I don't need for it to be perfect, but at the moment,
I have no furniture apart from a desk, 2 plastic chairs, and a leather pouffe.
The only things to cook with are a slow cooker, kettle and toaster (I have a microwave and freezer but in storage and it's proving difficult to get them)
No proper internet, so I can't work
What I can do:
Get something like a bean bag to sit on in the mean time
Try to sort out internet
Buy a fridge from second hand shop round the corner
Throw a(nother) fit about the items in storage
The guys decorating haven't done anything yet and are making a fuss about me moving items/furniture in until it's been painted and carpeted.
This is pretty standard for a first time buyer, you have nothing, and it all gets very expensive, very quickly. Ultimately you need to decide what you need right now, vs what you can do without, and then what you can, and cannot afford right now.
I was lucky in that I had carpets, and the walls didn't really need painting, but I can see why you'd want to get the painting done before carpeting, and I can also see the guys who want to do the paintings point of view too, however, you're paying them to do a job, so tell them to move their arses, or forget it, and you'll either do it yourself at a later date, or get someone else in after the carpets have been done. If they are professional enough, they shouldn't be afraid of a bit of carpet and furniture. Covering it up is part of the job usually.
As for buying stuff. Credit cards are your friend here, if you're able to get one. One with X months interest free credit. Buy all the white goods and furniture you need now on it and any other unforeseen expenses over the next few months, then rip it up with the intention to pay it off by when the 0% interest runs out. Second hand white goods may tide you over, but there's generally a reason someone got rid of it. It's already broke and someone has replaced the part and deemed it good enough to sell back on (it will break again) or someone's died!
After that, it's what you can afford as you go along, which is how I did things this time, as I've now got all the shit I didn't have before, and trust me, that stuff quickly accumulates, and when you next move you'll be saying to yourself "how did i end up with all this shit!"
"basic kitchen stuff" for example. Or a breadmaker 
You can always give it away again!
