People often move out of their childhood home when they start their studies or find their first permanent job. If money is scarce, you can go a long way by being resourceful, recycling, visiting flea markets and refurbishing furniture. A tight budget does not mean you cannot make your home functional, comfortable and unique.

Here is another tip: renting a home through the Lumo webstore makes your tight budget more flexible. This means you don’t need to pay a security deposit, leaving you more funds for necessary everyday items. There are Lumo homes in all the popular student cities. Find available Lumo homes in Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Oulu.

When planning your move, find out if your parents or friends have any supplies, goods or even furniture they no longer need. You’d be surprised at what you can find. Dishes that have made way for something new, bedlinen used by the family member planning to move out or furniture no longer needed as children leave the family home. This is a good place to start.

If they don’t match your taste, consider refurbishing them for a new look. A new coat of paint or adhesive vinyl film on a desk or a chair goes a long way, and new upholstery can completely transform the look of a sofa, for example.

Rent your home through the Lumo webstore and pay zero security deposit!

Sometimes, it may be difficult to bring everything with you from your old home. If you are travelling to a new city by train, for example, you cannot bring a houseful of furniture with you. In that case, turn to flea markets and recycling centres. Online flea markets and Facebook groups in different neighbourhoods are also a great place to find what you are looking for.

When shopping at flea markets and recycling centres, remember the same advice as before: if a piece of furniture does not quite match your style, you can always refurbish it.

It is also good to consider the weight of the furniture you choose for your first home. Your student apartment is not likely to be your home for the rest of your life, and young people move often. Lightweight furniture is easier to transport if you need to move several times in a few years.

A job well planned is a job half done. This also applies to moving into your first home. This is why we recommend taking the time to plan the furniture and other items you will most often need in your new home. Usually, the most important pieces of furniture are a bed, a chair and a table: a place to sleep and a place to work and eat.

Other important items include bedlinen, towels, some cleaning supplies and kitchenware. Lamps and light fixtures are particularly important, as well as a ladder so that you can install a ceiling light. Curtains are also a good idea if the apartment does not have blinds or shades and passers-by can see into your home. A microwave oven saves time in your busy daily life. All of these can easily be found in any flea market.

Above all, keep in mind that creating a home takes time. At first, you can make do with less and, as you get to know your new home a little better, you can see more clearly what you really need and want. Try to avoid impulse purchases that you will regret later, even if they are a great bargain at the flea market.

One more tip before you go: Lumo residents have access to a wide selection of services and benefits as well as a group of housing experts who will help you build a comfortable, effortless everyday life.