A SAVVY single mum-of-two who wasquoted£10,000 for a garden renovation has done it herselffor just £1,000 with the help of budget storesandChatGPT.
Thrifty Holly Metcalfe said the “shocking”; price tag offered by professionals felt unjustifiable, especially as doesn’t get good all year round.
Andwhile she knew itwouldbe a mammoth DIY project, she wanted to show her kids itcouldbe done.
The 37-year-old mum, whohasa son, 16,anddaughter, 14, turned to B&Q, AmazonandChatGPT for ideasandgardening advice,andthen rolled up her sleeves.
“After getting shocking quotes for the work I wanted to be done, I decided Iwouldgive it a go myself to save “, said Holly.
“I’ve always been quite headstrong when I get an idea,andI knew Icouldsee it through.
“I also wanted to show my two children that you can be capable of achieving anything, even if it means getting your hands dirty.
“I just thought thisisa lot of to spend on a space that we only get to use for a few months of the year when the weatherisgood.
“It was challenging at timesandIhadto dip inandout of it between being a mumandworking,butI really enjoyed the processandfelt really empowered when I stood backandlooked at it finished.”;
Holly spent every free moment doing the DIYandadmits it was “back-breaking”; work.
Holly, who works in housing, added that the project was “exhausting”;butthat shehad“never felt stronger”;.
She said: “I feel so empowered as a single mum achieving this on my own around all of my other commitments.
“This projecthaspushedmeout of my comfort zone in more ways than one.
“It was a physicalandmental challenge – pushing through with the heavy lifting or digging in the rain –butalso ithasbroughtmeso much confidence.
“Thegardenlooked a lot worse before it started to look better.
“I spent many pockets of time on it; evenings, lunch breaks on days working from home, weekends.
“I gave up any relaxing time really, I ate while I was working at my desk so that Ihadmy hour lunch break to get out in thegarden.
“I normally love sitting down to watch in the evening,butI gave that up to focus on the project.
“Imadesure I still got up at 6 am to head to my fitness classes, though.”;
Hollyhadto start the project with hardcore manual labour by digging up decorative stones.
She then measured sizing for her shedandsearched through home improvement websites for the bestbutcheapest paint, turfandfurniture.
Holly said: “I kept myself going with the project by giving myself timescales to adhere to.
“I ordered the shed before laying the base, then I knew Ihadto get the base down before it arrived.
“Painting my fencesandbuilding the shed was probably one of the most rewarding things Ididin thegarden.
“Getting the turf sorted was a really hard job as the needed turning over,andit was really dryandhard.
“My back was aching from carrying the grass, whichissurprisingly heavy.
“The paving was equally back-breaking,andit felt like I was never going to get it done – this was the part where I felt like giving up,butI pushed through.
“I felt like thegardenwas getting biggerandbigger with every bit of digging.
“I alsohadto re-lift the paving Ihadlaid because it wasn’t perfectly level.
“Givemea shed to build any day over doing that.”;
The mum repurposed the slabs by first cleaning them with a pressure washerandthen painting them with masonry paint.
She said: “Ididit, the whole thing, myself.
“My dad helpedmecarry some things in from the car,andmy teenage sonhashelped with some heavy lifting as well.
“Butthe rest was allme.
“I strongly believe working on things like thisisessential for your mental .
“The sense of achievement I have gained from doing thishasleftmefeeling so empowered.
“I also learned new skills with recordingandediting the footage,andputting myself out there by sharing it online.
“The kids have been full of complimentsandare really proud of what I’ve done. I’ve found we’re spending time outside more as a family now.
“My familyandfriends have been totally amazed by what I’ve done when showing them progressandvideos, they say they’re shocked by what I have managed todoon my ownandthat ithasturned out beautifully.
“My friends tellmeI’m superwoman,andthey can’t believe I’ve done this myself.
“I have received so much lovely support on social media, too.”;
The mumisadding the finishing touches to hergardenwith more lightsand –andisalready considering what to DIY .
