hi,

I'd say try to spend as little as you can.
Flat is probably least important of all things during studies.
The less you spend on it the more money you are going to have for going out, traveling and anything else you might want to buy.
I consider accomodation as a place to sleep and maybe to do some work. If it's really bad I could always work in the library.
But surely cheap places are often outside the center which means added commuting expenses.

Good luck:)

On the other hand I have learned one thing: the worse the beginning, the better the rest. People who are difficult at the beginning usually turn out to be really friendly.

I am doing my Master's at the moment. Its ok now but for the whole first year I was feeling very uncomfy.
It involved only one or two days a week of work,I was just going there to do the daily stuff without any of my own research(more a guest than a member)
I was so stressed over what I am doing that I kept doing ridiculous mistakes. It wasn't serious but as I need enormous amounts of acceptance just to go on,little things and lack of enthusiasm from my supervisor were making me feel really unhappy.
My way to deal with it was buying sweets. Something good. Something the whole team can have but obviously you give it to the supervisor. I used to say something like: this is to sweeten up the day with thanks for your patience or i got this of my mum for the whole team as i always say a lot about you at home.
You may try to get something that involves cutting and sharing, this will bring the whole team together in one room and may be a good opportunity to unify, which hopefully could break your supervisor a little.