OS - grown up children leaving home

calleyw

moggins wrote:

Asda have a great set for less than £30 which includes everything you need for the kitchen, if my daughter didn't have most of her stuff already then I'd be buying her one of those.

I doubt very much in my local Asda they will not as it is only a little one has about very little in housewares.

But will have a look next time I am in there.


Yours

Calley

ivyleaf

This is a great idea...Think I'll start a bottom drawer for my son, then he might be able to leave home before he's 40......

Ticklemouse

I remember my mum starting a 'bottom drawer' for me when I was in my mid teens. My first 'purchase' was a cutlery set, followed by a tea service. The latter never got used and I sold at a car boot sale about 20 years later - for £10. Mum paid £9.99 for it My cutlery is still going strong - but I gave it to a friend of ours who was setting up his first home. My mum put lots of kitchen utensils away in a big box in the attic. In fact, I went and retrieved a couple of knives from that box only a few weeks ago

When I married (first time) our first suite was hubby's gran's old one, and table and colour tv came from a deceased great-uncle. We bought some chairs from the vendor of our first house. That first house had a dreadful kitchen in it so then-MIL shipped hers to us when she had a new one fitted, along with twintub, compact dryer and cooker. We replaced as and when or got things as wedding pressies.

When we moved to this house, I had a clear out at old house and into a large box went loads of kitchen stuff and bedding and other odds and sods that went to above mentioned friend. It's quite nice seeing them again when we visit. As my mum always says, you have to learn to appreciate what you have. I've never been a person to buy on the never-never (unless it's been 0%) I like to save up and buy it - I appreciate it so much more.

And yes, I shall be educating my boys the same and will be doing a 'bottom drawer' (albeit it in the attic) when they're a bit older.

apple_mint

When we got our first home, my Grandad donated a set of bedroom furniture and a bed. As I used to stay with my Grandparents when I was little it was like going back to childhood

When my eldest daughter went to uni, she had bought a few bits and pieces to take with her and I added to this buying her measuring jugs, whisks etc. Now that she has moved into a student house we have passed on to her bits of furniture, lights and cooking utensials. We look for things on car boot sales for her so that she picks up something 'new' each time we see her.

Youngest daughter is going to Uni next year and we are already putting things away (plates, dishes etc) and looking at bits and pieces on car boot sales.

Neither daughter is bothered about getting brand new - OS is starting to trickle down and influence them They are enjoying the fun of setting up a home for themselves.

elona

My daughter is in her second year at uni and I managed to get some bargains that were even cheaper than at a car boot!

Got beautiful double duvet sets for £6 each and a throw from Primark for £10 that everyone admires and a full dinner service for £7 from T.J. Hughes.

One of her flatmates had been bragging about how all her stuff for her bedroom was going to be colour co-ordinated and "designer" - when we had finished with my daughter's bedroom - guess which room looked "designer" for about £25 spent for bedding, lampshade and throw! :j

lilmisskitkat

I'll start a bottom drawer for DD when she's older, and she also has a savings account which i am the trustee for until she is 18 so she can use that when setting up home/for uni/a car etc.

When a friend of mine moved into her own home a few months before id did she HAD to have everything brand new, she wasn't having any 'scrubby' secondhand stuff lol and 'how could I use things that other people had had before me (when i moved into my house)' Made me feel really crap at first but then i thought 'sod her', my house is lovely

I suppose its ok when you have a council house rent free, benefits, a car bought and paid for by Daddy (taxed and insured too) and a credit card which Daddy pays the balance of every month!

Needless to say she has no idea about the value of money and O/S would be horrifying to her lol

I hope i bring DD up to appreciate the value of money and follow in mummy's O/S footsteps

Kate xxx

misty

My friend started collecting for her bottom drawer years ago but sge still lives at home. She has that much stuff in the loft, I'm surprised the roof hasn't collapsed.

VickyA_2

I started my bottom drawer myself before I went to uni, back in the last century . My grandparents and parents were really keen to help out/palm off stuff that was clogging up their houses. Every Christmas and birthday nowadays I get something to "add" to my continuing collection - eg new towel to replace a threadbare one.

When I started my first job after uni, then a year later moved in with OH all our furniture is borrowed/on permanent loan from family and friends who were upgrading. We've still got most of the stuff because it's all still in excellent condition. When we buy a house - if ever - the one thing that I want to buy is a sofa. Then again, that's probably not really necessary, but it's one of those things that I've always wanted - a new sofa. How sad.

Yorkielass

Before I went to University I went to Woolworths and got plates and bowls and cultery for less than £10, some people had spent loads others had hand me downs - but as lots of people's stuff got broken and stolen (I kept mine in my room) old hand me downs or really cheap stuff was fine.

We both came to University 4 years ago with pretty cheap crockery, towels, bedding etc - we got given and bought some cheap stuff too when we got a double bed and have got other cookery stuff as and when we needed it.

We're getting married next summer and will use that to replace some things e.g. towels which are a bit past their best etc., but are so sorted for other things and don't want really expensive things not sure what we'll go for.

I think saving up is a great idea - I had things like a holdall and dressing gown to take the university with me the Christmas before I went - practical things and used some vouchers I got for Christmas to get a washbag, kettle etc.

Also if you know you/children are going to be moving out let friends/colleuges etc know as they might be replacing things at home and have furniture, curtains etc they are getting rid of and you'll save them the hassle of disposing of it - my parents gave away their settee once to someone mum worked with who was setting up a home - excellent reusing and OS I reckon!

chardonnay_2

didn't have a bottom drawer set up as such but when we moved in together we have been given loads of stuff. our first flat came furnished but we were given bedding & towels. we have been very lucky that our families have been so generous. fridge freezer, double beds x 2 which we have replaced when we could afford it. for our engagement, microwave, dishwasher and dining table, washing machine. we still get loads of stuff from relatives as we regularly do car boot sales, recently we were given a fireplace and dvd stand which we kept for ourselves.