Buying Vs. Renting Furniture for Students Studying Abroad
When a student moves to their college apartment for the first time, their humble abode holds a special place in their lives. They want it to be comfortable and stylish. Realistically speaking, the look and feel of the place that they wish for their apartment can only be achieved with good furniture. Thankfully, when you are in college, there are multiple options to choose from when it comes to getting furniture for your apartment. The two main options would be buying and renting furniture. This leads to students considering the pros and cons of buying vs. renting furniture for their home.
To help you out, here are some pros and cons of buying vs. renting furniture while you are studying away from home.
Buying furniture
Pros
- You own it
If you have the funds, you should always opt to buy new or even refurbished furniture for your new apartment. By doing this, you are investing in your future. Furniture has a long shelf life. In all probability, it will be with you for years. So, once you are done with your college life and move into a bigger apartment, you will not have to invest again by buying new furniture. - No maintenance hassles
As a student, there will be times in your college years when you might get a little careless about your belongings. This may also include your furniture. With rented furniture, you will have to pay charges for damage. When you own the furniture, you can afford to get a bit messy.
Cons
- Requires investment
For a student studying away from home, funds may often be less. You need to save every dollar you have. In such a case, buying furniture does not make sense as it will cost you a fortune. - Transportation costs
Once your college ends, it is highly likely that you will move to other cities or even countries. In such a case, moving your furniture between houses and cities would prove very expensive.
Renting furniture
Pros
- Keep up with trends
Renting furniture will give you the freedom of changing the style and look of your apartment as and when you want. Rentals often have the most fashionable furniture out there for grabs at cheap costs. - Free transportation
When you have rented furniture, it gets delivered to you. This is a huge plus point for a student who probably does not have a pickup truck to move furniture.
Cons
- High maintenance
College students can be a little reckless when it comes to the maintenance of their belongings. Any damage to the furniture will invite a penalty which will be pricey. This is a bigger problem if you have roommates. - Monthly bills
Students usually have limited funds to meet their monthly requirements. So, if there is an additional bill of furniture rental, finances can get difficult. Calculate your expenses and see what you can afford.