So i've been forced to move into a smaller house due to a cash flow crisis.

The house right now has one regular lightbulb in each room - now the problem si, that they are all off to the side. Apparently the owner intended to put in downlights but never got around to doing it. The previous owner has a contact who can get me downlights at cost price, I just need to pick what type I want.

I have a mate who is an electrician, who is coming from Adelaide in a month, and can do the labour for free.

The light to the side makes it barely usable, and so I am after recommendations on downlights.

From my research, I have ascertained the following:

Halogen seems to be cheap to buy, but expensive to run, whilst LED seem to be expensive to buy and cheap to run.

CFL seems to be somewhere in the middle, but brightness is an issue.


Am I missing other options here?

Keeping in mind my cash flow problems, but also wanting to keep long term running costs in mind, what is the best option?