The Hidden Cost Nobody Warns First Time Buyers About (And How to Avoid It) | On The Ladder

You've saved for the deposit. You've got the keys. You're picking out mugs and tea towels in Ikea. But then... the bills start. Curtains. A kettle. Cleaning supplies. The stuff nobody puts on a moving-in checklist, and it can quietly add up to several hundred pounds, right when your budget's already stretched thin.   In this episode of On The Ladder, our exclusive series for first time buyers, I talk through why a "home setup fund" should be part of your budgeting from day on, not an afterthought once you've already moved in.  We cover:  ✅ Why the deposit isn't the last big cost ✅ How much to realistically set aside for home essentials ✅ How to avoid relying on credit cards to get settled ✅ Simple ways to start building your setup fund early If you're a first time buyer (or about to be one), this episode could save you a lot of financial stress in those first few weeks in your new home. 🔔 Subscribe for more from On The Ladder, helping first time buyers get on the property ladder with confidence.