To think my family are being weird trying to encourage me to buy things on credit?

[AwfulMaureen]

We have a new flat...we don't have a lot of money and we're moving in this week. Our old sofa was awful so we left it behind with the idea to buy a "new" one second hand.

My Mum and sister keep saying "What are you going to SIT on??" in a sort of panicky fashion...quite honestly I had thought we;d use our beanbags and the kitchen chairs until we found a decent second hand suite....they keep on about the sale at DFS...I've had a look and don't think any of them are very good quality and I don't like getting into debt and paying things off....I think "If you can't afford it you can't have it" sort of thing but they keep on and on.

Why? Why do they keep on about it? I feel judged for not wanting to get into debt! I could get the sofas from DFS ...take 4 years to pay them off and then find it's worn out!

[MrsHoolie]

You sound sensible to me.
In the 70's my parents went without a sofa for months amongst other things. They survived!

[BuzzardBird]

You sound sensible. If they are so bothered they can buy you one. Decent 2nd hand can be found if necessary.

[SystemIDUnknown]

DFS are awfully expensive. I wouldn't, I'd buy a decent second hand one, or if you wanted new, go to a smaller furniture outfit where the prices are less inflated and you can barter. Don't discount new completely...my bartering skills last year got me our new corner sofa, chair and footstool. It was £899 in the sale and I got it for £550 :)

[AwfulMaureen]

I feel like they think DH and I are weird or something...we've never liked credit and I think it's ignorance...people wanting something shiny and new but not having the cash for it.

[SystemIDUnknown]

Only thing I would say is if you've never had credit before, a credit card wouldn't go amiss. Just pay it in full each month to build your credit file.

[londonrach]

You sound sensible. If you have Facebook look on their local free sites are people are always giving away free sofas. You have to collect but that's cheaper than buying it new.

[NotNewButNameChanged]

System - people go on about building up a credit file and that you'll encounter difficulty if you don't but I've never experienced that in real life. I have never had a credit card and am now 40. I applied for my first mortgage at the age of 36. I do not earn huge sums of money. I had no problem whatsoever.

I think much of the financial crisis - in addition to the banks - was caused by the way society has become about credit and rather than saving up for something and then buying it (as we used to), the attitude now is that "I want and I want it NOW".

What was once a luxury - a foreign holiday - is now considered something we are all entitled to and are hard done by if we don't. I've been abroad twice in my whole life. I enjoyed it. But I've enjoyed loads of holidays in this country too.

[RunnerBeen]

My sofa cost me £30 from a charity shop- 3 seater and 2 chairs, and matched my living room perfectly and it's extremely comfortable- i actually sleep on it quite alot too.

You're definitely being sensible, especially if you have kids, mine's looking a bit grubbby now but i'm not too fussed, i would be peed off if i'd paid hundreds for it and my son had covered it in purple nail varnish or spilled cereal on it every other day. And i wont mind when it gets worn out and i have to replace it.


do what you feel comfortable with and try to ignore them.

[Kittymautz]

Ikea now do a small sofa for £75. I'd rather buy one if those than an over priced, bad quality sofa from the likes of DFS.

I agree about not getting credit. It's also much more satisfying buying something when you've saved up for it.

[Feminine]

We got a beautiful sofa workshop one (with a set of spare covers) for £20 from ebay!

It is so massive, and was difficult to get in to our narrow doorway we will be stuck with it forever

We will get new covers in the future. YANBU.

[senua]

My Mum and sister keep saying "What are you going to SIT on??" in a sort of panicky fashion

What they mean is "What are WE going to sit on?".

ignore, ignore, ignore. Look at S/H, charity shops, freecycle, gumtree, etc. Wait until either you have the money to match the sofa or the sofa to match your money (I'll bet the second option happens the sooner).

[Suzannewithaplan]

They don't want you to be sensible because it makes them look bad by comparison, so they try to break down your resolve...as drinkers will press booze onto abstainers

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

Gumtree and charity shops are infinitely better than credit. I'm proud that everything in my house except my bed is second hand, and my house looks great! Credit is an expensive nightmare, IME.

[Charlieboo30]

We bought a sofa from DFS and paid for it over four years. Seven years on its still going strong but I don't like it! Desperate for a new one but can't justify the cost really. The one we've got is leather and a 3 seater sofa. Nothing special and it was the best part of £1000. Don't know what I was thinking!

[Cornettoninja]

I have a preference for second hand much to DP's despair.

My line of thinking is that if it's still wearing well enough for second hand sale then it's a good buy for me. Clothes and furniture are particular favourites for me.

The first sofa I bought was brand new from Argos and lasted a couple of years top. Since then I've never even paid half as much and had better stuff than I could afford brand new that's lasted years.

Ignore the credit evangelists!

[SystemIDUnknown]

NoNew - It does happen, yes.

BUT plenty of people who apply for their first mortgage never having credit, and thinking that's a positive thing, are declined.

Part of your credit score is built on existing accounts and your history with them. You may have had no problem because of your age (sorry...I don't mean that as insulting!). At 36, presumably you would have had a bank account for many years which would show as a positive...possibly things like a contract mobile too, which you don't typically see as 'credit'.

Lots of problems I have come across (i'm a Mortgage Advisor) are with people in their early 20's. Decent salary, no credit ever. Then they apply for a mortgage and get an instant decline. Yet those who have had a couple of credit cards don't generally find any problems.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

YANBU, I only have one credit card which I pay. But we never but anything on credit from shops. If we can't afford it we don't buy it, or we save up.

I thought everyone sat on bean bags when you first move!

[flipchart]

I agree with system.
A credit card is not necessary a bad thing. It is a resource.it can also offer you protection on good sand services as well as helping to build up a positive credit history.

However it has to be understood and respected. Some people see to think of it as a licence to buy whatever you want without thinking about the consequences.

[NotNewButNameChanged]

System - Contract mobile? Nope, I pay as I go! The former is too much like credit or paying for something I might rarely use.

[LovelyJubblies]

Dont let them persuade you into getting credit.
One will lead to another and so one.
We did just that when we bought our first house, 19 years later we are on a debt repayment scheme and have literally no money.
If I could turn back the clock I would.
Its ruined my life, dont let it ruin yours.
And yes I have a DFS sofa

[Perfectlypurple]

Yanbu. I only buy on interest free credit if I have the money in the bank. Did that with our sofa. Didn't have to pay anything for a year so the money sat in my bank earning interest. I also buy most things on the credit card and pay it off in full each month.

[youmakemydreams]

Out of things I may get into debt for a sofa is definitely not one of them. So yanbu there.

As for the never having credit. Exh had never had credit in his life and ir caused mortgage and other problems when setting up house together. Companies that did credit checks for things refused in his name making it clear ir was not because he had a bad credit rating it was because he had no credit history at all.

[Lottiedoubtie]

It's a personal choice, don't be influenced either way.

If you want a second hand one, do that, if you want new, do that!

I have one on credit, not DFS but similar. I love it, it's two years old and still looks brand new, and it's on 0% so I'm not paying loads of interest. I could pay it off in full now, but as it is such a small amount comes out each month that I don't notice it going, so I'll keep paying it for the next two years.

I had years of second hand sofas but I love that this one only has dirt my family put there in it ifyswim .

[cozietoesie]

If that's their attitude to purchases and credit, they may be feeling uneasy about their debts and want you to be in the same situation. A sort of jealousy, really.

Stick to your guns and don't worry about it. There are a lot of sore heads right now and there are going to be many many more if interest rates start going up again. You'll sleep better at night.