As students return for Fall classes, the search to furnish their local homes begins. With many of them on fixed budgets, places selling cheap furniture items are a necessity.

State College has a variety of new and used furniture retailers for this purpose.

The Goodwill Industries Store, 221 S. Allen St., accepts furniture donations, and sells everything back cheaply.

Goodwill employee and student Lisa Netkowicz (junior-psychology) does a good deal of her shopping at the store.

Goodwill recommends that items like couches be sold for about $15, but are usually priced around $10, Netkowicz said.

All students get a 10 percent discount. Netkowicz said it is a good place for students to shop.

"We get a lot of nice things ... and students are less particular about their furniture," Netkowicz said.

The turnover is quick, so it's not uncommon that a couch will turn up at Goodwill several times through donation and sale.

Aside from couches, Goodwill offers televisions, cabinets, lamps and beds.

"State College probably receives the most donations from Goodwill," Netkowicz said. "It's a transient community with the students, and it's an affluent area."

Another place to not only buy used furniture, but also sell it, is the Furniture Exchange, 522 E. College Ave.

Beds, futons, tables, lamps and rugs are available for higher prices than Goodwill. Couches at the Furniture Exchange go for about $69.50, owner Milt Kober said.

Their clientele is mostly students, but they also sell to places like Associated Realty.

Furniture Exchange shopper Amanda Guzman (graduate-sociology), who was looking for a headboard, computer stand and chair for her apartment, said she prefers used furniture over new.

"I'm only going to use it for a couple of years," she said.

Students that want used furniture from the exchange may have to hurry though. Kober said they might only sell new things soon.

If this is the case, students can get a good deal on what used furniture is left, Kober said.

"We'll drop prices to get rid of used stuff if we go to new," he said.

If students are in the market for new furniture at a lower price, places like Target and Wal-Mart are also close by.

At Target, 315 Lowes Blvd., students can pur-
chase bookshelves, desks, tables, dressers and TV stands. Price ranges for desks fall between $49.95 and $129.99.

Target employee Claude Web said Target is a good place for students to shop for furniture.

"We sold out on desks and tables at the State College store," Web said. "It's definitely a good place for Penn State students."

Sometimes other students have furniture to offer those in need.

David Garrison (senior-physics) had success posting ads in the HUB-Robeson Center to sell his furniture. His bed and desk went for $20 each.

"I'm just trying to get rid of stuff," he said, in reference to his low prices.

Garrison said the reaction to his ads was good. After putting the ads out he got responses within a few days.

Like other students, Garrison's furniture was recycled from the sales of other students.