Im currently number crunching a full time move to BG and as part of that, am trying to ascertain what would be worth bringing over that I can buy more cheaply here that would be needed for a partial house reno/update.

If anyone could help out on giving me on the ground costs, it would be most helpful. Please note that comparisons to the cost in the UK mean nothing to me.

For white goods (washer/fridge/cooker etc), things are cheaper here in China so I would bring them with me (we use the same power so no probs). Small appliances are the same price.

For fittings - taps etc then I can get a nice designer style mixer tap set for 20 - 25 euros here and an overhead rainshower set for around 60 euros. LED lights are also cheap - the cans and transformers for spots run at about 6 euros each and LED bulbs are 3 for 10 euro. Solar pendant lights and lamps that you hang outside all day and then bring in and switch on for 3-4 hours of light are around 10 euro each.

As i will be sending a container by sea, it makes more sense for me to get what I can here if it represents a good saving - so all cost comparisons would be very welcome!

Hope I posted this in the right forum - please feel free to move if not!

Thanks in advance.

Personally I think you would be better bringing stuff from China depending on the quality? most stuff here is of poor quality compared to what I'm used to but it maybe the same in China ?

The stuff here is good quality - most of it is own brand made by the same fatories who oem for companies like Hansgrohe/american standard etc. Even brands like Toto and Grohe are cheaper here than in their own markets because they are manufactured in countries such as Indonesia.

One thing I cant get here is gardening supplies though... if anyone can suggest what essential machinary and equipment I should factor into my budget as start up costs - that would be super helpful too. I'm looking to fully utilise the land for veggies, fruit and vines.

Have a look here [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... s/BULGARIA

Already looked at online stores - but its easy to buy everything you dont need... what I really need to know is exactly which bits of kit are essential and which are just nice to have [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

That would depend on an individuals needs and what it is they are intending to do in the garden??

Totally understand hence as per previous - work an average size 1-2000 sq m plot for veggies, fruit and vines to sustain a veggie one person household.

I would say you would not "
need"
any heavy machinery, even you on your own. There will be someone in the village who will turn the ground over for you at the beginning of the season with a tractor or something similar for pennies. Because the area you are looking at is an agricultural region, the ground is good for growing your own. We had a good feel of the soil when we went to look at our house. It had not long been turned over and was friable without being too light, so once done, it would be possible to keep the weeds down with a good hoe. Therefor your essentials would be the usual spade, fork and hoe, trowel, rake for seed beds and secateurs and loppers/branch saw for fruit and vines. The quality is not brilliant in BG we are told, but being a woman with common sense, I am presuming you will not be using them, with brute force, for jobs not intended for such tools!

I would avoid buying any machinery as labour is cheap and certainly cheaper than buying, say, a rotavator, unless you come across a second hand one being sold by a returning gardener. Also a good way of meeting and helping the locals.

every thing you need to live and garden with is here in BG The biggest problem is craft things like things for leather craft for instance but that is specialist and although it must be here we haven't found it.
White goods freezers fridge etc and black goods such as TV sterio etc don't always travel well so that has to be thought about and garentees If you bring every thing from another country the garentee is usless so i say buy in BG
For the gardener make sure you have a good fork a good spade a hoe and a hose pipe and watering can every thing is available here

chrissybg wrote:

every thing you need to live and garden with is here in BG The biggest problem is craft things like things for leather craft for instance but that is specialist and although it must be here we haven't found it.
White goods freezers fridge etc and black goods such as TV sterio etc don't always travel well so that has to be thought about and garentees If you bring every thing from another country the garentee is usless so i say buy in BG
For the gardener make sure you have a good fork a good spade a hoe and a hose pipe and watering can every thing is available here

But how does the quality compare with China as far as gardening tools are concerned? from my experience the tools here don't last long at all.

Andy wrote:

chrissybg wrote:

every thing you need to live and garden with is here in BG The biggest problem is craft things like things for leather craft for instance but that is specialist and although it must be here we haven't found it.
White goods freezers fridge etc and black goods such as TV sterio etc don't always travel well so that has to be thought about and garentees If you bring every thing from another country the garentee is usless so i say buy in BG
For the gardener make sure you have a good fork a good spade a hoe and a hose pipe and watering can every thing is available here

But how does the quality compare with China as far as gardening tools are concerned? from my experience the tools here don't last long at all.

Anyone that can afford a house with a garden here has a gardener amongst their staff

You can buy hose pipe here and that's as far as it goes. Thats why I am wondering what I would need to purchase when I get there so I can factor the costs in. ...Aside from repurposing/rehabbing and 'hacking' furniture, I'm not crafty ...scrapbooking/leathercraft/knitting etc is for more ladylike ladies than I.

Equinus wrote:

I would say you would not "
need"
any heavy machinery, even you on your own. There will be someone in the village who will turn the ground over for you at the beginning of the season with a tractor or something similar for pennies. Because the area you are looking at is an agricultural region, the ground is good for growing your own. We had a good feel of the soil when we went to look at our house. It had not long been turned over and was friable without being too light, so once done, it would be possible to keep the weeds down with a good hoe. Therefor your essentials would be the usual spade, fork and hoe, trowel, rake for seed beds and secateurs and loppers/branch saw for fruit and vines. The quality is not brilliant in BG we are told, but being a woman with common sense, I am presuming you will not be using them, with brute force, for jobs not intended for such tools!

You are correct... right tool for the right job. Although I still can't bring myself to add a nail gun to my power tool collection. Those and chain saws just give me the heebie geebies.

So its worth bringing my little hand held soil and water meters when I come over for viewing then

I came to bulgaria with nothing and bought everything here. i find anything wooden ( beds, wardrobes, dining table, garden furniture ) are all good solid quality.

As for garden equipment, its not the quality that matters, its how you care for them. the summer heat will melt and disjoint tools and the winter will make sure anything metal cracks and breaks. you need to bring indoors as much as you can in winter.

this garden furniture is 6 years old, bit of maintenance every spring and its as good as new.

I can't compare things here to made in China I have no experience in that. I am a keen gardener and garden every day and i have not had any problems with the tools here.
Our neighbour ploughed our garden with a horse and plough when we first arrived here and since then i turn the soil plant veg salad and flowers i have grass and a mower that came from Boumax DIY store in Burgas and after nealy 9 years every thing is in good working order. I always clean my tools and oil them when they rest up for the winter then i turn to gardening in the orangary growing seeds for he next year. Even when we go away on holiday or for time over the winter i set them all up and they water their selves so i have good grown seeds to plant when i come home If you are worried about tools bring them with you but the weight and the volume of them in your container is best used on life essentials like family and friends photos keep sakes of life Just my opinion Hope i have helped you

OK - so I am gather that with the exception of a possible splurge on a rotavator, theres no real outlay required on any specific machinery then. Great :)

Is there anything anyone can think of that they believe is substantially overpriced over there in terms of homeware/hardware?