Moving to Cambridge, seeking local advice

fiish

Hi,

This forum has been brimming with helpful tips and advice and I'm really grateful to my fellow MoneySavers for that. I would like to pick your brains once more

I recently got a job in Cambridge starting a few months from now (after I graduate). Having lived in London all along I'm looking for local knowledge of the Cambridge area. Would appreciate even the smallest tidbits of advice.

Thanks!

Ebany

Ooh, what sort of things would you like to know? I've been here for almost 3 years now, so can hopefully give you a few tips.

Tip one - its bloody expensive! We finally got a poundland (opened yesterday). Thats the first cheap place in the whole city centre, pretty much (theres one non-chain place out down Mill Road too, but thats quite a bit further out)

Do you have any idea where you will be living?

fiish

Thanks for the first tip already! I can't really imagine Cambridge being more expensive than central London, but I'll take your word and watch out for that Poundland!

I haven't got a flat yet. Might or might not be near the city centre, workplace is near Cherry Hinton so will be looking outwards from there.

A lot of the advertised places seem to be unfurnished though, so do you know a good place to buy decent furniture? (already know there's no IKEA ) Probably will look here and other places for throwaway sales and the like too.

fergual2

wrt furniture When you say decent - here is a mini list
Multiyork - near Beehive centre
John Lewis - Centre of cambridge
Habitat - Newmarket road

None of these are exactly money saving.
If you really want to save money then join up to the cambridge freecycle mailing list

Al

Ebany

I quite often see cheaper places out that way (we are lazy and pay lots extra to live a 10 min walk from the city centre) so hopefully you can find somewhere nice. I'm not aware of any scary parts of Cherry Hinton, but I don't know the south of the city that well.

Depending how desperate you are, thres a salvation army shop on Mill Road that does furniture, and certainly the freecycle list is busy and would hopefully be good for a few items (I've got a very small sofa to dispose of if you want, I've been too lazy for almost 2 years to get round to posting it on freecycle). Most of our stuff came from Argos, but there ar better places around if you'd rather spend a bit more.

newcastlebelle

theres a place that does quality second hand furniture on the A10 [ coming north out of Cambridge] , think its called EMAS

LittleMissAspie

Emmaus
http://www.emmauscambridge.org/

We got our sofa from there, they deliver for £7.50.

karens1979

Hello!

We live out of Cambridge near to Huntingdon.

I did hear there is a factory outlet type place, at the back of Trumpington park and ride that sells ex display and 'slight seconds' furniture items from Laura Ashley at very reduced prices.

Haven't actually been there myself, but hear its good.

Or I would try freecycle too...

Or Ikea in Milton Keynes, isn't that far either?

Hope that helps a bit!