Latest news with #thrifty
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I transformed my council house kitchen with paint & a £13 B&Q buy – after we were left waiting 4 years for a free update
A THRIFTY DIY fan has wowed people with her epic council house kitchen makeover on the cheap. According to data by HiF Kitchens, the average cost of a mid-range kitchen transformation is around £20,000-£30,000 - but one woman has proved a house transformation doesn't necessarily require spending thousands. 2 2 Sarah B. was able to give her kitchen a mega overhaul under £250, thanks to shopping at the popular home goods store, B&Q. Thrilled with the DIY makeover, Sarah took to her TikTok page to share a before and after look at her jaw-dropping project - and it's left many open-mouthed. Before the epic glow-up, the council house kitchen was pretty basic, featuring standard light wooden cupboards, grey tile flooring and cream walls. But thanks to shopping smart and doing everything herself, Sarah was able to give the outdated room a fresh and modern feel. Breaking down the costs and sharing the steps, Sarah said: ''Can you believe we transformed this kitchen for under £250? ''Of course this didn't include accessories, but we already had most of this prior to moving. ''Our kitchen was due to be replaced in 2021 but hasn't been done as of yet so we were given free reign to "spruce it up" and that's exactly what we did!'' The DIY fan kicked off the process with cleaning the cupboards with sugar soap before going over the surface with Kitchen Cupboard Paint - Steamed Milk & All Green by Rust-Oleum. This matt paint set her back £46 and Sarah needed only two layers to achieve the perfect look she was after. Another rental-friendly tip Sarah shared was covering the old worktops with DC Fix - a self-adhesive vinyl wrap that's a cheap and cheerful way to spruce your kitchen with no faff. I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' In the clip, the thrifty woman explained she used the wrap in Ribbeck Oak effect from B&Q, where it set her back £26 (or £13 per roll). Raving about the kitchen bargain, Sarah said in another video: ''It is durable and waterproof, the only thing you cannot do is put hot pans on it (yay for worktop protectors).'' She also shared top tips for achieving a smooth finish: ''Clean your worktops with sugar soap to remove any grease. How to do your council house up on the cheap Take inspiration from pricier shops and head to B&M, Home Bargains for interior decorations. Head to YouTube for easy to follow tutorials on how to decorate rather than paying for professionals. For a quick glow-up for your floors or anywhere with tiles, opt for stick-on vinyl to save on costs. A lick of paint does wonders to make a room feel brand-new. Switch out kitchen cupboard knobs for modern ones instead of buying brand-new cupboards. ''Lay the product out first to make sure you're happy with it. Once you remove the backing use a bank card or smoothing tool to get out any air bubbles. It can be removed easily to correct any errors. ''Make cuts as necessary, around the sink can be a little fiddly. I recommend using a hairdryer to seal around the edges. ''It can make it more stretchy and adheres better to those awkward spaces. ''Make sure you try and match the joins or hide them as best as possible. ''It is so easy to remove afterwards and just needs a quick clean to remove any residue.'' Rather than replacing the white splash-back tiles, Sarah gave them a brand new look creating a geometrical pattern with a gorgeous mustard-coloured paint that cost her £50. Another new feature in the jaw-dropping kitchen glow-up were GoodHome Dukkah Brass cupboard handles, £84 from B&Q. This brought the total costs to just £248 - significantly cheaper than forking out for a new, professionally-done kitchen. 'Unbelievable job' The video has since taken the internet by storm, winning Sarah close to 70k views, over 3,200 likes and more than 1,000 shares. Hundreds of social media users - a total of 322 - flooded to comments to praise Sarah for the DIY job and her skills. One viewer exclaimed: ''Honestly I think it's an absolute triumph!'' Another chimed in: ''Can I just say, I've literally copied ur [your] whole kitchen. went out and got the same vinyl and paint as u cuz I loved it that much!'' ''Unbelievable job tbh, tiles brought it all together,'' someone else thought. ''You make my heart glad because you have a vision and then make it happen without just chucking money about… honestly you have huge talent,'' a fourth wrote.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Stacey Solomon reveals she re-purposed her wedding dress for TV BAFTAs in thrifty tip
STACEY Solomon has revealed she has re-purposed her wedding dress for the TV BAFTAs in a thrifty tip. TV presenter and reality star Stacey got married to Joe Swash in a beautiful ceremony in 2022. 3 3 3 Since then, her wedding dress has been hidden safely away but - it is the one dress she has always thought special. The TV star, who became a national favourite after her time on the talent show the X Factor, shared a video of her friend Faye, sat at her sewing machine while working on her gown. She captioned the post saying: "Today I'm wearing my wedding dress. It makes me so sad that this is my favourite most special dress I ever bought & I've only ever worn it once." Fans rushed to show their excitement and stated that it was a lovely idea and that they couldn't wait to see the finished result. In a later post Stacey posed in her altered dress and added: "I'm so excited & so grateful to have been nominated for TWO @bafta this year. "What in the heck is life 😂 Thank you BAFTA for this honour. And thank you to my @sortyourlifeout family & @bbciplayer for giving me the chance to present the most special show, it's the best job in the world & I love every second of it. "I decided to have my wedding dress re worked for today because wearing it once feels like a travesty to me. "I wanted to get her out of the box & take her out on another special day. "Thank you @fayesawyerstylist & Issy for transforming my wedding dress into something so special & beautiful. I love you girls. Fans of the star thought she looked gorgeous and were quick to comment. Watch the moment Joe Swash snaps at wife Stacey Solomon during tense therapy session as he says 'I'm a huge problem in Stacey's perfect life' One said: "Oh I love it, it's so pretty." Another person added: "You look absolutely amazing. Your dress is just (fire) ." "You look amazing, love the dress, definitely worth wearing more than once," added another. And another stated: "You look incredibly beautiful as always no matter what you are wearing from your comfys to this. Stacey Solomon's career so far Stacey Solomon has been a familiar face on viewers' screens for over a decade. Let's take a look back at her career. The X Factor (2009): Stacey competed in series six of long-running ITV singing competition The X Factor. During her time in the show, she was mentored by Danni Minogue in the 'Girls' category. The star finished in third place, behind Joe McElderry and Olly Murs. I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (2010); In late 2010, Stacey headed to the infamous I'm A Celeb Aussie jungle. After 21 days, she triumphed to win the tenth series. It was through I'm A Celeb that she met future husband Joe Swash - who'd won two years earlier and was hosting the ITV2 spinoff. Celebrity Juice (2011―2013, 2016―2019): The star appeared as a panellist on 21 episodes of the comedy panel game show hosted by Keith Lemon. Stacey was a regular in the 21st series, broadcast in 2019. Loose Women (2016 - present): Stacey has been a permanent panel member of the daytime show since 2016. She previously made guest appearances in 2011 and 2012. Sort Your Life Out (2022 -present): This BBC show sees Stacey, with the help of an expert team, transform participants' living spaces after removing clutter. "You will smash it. Good luck Stacey, I love you to the moon and back." In the final episode of Stacey & Joe, the star told viewers she didn't have sex with husband Joe for a year. The couple revealed their plans for the future in the very last scene. Joe, 43, said: "Maybe we could make another kid next year..." Stacey, 35, shot back: "I don't think so." Giggling, she added: "I don't think we had sex in 2024. We haven't seen each other!" The series saw Stacey balancing a booming career, including a new perfume range, while juggling parenthood with hers and Joe's kids Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, plus her sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships. But while showing the positives, it has also highlighted the spats Stacey has with Joe. The couple had just shot scenes in a counselling session and Stacey was left in tears. She had booked the couples therapy session to support Joe, 43, following his ADHD diagnosis. Viewers also watched Stacey grow increasingly irritated by Joe's inability to carry out basic household tasks. Joe also raised eyebrows when he was shown returning home from a fishing trip five hours late, leaving Stacey to juggle their kids and an important work meeting. This week, a source close to the couple told The Sun: 'Stacey is regretting signing up to do the show. 'She's not used to the backlash they are getting as everything she touches normally turns to gold.' .
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I was tired of my boring stairs so I did them up myself using Dunelm and The Range bargains – it cost me just £50
A CASH-SAVVY homeowner has revealed how she did up her stairs on a tight budget of just £50. It's no secret that big home projects can oftentimes set you back a fortune - but as recently proved by one woman, there's no need to spend thousands to transform your living space. 2 2 Money-smart Lori Beach left people stunned with her epic stair makeover - and not only did she spend less than £100, the results look so good you might think it was a professional job. Before the jaw-dropping glow-up, the staircase featured a basic dark grey runner, as well as walls that had beige paint peeling off them. To give the area a brand new look, Lori tackled the grubby wallpaper and gave the bannister a fresh layer of white paint - which matched perfectly with the rest of the aesthetic. As the walls were still looking a bit plain, the thrifty DIY fan decided to spruce them up with panels which she had purchased from B&Q. Wall panels have become all the rage as of recent and popular home goods stores offer a huge variety of ready-made panels you can simply attach with some adhesive. However, if you're on an even tighter budget, plenty of DIY lovers have showed how to make your own panels with no faff. Responding to curious Facebook users, Lori said: ''I drew the panelling on my wall how I wanted it to look then I measured form there. ''I used a mitre saw [to cut the angles of the panelling] but I had to watch some YouTube videos as my mitre saw only goes up to 45 degrees.'' During the epic glow-up, Lori also changed the colour of the panelling and gave it a lick of paint in grey to create a stark contrast with the darker runner. Another brand new addition to the dark staircase were the small lights by the sides, which instantly gave the space a more modern look - and are sure to come in handy at nighttime. I transformed my council house hallway for under £60 - the old laminate has vanished but critics say it 'looks cheap' The final touch was the gorgeous floral wreath she had snapped up from The Range, adding extra fake peonies and roses on top for a fuller look. Sharing the stunning transformation on the popular DIY On A Budget Official page, Lori said: ''Stairs panelling done. Another project ticked off the list. ''Total cost of the transformation came to about £50. I had some of the items left over from previous projects.'' 10 DIY hacks for under £1 each These simple and affordable DIY hacks can help you get creative while saving money Homemade Air Freshener: Mix baking soda with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Place it in a small jar with a perforated lid to keep your home smelling fresh. Upcycled Tin Can Planters: Clean and paint empty tin cans to use as stylish planters for herbs or small plants. Custom Phone Stand: Use a sturdy piece of cardboard or an old plastic credit card to create a custom phone stand. Decorate it with washi tape or paint. DIY Lip Scrub: Combine sugar and a bit of honey or coconut oil to make a natural lip scrub. Store in a small container. Personalised Bookmarks: Use old greeting cards or decorative paper to create unique bookmarks. Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for a finishing touch. Decorative Mason Jars: Paint or decoupage old mason jars to use as decorative vases, storage containers, or candle holders. Easy Cable Organiser: Use empty toilet paper rolls to organize cables and cords. Decorate the rolls with colorful paper or tape. Magnetic Spice Jars: Attach small magnets to the lids of small jars and stick them to a metal board or fridge for easy-access spice storage. Handmade Coasters: Cut out squares from old corkboard or felt and decorate them with paint or fabric to create custom coasters. Natural All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Use it to clean surfaces around your home. ' I want to do this in my hall' Needless to say, the fabulous results have since taken the internet by storm, with Lori's post racking up over 70 likes and dozens of comments. More than 50 people raced to praise the thrifty DIY whizz, as one said: ''I think this looks soo classy.'' Someone else was inspired to transform their home too, as they confessed: ''I want to do this in my hall.''
The Sun
08-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
How I got my mould-spotted grubby, white vertical blinds spotless for 49p – don't waste your money on new ones
A THRIFTY cleaning fan has revealed how she got her dirty blinds looking brand new for just 49p. With the cost-of-living crisis soaring, many cash-strapped households are on the lookout for affordable cleaning hacks - and if your blinds could do with some TLC, you've come to the right place. 2 2 Donna Blossom Hill took to Facebook to share an easy hack that totally transformed her mould-spotted vertical blinds with no faff. According to the woman, although the white blinds were grubby and had certainly seen better days, she couldn't afford a new set. Although some cleaning fans swear by using white vinegar, Donna, unfortunately, discovered that this viral 79p hack didn't do anything. Luckily, she soon found a solution - and not only did it work a treat but was also a cheaper alternative, costing less than 50p. She shared the magic remedy on the popular DIY On A Budget Official - and turns out, all you need in a common cleaning product that's most likely already sitting in your home. Sharing a before and after of the jaw-dropping results, the savvy woman wrote: ''No money for new blinds so I bleached them, I did try white vinegar but didn't work. ''I got a bucket (98p B&Q) filled it with hottish water with 49p bleach (Farmfoods) put half bottle in, carefully unclipped from the top leaving weights in bottom and 1 by 1 put them in bucket leaving for 5 minutes.'' She went on in the post: ''Then from the bucket hanging them up 1 by 1 and putting a towel underneath them for 15 mins & they're done. ''I'm amazed as they're in my conservatory so i have a lot of blinds to do.'' 'Good ol' bleach' Since being shared on the popular page, the post has already taken the internet by storm, winning Donna more than 500 likes in just a few hours. More than 120 people flooded to comments to share their thoughts at the epic transformation, as others revealed their go-to remedies. One cleaning fan recommended: ''Try baking soda with vinegar.'' Someone else chimed in: ''Fab! I soaked mine in the bath with washing powder and they came out well. Just make sure hang to dry.'' The household items you're not cleaning often enough IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling... Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices. Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains. Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly. Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner. Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew. Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine. Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. A third wrote: ''I used to use mildew spray worked a treat.'' ''Be careful if that's mould it can cause lung problems. If it comes back better to change them,'' a fourth said. However, there were also plenty of those who strongly advised against using the 49p solution. ''Bleach does not kill mould, it will get rid of it but next time it comes back worse,'' a cleaning fan warned.
