AIBU to feel disheartened by the cost of furnishing my first home?

[binocularsgranda]

I am single and live alone. I moved into my house about a year ago and it's my first home so I've had to get everything from scratch. My furniture is a mixture of freebies and things I bought over the months before I bought my house.
Once I have paid regular bills, mortgage etc I have £400 left each month for petrol, food, toiletries, clothes, shoes and parking.
I went for a walk around a home furnishings shop this evening to window shop essentially, not because I was planning to buy anything, just for a look. Even though I hadn't intended to buy anything, I left feeling disheartened. I can't see how I will ever be able to afford even the floor lamp for the living room, bed for the spare room or shelving for the dining room that I need. Yes I can - and will - look online for people giving things away but I think that should be my choice, not my only option because any other route to furnishing my home is simply out of reach. I have very little left over to save each month (and I am frugal - my outgoings are as little as they can be via comparison sites etc). It made me wonder how people afford to go into, for example, Next and buy a sofa. AIBU to feel down about the gap between everyday finances and the prices of necessities? I just want to make my home my own, nothing extravagant.

Ime Klarna is your friend!!

Finance. We had no savings left over after buying our house and needed new sofas so we did 0% finance

I am married and our household income is just above average. We've lived in our home for 15 years. Our home is also furnished with Facebook marketplace/carboot/charity shop finds and handmedowns from family. I would disagree that furnishing your home to your taste immediately is necessary.

On the up side a lot of our 2nd hand futniture is older, well made and solid wood, because that's what I've looked for and I upgraded our second hand mdf MFI/ikea stuff for second hand quality stuff. I learnt how to strip of old finishes, and re wax/paint/stain. And my house looks individual, I'll never see the same lump of furniture at a friend's place

But you're right, new furniture is expensive and I imagine lots of people that fully furnish homes from scratch do it on credit

You are single and have managed to secure a mortgage - that's pretty good going.

My first house was a mixture of freebies, second hand stuff and Ikea's most basic bits. That's pretty normal IME.

For my current home, I bought everything new. That's because my husband and I earn a lot more than we used to.

Charity shops.
We have mix of new and charity shop. I can't scoff at real wood for that price. They usually have loads. Ours also runs sale when they want to move some stuff. And then sales for new stuff. Nothing we own was full price.

Our first a while ago, we got some cheap (really cheap and not particularly pretty) bits from BHF and later donated them back when we saved a bit.

Lots of people get stuff on credit or save up. I got some things on 0% and that actually made me money.

I am quite concerned you have new mortgage and that little left over after basic bills? While there are no set rules, I though mortgages were concious of high % of income going on that. That's assuming the biggest bill is mortgage.

And do not put a sofa on finance for god's sake.

You're just starting out op. Pennies are tight, it takes most people years to be able to waltz into a furniture shop to buy decent quality furniture.

When I bought my first home I took my bed from home and made do with a complete mish-mash of furniture for years - stuff from deceased relatives homes, charity shop bits, car boot sales for kitchen stuff, Asda bedding. Slowly, when finances allowed, I was able to save for matching cabinets for the lounge, bed/drawers/wardrobe for the bedroom. Nobody does it quickly (unless they're doing it on finance) the first time as you need time to find your style and the money to do it.

You'll get there op - eventually your wages will increase, the % of your wages that fund the mortgage will decrease and you'll have more available cash. In the meantime get lots of ideas about how you'd like to really furnish your home, research second hand and grab a bargain or two

Just to add a moan. Wtf IKEA. WTAF are these prices

Fb marketplace! Some people change their decor like I change my knickers! Some bargains to be had there

Facebook marketplace for the win. If you go for an antique aesthetic. You can get amazing veneered / mahogany furniture that people are practically chucking away. Don’t over clutter and paint walls in clean light colours and you can achieve a beautiful look

For our first house we got everything second hand. For our second house we had a massive chunk of equity so used that.

Please don't rush out and try to furnish 'to your taste' right now.

In a couple of years time, your taste is likely to have changed and you'll just want to replace things, so it's much better if it's a few free bits off Facebook, instead of credit you take years to pay off.

You have the important bit, which is your home.
Take your time and be happy with having got that far, furnishings will come.

This was me with my first house! I bought it at 19, interest rates were about 14% (fortunately they started dropping the month after I bought it). Absolutely everything was second hand and my bed was a blow up mattress for about 5 years. I couldn't afford a car for another 6 years.

Getting a lodger changed things for me. I saved up all of her rent for 2 years and bought 2 sofas with it! Is that an option for you?

It took me 4 years to have enough to buy a new sofa. My first one was from the charity furniture place near my flat.
Tbf I miss that sofa 😂

I got a new bed after 8 years.

save up bit by bit. £10 a week builds up to £520 a year- enough for wardrobes etc

Why not? Why is it any different to putting it on a 0% credit card? There are no furniture charity shops near us and there weren’t any on marketplace so should people just sit on the floor instead🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s really hard/ financially challenging to buy as a singleton. There’s a variety of stuff a people do: finance, friends and family cast offs, second hand, online freebies, buy basic IKEA and replace as you can afford ( sometimes just with better IKEA).

If you have a spare room maybe a lodger would help financially? You can get up £7k ish a year tax free not saying you would but £400-500 a month could make a big difference to you financially. It doesn't need to be forever, try for a year of two till you’ve bought what you need

The first year of owning your first property is always tight but so worth it. Look at little independent shops or markets.

Tip for Facebook marketplace: in your first message say ‘I’d like this and I can come between X time on these dates’. Not just ‘is this still available?’

I’ve bought and sold so many things on FBM and saying that or receiving that specific message on timings is always what nails it

I moved into my first home a year ago with next to nothing. I got essentials on credit - fridge, beds, wardrobes, sofas. A year on I still regret doing that and wish I’d just bought second hand to start out

I got a cheap coffee table and side table from b & m “for a few months” but a year on they’re nowhere near being replaced

it’s so expensive starting out and after bills are paid there’s little left.

you WILL get there but try to stay away from credit

Because if you miss a payment or don't make the payment deadline the interest is exhorbitant. There are very few places in the world where it is impossible to source a second hand sofa.

My first house had only second-hand furniture, rugs, white goods, crockery, etc. I was given a double bed frame and had to put my single mattress on it for a year before I could afford a double mattress.

For my first home virtually everything was hand-me-down for the first 10 years or so - all my friends were the same, and we all had ok jobs.

About a year ago , 20 years in, we bought ourselves an actual new sofa and a new dining table.

It’s a relatively new thing to expect to fully furnish a house with brand new stuff when you’ve just bought.

I’d be very concerned that when you remortgage you will be left with even less money. I find it hard to believe that a bank would loan you an amount such that you’re left with £400 per month which includes food. Did you fib on your application?

I don’t say this to be mean but you are a pay cheque or emergency repair away from shit creek without a paddle.

This, how on earth did you get a mortgage

There is definitely a financial penalty being a solo householder but on the plus side there is no compromise on taste or styles! Im not very artistic or creative but over many many years have been pleased with my creations. There is no need to buy the posh furniture paint, fancy brushes or get new handles etc - there are loads of frugal workarounds. I use the sample pots in the sales or bargain bin section. Existing metal handles can tarted up with matt spray paint from Halfords or The Range etc. Your supplies can be used for several bits of furniture. There are probably loads of facebook groups on frugal upcycling and definitely groups that give away stuff for free. Our village gives away guest beds and allsorts.
Start small and lean into your creativity. You only need to please yourself 😎