How do you replace big household items/decorate without getting into debt?

Jolinar

I'm going to go against the grain here I would buy the more expensive bedding as I think sometimes it's false economy to buy cheaply, but wait until it's on sale and so what if you have to save up for it for 4 months or buy a bit at a time? I save for everything now and feel immensely smug and satisfied when I buy something I've worked hard for without resorting to credit.

I did this 12 years ago with dorma bedding from debenhams in the sales, and you know what it still looks as good now as it did 12 years ago when I bought it and I expect it to last another 12 years too.

As for the appliances start saving a bit each month to replace or repair things as and when they go caput and ask yourself is it really need or want?

As for other people, who gives a monkeys what anyone else thinks or does? Do your own thing, be proud that you're tackling your debts and remember opinions are like @rseholes, everyone has one

AndyR_3

For bedding, my local John Lewis had some sheets and pillowcases that were slight seconds for quite cheap prices. Don't know what was wrong with them though. Or do you have one of those "clearance" retail parks near you? There's one at Doncaster and it's all high street names but they sell last years stock for much cheaper than their normal high street prices.

Do you have any Pigsback vouchers/nectar points/clubcard points you can use towards the bedding? It's also worth shopping around - sheets from one place, pillowcases from another, which ever shop is cheapest for that particular item. Buy a bit at a time too, then when it all needs replacing again, you won't have to fork out in one go.

For paint, I bought a cheap tin of magnolia, and decided to add some colour by painting one wall blue. I got the blue paint for free from my mum and dad (it was left over from their own decorating). Worth asking around if anyone you know has any half pots of paint left, see what colours you can get and then get creative.

I've also just been given a load of bedding for free - not brand new but in good condition. This came from my housemate's parents who've just downsized from a 6 bedroom house to a 2 bedroom house and simply didn't need it or have room to store it any more. Worth asking around, again. OK it's not brand new but it was only on their spare beds.

If you don't want to look cheap, thell them you're trying to do your bit for the environment by reducing waste!

Paint brushes from the pound shop are fine (I throw them away when I've done anyway).

lisa_75

AndyR wrote:

For paint, I bought a cheap tin of magnolia, and decided to add some colour by painting one wall blue. I got the blue paint for free from my mum and dad (it was left over from their own decorating). Worth asking around if anyone you know has any half pots of paint left, see what colours you can get and then get creative.

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Decorating scares me to death! My husband is useless at DIY and refuses to do anything like decorating. We usually get someone in. I wish I had the confidence to have a go myself, but would not have a clue where to start.

immoral_angeluk

lisa_75 wrote:

Decorating scares me to death! My husband is useless at DIY and refuses to do anything like decorating. We usually get someone in. I wish I had the confidence to have a go myself, but would not have a clue where to start.

We repainted our whole house top to bottom for £120... it may look a bit dodgy in places but we had a painting party where our mates brought round a few beers and paintbrushes and we all did it together.. probably why it looks so dodgy LMAO.

astonsmummy

It's well esay! i used to think the same! i have no man aound the house at all, i painted mine and astons bedrooms.
EDIT - I bought a 10ltr pot of magnolia paint for about £10, it's still going strong!

oakdale_minx

Try the NEXT sale for bedding. The quality is good and they do big reductions.

I've also bought egyptian bedding from the Bid-Up/Price-Drop channels. The set was about £7 or so. Postage is high (about £7 or so) but the bedding is heard wearing and I got a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases.

I've got Tesco bedding which is pretty ok as well. The fitted sheets don't seem to last, they seem to shrink a bit, but the pillowcases and quiltcovers are great. I also bought a Value duvet a couple of months ago for 9.99 and it is fantastic.

Also agree with the magnolia. Rooms can be dressed and then there isn't the problem of a colour scheme going out of fashion.

Try Makro if you know someone with a card. I got a miracoil double mattress from there two years ago. Can't remember how much it was exatly, but something like £120 comes to mind.

I definitely recommend freecycle, I'm a member of my local group. When I moved here I was given a brand new double divan bed from a fellow freecycler.

All my childhood holidays were either in holiday cottages in Yorkshire/Scotland and I remember going to a place like Pontins near Whitby when I was 6 and I still have happy memories of it.

At some point, there is every chance your friends will find themselves backed into a corner debt-wise for one reason or another. And, it is a horrible place to be. You can sleep at night knowing you are not moving towards that place, but away from it.

melt71

lisa_75 wrote:

I am really beginning to waiver now, despite all the hard work. When I see my friends having new kitchens and bathrooms fitted, new sofas and then look at my shoddy house, I wonder why I am doing this.

You would be surprised how many of your friends are in debt to support this lifestyle!! Try getting on to the subject of finances with them and it will all come spilling out - they will have credit cards debts up to their eyeballs to pay for their new kitchens and bathrooms I bet ya. My best friend has 3 holidays a year but their monthly income is less than their outgoings and they are now seriously in debt. They are only 27 and have been married less than 2 years

If that's the route you want to go down then go for it, but I doubt very much you will get much approval from the people on this forum. They've been in some pretty hair raising situations because of debt including serious relationship problems, bankruptcy, bailiffs at the door etc. Some of them have been in the position of not being able to afford school shoes/uniforms for their kids or basic food in their cupboards.

If you think that getting your new bedding and whatever else takes your fancy is worth going through all of that stress then I'm sure that there are lots of credit card/loan companies that would be willing to help you out!

Personally, I think you are mad to even consider it.

With regards to the comment by your sister, she might be right! You may be tired from working, looking after your family and dare I say it, worrying about £700 bedding!! I get comments like these from time to time, but I don't take it too personally, I get an early night, get a haircut, up my intake of water and it usually does the trick. It's nothing to panic about.

I cannot recommend Primark bedding highly enough, I found them by accident really as my mums bedding was so lovely and comfortable I found out that her sheets were from Primark. There are 100% good quality cotton and some of mine are now a couple of years old but still in great condition.

Also, I have a foam topper matress (argos £70) and it was one of my best purchases. We were seriously sleep deprived for weeks as the bed was so uncomfortable but the topper has totally solved this problem. You don't need a really think one, ours is only about 2 inches thick.


GOOD LUCK. Keep using this site for ideas and I'm sure you won't need to go into debt.

bommer

If your feeling peaky the Sun had an offer yesterday for a free day at LA gym with free tan session.

I'd go with the cheaper option get what you can afford now even if they only last a couple of years, pay your debts off which sounds as if you will do within the next couple of years. Then think about more expensive ones once you can afford them.

My fridge an freezer are rusting a bit on the outside but work perfectly well - have got a £4.99 can of appliance spray from Wilkos which will bring them up as good as new.

Decorating - I would go with the magnolia option as well, why not try your local college, they are starting their courses again now - why not have a look at your local one to see if they do a cheap or even free DIY courses, and imagine your friends faces when you say that you did it all yourself!

plattinum

That is an exellent idea about the DIY course bommer, might look into that myself. I bought a duvet cover from asda around 5 years ago, and that still looks pretty good, cost £20ish from what I remember. If anyone has any links for reasonably priced beds would love to see them. My son desperatley needs a bed,the base is broken and beyond repair. There is no freecycle in our area which is a shame. Maybe I should start one?

lazy&indebt

Just wait until your neighbours are in so much debt that they get bailiffs knocking on their doors, they won't be able to look down their noses then, will they?
And how smug will you feel if one of your neighbours starts complaining about how much debt they are in and you can turn round and say you've paid all yours off....you will then be able to give them advice on how to get their finances straight. Trust me you will come off better...

...oh, and it's not where you go on holiday, it's who you go with and whether you make the most of it.