FTBs with no furniture etc, how much have/did you budget?

GoldenShadow

Just wondering how much those of you who lived with family or were in furnished accommodation put aside to furnish your first house.

Did you have a fund of X to do it, buy the basics and save up over time for more etc. I know it could be how long is a piece of string, some things included etc, but was wondering if anyone had a vague idea.

So, where did you move ie. 2 bed flat, 3 bed house, and what kind of budget to furnish the place immediately/long term?

Mojisola

Start out by letting everyone you know that you're in need of furniture and see what you get offered for free.

Also check your local Freegle/Freecycle websites.

If you're on Facebook, there's likely to be a local second-hand sales site where you can pick up stuff cheaply.

A lot of charity shops now do furniture as well.

I would want to buy a decent new mattress.

Rollinghills

Our vendors are downsizing so we are getting a lot of furniture from them for very little, included in the offer.
Furniture can cost you anything from 0+transport (freecycle, good deals on ebay or gumtree) to many thousands, depends on what you want. I like second hand / antique furniture but it takes time to find the stuff you like at a good price.
Then there is always ikea, nothing wrong with it either.

GoldenShadow

When OH moved out of his rented house he had lots of furniture. Put it in storage for a bit and then tried to sell it. We had a really hard time selling it and gave lots of it to charity. Sofas, dining table, chest of drawers etc. Mad how much it all costs new!

Mojisola

Rollinghills wrote: »

I like second hand / antique furniture but it takes time to find the stuff you like at a good price.

But any table/chair/sofa will do as a temporary measure while you look out for those special pieces.

elsien

I moved into a 3 bed house with my existing bedroom furniture, a TV and a garden chair to sit on. They left the cooker, I bought a fridge, freezer and washing machine and settee. The everyday basic stuff came from relatives, freecycle and the car boot. I then slowly replaced things over time as I could afford it and as I found things I liked. Some of the car boot furniture I still have, as I've not found anything better.

Rollinghills

Mojisola wrote: »

But any table/chair/sofa will do as a temporary measure while you look out for those special pieces.

Absolutely, that's why we're happy to re-home vendors' furniture / get stuff off freecycle first etc.
I think you can furnish a flat / house very cheaply in this country.
I would also recommend buying a new mattress (we have our own), more expensive is not always better, best to try lots in shops

martinsurrey

when I moved into my first 2 bed we got a van to move in, I bought a lot of stuff on ebay and arranged to collect it all on the same day (move in day with the van)

Sofa : £50 (habitat oak framed fabric sofa)
Extending glass dining table and 6 chairs : £40
Coffee table : £30
Wardrobe and matching chest of draws : £70
Side board for TV : £3.50 (BARGAIN!)
2 bed side tables £30
Bed frame £20

Total on move in day :£243.50 it was all solid wood stuff,

I bought a new mattress though.

sooo cheap if you can collect big and bulky items.

Hoploz

I bought my first 2 bed flat with nothing at all. Old sofa from a distant family member (word had been put out!) table from a charity shop, chairs from the yard of a restaurant near my work which I noticed were upgrading. Bought a new tv and a new bed. I think the vendor left the fridge.

That's all you need for a start.

When my parents bought, they used cardboard boxes for a table. People these days have high expectations and prefer to get into debt. It's up to you.

Useful that at the moment shabby chic is in fashion, so you can find great pieces of furniture in charity shops and on free cycle, and paint them for a totally up-to-date look!

.... I just remembered ... The old table from the charity shop I sold ten years later for nearly £200. It was Ercol, which by then was back in fashion LMAO.

Soot2006

We had a mattress and a few chairs ... Got loads off Freecycle and Gumtree ... And then have slowly replaced it as the budget has improved. Been here 5 years and our brand new bedroom arrives next week

catoutthebag

I'm moving into an empty 1 bed flat
I have budgeted furniture into my savings. ..around 2.5 to 3k
Some stuff will be new and some used

Fridge freezer, washer, cooker, vacuum, sofa, tv and stand, small table and chairs, lamps, toaster/kettle/microwave, bed and mattress, side table, bedside table, tall boy, curtains/blinds, rugs, kitchen utensils, shelving/storage, bath bits, lamp shades, bulbs, small tool kit, plants. ...All adds up