Yahoo News Thrifty dad saves £2k on furniture for new home by using Facebook Marketplace
A savvy dad managed to save £2k on home furnishings by opting for freebies from Facebook Marketplace - turning his new house into a cosy home without breaking the bank.
Darren Leeming, 54, along with his wife Elena, 39, and their two children, Clive, six, and Violet, five, moved into a four-bedroom fixer-upper in York after relocating from Harrogate. The property, which they purchased for £330k, required £50k worth of renovations.
After their budget was stretched thin, Darren sought out alternative methods to furnish their abode. So he scoured Facebook Marketplace and an app named Olio and managed to secure 22 items, including a sofa, TV, cross trainer, and coffee machine, without spending a penny.
By choosing second-hand goods, Darren, who is an architect from York, believes he's saved around £2k. Reflecting on the experience, he said: "It was a 'doer-upper'. So of course we spent a lot of money renovating, and we literally ran out of money."
He added: "This is when we started looking on Olio and Facebook Marketplace to see what's out there, and what we could pick up."
The family's move to York in May 2023 led to a six-week renovation frenzy, which ultimately pushed them to seek out free furniture, reports Yorkshire Live. Among Darren's top finds were a sofa, a coffee machine, and a bed for his daughter, all sourced from Facebook Marketplace.
Additionally, he tapped into the resources of the Olio app, which is designed for people to give away surplus food and household items, where he found two TVs, two computer monitors, and a cross trainer for his family home.
Everything was acquired free of charge, only requiring him to collect it. And because the pieces were all in good condition, Darren didn't even have to undertake any DIY.
Darren also uses the food waste scheme on the Olio - and gets food for free from large retailers such as Tesco - and is even a 'food waste hero' where he uploads on their behalf. He said: "It's an ideal thing really, especially nowadays with the cost of living crisis."
What Darren got
Kids double swing - sourced on Facebook Marketplace for £0 worth £120 new
TV Stand - sourced on the street for £0 worth £60 new
PC monitor - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £90 new
TV - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £150 new
Cross trainer - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £199 new
Coffee machine - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £40 new
Plates & Bowls - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £25 new
Couch - sourced on Facebook Marketplace for £0 worth £450 new
Single Bed - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £100 new
Pillow and sheet set - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £30 new
Bedroom dressing table with stool - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £120 new
Small lamp - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £15 new
Small nest of tables - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £45 new
Garden Bench - sourced on Facebook Marketplace for £0 worth £60 new
Trees - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £240 new
Slabs for the path - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £60 new
Top soil - sourced from neighbour for £0 worth £100 new
Decor Candle light - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £70 new
SAT Receiver - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £200 new
Garden Chairs- sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £40 new
TV - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £350 new
Bookcase - sourced on OLIO for £0 worth £35 new
