Is it ok living in bare minimum?

Frith

Near Coventry there is a massive charity shop that sells furniture called Action 21. There is also a pretty good British Heart Foundation shop in the centre.

http://www.action21.co.uk/reuseful_centre.html

I wouldn't bother with carpets and I wouldn't even consider it in a house that wasn't mine! We've been here 14 years with no carpets at all.

Frith

Not sure if anyone has mentioned getting a budgeting loan? Interest free.

https://www.gov.uk/budgeting-loans/overview

System

Some of the charities have bigger stores that do bigger items, maybe keep an eye out for them too. But as others have said freecycle and similar sites are good

tiger_eyes

In the kitchen, I'd prioritise a slow cooker, microwave and at least a small fridge. This can be a really efficient setup. Prepare dinner in the morning and stick it in the slow cooker and it's ready to eat in the evening whenever you are. Leftovers go into the fridge to be reheated in the microwave over the next few days. You can get the maximum return on your time and effort this way - half an hour's preparation one morning and you have instant dinners for several days.

podperson

Glad you managed to get a flat sorted out

Possible things to try to cut costs;
look for a 'man and van' rather than a removal company - especially as you don't seem to have a lot of big items. Can usually find from abot £20 an hour so could work out much cheaper for you.
try Freecycle, Freegle, the free ads on Gumtree etc for the items you need - can often find things like washers or beds on there. Or look at charity/secondhand shops that do furniture - British Heart tend to have quite good furniture stores
is there a Surestart in your area? these used to provide help to people with young children in getting items like washers/cookers
ask at your uni whether they have a hardship fund - you can apply for money through this to help with these kind of expenses
for carpets try asking at places for offshoots and ends of rolls as they often sell these off much cheaper, or look for cheap rugs at charity shops/freecycle etc in the meantime. It's not the end of the world if you can't afford carpets straight away (though am a little surprised that a housing association property doesn't include them!) just make sure there are no nails or anything that may be poking out and get some slippers for you and little one to wear in the house.

It's all doable so try not to worry - good luck with it x

Lotus-eater

Forget the carpet for the moment, there are more important things you need.

You need a double mattress (your son can sleep on the other side till you can get him a bed), a microwave and a fridge.
And that's it. If the flat comes with a cooker, all the better, you won't need the microwave.

Stop panicking and think what you really need, which in actuality is very little.

peachyprice

OK, sit down and take a deep breath, I can hear the panic from here!

You've already had some great suggestions on where to get things cheap/free, hopefully things are looking more positive this morning.

You have your list, now make another one with the things that you actually NEED.

You don't need carpet, cheap rugs will do if you really can't stand the bare floors.

You don't need a bed for now, a matress will do. Your son will be fine in his cot bed.

You do need a fridge/freezer and something to cook on, this is more important that a bed or carpet.

Washing machine, is there a launderette locally until you can find one on freecycle? Will you be able to pop a couple of loads over to your mum when you have sheets and towels to wash?

Shop around for removals, as suggested look for a local man with a van.

Living with the bare essentials while you gradually build up the makings of your home doesn't make you a bad mum and it's not going to harm your son, as long as he is fed and warm he will be a happy little bunny. You will get there eventually, just take your time and bag every freebie or bargain you see. And don't be too proud to accept charity, if it's offered take it!!!

Good luck in your new home, exciting times ahead!

universalady_2

WiggyWoo9, if you are able to get to it on a saturday morning, this is not far from you, there also deliver for a very small fee

http://www.kenilworthlionsclub.co.uk/FurnitureStore.aspx

I have bought from here several times, and the prices are quite reasonable imo

Bumblefeet

Right, In Northampton, we have

http://www.adaygroup.co.uk/ - Good for 2nd hand furniture, they do delivery, Also do a wide range of toys/clothes

http://www.spencercontact.com/ - Also have 2nd hand good, You dont get to choose what you recieve, but there stuff is clean, You can ask for as much ( furniture only ) as you need, if they have it, they'll allocate it to you, £20.00 delivery, all good are free.

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/northamptonUKfreegle/ - The link for the main freegle group. You can find the links for other groups on here. ( I'm one of the mods for the East group )

Theres a BHF shop at the bottom of Bridge Street - does furniture, quite nice, I remember getting a heap of stuff from there, and delivery was about £25 - i think

Have you been onto the bus websites to see if theres a cheaper 4 week pass ? Stagecoach do a 28 day one for £97.00
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/tickets.aspx?ref=&inaction=inaction&location_id=68&product_id=14&period_filter=4&x=79&y=1&drpOperator2=-1

Eek, what else ? If anything else pops to mind I'll post again

Good luck chick x

balletshoes

Bumblefeet I think the OP has got a flat in Coventry.