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We've got a new editor on our sister site Homes & Bargains who's got some great ideas on how to save money on your energy bills. If you didn't know, 25% of our homes' energy is lost through the roof so if you're not properly insulated, you could be wasting a fortune.

You've just missed this week's newsletter, but don't worry, it'll be back next week with more great ideas on how to sove money in the home. It's completely free of charge and could save you a packet - click here to sign up now.

Planning on doing a spot of DIY this weekend? Fancy a new set of tools? Well, we’d like you to let you into a little secret that could help save some of your well earned cash.

Screwfix have released a special code that gets 10% off order £50 when entered at the checkout. Current items on offer include a Erbauer 18v Combi Drill for only £59.99 and a 43 piece Forge Steel tool set for £24.99.

To take advantage of this discount, click on this link and enter the promo code PO219080 at the checkout. Hurry though, the code will expire at midnight on the 24th August.

It sounds like a publicity stunt for the new X Files film (which is garbage by the way), but the mystery of a batch of "toxic sofas" was more shocking reality than science fiction for thousands of people across the UK. The leather suites, sold across the UK in Argos and Land of Leather, are reported to have caused multiple incidences of skin cancer, skin complaints and two fatalities.

Experts have discovered that the complaints were caused by a reaction to fumes emitted from a sublimating anti-mould agent called dimethyl fumarate. 1,500 people have registered formal complaints with lawyers in the hope of sharing in the estimated  compensation pool of £6-£10 million.

Click here for Paula Brooks from Plymouth's account of her experiences from This is Plymouth.

If you're in the market for a new dishwasher, the chances are you're not going to pay through the nose for the first one you see. But before you hit the search engines to see what you can unearth, it'd pay to pocket this voucher code from Curry's which will give you an extra 10% discount on any free standing dishwasher purchased online.

Click here for more information on Curry's range of free standing dishwashers - and enter the code AWDISH10 to make sure yours comes with that discount.

If your dishwasher is in need of repair or your new one needs to be installed, search for Domestic Appliance Repair / Installation in the ProblemSolved directory.

You have to squint a bit to see the positives in harder economic climates - but one definite upside is the number of clearance sales that pop up, as retailers work that little bit harder to maintain a respectable turnover of stock. And believe it or not, it even happens in the country's most expensive city. A great example is this bathroom clearance sale in London - at Bathroom Heaven in Kings Cross.

Bathroom suites are reduced by up to 80% with massive discounts on mirrors, lighting, accessories and shower units. Visit the London Clearance sale web page for more information or to place an order.

And if you've snapped up a bargain bathroom, don't splurge the savings by getting a dodgy installer, use one of our bathroom installers in London.

Personalised gifts and tasteful don't often sit well in the same sentence with one or two notable exceptions - Plantabox, for example, offers customisable fruit crates containing a choice of flowers, vegetables and herbs for a happy marriage of the practical and the personal.

Read more...

Total sales for Carpet Right dropped 9.2% in the 13 weeks to August 2 2008 with little solace in the like-for-like figures where a decline of over 15% has been reported. The Chairman, Philip Harris stated that "people have stopped spending at the moment on the home."

Fair point, but 4 out of 10 for grammar, Phil.

Swedish DIY retailer Clas Ohlson is to launch a small portfolio of DIY stores in the UK this year. The chain, which has 90 stores across Scandinavia, specialises in houseware, power tools, hand tools, leisure and electrical items.

The announcement comes on the back of positive news within the DIY sector after B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher posted encouraging figures for the second quarter of 2008, with sales at Screwfix and Trade Depot up 18.7% and B&Q showing signs of recovering after a quiet Spring.

Results for builders' merchants Travis Perkins were equally buoyant - the owners of DIY chain Wickes saw revenues increase by 5.4% in the 6 months to June 30 2008.

Read more...

Glastonbury might be over with but with the promise of good weather, savvier PS users will be downing their tools and reaching for the tent pegs over the holiday period. And the good news is that Millets is offering up users up to 25% off in its spend and stretch promotion:

Spend over £50 and get £5 off - use the code: millet5
Spend over £100 and get £15 off - Use the code: millet15
Spend over £150 and get £30 off - Use the code: millet30
Spend over £200 and get £50 off - Use the code: millet50

Visit the Millets website and enter the relevant discount voucher code at the checkout

Portable barbeques rarely live up to their name - they're awkward to carry, too hot to handle and offer enough surface area for a button mushroom and not a lot more. Or so we thought until we came across the Son of Hibachi barbeque - an ingenious fold away barbeque, which comes with a heatproof carry case and two generously sized grills. Throw self-cleaning technology and a start up time of just 7 minutes onto the kebab skewer and you've got the makings of quite a feast. And no product like this would be complete without a cheesy, American infomercial - Mum and Dad Hibachi must be so proud...

What's more, you can claim a 5% discount on the Son of Hibachi barbeque (normally £69) by entering the code AOFF5 when you reach the checkout at I Want One of Those.com

We’ve done a bit of rooting around and found a choice cut of DIY bargains in the Screwfix summer sale.

The site is currently offering up to 50% off their usual prices on a wide range of Hand Tools as well as up to 33% of a selection of Power Tools. And if you’re looking to make some changes to the house, Screwfix are currently offering further reductions on items for the kitchen and bathroom.

If you're looking to do some work yourself at home, be sure to check out ProblemSolved's Top 5 tips for approaching a DIY project.

If this gloomy weather and talk of a recession is getting you down, then why not treat yourself to some new gizmos for the home?

Choiceful have currently got some great deals on everything from Black & Decker power drills, outdoor hot tubs and Pizza Makers.

Click on the following link to check out what they currently have on offer.

With rain and more rain forecast for this weekend, now could be the perfect time to get all of those jobs that need doing around the house out of the way.

But have you got all the right tools for the job? If you're looking for the latest hedge trimmer or a pot of primer, why not visit diytools.co.uk, where they stock everything you need for your house rennovations. In the summer sale right now are a wide range of power tools, as well specialist lighting equipment. To have a look, click on the following link.

And if you're looking for some diy advice, visit our hints and tips section where you could learn how to fix a leaky tap, remove your old guttering or even redesign your garden.

Whilst like most people, I'm not a big fan of the bumf that falls out of newspapers, I must confess to always having a sneaky peak for the Scotts of Stow catalogue. For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, it's full of clever gadgets for the home and garden and if it's not a space saver or telescopic, the boys at S of S probably aren't interested.

Having recently sorted out the spawling excuse for a hedge at my house, the Scotts of Stow Garden Groom really caught my eye. It simulataneously cuts and collects trimmings to take the back ache out of keeping privets pruned and preened. At £79.95, it's dearer than a pair of shears but think of the time you'll save. Visit the Scotts of Stow website for more information on the Garden Groom.

And if all that sounds like too much effort, find yourself a reliable, local gardener to do it all for you - here are a few landscapers that cover Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire, the home of Scotts of Stow.

Read more...

Mail and website ordering has become an established way for businesses to cut overheads and pass savings onto the consumer. Northern Tool & Equipment, a leading supplier of professional tools, is intent on keeping these customers loyal with the introduction of a membership card.

If you’re regularly ordering in, the card could end up paying for itself within weeks. For starters, all orders less than 30kg are delivered free of charge – saving you up to £13.75 a pop. Add to that the exclusive offers only available to card-holders, and you have a very handy bit of plastic to slip into your wallet.

Click here to become a member.