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" If you&amp;#039;ve lived long enough with your shabby sofa or scratched dining room table, now&amp;#039;s the time to comb stores for discounts. As Good Housekeeping editor in chief Jane Franscisco said on the Today show, &amp;quot;July is a great time to buy furniture. The retailers are making room for the fall merchandise, so you can get a great deal.&amp;quot;  But, before you hop in the mini van and hit IKEA, West Elm, or Ethan Allen, think carefully about what you want to buy. Even if you&amp;#039;re looking for an affordable piece, you&amp;#039;re still going to plunk down some significant cash. &amp;quot;Invest in classic frames and neutral tones,&amp;quot; says Franscisco. &amp;quot;You can then dress them up with accessories and smaller ticket items.&amp;quot; And be sure to keep quality in mind when you shop. Today reporter Janice Lieberman recommends &amp;quot;the pinch test&amp;quot; when buying upholstered furniture: If you can feel the frame through the cushioning, move on. There&amp;#039;s a better-made piece out there. Also, ask if furniture is solid wood or particle board. The lower-priced options may be a steal, but they also may not last as long. Watch the full segment from Today below to learn how to keep your new purchase in tip-top condition. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy NEXT: How to Find the Best Back-to-School Shopping Deals \u00BB Photo: Stephen Simpson/Getty "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/a22091/buy-this-in-july/>