Furnishing, let alone buying, a home is a costly business but Rose Matthews, from Newport, has kitted out her pad with around £2,000 worth of gear without spending a penny.

The 24-year-old, who upgraded from a one-bedroom flat to a three-bedroom house last September, gets most of her furniture and other household essentials by utilising other people’s unwanted items.

She uses Freecycle, an internet-based service that helps people recycle their unwanted goods.  Those wanting to get rid of unwanted sofas, washing machines, televisions, and more, use the site to offer them to others in their area, who simply pick them up for free.

Rose has saved almost £1,000 through Freecycle. She’s got herself a £200 TV, £200 bed and many other items. Yet she doesn't just take stuff without giving herself. Rose has also put her own items such as unwanted telephones and CDs on Freecycle for others to snap up.

Plus, she's even saved another £1,000 on free items she's bagged from friends and family, neighbours and even the previous occupiers.