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

septemberblues

If you buy a pine bed, you will be able to put plastic boxes (on wheels)underneath it , it's a good storage space, especially as you have virtually no storage options.

Olliebeak

http://www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk/shop/index.php?page=1222&ret=428

what about something like this? It isn't cheap but maybe you could find similar or get somebody to make one for you.


Old-fashioned ottomans make great storage/extra seating solutions!

Don't forget vac-bags if you've got anything bulky (spare duvet/bedding/sweaters) to put away for a while - you can loads of stuff in an ottoman with some of those .

tinksy

hi!
i live in a studio with my other half and although it sounds quite alot bigger than yours Ive got some idea of what you are attempting! we are also pretty poor as we have taken it in turns to finish our final years so only have one wage a year!
My top tips
- decent vacumn cleaner! your tiny space looks all that better when its been decently hoovered!
-cheap throws from QD/ikea. they come in so many colours you can make it feel a bit more like home!
- loads of bedding! we have only got crappy electric heaters which dont heat the place up so have a duvet and two blankets on bed so we are snuggly! I also wear fleece pjs and have a hot water bottle!
- home brew! if you like a bit of wine occasionally then this is the way to go! because we are limited on space we use the kits and dont brew with fruit. Wilkinsons is fab for this, our initial outlay was around £25 for everything and now we just buy another kit and some sterliser every so often. A kit makes 6 bottles of wine for around a £1. takes around a month to make a batch so you would need to collect 6 wine bottles in that time which if you have friends partial to a drink shouldnt be hard! we have had no issues (apart from a batch which was supposed to be red and ended up more like rose!) and always enjoyed the wine! just made a batch of elderflower and got some blackcurrant to make next. It doesnt take much space and you can put the bottles in the fridge and also give them as presents!

JenC

What a fantastic thread. I just wanted to stop by and wish you lots of luck for your adventure!

PasturesNew

I live in a studio, the water rates were £40/month. I phoned the water company and they come round to assess you for a water meter. I didn't expect they'd be able to fit one (my neighbour said they couldn't fit one for her, but then assessed her usage and her new bill was £26), but, but complete surprise, they did fit a water meter inline under the sink by the water tap. Now my water bill is so low it's probably about £100/year. Worth looking into.

love2shopforbargains

I am not exactly sure how small your place will be, but Ikea do a bed that for £145.83 called Odda.

Key features
Serves as an extra seat when folded up.
Open up the seat and you get a single bed for guests.
Complete with foam mattress covered in black fabric.
Pull-out box underneath for extra storage.
Combines with ODDA bed with storage to create a corner unit with seat

Don't know if this will be of any help as obviously having a good mattress etc will be important and this is just a guest bed as such, but was thinking if it is only for 6 months and it does give good storage.

rosekitten

We are avid camping and caravan fans
and we have picked up lots of tips

If you are thinking about keeping warm
buy a couple of fleece blankets or two
pieces of fleece fabric lay this on the
bed and use it as sheets 2 metre pieces
work well on really cold
nights it really holds the heat well and
keeps you toasty warm,you can use
them to wrap around yourself as
mentioned earlier.
Also fleece jackets & fleece jumpers
are a better bet than wool jumpers
because fleece fabric dries really quickly
once washed saving energy and drying
time at the launderette.If you invest in a
sleeping bag from Argos like this one

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3409127/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CHome+and+furniture%7C12107022/c_2/2%7Ccat_12107022%7CBedding%7C12107051/c_3/3%7Ccat_12107051%7CSleeping+bags%7C12107082.htm

you can sleep in it as a sleeping bag or
unzip it and spread it on the bed and
its big enough to cover a settee
or for two to sleep under if you ever have
company.again this dries very quickly in
the launderette I can reccomend this
one as I have four of them for us when we are
on holidays or have people staying.

Infacare baby wash is brilliant for washing
yourself as a small squirt on a scrunchy
goes a long way and if you squirt a bit
in a small jug and mix with a bit of warm
water you can wash your hair and it rinses
out very easily and is gentle on the skin
a 400ml bottle lasts ages and is about
£1.50 a bottle.

squirt some thick bleach into a spray bottle
and fill with water use this spray work tops
toilets shower area,frige etc ,works the same as
Domsetos spray and is condiderably cheaper
than Domestos spray bleach.A bottle of bleach
will last for ages doing this.

Buy a washing up bowl, silly thing to mention
but its much cheaper filling a washing up bowl
than a sink.Boiling water in first them add cold
water to cool to the right temp again saves
energy .

The mini jars of jam from Morrisons 5 for £1
use the jam and then use the jars to store
spices herbs,pins anything essential thats
tiny.

baby wipes are really good,you can use
them to clean yourself,clean your home,
as a stain remover on clothes, shoes
etc ,so many uses

miss_keep_counting

Wow I go off for one day and come back to a whole other page worth of advise, thank you everyone!!

Thought I'd update a little first... since it was getting to a day or so before I leave (moving tues morning) and I was giving up on finding a single futon / lump of foam / mattress to sleep on I was thrilled when today a friend agreed to go to a carbootsale and I found an Ikea? single fution for £15.

I could have haggled down and probably should have but since new it would have cost me £58 to buy the same futon (I was actually tempted to buy a £78 one as it looked prettier......:p) means I saved myself £40 and a potential £60 :eek: I've stuck the cover in the wash and I'm hoping it will be ok. I need to sew up a litle rip and then sew back on the buttons which I had to cut the cover off the mattress with but it will look fine, is light weight and will fit perfectly in the tiny room.

Also found 5p on the floor... hehe. Which makes me feel a little less guilty as I spent £9(whoops) on candles £8 each reduced to £3 each. They're lovely though, really massive in fresh lemon and fruit scents, really whimsy, so I'm happy with them

Queen, I think the tourist centre will have to be one of my first ports of call, good idea for the free maps, I've asked my friend to hold off printing me one out until I check there.

Skint_Cat, doh, ok no bleach! I'll give it a go then, if I can have my cleaner also do my dishes and washing that will be a godsend in my tiny place.

Flying Fire it is FANTASTIC to hear from someone who knows the area, and someone who lived off a small budget too! I would comment on everything you listed, but safe to say it is all in my to do list for my first week there. London road looks great and just what I was hoping for. I feel much better prepared after your comment and knowledge, thank you so much, and I'll definatly direct any question to you about the area

Ah Ellawood I know just what you mean! I'll take a look when I get in to see where I could hang one but that's a great idea as it will pack flat away in a cupboard and not take up my limited floor space.

Snowy Owl, is that a £5 voucher for a bag of m&s? I have a few bits snuck away in the cupboard I'd be happy to trade in, means I can then trade it for some bits for the house.

Olliebeak, I've e-mailed it to my dad and he's going to knock me up something similar in wood, I think it's a fantastic design since I wont have any wardrob space. Thank you

Tinsky I honestly hadn't even thought of a vac.... I'm going to ask around and see if anyone has one to spare and then look for a small one. Aww lovely idea with the home wine kit. I only drink wine so that sounds ideal... and a gift for my dad whose been harping on about making his own stuff for a while so I think it's a doubly good idea... especially if I can get him to make it for me

Jen C, thank you for your good wishes hun, I've said it before, but all this help has really made my journey so much less scary... not sure if I've mentioned but I have no mates in Brighton they're all in London or off at uni / travelling so until I meet people MSE and my little studio are going to be the only comforts I'll have!!

PasturesNew, I'll ask the Landlord on Monday, if it's saved you that much then it's definatly worth a look.

Love2shopforbargains thank you for looking that up hun, it looks miles more comfy then my one and would be perfect if I was staying for longer, I'll probably wish I had that foam mattress when my back starts to give!!!

Rosekitten, that's two for fleeces now so I'm going to buy one to take with me, I don't fancy shivering at night. Ooo I like the sleeping bag find and that will be great when I have people to stay or I can roll it up as a cushion or pa the bed out a bit more when I'm alone! Fantastic price too!! And pinks always good All your tips are fantastic too, I really like the jam idea as I can use the bottles to keep my sewing buttons in. And I'd not even thought of a washing up bowl! So first thing when I get in I'll measure up the sink and get one, It'll save a load of water. Thank you so much Rosekitten!

I'm sure I have more to say but reading, notetaking and replying has taken half an hour and I need to deliver about 2000 business cards today to earn some money (put and add on gumtree) So I just wanted to say :T thank you to everyone.... Departure time is less then 48 hours away and I feel really ready and positive thanks to everyones replies.

Tixy

Miss Keep Counting

I don't have any super tips like so many of these people - but I just want to say I hope you have a super adventure.
When you are at the library check out noticeboards/flyers for any free group/hobby type things you can do as a way to get to meet other people while you are there.
Hope you have a fantastic time.

Snowy_Owl

M&S vouchers at oxfam - it's one voucher per visit to frop off stuff. So I have a bag of about 4/5 things all Markies. If really pusshing it, separate it and make two trips - get a friend to take the others in for you!!!! Sneaky I know, but every little helps!!:beer: