As a new home owner who is moving into a home for the first time, there is every chance that you are completely phased by the cost of everything. You go to Ikea and you look at the price of even their basic, low-cost furniture, and you wonder how you are ever going to be able to afford it.
You go to an electronics retailer and you look at how much it is going to cost you for a half decent television and a nice DVD player, so that you can sit in your nice new living room in the evening and enjoy the basic creature comforts that are associated with modern living.
You walk through the same electronics retailer and you look at the cookers and the fridges, the microwaves, the toasters and the kettles and all of a sudden you start gulping because the first thing that crosses your mind is the fact that you have purchased this new home – your first ever home – and you aren’t going to be able to afford to put anything in it. The fact of the matter is, though, you will be able to, and you will be able to do it easily.
The first key to saving yourself enough money to be able to buy all the things you need, is to totally disregard the aforementioned furniture stores and electronics stores. There places are great for a middle-aged couple who are going through the process of moving in their tenth home, both of whom have fantastic jobs, neither of whom have had to give a second thought to money in years.
You have to tap into your version of these shops. And so, you go to places such as the British Red Cross, and other charity organisations that stock home furnishings. These places are essentially like charity shops, but instead of stocking just cloths and books, CDs, DVDs and gaudy ornaments, they stock all the type of things that a person needs when they are moving into a new home.
Visit your local British Red Cross and you’ll be astounded at what you’ll find: sofas, armchairs, irons, kettles, bedside tables, beds, lamps, coffee tables, hoovers, Welsh dressers, chests of drawers, book shelves – you’ll even find yourself a flat screen TV, if you pop in at the right time. The British Red Cross is just one example of multiple places that are popping up right across the country selling second hand home furnishings that are in great condition. Shopping around online can also be a great way of saving yourself some money. This is how you save yourself serious money as a first time buyer. And remember – this is what all the smart people are doing. Anybody can get themselves in trouble with a credit card, just because of a misplaced sense of pride. Do what the smart people do, and kit your home out for less.
Once you have furnished your home, you need to ensure that your contents are protected, getting good home insurance cover doesn’t have to be a costly venture and if you shop around you can find some great deals.
