Cheap places in berlin

Cool_CM

On erasmus in berlin, got stung for a lot of deposits upon arrival, we're living in student accomodation in tiergarten so everything around us is expensive, wondering if anybody has any tips about cheaper places in the city to buy clothes groceries etc? have already gone to ikea for bed clothes and things, basically any info from anybody who has lived here before would be much appreciated!
Cheers

Faith

Cool_CM, there's a forum called Youth & Student Travel, specifically for young people. They might know a bit more about cheap places to get stuff. Would you like me to move the thread there, or are you happy to leave it here?

EDIT: Never mind, I see you posted it there originally and BuffyBot thought it would be better suited to here.

Cool_CM

sorry about that, thought it would be better suited to the student travel forum but whichever suits, cheers

Faith

Okay, I'm moving this back to Y&ST in the hope it'll get more of a response.

BuffyBot, if this is a problem, just let me know!

Popel

Hello! I live in Berlin, and on a teeny tiny budget too, so maybe i can help.

Basically, if you´re in college you automatically have free unlimited travel throughout the city. If you´re living in Tiergarten you are no more than three minutes from a hundred different cheap supermarkets. I live in Kreuzberg, which is only about 15 minutes away (including waiting for the ubahn), and have an NP , which is the cheapest super market, a Pennymarkt, also cheap, Kaisers, AVOID!! same stock as the other two, but about double the price, as well as about a dozen different turkish shops, where you can get really fresh, really cheap deli-style food.

For stationary and stuff, just buy in college, small stationary shops are much more expensive. Clothes are basically irish-priced, but if you like H&M, then that won´t be too expensive either. There are about 3 different H&Ms on the Ku´damm, just beware, almost all the other shops there are designer and very expensive.

Good job with Ikea, another good shop for around-the-house stuff is Domäne, there´s one by hallesches tor ubahn if you like. also, flea markets are where you should look for Bicycles, and also a great place for more unique clotheing. The Str.des17Juni market, all weekend, has a craft market too, where it´s all brand new stuff, made by local designers, and they have some really interesting pieces (just bought my graduation dress there last week:) ).

There´s no real need to eat out every night, but if you want some excellent food in restaurants, all you have to do, again, is travel outside the touristy areas. Try Nollendorfplatz, Gneisenaustr. (especially Bergmanstrasse close by to there), Prenzlauerberg etc...all have lovely, great quality places, where any more that ten euro for the meal and two drinks would be unusual.

Hope this is helping. Post some more if you want any more tips, I´ve been living here for about 6months now in total.

Cool_CM

Thanks very much for all the info Popel!