Financing your furnishings

In 2005 the UK spent £13.5 billion on furniture and furnishings, according to research from Halifax Credit Cards.

This equates to an average of £531.50 per household each year, or £10.22 each week which is 70 percent more than the £7.3 billion we spent in 1995 when the average household spent £6.00 each week.

Spending on furniture and furnishings has increased by 86% over the last 10 years.

Although in real terms we spend more money on furniture and furnishings, we spend less than 1% of our total disposable income on these items.

£13.5bn, the total amount spent on furniture and furnishings in 2005, is enough to buy 22.5 million sofas and 61.4 million dining tables.

Save on your settee…

Furnishing your home should not mean emptying your wallet. The Halifax One Card features 0% on purchases for the first nine months, so any new spending on the card won't accrue interest for the same period. If a cardholder spent the average annual spend on furniture and furnishings of £531.50 on a Halifax One Card instead of a store card, they would stand to save £24.01 over the first twelve months.

Unlike many other credit cards on the market, The Halifax One Card also features 0% on balance transfers for the first nine months so a cardholder could make further savings by switching. A low typical APR of just 9.9% is applicable after nine months.

Ken Stannard, head of Halifax Credit Cards, comments: "When it comes to furnishings, we all love filling our homes with creature comforts but this shouldn't leave you with empty pockets or paying high interest for months afterwards. The Halifax One card charges 0% on both balance transfers and new purchases so whether you have an existing balance to move, or have a future furnishing spend in mind, you won't accrue any interest for the first nine months."

The new Halifax One Card features:

A typical APR of 9.9%
0% for nine months on purchases
0% for nine months on balance transfers (3% BT fee)
No Annual fee
Up to 59 days interest free credit on all purchases if you pay off your balance in full each month
Cover against online fraud when purchasing on the internet

The new Halifax One Card is available via the HBOS branch network and via halifax.co.uk/creditcards.

Halifax top tips for looking after your new furniture

Leather is the strongest upholstery material available but it can dry out and fade with heat and sun exposure. Avoid placing leather furniture in direct sunlight and treat twice a year with a leather conditioner to restore moisture.

Keep fabric settees looking their best by regularly turning and plumping cushions. Check for stain resistant material before purchasing and use fabric protector or upholstery shampoo twice a year to keep your settee in top condition.

Hoover your settee as you would a carpet. Dust particles and crumbs can become ingrained in the fabric which will cause further wear and tear.

Wood and water have never been the best of companions. Avoid spillages as much as possible on wooden furniture and use coasters to prevent water circles from appearing. A great way of preserving your table top can be to purchase a heat and waterproof mat. A good cream polish will also keep wooden surfaces in great condition

Interesting Furniture Fact…

It seems that Brits aren't the only lovers of interior furnishings, Al Capone's business card said he was a used furniture dealer.