One exciting milestone everyone can’t wait to achieve is to successfully secure a home purchase. All your hard work, from the time you decided to buy a house up until you got approved for a mortgage and found a home that fits your needs and budget is finally starting to pay off. Now that you found yourself a low-cost house and are ready to move in, the next thing on your list is to start furnishing your first home.
But one thing many homebuyers fail to realize is that there are other expenses you need to take care of aside from the costs that come with the home purchase. Furnishing your home can cost you money, especially if your old stuff won’t match your new house. How can one navigate this new challenge if you are on a shoestring budget?
Plan each room according to your needs
To make sure you get to stay on budget while furnishing your first home, start by ranking each of your room according to your needs. Prioritize each room by rank and start from the room you will spend most of the time in. Having a few essential items in each room is good enough for the time being. After a few days of living in your new house, you will come to realize what furnishings you actually need versus the things you only want. For the time being, spend on your needs first as you can always buy your wants once you acquire more budget.
Check out the price tag before buying
Instead of maxing out your cards and draining your savings, be wise enough to shop for more options. Other local brands offer quality and beautiful home furnishings that won’t break your bank. You also have the option to buy second-hand pieces of your favorite pricey brands. Just make sure to double-check the items as you don’t want to end up with a dirty, or wobbly piece that is missing a necessary part or two.
As much as possible, only pay in cash and avoid credit card payments. This allows you to enjoy cash discounts and avoid unnecessary charges. It also helps keep your eyes open on how you spend your hard-earned cash.
Accept second-hand furniture wisely
Some of your loved ones may be more than willing to give you hand-me-downs that you can add to your new home. You may also find free stuff being given out or thrown away by other people. While free stuff is always a good way to save money, it is crucial that you consider many things before accepting their generous offer.
For one, you will need to make sure it will fit in your new home. The furniture needs to be in good shape and that you can make a few changes so that it will blend in your interior. If it fails to meet such criteria, then it would be better not to accept items you don’t want or need.
The great thing about owning a house is you can decorate it any way you want at your own pace. Remember that your new investment is a long-term commitment. This means there is no need to rush and land in a huge debt just to furnish the house within your first month of moving in. Prioritize your needs and buy your furnishings wisely. Remember that there is no shame in accepting hand-me-downs if it meets your criteria.
