Day 10 of our Diwali 2026 series. For many families, Diwali starts with the house: a fresh coat of paint, the fixes that were postponed all year, perhaps a new refrigerator or washing machine before guests arrive. These are some of the largest festive bills, and often the least planned. Here is how to scope, sequence and pay for them without regret.
Step one: scope the job before anyone quotes
Walk through the house with a notebook and sort everything into three lists. This one habit prevents the classic Diwali mistake: painting over a damp wall that peels again by February.
Must fix (do first)
- Seepage, leaks and damp patches
- Faulty wiring, tripping circuits, loose sockets
- Plumbing and bathroom repairs
- Broken locks, grills and doors
Should do (do next)
- Painting, after the repairs have dried
- Replacing an appliance that has failed or costs a lot to run
- Lighting upgrades
Nice to have (only if money is left)
- Décor, new curtains, furnishings
- Upgrading an appliance that still works
- Feature walls and extra fittings
An illustrative home-refresh budget
Every home and city is different, so get your own quotes. This illustrative budget for a two-bedroom flat simply shows how to structure the numbers, including a contingency that most people forget.
| Item (illustrative) | Budget | How to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs: seepage, plumbing, electrical | ₹25,000 | Savings; pay after the work is checked |
| Interior painting, labour and material | ₹60,000 | Staged payments: start, midway, completion |
| Replacement refrigerator | ₹35,000 | Savings, card within the free period, or EMI |
| Lights, curtains, small fixes | ₹15,000 | Savings only; trim if short |
| Contingency (about 10%) | ₹15,000 | Keep aside; spend only if needed |
| Total | ₹1,50,000 |
Illustrative figures for planning only, not market rates. Your contractor’s written quote is what counts.
Paying contractors smartly
Get two or three written quotes
Ask each to list materials (brand and quantity), labour, number of coats and the timeline, so you can compare like with like.
Avoid large advances
A modest advance for materials is normal. Tie the rest to stages: walls prepared, first coat done, final finish and clean-up.
Pay digitally and keep records
Bank transfers or UPI to the contractor’s own account, with a note of what each payment is for. Keep invoices for warranties.
Inspect before the final payment
Check corners, switchboards and floors in daylight. Hold back the last instalment until snags are fixed.
Appliances: compare the full cost
Festive sales bring “no-cost EMI” offers on almost every appliance. They can be fine, but read the conditions: processing fees, GST on the interest component, a lost cash discount and the effect on your card limit. Day 3 of this series breaks down the real cost of no-cost EMI and Buy Now Pay Later. Also check the energy rating: a more efficient refrigerator or air conditioner can cost more upfront but less every month on the electricity bill.
If you borrow, choose the tenure with your eyes open
When the total is more than you can cover from one or two months of savings, a single planned personal loan keeps things simple: one amount, one EMI, one end date. The decision that matters most is tenure.
₹1,50,000 home refresh: EMI and total interest by tenure
Illustrative: ₹1,50,000 at an assumed 16% a year, reducing balance, processing fee and GST excluded. Omozing rates start from 11% a year; your actual rate, fees and APR are in the Key Fact Statement before you sign.
A good rule: pick the shortest tenure whose EMI still leaves you saving something each month. For home improvements of this size, 12 to 24 months is usually enough. And if a bonus arrives later, check your foreclosure terms and prepay.
What to avoid
- App loans for contractor advances. A 30-day app loan for a three-month project means rollovers. See what a payday loan really costs.
- Revolving the card. Swiping for the painter and paying the minimum turns a ₹60,000 job into a long, expensive balance.
- Several loan applications at once. Each can add a hard enquiry. Decide on one lender and apply once.
- Scope creep. “While the painters are here” is how ₹1.5 lakh becomes ₹2.5 lakh. Stick to the list.
Omozing lends to salaried people with a take-home salary of ₹40,000 a month or more and a credit score from 600, using just two documents. If your score is modest, see personal loans with a CIBIL score from 600; if you have not yet decided whether to borrow at all, Day 7’s honest yes/no checklist will help.
Planning a bigger home refresh?
See what you could borrow for a planned home project, with one fixed EMI and a credit officer who reads your full report. Your exact terms are in the KFS before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take a personal loan for home painting and repairs?
If the job is planned, the total is more than you can cover from savings in a month or two, and the EMI fits your budget, a single personal loan is a reasonable option. Small jobs are better paid from savings.
How much advance should I pay a painter or contractor?
Keep the advance modest, typically enough for materials, and link the rest to stages of work you can inspect. Avoid paying most of the amount before work starts.
What tenure should I choose for a home improvement loan?
The shortest tenure whose EMI still lets you save each month. Longer tenures reduce the EMI but increase total interest considerably.
Is no-cost EMI on appliances really free?
Not always. Check for processing fees, GST on the interest portion and whether you lose a cash discount. Compare the total you pay with the best upfront price.
Can I use a personal loan for both repairs and appliances?
Yes. A personal loan can be used for any legitimate personal purpose. Keep the amount to your planned list rather than borrowing extra.
Does Omozing have a Diwali home-improvement offer?
No. Omozing does not run festive offers. Personal loan rates start from 11% a year, and your exact rate, fees and APR are in the Key Fact Statement.
Omozing is the digital lending brand of Aparampaar Finance Private Limited, an RBI-registered non-deposit-taking NBFC. This article is general information, not financial advice. See our regulatory disclosures and grievance redressal process.