Moving away from Mummy :(

flang

Me and my girlfriend have just been offered a brand new housing association Flat from the council. Unfortantly the flat only comes with a Washing machine and nothing else!!! We both work full time but are on low wages at around 10k a year (both trainees). We are both currently living with our parents so as you can imagine we dont actually own any furnature.
We have both saved up about a £1000 but its not a lot providing we need to buy Everything! including, Sofa, Cooker, Fridge, Freezer, bed!
Can any recommend anywhere where they do some kind of deals like Cooker, Fridge and freezer for a set price or does anyone know where we can pick these items up cheap.
I dont mind second hand items but im not 100% sure on safety on 2nd hand gas cookers.
Also I dont mind buying items on intrest free long as the monthly repayments are affordable.
We currently owe no money.
Also does anyone have any idea on what council Tax costs would be?
Im 20 girlfriend is 17, Live in Trowbridge in Wiltshire.
Thanks guys.

nightsong

Good luck with your new home

It's been a while since I was setting up home, but I used to look in the local paper for second-hand furniture and did well. Sofas and upholstered chairs might not be up to modern standards for fire safety, but you should be able to get tables, kitchen chairs and bedroom furniture that way.

I should think Argos are pretty cheap for most things. Their bottom-of-the-range items like fridges will be fine, maybe cookers too. Bedding and curtains as well perhaps, kitchen items, small pieces of furniture.

Could you ask for an advance on your Christmas presents? Maybe you could have china, saucepans etc now and just a token something for Christmas.

As for a bed, you could be hippies for a while and just have a matress. It's perfectly comfortable! Put a throw over it and it will look fine in the daytime.

Hope you enjoy the adventure, don't worry too much about everything being perfect. As long as you have the basics you'll be fine.

pandas66

Cheapest way to get some furniture and kitchen items I found was to ask my parents if there was anything I could take. Mum took full advantage of this and got rid of a few items she wanted replacing. Don't tell Dad as she never confessed this. She turfed out all her old/mismatched towels and bedding etc, treated herself to nice new matching stuff when I left.
She put the word about with her friends/collegues and it turned up some excellent finds, saved us a heap of money, people were so keen to help.

amateur_saver

I would suggest a trip to Ikea in Bristol for you too... I think that is your nearest one... the furniture and things are cheap there, although take a big enough vehicle. Perhaps you could borrow a catalogue from someone to check out what they have, or check their website. They are good for starters.. for example saucepans etc etc etc... for example ...

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=7&categoryId=12190&langId=-20&parentCats=10108*12190&cattype=sub


Store News

WOW! what's new!

New 2006 IKEA catalogue!

Mid August sees the launch of our new 2006 IKEA catalogue in store.
With jaw dropping style and new lower prices, pay less & enjoy more this year!

AMAZING! 20% off all our bedframes!*

From the 1st August 2005 to the 9th July 2006, IKEA now offers you 20% off all priced bedframes in our new 2006 IKEA catalogue if purchased in store.*



Hope this helps..... also bargaincrazy.com seems to be cheap..

A_S xx

martinpike

Try joining your local Freecycle network. A fridge/freezer and several beds have been passed on on my local network recently.

calleyw

amateur_saver wrote:

I would suggest a trip to Ikea in Bristol for you too... I think that is your nearest one... the furniture and things are cheap there, although take a big enough vehicle. Perhaps you could borrow a catalogue from someone to check out what they have, or check their website. They are good for starters.. for example saucepans etc etc etc... for example ...

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=7&categoryId=12190&langId=-20&parentCats=10108*12190&cattype=sub

And about 90 miles round trip. So what you saved you have spent on fuel. And spend all day getting there and getting back. Not what I would call a fun day out.

There is an Argos in Trowbridge. You can sets for cutlery sets from £3.75, cordless kettles from £5.70. Tescos and wilkinsons are great places for picking up cheap kitchen items. Like a masher for 35p. And tescos are having a sale at the moment. Last time I was in the Trowbridge one they where selling bath sheets for £4 each. That was last week by the way.

There are plently of places around the trowbridge area to buy items like beds and sofas with resorting to go to Bristol. Like Heli beds not sure of there prices but keep seeing them advertised on the local telly.

As I live about 7 miles from the Trowbridge so I do know the area. I get 3/4 freebie papers a week through my door. And there are always people getting rid of unwanted items in the back..

For council tax banding look here

I do not want to put a downer on the excitement of your first home. But I would seriously think about working out a budget now to see if you both can afford it. Because you are going to get very upset and maybe even stressed and depressed if you can't afford to go out once in a while and have to sit and look at the same four walls. And then kick yourself saying why did I ever move out.

Also don't think you need everything. Just get the basics and you can then build from there.

Any further questions just PM.

Yours


Calley

calleyw

martinpike wrote:

Try joining your local Freecycle network. A fridge/freezer and several beds have been passed on on my local network recently.

But aren't you suppose to offer items first before taking items.


Yours

Calley

rchddap1

With Ikea I find it depends on how much you are wanting to buy, and where else you have looked. When I was kitting out my first place I looked everywhere for some decent lounge furniture. But nothing that I could find was what I wanted. We ended up taking a long trip to Ikea (60 - 80 miles). And I nearly fainted when I got there. The very first stand we looked at had the exact furniture that I wanted. We had a good sized car and ended up spending around £200.

So, sometimes a long drive can be justified...but do your homework first, and if you do go and expect to buy lots please make sure that you take a large vehicle.

I would also echo the need to budget things up before you take the plunge. Be sure that you can afford it. Work out how much council tax, rent, leccy, water, gas and other bills will cost.

Jacster_2

calleyw wrote:

But aren't you suppose to offer items first before taking items.


Yours

Calley

I can't recommend www.freecycle.org highly enough.

You do need to offer with your first post, but it doesn't need to be a big thing. Clear out your old clothes and offer them, or some books, computer games, a plant pot, anything.

Then put a wanted post on saying that you are moving into your first home and looking for any old furniture people want rid of. be prepared to travel and pick up promptly and you'll be surprised at what you get.

Good luck in your new home:D

Bendybops19

I have picked up a whole load of mashers/ladles/wooden spoons from sainsburys, they were abuot 25p each!!!!! I thought it was great!!!

Asda do great lights and bed linen/duvets etc for amazing prices

Good Luck!!I am trying to find somewhere to move to with my partner,so we are trying to find cheap stuff too!!

Nile

Hello flang


A washine machine? Luxury (I'm in Monty Python mode now:D ).........I had to drag my washing along to a 'coin op' launderette when I moved into a bedsit..........not too easy as I used my bicycle to transport it on the handlebars.

Don't be too proud to ask for help. Your family and friends will find all sorts of things to pass on to you as you set up home together.

Don't be too proud to use second/third hand items. As your salary/budget allows, you can slowly replace items with new.

Don't forget to buy (or beg) cleaning items/products like a bucket, mop, bleach, disinfectant etc.

Set a list of priorities.......such as...... you must have a bed but a freezer isn't so essential.

I lived with bare floor boards for months because other furniture items were more important than a carpet.

If you can, save up for items and don't get into debt by buying on credit.;)
You will always remember your first home away from your parents. I hope you enjoy setting up home together and get lots of support and help.