Have you tried looking at a furniture store?

Craigslist.  Keep your standards high and don't be afraid to check something out and then not buy it.  We're coming up on the end of the month (when everybody is moving) so just check back daily.  Make sure you sit on furniture anywhere you go because I've found that cheap new furniture is often rock hard or uncomfortable.  Also, as gross as it may be to put your face close to where people's butts go, smell cushions, deeply.  Febreeze can only mask so much cat pee and even new furniture can have factory finishes that reeeeeek.  Nobody wants a smelly couch.

You can find some surprisingly nice things at thrift stores.  And yes, Craigslist can be a goldmine as well.  Then there's always Ikea....

Ikea also has a "used" section where their furniture display stuff goes. You can buy their stuff much cheaper and just buy new slip-covers for the couches or chairs. Rugs and other assorted furniture is pre-assembled and might have a couple of dinks or signs of wear but is very affordable.

Another thing to do is to figure out exactly what you need and list it on Craigslist. Don't be afraid of trading items or maybe just purchasing things. I agree with Jexica... check it out thoroughly before you purchase. Just because you said you wanted to look at it, doesn't mean that you are required to buy it.

There is a store in St. Louis Park near Methodist Hospital on Louisiana called Odds & Ends, I have found soem good buys there. Make sure it fits they don't do returns.