My husband is a total bargain hound, and it’s a good thing because we’ve gotten incredible deals on stuff for our house that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.

Our biggest tip is to shop for clearance items and floor models at the home improvement stores. Sometimes they really just want to get rid of items to make room for more, and will let you buy them for even less than the sale price. Ask to speak with the manager, and don’t be afraid to negotiate!

Also go in and ask if they have anything “out back” that they want to get rid of. Oftentimes they do. It may not be exactly what you were looking for, but keep an open mind.

We got our bathroom vanity for next to nothing–it was a return and some of the cabinets needed to be repaired, which was an easy fix. It’s oak, and I originally wanted white, but now that it’s installed I really like it.

Our bathroom tiles were closeouts. Now, they weren’t exactly the color and style we wanted, but the price made it worth it and they turned out looking great.

We have a brand-new jacuzzi tub that was a floor model, normally going for $1,000, and we got it for a couple hundred! We also have a one-piece “designer” toilet that was practically free.

Our dishwasher was only $100 because it had a couple scratches on it, which aren’t even noticeable.

All it takes is a willingness to spend the extra time visting the stores often, shopping around and hunting for deals, and a lot of flexibility on design.