tips – Moving Day/Stuffing all the Stuff – Moving with Pets (tons of cats for me) – Moving with Kids – How Do I DO Schtuff with No Home? – How Do I Eat with No Home? – Meal Plan for Dire Straits – I Moved and Now I Don’t Have Anywhere to Sit – Need Help?

We hope you enjoyed our Dire Straits Moving: Tips for Relocating in a Not-So-Pretty Situation – Homelessness and Other Hard Times Moves post