Setting up a first flat on a budget. Is second-hand furniture in Madinah decent value, where do students find it, and what should I buy new instead?

Renting alone is stretching my budget. For those in shared houses — how did you find a roommate you actually got along with, and what did you agree on in writing beforehand?

My Absher account is created but not activated. I heard you can activate at certain ATMs or self-service kiosks. Where did you do yours in Madinah and how long did it take?

Arriving with an empty kitchen. Where do students buy basics (rice, oil, cleaning supplies) without overspending in the first week, and is it worth one big trip or several small ones?

I tried one bank app and it asked for things I do not have yet. Which route worked for you as a newly arrived student, and what did you need to bring to the branch?

Landing this week and I need data immediately for maps and messages. Can I get a SIM at the airport or should I wait until I am in the city? What ID do visitors usually need before the Iqama is ready?

Leaving Saudi for at least a year. I use my Saudi number for bank alerts. Can I keep it active on a minimal plan, or is closing and switching alerts to email cleaner? What did leavers do?

I have arrived on a student visa and my Iqama is still being processed. The university portal is asking me to verify through Nafath but I do not have an Iqama number yet. Has anyone managed to register before the Iqama came through, or do I need to wait?