A cheap but surprisingly good solution is to hang the bicycle from two ropes attached to the ceiling or a beam or whatever, like on this drawing:
http://forums.bicycletutor.com/topic/112
You can buy nice plastic covered hooks or make them yourself from an old wire coat hanger. You may perhaps need to make another gizmo to stabilize the front wheel. But if you make a big double hook that grabs on each side of the handle bar, it may not be necessary for most jobs.
Wrap some old inner tube or similar around the hooks so they doesn't scratch.

The "suspend-from-the-ceiling" solution is much better than the above linked mini-stand since you can lift the bike so you can work at a desired height etc.

Of course it may not be a workable solution where you live, but give it a thought.

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Regards