With summer approaching lots of homeowners will be hoping to make the most of the dry, warm weather to make some essential home improvements, both inside and out in the garden – but with the housing market still not moving very quickly and falling house prices, many people are opting to improve their homes rather than paying out to move house. It’s time for money-saving DIY!

Although decorating and making home improvements can be expensive, it really depends on the level of finish and luxurious materials that you choose to incorporate into your DIY designs that can blow the budget.

If you are cautious about materials, and check out some of the discount tool retailers such as Toolstation and Screwfix rather than the big DIY stores, then you should save some money – plus, there are a lot of money saving vouchers now available online to help you bring the cost down.

If you want to make a drastic change- such as fitting a new kitchen it is worth searching online for a discount code or voucher before making a final decision. You can do yourself a favour by browsing online before hitting the shops as you may find that you come across some great vouchers and avoid impulse buying.

When opting for money-saving DIY home improvements think about whether you actually need to but the tools or if you could be able to borrow them from a neighbour. Some high end tools can also be rented from builders merchants.

Make sure you check out our guide to keeping safe for DIY.

If you are a keen gardener you could save money by taking cuttings from a friend or family member of a plant in their gardens. Buying plants as seeds and growing them is also a lot cheaper than buying them ready grown.

Although it may seem tempting, don’t try to attempt plumbing or electrics yourself unless you understand exactly what you are doing. As well as being dangerous, a botched job could in fact end up costing you more in the long run.