Moving into a PG or shared flat in a new city usually means buying a dozen things in your first week, and that's where the budget leaks. A lot of it can be bought used from people who are leaving, since they rarely want to carry a study table, a chair or a cooler with them.
Quick take: check what your PG or flat already has, buy the study table, chair, fan or cooler and fridge second-hand, and buy the mattress, helmet and safety items like pressure cooker parts new. Below is the order to follow, whether you're moving to Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, Gurugram or Mumbai.
First, figure out what you actually need
Before buying anything, ask your PG owner or flatmates what's already there. Many PGs include a cot, a mattress and a cupboard. Shared flats often have a fridge or washing machine that the last tenant left behind, or one that flatmates split.
Also ask how long you'll stay. If it's a one-year course or a probation period, renting or buying used makes far more sense than buying new.
The priority order: what to buy second-hand first
1. Study table and chair
This is the easiest win. Tables and chairs don't wear out quickly, they're hard to break, and people leaving a city almost never want to carry them.
What to check: Sit on the chair for a few minutes. Check that the gas lift (if it has one) holds height, the wheels roll and the backrest doesn't wobble. For tables, look at the legs and joints, and check for termite dust or soft spots in wood. Measure your room first. I once bought one that didn't fit between the bed and the window.
2. Fan or cooler
A PG ceiling fan isn't always enough in a Hyderabad or Gurugram summer. Pedestal fans and air coolers are good used buys because they're mostly simple parts.
What to check: Switch it on and listen. Grinding or rattling usually means worn bearings. For a cooler, run the pump and check that water reaches the pads. Look inside the tank for leaks, cracks or slime, and plan to replace the cooling pads anyway, since they're cheap and they're where the smell lives.
3. Fridge
If your flat doesn't have one, a used fridge is worth it, especially a small single-door model for a shared room.
What to check: See it running, not just switched off in a corner. The freezer should feel cold within a short while. Check the door gasket all around, because a loose seal wastes power. Look at the BEE star label if it's still on. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency label shows the star rating, the label period and the estimated yearly energy use. Ask for the bill.
4. Washing machine
Laundry services add up fast in a shared flat.
What to check: Ask to run a short cycle with water. Watch for leaks underneath, listen for loud banging during spin and check that it drains properly. Look at the inlet and outlet pipes, since cracked ones are common.
5. Kitchen basics
Steel vessels, kadhais, tawas, plates, a gas stove, an induction cooktop. Steel lasts for years.
What to check: Avoid non-stick pans with peeling coating. For a gas stove, check that the burners light evenly and the knobs turn smoothly. Buy the gas pipe new, and always get your LPG connection and pipe sorted through your distributor. For induction cooktops, test them with a pan of water.
6. Bicycle or two-wheeler
A cycle is a great used buy. A scooter or bike needs more care, because paperwork matters as much as the engine.
What to check on a cycle: Brakes, chain, gears and tyre condition. Spin both wheels and see if they wobble.
What to check on a two-wheeler: Take a test ride. Then go through the papers carefully:
- RC (registration certificate): The name should match the seller's ID. Check that the chassis and engine numbers on the RC match the vehicle. You can look up registration details on the Parivahan services.
- Ownership transfer: Under Rule 55 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, the seller reports the sale in Form 29 and the buyer applies in Form 30. For a vehicle registered in the same state, the buyer has to apply within 14 days. For one registered in another state, it's 45 days, and you'll also need an NOC.
- Loan on the vehicle: If the RC shows hypothecation to a bank, you need the financier's consent or NOC. Don't hand over money until this is clear.
- Insurance: Under Section 157 of the Motor Vehicles Act, the insurance is deemed to transfer with the vehicle, but the new owner should apply to the insurer within 14 days to get the policy changed to their name. Check the policy hasn't expired.
- PUC certificate: Telangana's transport department lists it, with the RC and insurance certificate, among the documents for a transfer.
Moving states with a vehicle can mean re-registration and road tax rules that differ from state to state, so check with the local RTO before you buy one from out of state.
7. Small appliances
Kettles, irons, lamps, extension boards, mixers.
What to check: Look at the plug and wire for cuts, burn marks or tape. Plug it in and use it in front of the seller. If the wire looks repaired, walk away.
What to buy new
Some things are about hygiene or safety, and saving money on them isn't worth it.
Mattress
A used mattress can carry bed bugs, dust mites, sweat and stains you can't see, and you can't really clean the inside. If you take a used bed frame or cot, great. Buy the mattress new, or at least a new mattress topper if the PG gives you one.
Helmet
Always new, always ISI-marked. The Helmet for Riders of Two Wheeler Motor Vehicles (Quality Control) Order, 2020 has been in force since 1 June 2021, and it requires helmets to meet IS 4151:2015 and carry the BIS Standard Mark. A used helmet may have taken a hit you can't see, and the foam inside doesn't recover.
Pressure cooker parts and safety items
A used steel pressure cooker body can be fine, but replace the gasket and check the safety valve and weight. Buy replacement parts from the brand or an authorised dealer. If you're buying a new cooker, look for the ISI mark, since domestic pressure cookers have had to meet IS 2347 under a BIS quality control order since 1 February 2021. The same thinking applies to gas pipes and regulators: new, from your gas distributor.
Quick guide: used or new?
| Item | Buy used or new | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Study table and chair | Used | Wobble, joints, gas lift, termites, size |
| Fan or cooler | Used | Noise, pump, tank leaks, replace pads |
| Fridge | Used | Cooling, door seal, age, BEE label |
| Washing machine | Used | Leaks, spin noise, drain, pipes |
| Kitchen steel and stove | Used | Coating, burners, buy gas pipe new |
| Cycle | Used | Brakes, chain, tyres, wheels |
| Two-wheeler | Used, with care | RC, Form 29/30, loan NOC, insurance, PUC |
| Small appliances | Used | Wires, plugs, test it on the spot |
| Mattress and pillows | New | Hygiene |
| Helmet | New | ISI mark, IS 4151 |
| Cooker gasket, gas pipe | New | Brand or authorised parts |
Budget tips that actually work
Split your list into "this week" and "this month". You need a fan on day one. A fridge can wait.
Leave room in the budget for transport. A fridge won't fit in an auto, so factor in a tempo.
Buy in bundles. Someone leaving town would often rather sell the table, chair and lamp together than deal with three buyers.
Negotiate politely, but never trade safety for a discount.
Timing: when the deals show up
The best time to buy is when people are leaving. Most rent cycles run month to month, so the last week of the month is when tenants move out and want things gone fast. Watch your society's notice board and WhatsApp groups for "leaving sale" posts. The end of college semesters and the end of an academic year bring the same rush near campuses.
My advice: arrive, live with the basics for a week or two, and then buy. You'll know what the room needs.
Buy smart now, sell easily later
When you leave, the same logic works in reverse. Sell the table and chair to a junior or a new tenant, lend the cooler to a friend for the summer, and take only your clothes and books home.
That's the loop we want to make easy at ReOwnIt. Buy what you need pre-owned when you arrive, then sell, rent, lend or swap it when you move on, so nothing ends up abandoned outside a PG gate. The apps aren't live yet, but if owning less, experiencing more and wasting less sounds right to you, keep an eye on reownit.in. We'd love to have you there.
