How much furniture does he really need?

caroline233

My husband's brother was thrown out of his house by his (soon to be ex!)wife this time last year and we still haven't got to the bottom of it all. Anyway, our house has been on the market for 18 months and he has decided to move into it. When we moved to our new home we obviously took all our stuff so he will have a house with a fitted kitchen including a cooker/hob, dishwasher and fridge freezer, but that's it.

We've said we'll help out as much as we can but that isn't really very much, as we've been paying 2 mortgages for so long! :eek:

He's been to Ikea for some kitchen stuff but will need a washing machine, a bed and a sofa. Where would you money saving gurus go for such things and what items would you call absolute essentials?

bruce2110

you could try mfi? are they selling off there display stuff in the shops, worth a try for a cash bargin?

SomeBozo

Join his local free-cycle group as there are always stuff for free on that if you are not picky.

Bozo

roses

What are you going to do with all the stuff when you sell the house? Why doesn't he buy whatever furniture he needs then he can take it with him when he finds somewhere else to rent?

Errata

Mattress to sleep on, chair to sit on - that's it really. If he's trying to do things as cheaply as possible local hospice/charity furniture warehouses usually have good quality secondhand stuff at very reasonable prices.
Wilkinsons for stuff like ironing board/iron, kettle, toaster etc. or Argos.

vansboy

Freecycle or local charity - something like http://www.noahenterprise.org/

Argos have some great buys on their cheap n cheerful kitchen electrics.

Ikea for lots other stuff.

But do check that you're only buying what he'll need - else it'll be of no value, when you want to get rid of it.

VB

27col

British Heart Foundation shops are not bad for a good range of household stuff.
Not sure why you have been paying for two mortgages. Why did you not let the house unfurnished. With so many people unable to provide a deposit there is a big demand for rentals at the moment.

caroline233

We'ver been hanging on hoping to sell the house, which we really have got to do as soon as we possibly can and we felt we'd never sell if it had a tenant in it. It has now got to the point where the outgoings are unsustainable so the house is going to have to pay its way. We had just asked our estate agent to let it when BIL asked could he rent it.

Our local MFI has been closed since the day it was announced that the administrators had been called in so that's not an option, although it would have been a good option.

I think the idea was that we would buy some stuff for him and he would eventually pay us back so he could take it with him if and when we sell or he finds another house. He is still hopeful that he may one day regain his matrimonial home but I think he's over optimistic. Even so, his wife will expect to take a fair amount of furniture so anything he gets now won't go to waste.

Thanks Errata - I hadn't thought of Wilkinsons. Good idea.

I always check freecycle as I've freecycled a lot of stuff myself but there seem to be loads of people asking for washing machines and large items of furniture and not that many offers.

Anyway, thanks all for your suggestions and if any of you want to buy a four bedroom house in a village in the Vale of Glamorgan....!!!

ormus

argos for a cheap bed and a sofa.
empiredirect for a washing machine and any other kichen appliances.

Pssst

Why did he let his wife throw him out of a house which is presumably partially his?

Errata

Asda also have inexpensive pots, pans, towels, bedding etc. Not top quality but would get him started.