@afewbugs I keep having to explain to my mum (age 75) that furniture is NOT expensive but rent/mortgages are MASSIVE. And that for 1-3 months' rent in most places, you could furnish an entire house with IKEA type stuff.

My mum is stuck in the early 70s, rent was cheap but places were grotty and furniture was £££. Mum and Dad had grocers' boxes and a wardrobe door as a table for months after moving in. Their first bed cost £££ and was an investment 'for life' (25yrs till the divorce).

@NatalyaD @afewbugs
I was told the same!
We finally managed to save up for a down payment, and we were told "make sure to budget about $10k for furnishing it". What?!?!?

We've lived in an apartment for 18 years and have everything we need already. I can get any other piece of furniture I'd want secondhand for less than $100. WTF would I spend $10k on?

@Artemis201

Yep! I think even second hand furniture in the 70s was expensive in the UK at least. Whereas now I think the 2nd hand costs dropped because there is so much cheap mass produced stuff that is "trendy".

Much of our furniture is acquired from our families. My partner built our bed as a strange size (Euro King Size) which cost a few hundred pounds + a few mattresses.

Otherwise I think since 2003 we've bought 2x 4 chairs and 2x tables all 2nd hand all under £70 total.

@afewbugs

@NatalyaD @Artemis201 @afewbugs

As we contemplate selling our house and moving in the next year or so, we're often discussing what's worth taking, and what isn't, and a lot of furniture and appliances fall into the "easier not to take, and just replace cheaply second hand at the other end" category. We'll just donate what we can here, and take the minimum we need to be comfortable while we acquire 'new' stuff later.

@suearcher @Artemis201 @afewbugs

That makes perfect sense, and it means you can keep the stuff you know you definitely like, but get new-to-you stuff that is more suited to your new place and lifestyle.

I think my mum is going to end up living between houses and is trying to get rid of everything she doesn't care about to minimise storage hassle before her new place. Esp now she has the Glossop place to obtain replacement stuff if needed.

@NatalyaD @suearcher @Artemis201 @afewbugs
Many years ago I helped friends move from Yorkshire to north Scotland. I hired a 7.5 ton truck, loaded it full and drove it up there for them. Then drove it back empty.

When they were returning, they flew me from Manchester up to Inverness, where I picked up a 3.5 ton van, and moved them back south again.
The van was not full because they just sold most of their stuff and replaced it afterward they arrived south.
The van was one way hire and just needed to go to a local depot.

Their next move didn't even require my help.
______

Of our move, Sue and I are being brutal about what we are not taking.
I think we are even going to take new Ikea vacuum packed mattresses to save transport space, and leave our old ones behind.

@Maker_of_Things @suearcher @Artemis201 @afewbugs

I guess a lot comes down to whether furniture has sentimental value too. I think When It Was Expensive, it was often an heirloom almost, so had memories regardless of its financial value.

And I must admit I do like some of my inherited furniture and thinking "this was in my bedroom when I was a kid (AND it's useful now)".

I think my parents splitting up means I inherited stuff early when I was skint, that she no longer wanted.

@afewbugs @NatalyaD @suearcher @Artemis201
This is very true.

When my ex wife and I moved from London to Manchester we found our old wardrobe wouldn't fit up the stairs in our rental house.
I ended up cutting the decorative cornice off the top, and feet off the bottom.

We also struggled moving our big 1930s sofa bed, and had to take out windows to get it in and out.
It was only after the third move that we found it could be taken apart and moved in bits! 😄

@Maker_of_Things @afewbugs @suearcher @Artemis201

I think back in the day all furniture was big/heavy and perhaps poorer people with less stable housing had less of it.

Now we have dismantelable furniture which is less big.

@quixoticgeek @kim @NatalyaD @suearcher @afewbugs @Artemis201
Our bed is one I made from salvaged materials, mostly from mahogany '4x2's and two doors.
It breaks down into:
Headboard
Footboard
3No. long rails
2No. boards (Made from hollow core doors to go under the mattress)
4No. wedges

The only awkward part to move is the superking sized mattress.

I have abandoned the top part which made it into a four poster bed.

@Maker_of_Things @quixoticgeek @kim @NatalyaD @afewbugs @Artemis201

...and the newel post topper ball feet, which made it too high for short legged me to sit on comfortably. But which were handsome.

@suearcher @Maker_of_Things @quixoticgeek @kim @afewbugs @Artemis201

Yes, Kim planned our bed height carefully and it is higher than typical which was optimal for post hip surgery when I was allowed back upstairs.