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Original poster

What’s the most common way to pay for a new kitchen?

51 replies

Horcrux · 23/10/2019 15:01

Or bathroom.

Do most people save, or take out a loan?

Would you rather have s shitty old kitchen with no debt, or a nice new one with £5k of debt?

OP posts:
ArsenicGreen · 23/10/2019 15:02

We have saved first. But if I knew I could afford the debt, I would happily take a loan.

notacooldad · 23/10/2019 15:03

We paid cash as we went along.
I didn't want the debt .

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 23/10/2019 15:04

How do you get a new kitchen for 5k??

As for your question, I think most people borrow but obviously you need to be sure your income is stable.

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FairiesontheSwing · 23/10/2019 15:05

I saved up then was offered a years interest free loan so took that out and put the money in premium bonds in case I won a prize. Paid it off a month before it was due as if you didn't pay before the year was up, they backdated all the interest which would have been an extra few thousand.

Original poster
Horcrux · 23/10/2019 15:05

I don’t know @ItMustBe, haven’t really looked in to costs. What’s the average?

OP posts:
Lowlandlucky · 23/10/2019 15:09

Cash and only ever cash unless you need it i.e there has been a fire or flood and your kitchen is no more, if its because you want it then more the fool you

Justneedaflippingtemporaryname · 23/10/2019 15:11

How do you get a new kitchen for 5k

Of course you can get a kitchen for £5k. How long is a piece of string. You buy your kitchen according to your budget and taste.

Original poster
Horcrux · 23/10/2019 16:45

That’s kind of my thinking @Lowlandlucky but our kitchen is so shabby, workable but very dated. It doesn’t bother me or dh, we’re not even saving for a new one... although we probably should!
We’ve had comments from friends and family saying just get a loan out, like it’s a normal thing to do.

OP posts:
CuteOrangeElephant · 23/10/2019 16:47

Have you tried painting the cupboards?

I have done a quarter of mine now and it makes them look like new!

FrogFairy · 23/10/2019 16:53

I will probably buy my new kitchen from Ikea and they offer interest free credit. I will however make a part payment on my credit card to get the section 75 protection.

Cardboard33 · 23/10/2019 16:53

I think it depends on the person. The only loans we've ever had are our mortgage and student loan. Both of our parents were the same, minus the student loan. But I know lots of people who do take out loans for kitchens, cars, sofas etc so each to their own. I suppose it depends on how materialistic you are and whether you can live with your current set up.

FYI We paid around 5k in total (inc fitting, flooring, plumbing for dishwasher etc) for our new kitchen in our old 2 bed house. We live in London. Howdens have a very good sale around now actually, so look into them. We got their midrange price point units and were very satisfied.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/10/2019 17:20

Ive saved for all my home improvements. I have had loans in the past (say £3k to buy a car) but always with some savings as contingency (and worked a second job at one point to pay one off).

My small kitchen cost £6k ten years ago. Units, worktop and appliances from Wickes on a one-year interest free credit deal which I paid off using savings. Independent fitter, electrician and decorator, so all paid separately. No tiles (had the old ones removed and walls painted, hence decorator for that bit.) Flooring was done separately a couple of years later when I did all of downstairs.

HillRunner · 23/10/2019 17:24

Why on earth would you get into debt for a new kitchen that it doesn't sound like you want/need?

Save up, and use any savings for home improvements when needed.

FriedasCarLoad · 23/10/2019 17:27

Avoid non-mortgage non-student loan debt if at all possible. Definitely not worth it for a luxury like a new kitchen.

Shagged · 23/10/2019 17:30

Personally I would rather to save as I prefer to avoid debt for anything non-essential

Assuming current kitchen is functional I'd rather live with an unfashionable/tatty kitchen for a couple of years and save up before replacing but we are obviously all different so I'm not suggesting everyone should do the same

bellsbuss · 23/10/2019 17:34

Even though we could have paid for our kitchen outright we decided to do it over 2 years interest free credit. Didn't miss the monthly payment and kept the money in our savings.

MysteriousSheep · 23/10/2019 17:40

Ikea interest free - don’t miss the monthly payments coming out (although nice when finished, like a pay rise!)

Banana770 · 23/10/2019 17:43

We extended our mortgage, although ours was part of an extension we were doing. We justified it as there was quite a bit of equity in the house and if we were to sell we’d get the money back easily.

Chloemol · 23/10/2019 17:46

We saved and then did it, as we do for everything. That way we don’t worry about debt

PancakeAndKeith · 23/10/2019 17:47

How do you get a new kitchen for 5k??

I got my new kitchen for £3.5k. I used savings.
I did take out a loan for new windows though.

Fruityb · 23/10/2019 17:51

We’re paying for ours on 0% finance from Wren. It’s £150 a month for three years. Which is fine between us. Total cost was about £6k plus fitting which has cost us £1k. We had savings for that bit.

mamalovebird · 23/10/2019 17:52

We just got a new kitchen. Paid half as a deposit and financed the other half over 5 years which is still way before we'd think of changing it. Glad I didn't pay it all upfront out of savings as there have been additional costs that have needed paying in full (cash). We can always pay the finance balance whenever we feel like but it allows us to have contingency funds in the immediate term to finish it how we want it.

seven201 · 23/10/2019 17:53

We need a new kitchen but can't afford one for a long long time. I wouldn't put it on credit. I've recently spent a couple of hundred on paint (for cupboards and tiles) and new handles and am sprucing up my shitty one. It's surprised me how much better it looks! It still functions in a crap way, but much less ugly. If your kitchen doesn't bother you just carry on as you were and tell people to stop telling you what to do!

ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 23/10/2019 18:31

Genuinely thought kitchens cost more like 10 - 20k, even from mainstream retailers like howdens/IKEA. I'm glad to be corrected! Unless this is like the mumsnet chicken...

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/10/2019 18:46

Genuinely thought kitchens cost more like 10 - 20k, even from mainstream retailers like howdens/IKEA.

It depends, really. How big is the kitchen, are you replacing appliances and if so what with, are you replumbing or rewiring anything.

My mum suggested 'no more than 10% of the value of the house' as a guideline. I'd say that was generous.

My bathroom's smaller but cost £6k too. I like showering more than I like cooking Wink