6 tips to help you save money in your home and garden

Transform your garden into extra living space with some simple ideas. (Picture: PriceRunner)Transform your garden into extra living space with some simple ideas. (Picture: PriceRunner)
Transform your garden into extra living space with some simple ideas. (Picture: PriceRunner)

The promise of spring is drawing closer, with the first signs starting to make an appearance in parks and gardens.

The change in seasons is something to celebrate and with more time spent at home and warmermonths in the garden to look forward to, it is the perfect time to make some changes.

Before you start compiling your DIY-to-do list, Christine Gouldthorp, consumer expert at price and product comparison site PriceRunner, has shared her top tips to help save you money this spring.

Weatherproof gardens

Awnings and canopies are a great addition to weatherproof gardens, but if you leave it until the summer months to buy one, you could end up paying more than a third more compared to other times in the year - PriceRunner found you will pay premium prices from June to October.

Awnings are a great addition to weatherproof gardens. (Picture: Shutterstock)Awnings are a great addition to weatherproof gardens. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Awnings are a great addition to weatherproof gardens. (Picture: Shutterstock)

A lick of paint

One of the easiest and most effective ways to change the look and feel of a room without heavy duty drilling or plastering is painting, plus it is a simple enough task for first-time DIYers.

Whether it is for inside your home or painting garden walls or fences, using quality paint is key - and based on prices over the last year, March is the cheapest time to buy.

Painting is a simple enough task for first-time DIYers. (Picture: Shutterstock)Painting is a simple enough task for first-time DIYers. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Painting is a simple enough task for first-time DIYers. (Picture: Shutterstock)

If it isn’t broken, fix it

Furniture of natural materials ages like we do, but before you throw them away, try giving them a facelift first.

Invest in a power grinder or sander and take off those old layers of wood or paint - and again March is the cheapest time to buy.

Try giving shabby outdoor furniture a facelift before throwing them away. (Picture: Shutterstock)Try giving shabby outdoor furniture a facelift before throwing them away. (Picture: Shutterstock)
Try giving shabby outdoor furniture a facelift before throwing them away. (Picture: Shutterstock)

Level up your spring clean

The annual spring-clean is a great chance to clear out the old, declutter and make rooms feel as good as new again.

If you need an extra helping hand, a robot mop is one of the latest home must-haves to keep hard floors clean and cut down on dust and allergens.

Although they don’t come cheap, if you’re a savvy shopper and buy at the right time, you can save more than £100 on the top models - certain lines saw price drops in June, with others going on sale in November, likely due to Black Friday offers.

The annual spring-clean is a chance to make rooms feel as good as new again. (Picture: PriceRunner)The annual spring-clean is a chance to make rooms feel as good as new again. (Picture: PriceRunner)
The annual spring-clean is a chance to make rooms feel as good as new again. (Picture: PriceRunner)

Having the right tools

With a couple of extra-long weekends in May, there is extra time to start bigger home projects, while summer is one of the busiest times in the gardeners’ calendar with warmer weather bringing outdoor spaces back in bloom.

If you are one of the many new gardeners who took up the hobby as a result of more time at home due to lockdown, or are planning more extensive renovations, having the right tools for the job will avoiddisaster - prices fluctuate, with deals to be had throughout the year, but doing your research will bring big savings.

Having the right tools is important to do a job well. (Picture: PriceRunner)Having the right tools is important to do a job well. (Picture: PriceRunner)
Having the right tools is important to do a job well. (Picture: PriceRunner)

Preparation is key

If you have green fingers, you know the best time to start preparing your flower bed, herb garden or other greenery is in the spring, where having the right tools make all the difference.

If you need a shovel, wheelbarrow, pitchfork or perhaps a spade, January and February are the cheapest months to buy them.

If you are not quite ready yet this year, then November is also a time when a lot of products reach their cheapest prices and go on sale for Black Friday.