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Original poster

Help to pay for carpets

25 replies

CandyApple1995 · 14/12/2019 15:13

Hello everyone. I'm moving into a new council house in the next few weeks, and I'm just wondering if there is any help towards carpet costs or moving costs for famalies on low incomes or benefits? I'm a single mum of four and I've no idea how I'm going to carpet a new house. I've enquired about paying weekly, but can only find somewhere that would do one room for weekly repayments, not a full house.

And if you are going to comment things like 'you should have thought about that before having children' or ' get a job' don't bother, you don't know my circumstances.

Thanks!

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 14/12/2019 15:16

Is this helpful, OP?

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grants-low-income/

NoSquirrels · 14/12/2019 15:20

Assuming you don't have access to a low-cost or 0% credit card, probably your best bet is to just take it room by room, and look for offcuts in carpet shops, which will be cheap.

Ask on Freecycle/Freegle etc too for large rugs - these can work as a temporary measure.

And I have painted both floorboards and concrete for a quick fix...

DianaT1969 · 14/12/2019 18:21

What is on the floor at moment OP?

Fairylea · 14/12/2019 18:23

Not sure if this will be helpful but there’s a page on Facebook called “DIY on a budget” with over a million members and tons of posts, you might find some interesting ideas and ways to save on stuff there.

dementedpixie · 14/12/2019 18:24

There may be council run schemes so speak to them. My sister got cheap carpets, furniture and paint through her council hardship scheme

Pickledtubby · 14/12/2019 18:25

Depending on your housing association, you may get help with paint with a voucher. But not with flooring.

Go with off cuts or keep an eye on facebay for offcuts or hardly used carpets

Tonz · 14/12/2019 18:26

My sister moved into a council house on low income and applied for a budgeting loan. She didn’t get any money but because she has kids she got her whole house carpeted beds for the kids white goods for her kitchen and a sofa. All basic stuff but she can slowly replace everything bit by bit

LouLouLoupee · 14/12/2019 18:35

The community care grant helps in this situation

Original poster
CandyApple1995 · 14/12/2019 18:40

Thanks for the advice so far everyone! It's just floorboards at the moment, I can't apply for a budgeting loan because I had one in September to pay for all the back to school stuff and I'm still paying that back. I've asked the housing association but they said they can't help and don't know anyone that can, if it wasn't so close to Christmas I would have been better off!

OP posts:
Original poster
CandyApple1995 · 14/12/2019 18:41

I've tried looking into a community care grant but can't find anything, where abouts are you LouLouLouepe?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 14/12/2019 18:43

It wasn't a loan my sister was given. The council arranged the carpets (cheap with no underlay but at least the floorboards got covered) and white goods and a couple of beds but it didnt cost her anything. Is there not a different hardship fund through the council there?

dementedpixie · 14/12/2019 18:44

What area are you in? I appreciate my sister is in Scotland so it may work differently here

ShamblyChristmas · 14/12/2019 18:47

Hello op. The Salvation Army may be able to help you:

here.

Good luck and hope the move goes well.

dementedpixie · 14/12/2019 18:48

Might be Local Welfare Assistance scheme if your council offers it

www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Emergency-Information/Local-Welfare-Assistance

Original poster
CandyApple1995 · 14/12/2019 19:53

I'm in the North East, I will ask my local council again on Monday. thanks everyone!

OP posts:
HappyHammy · 14/12/2019 19:57

Try The Biscuit Appeal.

Tonz · 14/12/2019 19:58

We are in Scotland too. My sister had to list everything she needed and then the decision maker decided what was essential and that’s what she got. She also didn’t have to pay anything back

Asdf12345 · 15/12/2019 13:01

What’s wrong with floorboards?

Asdf12345 · 15/12/2019 13:01

Sand and varnish may be the cheapest and nicest solution.

BathHell · 15/12/2019 13:21

Floorboards are absolutely fine Confused I thought you were going to say you had exposed concrete floors!

Get rugs as a temporary measure, just don't forget the underlying grips so they don't go sliding off if they're not held down with furniture.

Original poster
CandyApple1995 · 15/12/2019 13:32

Yes, floorboards are fine but it's absolutely freezing. The kitchen is concrete floor.

OP posts:
Chocs44 · 15/12/2019 16:36

Look on gumtree for second hand but good quality carpets. I sold the one from our spare room for a bargain price and it was in mint condition hardly used.

ATowelAndAPotato · 15/12/2019 16:55

Not sure if you have one local to you, but Tapi carpets have a huge range of off cuts, we did two large rooms (4x6m) for about £100.

Mosaic123 · 15/12/2019 17:38

And there is the website Freecycle, where people give stuff away for free.

mondaypolomint · 16/12/2019 18:08

Is there any local Facebook groups that you could ask for advice and help on? I know my local groups often help people or at least point them in the right direction

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