Best way to fund new carpets and a kitchen?

RollDeep

Hi all,
I’ve been renovating my first house myself after work and at weekends and as I’m sure you can understand I am itching to move in, unfortunately the house has no carpets and the kitchen looks every bit of its 17 years of age.

The cost of the carpets is £2000 and the kitchen is £5000 – in terms of value for money I am happy with these prices so that’s not a problem.

Unfortunately my savings are down so I have two choices:

1. Save up £1000 a month and move in, in 7 months’ time.
2. Finance the carpets interest free for 4 years and take out a 3 year loan for the kitchen.

Obviously the second option is the most attractive, but debt is foreign to me and although I have a credit card I have always paid it off in full and just used to for rewards.

That said the thought of 4 years worth of payments for some carpets also seems foreign (even if it is interest me), I'd be tempted to buy them on my credit card and pay them off within 2 months (56 days interest free).

Anyhow, I would appreciate some new perspectives or even just some closure.

Thanks in advance!

drummer_666

you could just move in like it is?

Hintza

Do the carpets in the rooms you need them first and (as above) move in. Do the kitchen in the summer when you have saved up enough money.



Where do you stay just now and how much does that cost? Parents for free?

ellie99

I've been in exactly this position in the past.
I went to a second hand furniture auction room, and bought a couple of big cheap rugs for the main rooms.
Also bought a couple of wooden cupboards for kitchen storage. My kitchen had just a couple of bright orange units and a sink, I painted the cupboards a better colour, put in my new wooden cupboards, and the kitchen was fully functional for the next 5 years.
What you choose to do depends on your attitude to needing everything new...or not.

RollDeep

drummer_666 wrote: »

you could just move in like it is?

Asphalt flooring isn't the most comfortable

Hintza wrote: »

Do the carpets in the rooms you need them first and (as above) move in. Do the kitchen in the summer when you have saved up enough money.



Where do you stay just now and how much does that cost? Parents for free?

Parents for free. My worry about doing the kitchen is 5-6 months time is the mess it will create, building dust takes a lot of time and effort to get rid of completely.

phill99

There are a lot of 0% deals on credit cards at the moment, so why not put the kitchen on a 0% card and pay it off as quick as you can before the deal ends. Then it won't cost you any interest.

Leif

Can you get a loan from the bank that does your mortgage? The rates are often very good, although there is an arrangement fee, which is quite hefty.

The problem with carpeting room by room is that if you have the same colour in adjacent rooms, they should be from the same roll, or they will not match. If you don't believe me, take a look at samplers in carpet shops. Some ostensibly identical samples might as well be different shades.

I would save up then move in. And be nice to mum and dad.

ellie99

RollDeep wrote: »

Asphalt flooring isn't the most comfortable

Parents for free. My worry about doing the kitchen is 5-6 months time is the mess it will create, building dust takes a lot of time and effort to get rid of completely.

I think you've just answered your own question, it really sounds like you want everything done before you move in. 0% credit card sounds the best advice. Are you set on an expensive kitchen, or would you consider a cheaper one? I've done a kitchen for £500 before (units, tiles, worktops and sink, no appliances), had to build all the flat pack units myself though!
It's a great feeling moving into your first place, enjoy it!

katejo

RollDeep wrote: »

Hi all,
I’ve been renovating my first house myself after work and at weekends and as I’m sure you can understand I am itching to move in, unfortunately the house has no carpets and the kitchen looks every bit of its 17 years of age.

The cost of the carpets is £2000 and the kitchen is £5000 – in terms of value for money I am happy with these prices so that’s not a problem.

Unfortunately my savings are down so I have two choices:

1. Save up £1000 a month and move in, in 7 months’ time.
2. Finance the carpets interest free for 4 years and take out a 3 year loan for the kitchen.

Obviously the second option is the most attractive, but debt is foreign to me and although I have a credit card I have always paid it off in full and just used to for rewards.

That said the thought of 4 years worth of payments for some carpets also seems foreign (even if it is interest me), I'd be tempted to buy them on my credit card and pay them off within 2 months (56 days interest free).

Anyhow, I would appreciate some new perspectives or even just some closure.

Thanks in advance!

Is your old kitchen really so bad ? I have had my house for 7 years . Replaced the old 1980's kitchen last summer and funded it partly by having a lodger . In fact my lodgers have allowed me to make many improvements including roof repairs. I also hate borrowing money.

forgotmyname

Cheap carpets for the essential rooms, If no strips are present then just tack them down.

Get a cheap cooker and then move in and save.

If you are there you will do a lot more work than having to go out of your way to do it.

I have an allotment and have started to pop in on the way from the shop or visiting. Otherwise you come home start doing bits and then there is no time or your worn out.

jee

Go to ikea and take out a finance deal for the kitchen.
As for carpet I would get those on a 0% interest for 12 months credit card. You pay the minimum every month and then after 12 months pay the outstanding balance at once. carpet from carpetright, underlay grippers etc online and local fitter.