5 tips for setting up home on a budget
When you first start to set up your very home, it’s an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be an expensive time too. No matter how old you are when you finally take that step and move into your own place, you’re bound to worry about how you’re going to afford everything. Most places these days come unfurnished, so you’ll need to kit out your whole home. But as a money-saving blogger, I have got a few tips up my sleeve to help you to set up home on a budget.
1. Don’t think you need everything straight away
OK, so it’s only natural to want to have your home set up with everything straight away. In reality though, that’s probably not going to be feasible. Unless you’ve saved up a lot of money in the run up to your move, or you’ve got family who are helping you out, then you’re probably going to need to prioritise what you need initially.
There are a few things that you’ll need to prioritise. Your list might vary slightly from mine, but these would be my priority purchases:
- Fridge/freezer
- Washing machine
- Cooker
- Kettle
- Bed
- Seating
2. Consider renting things for a while
Don’t be tempted to buy things on credit. If you can’t afford to buys something, then consider renting things for a while until you’ve saved up enough to buy your own. You might even decide to continue to rent some things long term. For example, tv rental can be a great way to get a new TV into your home that you wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford. Doing this gives you the option to upgrade to a newer model whenever you want to without paying a fortune for a brand new television.
3. Use local Facebook groups
Most areas have local Facebook groups where you can find free items that people just want rid of. I’ve seen lots of beds and even sofas that people need to just get out of their homes ready for replacements to arrive. Often, these items are still in really good condition, and they’re perfect for somebody who is just starting out but doesn’t have the money to buy new.
As well as these freebie groups, there are also local for sale or swap groups where people sell their unwanted items at knockdown prices. You can find all sorts in these groups such as crockery, kitchenware, bedding and even kitchen white goods.
4. Use charity shops
Charity shops are little gold mines when you’re first starting out in your new home. They are full of everything you could possibly think of to set up home. You may need to spend a little time in a few different shops, but I regularly see crockery in the smaller shops and the bigger shops always have lots of secondhand furniture in. Many of these larger charity shops will deliver items to you, and they’re priced extremely competitively, so it’s a great way to buy everything you need.
5. Have a budget
When you first move into your own home, it’s likely to be the very first time that you need to learn to pay all your bills and manage your money. Sit down and make sure you know exactly how much money you need for bills, how much you’ve got for food and other expenses and then how much money you have left over. Knowing how to manage your money is a vital life skill and it really should be taught in schools!
Always make sure your priority bills are paid. Priority bills include rent/mortgage, utilities (gas, electricity and water), and council tax.
Setting up a new home should be a really exciting time, and as long as you manage your money well and take time to work out your budget, then there’s no reason why it can’t be. Just remember that you don’t need to buy everything straight away.
*This is a collaborative post.
