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Setting up your first home

by charlottecook

Setting up your first home can be an expensive business. If you’re renting you have to find the first month’s rent and the deposit at the same time, and pay for any new furniture you might need. Buying a house is of course, even more of a stretch, as you sign up for 20 years’ worth of mortgage payments.

Whatever way you’re doing it, you’ll need to get a few bits of furniture, even if you keep it to the bare minimum to start with, and then add more things as you can afford them.

So, the base line of things you’ll need is a bed, a cheap dining table and a couple of chairs, a fridge and an oven. Anything else is a bonus. After that, you can start collecting bits of furniture little by little.

Depending on your funds, you can start off by begging and borrowing from friends and family. If you ask, you’re bound to find someone who’s got a spare sofa or a wardrobe they no longer need. Sure, it may not be the style you want, but don’t forget the old adage ‘beggars can’t be choosers’. Live with hand me downs for a while, even if they don’t match. It’ll save you having to go into debt for a few bits of furniture. You can always disguise a sofa you’re not so keen on with a throw or liven it up with some cushions. As long as what you’re offered is functional, accept with open arms and gratitude.

In a couple of months’ time, after you’ve paid the rent and the bills, you’ll have amassed some spare cash and then you can go down to the sofa sales and pick up something a little more your style.