So out of my depth… Budget nowhere near enough

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I’ve name changed for this as my friends don’t know my dire financial straits.

I bought a doer upper (because we had to move and it was all I could afford). I knew I would have a very fixed budget for it, but as I’m starting to get quotes in I’m realising that it doesn’t even touch the sides.

Everything is twice what I expected (I’m not stupid and have renovated houses before, but not for a while). Wtf am I going to do? At this rate my budget is going to run out and I won’t have done half the stuff this house needs. As an example, I’d budgeted around £2k to get the kitchen fitted - first quote is £4k.

Earning more isn’t really an option and the stress of the renovation is already taking its toll. I’ve already borrowed £10k from family. I’m not talking expensive kitchens and marble flooring either, just getting the basics done.

How do people renovate on a budget in this day and age? I’m not skilled so doing things myself isn’t really an option.

I am starting to get really worried I’ve bought a wreck that I’ll never be able to do up. Any advice?

do u have a local fb group to get trades recommendations? 4k for fitting a kitchen sounds v high. or does that actually include buying the units?

The cost of Materials has gone through the roof so everyone has put their prices up. Another covid and Brexit effect I think.

Is learning to do more yourself an option? If you invest in some tools and pour over Youtube tutorials you may be surprised how much you could do yourself?

Would it be impossible to consider selling?

Is a lodger out of the question? Or, you could let out a room as office space 9-5 Mon-Fri? So many people hate working from home (myself as an example) but can’t shell out 400pcm to rent their own office. I bet you’d get £60 a week for an office room…

Prices of materials are much higher.

Sometimes there's decent second hand kitchens on FB. Not ideal but might make it affordable.

Do things to a minimum standard as cheaply as you can (and do them again properly when you can afford it) eg paint existing kitchen rather than replace it. Paint is an amazing thing to be honest. Makes everything look better.

Have a go at DIY. I'm terrible at it too, but figure that I do at least care, which a lot of tradesmen really don't, and then they cut corners anywhere they can. There are lots of video tutorials online.

Prioritise: do essentials first and don't sweat the aesthetics.

Can you just keep saving and extend your timescale? So instead of getting to done now, save for 2-4 more years? I know it’s not ideal but you will get there eventually

I sympathise! We've done a lot of renovations over the last few years, and DH is a builder so we aren't being hit by labour costs, but we're finding that materials have doubled in price.

The only advice I can give is keep your eyes open for second hand stuff. We managed to buy a kitchen (solid wood, about 10 units, with integrated dishwasher thrown in) for £100, and the tiles for hallway and kitchen were another £100. We got a brand new oven for half the list price because the owner decided it didn't match her cupboards! It's meant a lot of driving around and heavy lifting, but it's been worth it. Also, though I'm not particularly handy I've done demolition work and tiling myself (brick effect, which is more forgiving than nicely aligned tiles!)

Good luck!

This is post brexit/covid price hikes. It’s terrible. On the kitchen could you buy the unfitted IKEA kitchen? It looks ok and obviously no real fitting costs. Agree with others you will have to learn some things online… you can obviously paint and perhaps fit flooring yourself? I think paying for handiman time by the day could also help. Kitchen fitting at 4K is 16 days of £250 labour (obviously give a bit for fixed costs)…it doesn’t stack up so anyone who will do a day rate could be helpful to you.

Just make do, if it's habitable. We ran out of money for our doer upper 5 years ago, so we've been doing the last jobs bit by bit as we earn/save enough. All our money goes on the house, which is annoying. But it has given us time to source some bargains - like a previous poster, we got a kitchen for just a couple of hundred 2nd hand. And we installed it - it's very slow for us to do the work, but that saves us paying someone else.

I wouldn’t have the skills or time to fit a kitchen well though. I’m also getting to the point where my mental health is suffering tbh. I’m on my own and have three kids. I just feel so overwhelmed.

Selling is out of the question.

It’s like tradesmen see me and think, ‘oh slap another £2k on the quote.’

If I wait another couple of years, won’t everything be more expensive again? I don’t earn enough to save so wouldn’t really be in a better position financially.

Kitchen quote doesn’t include the units.

Is the house livable-in at the moment? If so, then can you change your mindset to doing it up over a much longer period of time, possibly DIYing some of the work? Can you save anything from your salary going forward?

Do it a bit at a time. We have only just finished doing the last room of our flat, 13 years after buying the place.

As long as it's habitable, which it will be if you have a mortgage, there's no rush to do it all now.

Buy the materials yourself and shop around. An account at the builders merchant will get you a discount.
Gower Rapide are an excellent range of kitchens at excellent prices.
Also haggle on materials. Make sure you include the extra bits
If you want a kitchen second hand ask on Freecycle or freegle. Also ask on Facebook as giving someone a kitchen it much cheaper than paying for it to be disposed of.

Well if you purchased it someone else will if you decide to sell it.

What kind of state are we talking? Is the kitchen useable? Maybe it’s just going to take you a lot longer than you thought to get it done.

Any other ways to increase income - taking in a lodger maybe?

Honestly, you learn to do a lot yourself. Youtube can literally teach you anything. Me and my dh have learnt how to fit kitchens, lay laminate, hang doors, build wooden gate, build decking from scratch, we had a house that needed gutting.

He has just taught himself a load of electrics now

ok, what things does the house need & how urgently? Do any structural things first (roof / gutters etc) because not fixing those will damage the structure long term.

how bad is the kitchen? IKEA does some very budget mini-kitchens that don't cost much to install (www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/sunnersta-mini-kitchen-90302079/).

This is absolutely Brexit / covid. Friends of mine planning extensions have seen their quotes double and triple recently. It's not your fault. Have you spoken to your lender about remortgaging to release some cash?

When we first got married and moved into a wreck, we painted the walls of the kitchen then bought very cheap wooden shelving units, which were floor to ceiling. They were absolutely fine for storing food and all pans/crockery etc. We then put in a small bit of worktop over the appliances and around the sink. It was absolutely fine for years like this! You do not need to spend a fortune.

Is it really that bad that you can’t live in it ?

My daughter used paint on her kitchen and sticky back plastic on the worktops and found flooring on freecycle and it looks so much better .

Don’t get yourself into debt .

Kitchens can be cheap if you live away from the fitted idea. I helped a mate recently. We got a big free fridge and painted it in blackboard paint - looks great! We found some random skip ready unit that doubles as a plates and cutlery unit and a work top. The sink unit was someone’s cast off. It’s eclectic but stylish in a boho way.

How bad is it?

Assuming it's habitable, just do the 50% you can afford. Having nice kitchen and bathroom, but slightly grotty bedrooms, lounge etc wouldn't be too bad.

Agree about buying second hand too. On FB this week I saw someone was selling a lovely utility room (cupboards, sink, white goods) for £300.

Ikea have five years interest free credit on kitchens until 27 Feb. Some nice inexpensive ones there.

Can you break down the work into:-

1. Essential
2. Necessary
3. Ideal
4. Aspirational

Then look at budget and timelines.
See what can be done second hand.
Wait for sales re anything that you can, even kitchens etc.
Negotiate hard on everything you can.

OP we moved into our current house nearly 8 years ago which was a total rip back and start again (1950's 3 bed semi). We've just completed the final part of the renovations which was the kitchen and about to embark in the redecorating adventure. Our kitchen was an end of line one from Howdens and including fitting cost us 6k.