We furnished our apartment with FREE STUFF from Craigslist. But the Craigslist community is huge here, so that helped. I still recommend looking into it. Free stuff is awesome if you don't get hung up about something being perfect. We have saved SO much money this way, and if you move, you don't feel as bad if you have to leave something behind if you didn't spend money on it. I bought stuff at garage sales / yard sales before I realized what a goldmine Craigslist was. It takes patience and some luck, but it's been totally worth it for us.

We've gotten sofas, desks, dressers (those are hard to score), nightstands, bookshelves, storage units, curtains, binders/folders, dishware, a George Foreman grill, a boxspring and bedframe, and a wardrobe all free from Craigslist.

We also have used Freecycle for other things, too.

I also like thrift stores for kitchenware and small appliances because you can usually verify if things work in the store before you buy it.

one of these links i posted is the austin craigskist the other is ebay classifieds. sorry about the lazy typing my tummy still feels all punchy and makes it hard to concentrate.

Target has some really inexpensive things on clearance, so do Lowes and Home Depot; a friend picked up two floor lamps at Lowes for my new home for about $18 and they are SUPER cute. Target also occasionally has "dorm supplies" on clearance after traditional move-in season; I picked up a shower curtain, a tablecloth and various supplies (pot holders, spatulas, a boatload of hangers, etc.), for about $25.

I'm sure Walmart would have a comparable clearance section, or Kmart or whatever is nearest you!

Wow, there's already so much great advice in this thread. Definitely check out the dollar stores. I know it's already been mentioned, but you can get sooooo much stuff for a dollar. If it gets broken, who cares, it was a dollar! lol.

I've gotten random dishes and stuff from the dollar store. They might not be the prettiest ever, but they're pretty functional.

Good luck!

Be sure to look at swap meets for things! You can haggle prices and get things really cheap!

Think everyone else has it covered! Just wanted to wish you good luck! It can be scary but it's so much fun and you'll learn all kinds of things about yourself and your friend. Keep things open and don't allow resentment to build up. You never really know someone until you live with them.

Update! I have a interview on Monday for a job!

Eeek!

Hit up Goodwill for lamps, candle sticks, dishes, and other accent pieces. Sometimes they have nice furniture too.

Good luck at your job interview. Pick out an outfit that makes you feel confident, rehearse some possible Q & A's they might ask you, and always smile. You'll do great!

What sort of things should I ask them?

Congrats lady!

Everyone has given some great ideas, so I will suggest something you may have not thought of yet. Renters insurance. Your landlord carries insurance on the property but this does not include you belongings. Should something happen to all this wonderful stuff you two are getting it will be lost. It should not be cost you much and will provide you with some piece of mind in case of an emergency.

I hope you two have fun.

first thing SET A BUDGET and do not spend over it no matter how much you like or want something you can always get stuff later (try craisglist for free or really cheap things-you can get almost anything if you live in an urban area, dollar stores are great to). Buying stuff adds up really fast even just basics don't spend to much it can get ridiculous before you realize it. Take small things you own from you house that you use daily. before you move walk room to room and think about what you use and really need it will help you budget and remind you of things you need to take with you. things you absolutely need and I suggest you don't buy complete sets get equal numbers for # of people living there, get 2-3 plates, bowls, forks, spoons, lamps, towels, sheets, pillows, blankets, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, shower curtain, scissors, at least 1 multipurpose cleaning product,

microwave, toaster/oven, bed (anything you can use to sleep if you can't afford a bed...sleeping bag or something), large table- at least one place to sit and do work/eat, sofa, a little house plant (really can change the atmosphere of a place)

Toilet Paper towels!
Put them in in the front seat of the car and make sure they are the first thing you put in and set up. I swear, my first night in my first real apartment, I was like... "uh-oh..."
Also food!
And congrats

kmart, walmart, tmax, marshals, drugstores sell lots of stuff and low prices that you wouldn't expect a lot of places are actually cheaper than kmart or walmart. Sometimes churches give away or have yard sales food clothing furniture etc

if you buy used or off of craigslist make sure to check very carefully that these things did not come of the street and do not have bed bugs

Good luck on the Interview! Dollar Tree is cheap too for dishes, kitchen utensils and such!

Ollies is also a pretty good place to shop at for cleaning supplies and such. You can normally pick stuff up for cents on the dollar.

I would recommend also taking extra napkins from places you eat at. Its shallow, but it beats paying full price for them.

Talk to friends and friends of friends. Have your relatives ask their friends as well. You'll be surprised what people sometimes have in their garages that they know they're not going to use but don't want to get rid of.

Napkins?? Just get a roll of paper towels. Cheaper. Note that this is a guy.

Glasses?? Just drink out of the container. ( not really, but it did really want to go in the post).