Have you any MS tips for me in my first flat alone!?

miss_keep_counting

A little bit of back story... I've done a not very MS thing and quit my job in the middle of the credit crunch to take a 6 month break before starting my next step of my career. I decided to do this as I've been working for the company since I was 19 and going back I'll be committing myself for two years of very antisocial shifts so I wont be able to enjoy my youth. I will be fidning work though to try and cover some out my outgoings, and crafting and selling. So I decided to move from London to Brighton so I could really make the most of this break!

I decided not to rent a room as I have in London for the past few years but splash out a little on my first own home! I searched for ages and found the cheapest studio I could. It's postage stamp mini, the bathroom is the size of a porta-loo with no sink and the shower sqidged in kinda over the toilet!! The room is only a bit bigger then a double bed with a fridge with tiny freezer compartment and a sink... and the reason I rented the place?? There isn't a window in the main room, just a door leading to... a balcony South facing, about 1.5m by 1.5m. For £325 a month, plus bills I'm hoping it will be £450ish.

So where do I need your help??

The major area is how to be MS in my new home. Do you have any tips??

1. Electric: I'm hoping because it's summer I can get away without switching on the heater, so my only electric will be lights, laptop, phone charger, fridge and electric cooker. Is it true that if I fill up my fridge it will use less electric to keep cool?

I'm going to try getting up early every morning for a jog (as I cancelled my £40 a month gym membership to do free exersize) so plan to use as much natural light during the day as possible and not be up all night using lights... haha. Any other tips?

2. Cleaning! What's the cheapest way for me to clean my loo (cheapest place to buy bleach?) I've seen people mention cleaning with bicarbonate? What's the chapest way to clean my sink? Any tips on what to use to clean with, like clothes etc, that's free/ cheap?

3. I'm bringing basic food, I wont have a huge place to store it as there's just the fridge and space under the sink. Anything I should buy in bulk to last me as it will work out miles cheaper? I want to try to spend no more then £100 a month on food, social, travel etc which is so so low for me so I need all the tips I can have. I already cook from scratch and mostly from fresh, and I use all left overs.

4. Toiletries. I'm bringing what I have to use up. I'm making washable sanitary towels and have a moon-cup. I'm happy to use non-brands. Where's the cheapest places to buy basic shampoo etc?

5. Growing plants! I'm bringing strawberry plants, salad, and I have tomatos and carrots to try and grow. I want to fill up my space with free food. Any suggestions of must grows in a small space or space saving growing devices?

6.Cheap ways to wash clothes / washing powders? I may opt to use a laundrette for sheets, but I'd prefer to wash in my sink and hang outside since I have such a nice balcony space.

7. Cheap single futon / fold out foam bed? I've found foam fold out beds for £35ish, or a futon with foam bed bit from Ikea will come to £76ish I don't want to spend loads and I'm tempted to take a sleeping bag and use that until I can find one cheap or free in brighton on freecycle or something... but I do want to sleep and that sleeping bag would then take up unwanted space once I had a futon.

I'm not sure what else to ask! I have a £20 pay monthly contract with gives me free texts and a decent amount of calls which I think I'll need since I'll be away from everyone I know. I have no other outgoing bills, but I am thinking I'll need internet access. I'm going to try a while of doing without, but any good portable usb cheap internet deals anyone knows of?

I wont really be able to get mail sent to where I am. I'm constantly applying for freebies and getting loads sent to my mums so I'll have an occassional package to look forward to.

Lastly, is anyone here from Brighton? Do you know cheap places to shop, are there fruit stalls, good butchers? Anything cheap I can do? Best library?

Thank you for your help everyone, and well done if you read half of above!!! I'm going to spend today looking through other threads and writing all tips down in my own little MS summer bible!

Skint_Catt

Hiya - sounds like an interesting challenge!

Get yourself over to the Freebies Board and sign up for anything useful that may be going - and keep a regular eye out there too - shampoo, washing liquid/tablets, cleaning stuff, air freshners etc! Opps - just read you're already doing this!

Check out which your local supermarkets would be - is there an Aldi, Lidl or if one of the big ones try and find out when they do their reductions Shop around for cheap shampoo's etc when there are no freebies - supermarket basic's does the job or you could try chemist type shops like Savers or Bodycare. I could live on pasta so buy the big 3kg bags from Tesco - but it depends what you like.

Do try Freecycle for a sofabed/futon - they come up periodically. you can then use the sleeping bag as an extra duvet when you need it.

You sound like you've got more things sorted so sorry if I haven't given you any more ideas! Also check out the free local papers (if you can) for opportunities and experiences to make your 6 months come alive!

Check out the live on £4k a year board too on the Debtfree Wannabee board - might give you some hints and tips!

Let us know how you get on!

C xx

Barneysmom

Congratulations on your move, Ihope it works out well for you.

I wouldn't go for the cheapest bed, I'd go for one that would give you a good night's sleep, foam ones aren't very good. There's nothing worse than going to work shattered. ]

Pasta is good and keeps for ages so if you get some of that and tins of tuna, you can whip up a cheapmeal, a bit of onion and tomato in it?
Dried herbs can make meals tastier if you use cheap cuts of meat. Don't buy the posh ones though, just get the refill packs, they're much cheaper.

You'll probably think I'm mad but those cheap baby wipes you can get, they'll double up all over the place, you can clean your face with them and do the dusting too :cool:

miss_keep_counting

Skint_Catt wrote: »

Hiya - sounds like an interesting challenge!

Get yourself over to the Freebies Board and sign up for anything useful that may be going - and keep a regular eye out there too - shampoo, washing liquid/tablets, cleaning stuff, air freshners etc! Opps - just read you're already doing this!

Check out which your local supermarkets would be - is there an Aldi, Lidl or if one of the big ones try and find out when they do their reductions Shop around for cheap shampoo's etc when there are no freebies - supermarket basic's does the job or you could try chemist type shops like Savers or Bodycare. I could live on pasta so buy the big 3kg bags from Tesco - but it depends what you like.

Do try Freecycle for a sofabed/futon - they come up periodically. you can then use the sleeping bag as an extra duvet when you need it.

You sound like you've got more things sorted so sorry if I haven't given you any more ideas! Also check out the free local papers (if you can) for opportunities and experiences to make your 6 months come alive!

Check out the live on £4k a year board too on the Debtfree Wannabee board - might give you some hints and tips!

Let us know how you get on!

C xx

I love that freebies board, I think I pretty much live off it Got a cupboard full of things to give as gifts and also have a lot of stuff I've used. The nivea handcream tins are so cute and useful... now if only I could get a freebie futon!

Good idea with the supermarkets, I know I have a very small co-op round the corner, but I have no experience of those so no idea if it's cheap or expensive. And the map is showing a tesco express round the corner so maybe good for late night reductions! Should be an Asda 5 minute walk away... showing a few aldi's which fingers crossed are there!

I think I'm going to bulk buy some lentels, rice and pasta since my dad will have the car, so going to google the cheapest prices.

I may join the 4k challenge, thank you for pointing it out to me! :T I'd love to make this break as fun and guilt free as possible. I'm feeling very positive.

To add to my done list:

I looked up free wifi and there seems to be loads of free hubs. Fingers crossed my studio is near enough to one, worst thing is I'll have to travel to the beach to use it sounds lovely on a sunny day and should save me £15 a month (for 18month contract?!?) which was the cheapest I found it.

Annnd... managed to beg and borrow some small pots, collander, frying pan, cake pan, egg poacher, cutlary, plates, cups and bowls and thing to hold cutlery so I don't have much left I need to buy.

Next do list is to get my mate to print some maps of the area and bus squeduals for me on her work computer so I don't have to buy them hehe. And check out the 4k challenge!

Poppy9

• You can get free internet access at your library.
• Make sure you use low energy light bulbs to keep your electric bill down
• Invest in a fleece blanket as they take up no room are easy to wash and will keep you warm on a chilly evening on your balcony.
• Go to local swimming baths for a free shower
• Find a hair dressing college to get your hair cut

Skint_Catt

http://shop.o2.co.uk/promo/o2mobilebroadband/tab/Pay_and_Go

I believe this mobile broadband is contract free (though it's a £30 set up) - you just buy what you need so maybe useful if you find you can't live without it (but there is always the library as Poppy says!)

C xx

miss_keep_counting

Ooo Poppy I think I love all your ideas.

Thank you for the internet idea! I'd decided to join the library as I haven't been to one for years and wouldn't have the space nor money for books but if hadn't crossed my mind about the internet. And it looks like a good place to go when it's raining and I can't sit on the beach using the wifi!

I've just spoken to my dad and he's offered me a low energy light bulb upon your recommendation. I hadn't thought of that and it's a fantastic idea which will hopefully save me a few bob. Thank you again

Just packed a fleece in my case I'm definatly going to try the free haircut idea. Not sure if there is anywhere free to swim/ shower, but I'll keep my eyes open for free days to make the most of their water

Barneysmom, you aren't mad, I've used the cheapest babywipes in the past for my face and then used them to wipe round the windows so I think I may take a look at what cheap brands there are for me to stock up on!

And thank you Skint_catt, I think you're right and it's just a case of buy when you need which will be fab if I cant cut leaving the house all the time for internet. I'll take another proper look later and see if I can phone and haggle the usb for free

Stephen_Leak

Energy saving light bulbs all round, lowest wattage, turn off when not in use. No decorative lighting. Phone and laptop charger only on when needed.

Don't scrimp on bed or sofa - false economy

Toiletries - keep a spare in hand, especially cans where you can't see level - when you run out, you have life of spare to shop around for cheapest replacement. If you like a particular brand, stock up when on offer.

Cleaning - general purpose cleaning spray from one-third Stardrops, white vinegar and water, in an old spray bottle.

Ironing water and room spray - a few drops of essential oil (a bit expensive, but it will last ages - not lavender though - it makes you too relaxed to finish the ironing!) in water in another old spray bottle.

Visit Dad regularly and then get him to give you a lift back home via the supermarket for heavy stuff - my daughter does this!

pandora205

If you are looking for a useful cleaning product try Stardrops. It can be used for just about everything: surface and floor cleaner, washing up, windows, even carpets and upholstery. It is around 80p in Wilkinsons and slightly more in Netto and lasts for ages. (Look for the Stardrops I have seen the light thread on here for more ideas).

hilstep2000

Hi there,
Congrats on your move!:T
There is a 99p store in Brighton, on the main street. I stock up there when I'm in Brighton (Im in Hastings).
There is also Asda in the Marina, they've got loads of £1 offers on at the moment.
You can use 17p botttles of Cola to clean the toilet, cheaper than loo cleaner!
Lots of rice is good too, but don't keep cooked rice more than a day, it can get salmonella very quickly. The 17p noodles (asda smart price, Tesco value) are good too, you can add chopped up vegs, chicken, ham etc. to them.
Ommlettes are the best fast food, you can add anything to them, and if you put in potatoes they are very filling.
Try and use chicken legs or thighs rather than breast. The meat is tastier, and they are cheaper, or cook a whole small chicken and make three meals out of it (four if you boil the carcass and make stock for soup):rotfl:

There are a lot of smaller shops in Brighton, round the back streets too, so check them out!

Good Luck!

Poppy9

Low energy light bulbs were on offer in Tesco 5 for £1. Not sure if they still are or if other supermarkets have similar offers.

You don't have to swim at many pools to access their changing rooms and showers. You normally only need a ticket to actually enter swimming pool. Also the same with council leisure centres/gyms. You can usually just walk into the changing rooms and use shower.