There are kites for sale at B&Q with 75% off. According to our HUKD members, there’s a plethora of issues with the click and collect, so you’re better off calling your local store to see if they have stock, then making a trip down there for it.

• Buy and fly a kite with 75% off

If hours spent on Blackheath common watching the kites flying didn’t fill me with memories of childhood, and have that there Mary Poppins song floating about my head, then nothing ever will, I’m sure. I don’t believe I’ve ever flown a kite myself, but it’s such an intriguing and somewhat hypnotic activity to watch.

The kites at B&Q are on sale from £1, with only one ‘expensive’ kite, the Airflex Acrobatic Kite on offer for £3.

The rest are fun looking Flame Acrobatic Mid Kite, a funky Lady Bug Diamond Kite or Bee Diamond Kite if that’s more your thing, and of course the totally make-'em-into-everything, Cars Diamond Kite, Toy Story Diamond Kite or Disney Princess Diamond Kite.

Thanks to deborahm at HUKD

I absolutely love this deal. I wish, wish, wish I had a garden to put this in because I have always wanted to own one of these tables and this is a stonking good deal. Only £39 for this ace picnic bench from B&Q means you are saving a tasty £20 off the usual retail price of £59.

• Click here to get some picnic at B&Q

The bench is 71.5x148x130.5x30.7cm in size and comes with a one year guarantee. It has a natural finish and comfortably sits six people out in the lovely sunshine, or in the shade. The natural finish means that it will look good in most gardens, blending in nicely with the foliage and adding a nice rustic touch to the garden.

It does ask you to build it, though. So, if you are like me and completely incapable of visualising in three dimensions, then best you ask someone to give you a hand. The bench is made from pine and has some good reviews on the B&Q site with most saying that it is easy to assemble, a good price and very sturdy.

Thanks to pirate1 at HUKD!

Yes, I do. I wash plastic bags. Not the carrier bags you get from the supermarket. But the sandwich bags you buy on a roll, and the re-sealable freezer bags. I turn them inside out, put them in a pillow case and then run them through the washing machine with biological powder. Then I give them a rinse and let them air dry using a system of tall bottles I keep for the purpose (these used to contain things like port and posh lemonade).

It isn't just about saving money because really that's a very small amount. It is far more about the waste. Although I have to admit that I do resent paying for the bags then just using them once.

There's a lot of other things that are a bit wasteful too. Like cling film. When did we stop just putting a plate on top of a bowl to keep food fresh in the fridge? I remember our fridge being full of leftovers like that when I was a kid.

So I started doing it again. And you know what? It keeps food fresh, maybe not as long as cling film but long enough. I don't like to eat leftovers after about day three anyway. Plus you can put another bowl on top. I now buy a whole lot less cling film than I used to.

Which got me thinking. What else could I do that saves money, and is better for the environment?

Heating Help

Put aluminium foil, shiny side out, behind the radiators. The theory is that this then reflects more heat back into the room. There's no end of places that will sell you radiator foil for the purpose either. One of the cheapest places I could find this was at B&Q, where a roll that will cover 2.5 square metres costs £8.98. Or there's a variety of sellers on eBay selling it for about half that.

Does it work? The jury seems to be out on that one. I searched a number of forums on the internet and came to two conclusions. First, a surprisingly large amount of people like to talk about radiator foil. Second, this wasn't helpful. In short, some people found it made a difference, some found it made such a small difference it was hardly worth the effort and other people thought it a total waste of time.

What about lining your curtains with thermal curtain lining? You can buy some fairly cheaply from eBay for around a fiver including VAT. Or there's this alternative I found on the internet. Sew a cheap PVC shower curtain to your existing curtains, and then sew the lining on top. And the draughts are kept out!

Removing Stains

I've written before about making your own laundry detergents and the like. Well I don't actually do that myself right now but I do cut in the powder with soda. That's just common sense really, as it works as a water softener too.

I love this recipe though that I found for DIY stain removers recently. Apparently chocolate stains can be removed by mixing egg yolk with lukewarm water and rubbing it on the stain. Well I haven't tried it yet myself, but I always have plenty of eggs to hand so next time I'll give it a go.

By the way, Iceland sell half a dozen free range eggs for a £1, and I've found that my local corner shop often has special deals on where you can get a dozen free range eggs for £1.39. It really is worth shopping around for affordable free range as really and truly you don't want to support battery hens.

Baking soda works well at getting stains out of coffee mugs. But, I've found that an even better alternative is a half a scoop of biological washing powder. Soak the cups in that for five minutes and then just wipe them out. They come out shiny clean too.

Dumpster Diving

I've worked hard over the last two years to make sure I don't waste food at home. Supermarkets on the other hand waste food on a daily basis. And there's a group of folks who exploit that to get their food for free.

Now, I've got two good bookcases and a set of drawers from Freecycle. I've also got three really lovely Lloyd Loom cane chairs rescued from the dump. I'm not averse to casting an eye over skips as I drive past. But honestly, I really don't think I could quite do something that's known as Freegan. A sort of play on the word Vegan meaning someone who doesn't eat animal products. A freegan eats free food. And they get it by rummaging around in the bins behind supermarkets.

ScavengeUK is a site dedicated to folks who are keen to find something for nothing and can offer some good advice on how to go dumpster diving. Tips on other sites include aiming for small to medium sized stores, as the big ones are more likely to lock up their bins. Also, take a torch, rummage after dark, and don't ignore No Trespassing signs. Oh and give anything you find a good wash. Honestly, none of that makes me inclined to want to try it at all.

So now you know my little secret. Is it a penny pinching step too far do you think? Or quirky but acceptable? And go on, confess. What secret little money/environment saving things do you do?

Can you believe it's Christmas eve already? This month has simply zoomed by in a haze of snow, mince pies and mulled wine.

If your Christmas tree is looking a little bit worse for wear, you're just back in town and don't have a tree yet, you were just to busy and didn't notice Christmas sneak up on you or you're one of those people who traditionally only put up a tree on Christmas eve, you're in luck – real Christmas trees are down to just 1p at B&Q. For a five to six foot tree, that's a fantastic saving!

You can't buy it online, and there's no delivery, so you'll have to pop out and collect it yourself.

• Click here to find your nearest B&Q

(You could also try your nearest Homebase, where they are apparently giving them away for free, but there might not be that many left, so 1p is a pretty good second option.)

While you're there, have a look at the Christmas decorations sale, which has up to 75% off right now too.

Happy Christmas Eve!

Thanks to kiwikeen at HUKD

Bikes are traditional BIG Christmas pressies, if you’re looking for a Toy Story one then pop over to B&Q (yes I know that sounds a bit weird and that it should be Halfords, but I promise it's B&Q you want for this Toy Story Bike).

• Click HERE to ride on over to B&Q
  

I remember getting a bike for Christmas when I was little – it was a metalic lilac colour and had a little white single panier thing on the back for putting important things in, like my tea set and a book!

I remember getting a bike for Christmas when I was older – it was a Raleigh Racer and I LOVED it!

It doesn’t seem to matter how cold it is on Christmas day, if you’re the proud owner of a new bike you’re going to RIDE it! Nothing short of three feet of snow is going to stop you!

The Toy Story Bike has 14" wheels, a brightly coloured and printed tubular steel frame, front and back caliper brakes, adjustable saddle and handle bars and those all important stabilisers for the first few shaky months of learning how to ride.

The rrp for this Toy Story bike is £89.98 but Halfords have slashed that price for you and you can grab one for £44.90 by reserving it for  in-store collection online and pay when you pick it up.

With whispers that some Christmas deliveries might not make it on time due to the chaos and backlog caused by the snow,  nipping out to your local B&Q to collect this Toy Story Bike yourself suddenly sounds like a great idea!

Thanks to popplh over at HUKD

If you love a sparkly Christmas with lights dripping from every wall, then this deal will brighten up your day (sorry). B&Q currently have a selection of LED lights selling for half price and they’re all perfect for throwing some sparkle around on Christmas Day.

• Click here to get lights at B&Q

You can nab 80 multifunction blue or white LED light sets for £7.49, down from £14.98. There’s a 240 multifunction LED light set in multicolours for £19.99, down from £39.98, or a blue and white version of that same number for £7.49.

There is also a green version of the 80 multifunction set, or a plain white multifunction 240 set going for £19.99. Definitely plenty of sparkle here for your Christmas tree or home.

I do love decorating the house for Christmas. In fact, my husband shakes his head at me as I start getting everything out on 01 December. Apparently that’s too early but I’m all for getting the sparklies out for as long as possible.

Thanks to baggielad at HUKD!

Wait! Before you leap into your car and gallop on over to B&Q I need to tell you something. You only get this chap for free if you buy any Dulux product and it only starts this Friday. Calmed down now? Awesome!

• Click here to find out more from B&Q

So basically B&Q are starting the deal on Friday and the stores open at 7am. I don’t think you’ll be able to amble in and get one at lunch time as it looks like these are going to hurtle out the stores.

The compact PaintPod is a fancy gizmo that releases paint onto the roller at the press of a button. It is valued at £44.99 and is small and light and clamps onto the pot of special paint. This roller painting system releases paint as you go and is used instead of a traditional roller and tray.

It can cover large areas quickly and leaves a smooth finish and almost banishes the spatter effect of a traditional roller. Working out how much paint is on the roller takes a bit of getting used to and some have found this difficult to judge and it isn’t self-cleaning like its expensive older sister. Anyway, this one is FREE!

Thanks to Thrifty Spender at HUKD!

B&Q  are selling off these adorable items for a fraction of their original prices. The Peppa Pig Bubble Lawnmower was originally £19.98, and the Wheelbarrow as originally £14.98. Now they are selling for £9.97 and £7.49 respectively and are brilliant for indoor and outdoor play.

• Click here to see the deal at B&Q (Expired)

The Peppa Pig lawnmower is a cute little two-in-one delight that blows bubbles out the front as the little ones zoom it around. It comes with 4oz of bubble solution and has really cute Peppa Pig designs all around the base. It’s quite brilliant for imaginative play and role-play.

The wheelbarrow comes with a watering can, a fork and a spade and all the accessories are designed to attach to the front of the wheelbarrow itself. It really is quite adorable and, for those of you who can allocate a patch of garden to your tots, really great for digging up fun.

Both items are great for all-year play (unless it’s bucketing down) and will keep kids entertained for hours.

Thanks to lucerysmum at HUKD!

Ok, now THIS is a trampoline! Here lies an eight foot trampoline plus enclosure for £74.84 at B&Q. Originally priced at around £150, this is just over half price and is definitely a fabulously impressive toy to add to your garden.

• Click here to bounce on over to B&Q

The product itself has received some really good reviews on the B&Q website with customers saying that its sturdy, fab for younger kids because it isn’t too high, and great fun. Although there are quite a few reviews that claim bits of it broke really easily too, so be warned and double-check everything when you buy it (if you buy it).

The trampoline is about 44.6kgs (ouch,  say goodbye to your grass), is ideal for kids aged six years and up and takes a maximum user weight of 90kgs. You will have to assemble it yourself so be prepared for some cursing and muttering as you do so.

If I had a garden big enough, and I could somehow hide the dead grass that comes with this type of toy, then I would definitely consider getting this as it would let mum and dad relax while the kids had hours of fun.

Thanks to millarcat at HUKD!

I am torn. When I see a sale like this one it tears me right down the middle. On one hand I am delighted because it means I can sort out my camping kit and get some bits and pieces I couldn’t afford before. On the other hand it means that they’re getting rid of summer stock because winter is on the way. Booo hooo.

• Click here to see what’s happening in the sale at B&Q

Firmly ignoring the sobbing summer bunny in my head, I shall bravely move on and talk about the deals we have going here at B&Q.  There’s quite a bit of stuff in the sale and I’ll highlight a couple of goodies.

In the picnic and tableware section the Gelert Summer cool bag is down to £2.49, melamine plates and bowls are as little as 99p, a complete picnic set (pictured) is only £4.98 and a rug is only £4.48. You could probably get an entire picnic’s worth of new items for less than £20.

Depending on your budget and the size of your family the tents are quite varied in price. The Gelert Horizon 8 man tent is £224.54, down from £449.98, and the Scafell Rock Eclipse 2 man tent is down to £19.95 from £39.95 (bargain!).  You can even nab a starter set for £49.98.

Thanks to tony_termite at HUKD!

NO, this isn't a Father's Day suggestion - that would be like getting me an ironing board for Mother's day!

• Click HERE and go to B&Q for this deal

I'm a bit of a boy when it comes to tools - I LOVE THEM!  I can't help it - my dad's an engineer and a rather nifty 'chippy' too and I inherited my love of tools from him.

There's nothing quite like going to the tool box and being able to lay your hands on the exact tool that you need for any job that might arise!  As with all things, you can spend absolute fortunes on the most expensive things that will cook the dinner and do a dance for you, in addition to the purpose you were buying them for.

But sometimes you just need a straight-forward inexpensive option - perhaps because you're just starting to build up your own tool collection, the other one you had has just broken and you need a cheap temporary replacement, you get the picture.

This Skil drill (I love that it rhymes - I think I need to get out more) fits that bill perfectly.  It comes with two batteries, 6 HSS drill bits (1-6mm), 6 screwdriver bits (PZ1,PZ2,PH1,PH2,S5,S6), 3 hour charger, magnetic bit-holder and comes wrapped up in a neat and tidy carry case.

It's got two speeds - one for drilling holes and one to use when you want to use it as a screwdriver (use a drill as a screwdriver and you'll never go back to manual ones again unless you really have to!).  It doesn't have a hammer action though which is slightly disappointing but it's still a nifty piece of kit for the price if you ask me (reduced from £49.98 to £34.98).

Order online to collect in-store at your local B&Q and happy drilling!

Thanks to ZeMan over at HUKD

If you have boys then these playmats are almost compulsory purchases

• Click HERE and drive on over to B&Q

My family has a lot of history in motorsport and as soon as any of us were old enough to hold or push anything, we've been driving toy cars around carpet race tracks (we used my mum's clothes pegs to line out a course) and parking our prized sports cars in garages (old shoe or cereal boxes!).

The one day my mum bought my oldest son one of these playmats (not this exact one obviously, he's more into driving full-sized cars now) and the days of homemade carpet race tracks were changed forever!

We've had loads of them over the years and I can safely say that it's worth paying a bit more than just a couple of quid for them.  This one's nice and long at just a smidge under two metres and it's a metre wide so there's plenty of room for lots of cars, lorries, tractors and all of the other associated car 'stuff'.

There's no delivery to pay as you can only collect it instore but with a  B&Q on almost every corner this is hardly going to be a chore!

Thanks to victoria12345 over at HUKD

If you're weekend weather was anything like mine then the last thing on your shopping list would have been a picnic bench, but summer IS coming - I promise!

• Click HERE to scoot over to B&Q

It's beautiful here where I am today, albeit a bit chilly, but the sun IS out so it's time to get prepared.

You know how it goes, when it's summer the shops take all the summer stuff out and want you buy for winter and when it's absolutely freezing they are full of everything for summer!

I have a love-hate relationship with garden furniture - I love the really nice big tables with the ohhh-so-comfy looking chairs and the giant parasol but I hate that it's so expensive.

So, in the meantime, if your outdoor seating and eating facilities are a bit lacking (like mine), order and reserve this online then scoot off toyour nearest B&Q and VIOLA! you're all sorted for summer eating and drinking outdoors for less than £60 - good ol' B&Q have taken £45 off the original selling price.

Happy outdoor eating....when it gets warm enough!

Thanks to DiamondGeezer99 over at HUKD!

You can taste it in the air, smell it in the breeze and your skin is starting to tingle. Yes, summer is definitely on the horizon and spring is peeping over the hills. I am so excited about being warm again that this deal struck me as a great way to celebrate.

• Sit on this deal from B&Q

You have to admit that £54.98 for a six piece outdoor patio set is a rather brilliant price. The entire kit includes a table, four chairs and a parasol (genius) that are made from powder coated steel. The chairs fold neatly for easy storage too.

This set may look quite utilitarian, and it is, but the advantage of such design is that you can do a lot with it when personalising it. Bright cushions or covers and ingenious table cloths won’t clash with the simplistic design. You can literally add anything you like to the set and it will complement it nicely.

So, nab the set for less than £60 and spend the rest of the £100 you saved on some lush green cushions, a bright orange table cloth and some peacock blue napkins. Kidding...

Thanks to ljdamms at HUKD!

It's half-term - the mornings are getting lighter earlier, the evenings are getting darker later....it must be time to get the paint brushes out and give the walls of your home an new lease of life!

• Click HERE to go to B&Q for some fab paint deals

Paint is expensive!  Well I think it is but maybe that's because I get through gallons of the stuff - with three kids and two dogs in the house my walls take a fair bit of abuse, and even with washable paint a new coat on the walls at least once a year is the only way to really keep things looking fresh and nice.

Hurrah then for B&Q who currently have some fabulous paint bargains that I'm definitely going to be taking advantage of.

All 5 litre tins of Crown standard colour emulsion are half price at £13.98; you can pick up 10 litres of Crown white matt emulsion for £10 - that's £1 a litre and an absolute gift if you like white walls like I do (yes, I know...kids, dogs, white walls = bad idea).

You can check stock levels and reserve for in-store collection which is great and could save you a wasted journey - nothing worse than preparing to do battle with the DIY shops only to discover they haven't got what you want.

The only thing I can't help you with is how to convince your little ones that letting them lose with a tin of emulsion and a paint brush, or roller, ISN'T the best idea - unless you are one of those fearless DIY parents...which I'm not!

Thanks to meekie over at HUKD!