Experiment: Can I furnish my home for free?

Badger_Lady · 24 September 2007 at 11:24AM

I sold my 1-bedroom flat a while ago, and the FTB who bought it also bought the majority of my furniture and all my white goods (for a fair price).

So, on Friday, I finally moved into my enormous Edwardian 3-bedroom 4-reception room house with more space than I know what to do with, and no furniture! I asked for the washing machine to be left behind, but nothing else...

I was all set for buying everything second-hand or cheap but, as I walked down the road on Saturday, I noticed my neighbour had left an old fridge-freezer and cooker on their porch. I knocked on the door and they confirmed that they did work and weren't wanted, so a girlfriend and I managed to heave them down the road into my house.

Well, if I can get hold of the two most expensive items I need for free, why not go the whole hog? I've just registered on Freecycle (membership pending), and will be keeping an eye out on skips etc, to try and get as much as possible from this list:

- [strike]Washing machine[/strike] (left behind)
- [strike]Cooker[/strike] (neighbour)
- [strike]Fridge / freezer[/strike] (neighbour)
- Microwave (preferably with grill)
- Dining table and chairs
- Two 4-5' beds
- Chest of drawers
- Bedside tables
- Curtains
- Lampshades
- Sofa
- Ceiling fan
- TV
- Treadmill
- Rowing machine

I'm now going to hold out buying any of these, and keep a record of what I've managed to get for free and where! Only in very desperate situations will I spend a minimal sum on buying something...

If I can do it, anyone can :T

Morty_007 · 24 September 2007 at 11:35AM

This is a great idea but do make sure you don't take the mickey on freecycle. Remember you aren't allowed to post "shopping lists" and you should offer something before you make any requests.

I wish you all the very best of luck and fun!!

Badger_Lady · 24 September 2007 at 11:42AM

Thanks Morty, that's perfectly true - I've got some stuff that won't suit my new home as well, so maybe I should list these on the thread as "trade-ins" (not just FreeCycle):

- Double and single wardrobes (bedrooms have fitted cupboards so no room for these)
- Ironing board and iron (I ended up with two)
- Lots of clothes (stress-eating during the move has put on 2 dress sizes!)
- Double Futon (Ikea one - I've been sleeping on it for the last 4 months and have learned to loathe it)

I'm sure there will be more to add when I get the rest of my stuff out of storage - it's been there so long I've forgotten what I've got :rotfl:

duchy · 24 September 2007 at 11:50AM

Clothes you could Ebay (would money made that way count as "free" to buy stuff you can't find for free ?)
Depending on how your mind works you could Free-Cycle or donate (women's refuge maybe) the other stuff and hope that you create some good karma to bring some of your wish-list back to you from FreeCycle

Badger_Lady · 22 October 2007 at 11:05AM

Hia - thought it was about time for an update on here, and it's going pretty well! Here's my revised list:

- [strike]Washing machine[/strike] (left behind)
- [strike]Cooker[/strike] (neighbour)
- [strike]Fridge / freezer[/strike] (neighbour)
- [strike]Microwave[/strike] (Freecycle)
- [strike]One double bed[/strike], another double bed (Freecycle)
- Chest of drawers
- Bedside tables
- Curtains
- Lampshades
- Sofa
- Ceiling fan
- TV
- Treadmill
- Rowing machine
- [strike]Mirrors[/strike] (Freecycle)

...and to balance the Freecycle, I've given away:

- BT cordless digital phone
- ReadyBed (inflatable camping bed)
- Ikea double wooden futon with mattress
- Ironing Board and iron
(And also offered other items not yet taken up.)

But I've also been slightly naughty and bought:
- Duvet set £1.50 from local charity shop
- Kettle £12 from Tesco
- Toaster £6 from Tesco
- Solid oak dining table and chairs £800 from eBay (but worth £4k)

So, OK, I haven't quite done it for free :rolleyes: but I have only splashed out on things that will make the place look expensively furnished, and to be fair the overall budget is still pretty low for the size of house!

I've also started sorting through my clothes - some will be eBay, some charity shops, and some charity bins - but this should help recoup some of the expenditure anyway...

Nearly there now

...

Libra1975 · 1 November 2007 at 7:30PM

Ah this is what I was looking for!

Well done B-L. We are going to splash out on a bed and mattress but hopefully we are going to follow your lead with most other things

Libra1975 · 1 November 2007 at 7:31PM

Morty_007 wrote: »

This is a great idea but do make sure you don't take the mickey on freecycle. Remember you aren't allowed to post "shopping lists" and you should offer something before you make any requests.

I wish you all the very best of luck and fun!!

I must say I'm a bit taken aback on the amount of WANTED posts there are on freecycle which is against the principles!

poppyolivia · 1 November 2007 at 7:43PM

omg you have done really well!! Just goes to show you don't need to go mad on things do you?..keep us posted on anything else!!!

lulu650 · 6 November 2007 at 12:29AM

What a great idea Badger Lady. On the same principle I've been seriously working on my garden and have gathered a lot of stuff via Freecycle.

Large Compost bin - unused
Garden rake - unused
Bucket of garden bulbs
Eight various terracota pots
Very large moneytree plant (10yrs old)
3 large flowering bushes
Large bag of topsoil
About 20 perennial smaller plants
4 varieties of seeds including sweet peas and agapanthus

Have given away clothes, books, bricks and hardcore

I really wish I'd taken some before shots of the garden now

Badger_Lady · 6 November 2007 at 9:40AM

Wow, I guess I'm not the only one!

Quick update:

- [strike]Washing machine[/strike] (left behind)
- [strike]Cooker[/strike] (neighbour)
- [strike]Fridge / freezer[/strike] (neighbour)
- [strike]Microwave[/strike] (Freecycle)
- [strike]One double bed[/strike] (Freecycle), [STRIKE]king-size bed[/STRIKE] (friend - but no mattress)
- Curtains
- Lampshades
- Sofa
- TV
- [STRIKE]Exercise Bike[/STRIKE] (Freecycle)
- [STRIKE]Rowing machine[/STRIKE] (Freecycle)
- [strike]Mirrors[/strike] (Freecycle)

... I've given away:

- BT cordless digital phone
- ReadyBed (inflatable camping bed)
- Ikea double wooden futon with mattress
- Ironing Board and iron
- Books

... and for sale on eBay / Amazon:

- Funky / retro skirts
- Tops and shirts
- Christmas frocks
- Accessories
- Old LPs / CDs

It's going really well! The house is nearly ready for guests now, but I've just been told my fridge/freezer is a fire hazard and should be replaced ASAP :eek: , so I hope another one will come along soon so I don't have to chuck all the freezer food

.

jo_b_2 · 23 January 2008 at 10:07PM

Interesting thread. :T First time I've spotted this one. Hope you've got some news to update us on.

Experiment: Can I furnish my home for free?

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