To use my recently cleared Credit Card for this..

[Qwerty19]

I'll try and keep it short.
Overcrowded in HA. Have found a private rental. Awaiting on the paperwork to move end of month
We've been told we can paint as 2 of the bedrooms are not good and need to do before moving as once furniture in it will be difficult.
My son has enough stuff as he has own room now.
Dd and dsd have nothing for a bedroom as currently sharing with us. Ie wardrobe space etc.
The girls room will need a carpet too which we've been given permission.
I'm stressing as every bit of cash we've had to use for deposit and month upfront.

I need to get wardrobe and drawers for girls. A bed for ds and the girls will have the bunks that ds currently uses ( dsd normally goes in with him and dd in cot but outgrown)
A few homely items like lighshades. Curtains etc.

Everything else we'd make do. But to try and furnish a 3 parlour bed house from a small 2 bed flat at short notice is stressing me out.
I struggle with change and the fact I love my home as it is.

Due a babybin the new year so wanted to get sorted by end Oct to then concentrate on Xmas and baby.

Please note. I didn't expect my life to change so much when I moved here it was just me and ds. Never expected to meet so. Wine and get married. We had dd with treatment but was told we wouldn't conceive naturally and we did.. If it wasn't for that we would of manged to scrape by until ds goes to uni.

I had worked hard to clear the credit card so feel gutted to feel the need to use it. But I goess it's not like I'm using it for useless things or meals out etc.

Freecycle. I have just given away an Ikea sofa, a dining table, and a chest of drawers (the latter was v expensive when new). I could possibly have sold them, but I needed them to go quickly so someone has benefited whose need was greater than mine.

@choli that is true, although now a landlord can't rerent for 3 months if they put a tentant out without the correct notice.
I've just googled it, it's not the law at all
It is a law in Ireland, our local fire service dont supply fire equipment or do fire inspections, housing officers check.

I got half way through that and knew you were going to say you were pregnant. Both you and your husband had a child each before you needed treatment for your joint child. I’m surprised you took the risk.

I wouldn’t be giving up the secure HA, unless you’re in an area where they’re easy to come by. I’m guessing not, as then you’d hang on for a HA 3 bed.

The children all sound quite young? I’d have 3 in one bedroom, baby in with you, and hold out for bigger HA.

But I absolutely would not put ANY of what you suggest on a credit card. Light shades? You can get the paper ones for couple of quid. Furniture as others have said, free or very cheap.

Have read replies.
Very mixed bag.
The carpet is going on top of landlords. This is because I'm allergic to wool and one carpet is wool. So can't be avoided
One is very thin and worn so again going on top.
Decorating would be cheap as only allowed to paint cream colors.
Furniture I briefly looked in charity shops today and was only a fraction cheaper than IKEA. In fact some items were more expensive. But I can keep looking.

In fairness apart from one room which is painted really dark its all neutral so I personally want to freshen.. Its not that it needs it as such. I'm just struggling with the fact that I'm in a new build now all freshly painted that no one has ever lived on and the house has been.. Maybe down to previous borderline ocd. Trying to mentally get my head round it.
I don't want to move in and struggle mentally then have baby and it be more difficult to do.

Your suggestions are great. I've just joined freecycle too :)

I have a teen. Dsd has to share with him. She may be with us FT but can't go into details. Before this his ex has stopped all access until lies were proven.
Anyway we had a dd. Which would stay in with us or just sleep in with ds but toys etc elsewhere.. We were told we had zero chance of conceiving naturally.. And it happened.
As I've said in previous threads we are in this situation.. Theres people worse that are higher priority.
Dsd can't be with us ft if she has the share with teen ds understandably and his room is tiny. Bunks. Drawers and homework desk.

Our wait is 7 to 10 years min..
So we decided because we could just about afford private we would bite the bullet.

The landlord has a good rep and it's via an agency who have dealings with lots of his properties.
So hoping it's all OK. It's a risk we have no choice to take for the kids..

So kids are ds 13 dsd 7 dd 18m. Then a baby soon. The small room is tiny. Ours just about fits our bed toddler bed wardrobe and 2 bedsides.

When I moved here it was just me and ds. I never expected to meet someone etc etc and everything ch age and it has. We could just about fit when dd was born. SS then contacter dh regarding his dd and as they say that's history now and we have to accommodate

The house is unfurnished as apart from items for a 3rd bedroom we have everything Inc all white goods.

Sorry should of said... Carpets are there. I just can't touch wool.. And another isn't great. The carpets needed from an independent shop with an offer is 200 for both small rooms.

There is a fridge. Cooker and washer. But the landlord has said if we want to. Use our own. Providing the electric oven is installed properly by someone qualified. We can store his in garage. But unsure yet. May just store ours.

Now you’ve added the ages, I remember your precious thread about whether you should move or not.

You should have been planning to move anyway - it’s not appropriate to plan for a 7yo girl and unrelated 13yo boy to share on nights when she is with you. It’s not fair on either of them. So you should have been saving for lampshades etc even before you decided to have another child together, who is now a toddler. You need to slow down, and save - you don’t need lampshades, you don’t need drawers - not until you can afford them.

The dsd thing she wasn't coming here when we planned to have dd.
SS Contactes dh regarding issues.. Its been a messy 3 years. She's now with us loads and it's lookingike it may be FT. So had we of known this then of course we'd of saved.
Tbh the kids love sharing.. But that won't last and I know it's not right but on the other hand it's for her safety so can't be helped.

But I've taken on board all the suggestions. And have registered for some sites and will look tonight.

One is very thin and worn so again going on top.

Would the LL put another wool one down, is that why you’re paying for your own ?

I don't know what they'd put down to be honest..

If you are going to spend on the credit card sit down and write a list before buying anything. Put whatever basics you need on it. Do not deviate from the list when shopping. All those wee extras are what bump the cost up.

OP join the site. It’s much smaller and friendlier than freecycle and more local. You can join up to as many other local areas as you want and make a polite request for any items you need at low or no cost. People are frequently extremely glad to send unwanted items to a good home.

Sorry, it should say, ‘Join the Nextdoor website.’

Clothes rail instead of wardrobe
Mattresses on the floor instead of beds
Boxes on the floor instead of drawers

Etc. This is how our rooms were furnished when we were kids. I never gave it a moments thought. 💁🏻‍♀️

Clean and freshly painted would be fantastic though. It would make it feel homely

Dunhelm Mill are good for cheap curtains and blinds. My kids got incredible bargain curtains in their sales. They were chosen on price alone but were actually very acceptable - neutral colours and nice fabric.

Don't put down a carpet or paint anything unless the landlord is willing to take your rent down in order to compensate you.

With the furniture, buy either second hand or take 0% apr deals. Most places will offer 0% apr for 2-4 years and that way you buy the stuff and pay monthly then it's paid instead of getting into a cycle again with a credit card

Surely it's the landlord that needs to do the carpet and paint if needed? Don't do it. It's not worth it in the long run.

He's already reduced it by 50 pm because the garden needs a bit of work.
He wants min 10 years providing we pay on time then he has no problem. So fingers crossed

And in all. Honesty all the garden needs is the slabs to be re laid as unlevel and bushes. Maintained.
My brother can do all that in a few days. So it's no issue for us. So we were pleased on that.
Like I say with the paint.. Its painted I just feel weird of what other people have made a bit grubby. It's not dirty dirty just the odd mark.. And bedroom being a horrid color that's my choice.

Hang on, are you pregnant as well as having the 3 DC between you? So there'll be a 4th to add to this mix soon?

I've just googled it, it's not the law at all

It is a law in Ireland, our local fire service dont supply fire equipment or do fire inspections, housing officers check*

No it's not. I live in Ireland too. It's standard practice but not a legal requirement. I think you're talking about HAP requirements for landlords.

So your landlord is getting a new garden, rooms decorated and new carpet? Jesus, OP, I really hope he doesn’t kick you out after 12 months to attract a higher rental income to his lovely renovated house...

Dripfeed changes it. So there are carpets but they are woolen. You are allergic to wool so want to change them? You could put rugs down and wear slippers.