When it's time to furnish a patio, poolside or deck, many of us can't afford to spend a lot of money. If you know where (and how) to shop, you can find cheap outdoor furniture that isn't necessarily cheaply made.

The shops listed below usually offer a good selection of outdoor furniture. Read on for our opinions of these stores and tips on saving more. And for more ways to save on outdoor furnishings, see our article.

Target, Walmart & K-Mart
These stores usually offer a good selection of outdoor furniture and decor, but only on a seasonal basis. (You won't find anything here during the cooler months.) The quality at these places won't be great, but with some upkeep and care, the products from theses stores will last longer. Target tends to carry more contemporary furnishings and decor, where you'll find mostly traditional-style furnishings at Walmart and K-Mart.

Amazon
Amazon can be a great resource for all things related to the outdoors, and many times you can shop your local retailers via Amazon. Prices on Amazon are very competitive and you won't pay sales tax, at least for now. To avoid being hit with high handling costs, especially on furnishings, be sure to only shop for free "Super Saver" shipping items.

Crate & Barrel/CB2
These sister stores have a huge, seasonal-only collection of outdoor furnishings and decor. Crate & Barrel carries more traditional-styled items and has higher prices, while CB2 caters to hip urbanites on a tighter budget so you may find more modern items geared toward smaller spaces there.

Shop during and after Memorial Day for savings, but wait until late summer for the best deals.

IKEA
IKEA has slowly entered the outdoor furnishings arena, unveiling new products each year. IKEA shoots for quality furnishings at rock bottom prices, and they've carried that goal over into their outdoor selection. This is also a great place to find quality, low-priced outdoor decor, serving ware and more. Since IKEA only stocks a certain quantity of items seasonally, sell-out risk is high, and since IKEA doesn't really host huge sales or coupons, this is the one store that I won't encourage you to wait to buy. However, join IKEA's Friends & Family Program and watch for savings during the spring and summer months.

Sears, Home Depot & Lowes
These combo hardware/home stores offer a good selection of outdoor furniture and decor, with best selection during the spring and summer months. These stores also tend to offer good sales, markdowns and coupons. Sign up for their store emails and weekly sales flyers. (Home Depot has a special Garden Club newsletter you can subscribe to.) Additionally, most stores have a clearance section, where you can find outstanding bargains on outdoor patio furniture.

Overstock
Overstock.com is the online shopping place to be, and I've found high quality outdoor furniture and decor for a song on this site. However, shop carefully. Overstock sells both quality items and cheaply made, and it is often hard to tell the difference online. Shipping is usually super inexpensive, and Overstock will often offer free shipping specials throughout the season.

Hayneedle/Patio Furniture USA
While Hayneedle does offer outdoor furniture and decor, Patio Furniture USA is owned by Hayneedle and stocks a year-around huge selection of outdoor furniture and more. Patio Furniture USA and Hayneedle also offer free shipping on "almost" anything (though I could not find any products that didn't fall under the "free" category). Prices can change frequently so look for savings percentages, which can easily vary from 15-60 percent or more. Be sure you price compare before your final purchase to make sure you are getting a good deal.

Outback Patio
Outback Patio has been around since 1998 and offers a "lowest price guarantee" on all of their items. Depending upon purchase amount, shipping is either super affordable or free. From furniture to water features to outdoor televisions, selection is plentiful. I was even impressed by their customer service and am happy to recommend this company.

Patio Wholesale
Patio Wholesales is geared toward more traditional outdoor furniture and decor, but if this is your style, the selection is good and the prices seem to be substantially less than "retail." There is sometimes a minimum order on items, but shipping is free.

TJ Maxx/Homegoods
These two places are great for finding deals on outdoor furniture and decor. However, you can't shop online, stock can change daily, and duplicates and matching items are hard to find. Customer service is nonexistent, so be prepared to purchase and load your items yourself. However, sales and markdowns are plentiful so if your coveted item hangs around long enough and you are willing to wait, you can save even more.

World Market & Pier One Imports
Both of these places have their own style of unique seasonal outdoor furniture and decor, but I put them together because prices and quality are similar, and sales and markdowns are plentiful. Shop late in the season for the best deals. Also, be on the lookout for additional discounts on floor samples and lightly damaged goods.