Setting Up a 1BHK Flat Under ₹15,000 — Everything I Bought and What It Cost
Moving into your first rented flat is exciting
for about 48 hours.
Then you realise you need approximately
everything and have approximately no money
left after paying the deposit and first month
rent.
I set up my first 1BHK flat for under ₹15,000.
Not beautifully. Not perfectly. But comfortably
and practically. Here is every single thing
I bought and what it cost.
---
The Sleeping Situation — ₹5,500
A foldable metal bed frame costs ₹2,500
on Amazon. Lightweight, sturdy, assembles
in 20 minutes without tools. When I eventually
moved flats I folded it up and carried it
myself.
A basic foam mattress from the local market
cost ₹3,000. Not luxurious. Perfectly fine
for sleeping.
Do not buy a wooden bed frame for your first
rented flat. You will move eventually and
it will become a nightmare.
Get this foldable bed frame — I used it
for 2 years without a single problem:
---
The Cooking Situation — ₹2,000
Skip the gas cylinder situation for your
first few months. The deposit alone costs
more than a good induction cooktop.
I bought an induction cooktop for ₹1,200
and a basic set of utensils — 2 vessels,
1 tawa, 1 kadai — for ₹800 from the local
market.
You can cook literally everything on an
induction cooktop. Dal. Rice. Roti if you
get the technique right. Eggs. Everything.
This is the induction cooktop I use and
recommend to everyone moving into a new flat:
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The Light and Ambience Situation — ₹500
The tube lights in Indian rental flats are
always horrible. Harsh white light that makes
everything look like a government office.
LED strip lights cost ₹300 and completely
transform how a flat feels in the evening.
Stick them behind your TV or along a shelf
and suddenly your ₹8,000 a month flat looks
intentional and cosy.
A wall clock cost ₹200 from the local market.
Functional and makes a room look lived in.
---
The Curtains and Basics — ₹1,200
Curtains from Meesho cost ₹400 for a pair.
Decent quality. Blackout curtains if you
want to sleep past sunrise.
Dustbin and mop set from the local hardware
store — ₹350.
Basic utensils like plates, glasses and
a bowl set — ₹450 from the market.
---
Complete Breakdown
Foldable bed frame — ₹2,500
Basic mattress — ₹3,000
Induction cooktop — ₹1,200
Utensils set — ₹800
Curtains — ₹400
LED strip lights — ₹300
Wall clock — ₹200
Dustbin and mop — ₹350
Plates and glasses — ₹450
Total — ₹9,200
I had ₹5,800 left from my ₹15,000 budget.
Used it for a second hand fridge I found
on OLX for ₹4,000. Negotiated it down
from ₹5,500.
The flat was not beautiful. But it was mine.
It was functional. And I set it up without
going into debt or asking my parents for money.
That felt better than any expensive furniture
ever could.
— Smart Kharcha
Living better on less. One rupee at a time.
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