This is best with office furniture, in that you can see what you get. A chair is a chair, and unless it falls apart when you sit in it or has duct tape across the bottom, it's still going to be a chair a year from now. There are plenty of discount office furniture stores looking to get rid of their surplus, so be ready to haggle. Cheap, cheap, cheap. You get what you pay for, in most cases.
Ugly furniture is never a bargain.
Last Year's Model Is Better Than Nothing. Computer equipment changes on what seems like a daily basis. If you do not need the absolute latest in technology, most computer stores will sell a previous model for a discounted price. Do your homework. If you just need a word processor, this is a great way to save money.