These night tables are my pick of the day. They are only $15 each. They’d look awesome with a new coat of paint. Picture from listing on KSL.com

I love a good deal. Actually, I’m in love with good deals. I’m one of those people who might buy a sweater just because it is on clearance, and everything on clearance is 20 percent off, and if you use your store credit card it is 15 percent off that. And, no, I never wear that sweater, but I was blinded by the love of a fabulous deal!

Anyway, as everyone knows classifieds are one of the best ways to find good deals, especially on things for your home. In Utah we have two great online classifieds to choose from: national Cragslist and local KSL.com. My favorite deal so far is from KSL.com. I bought beautiful, new-out-of-the-box, brushed nickel door handles for 5 bones a piece! They start around $30 at big box stores. (Sorry no pictures; they are in the condo I sold last fall.)

Every now and then I go online to browse Craig’s and KSL, and I’ve noticed some things about both that I like and dislike. Usually one is a clear winner over the other in certain areas:

1) Search by geographic location

It is so easy to shop where you live on Craigslist. Utah is divided into Logan, Ogden-Clearfield, Provo-Orem, Salt Lake City, and St. George. So if I’m willing to travel for whatever it is I’m searching for I can search other areas, but if I want to stay close to home it is easy to do that.

With KSL.com you can’t search by location at all. If you find something you love and then notice it happens to be listed by someone in Podunk, Idaho, you are left calculating gas costs or mending a broken heart.

Winner: Craigslist

2) Images

Craigslist does have images, but you must click on each specific link to see the picture. Then you have to press the back button to browse the rest of the listings. This gets annoying after awhile.

KSL.com has the picture of each listing on the first page. You really don’t have to read anything to find what you want because the pictures do all the talking.

Winner: KSL.com

3) Search for specific items

Craigslist has categories, but they are quite broad for my needs. The one and only category I use for searching household goods: furniture.

KSL.com has a lot of good categories, which is wonderful when you need a specific little something. The categories I browse through most often: couches, loveseats and sectionals; chairs; dining tables; and pianos, keyboards and organs. But they have many, many more to choose from that would all fall under “furniture” on Craigslist.

Both online classifieds have a search feature, but if people don’t put the keyword you use into their ad then you might miss something.

Winner: KSL.com

4) Popularity

I think both Craigslist and KSL.com have a great selection. I’m going to be a wimp on this one and say it’s a tie.

So as it stands KSL.com is the winner, but you can decide for yourself.

Tags: Utah Home Decor Stores //