|
|
|
In the springtime, this older woman's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of stepping-stones and other outdoor paraphernalia. According to the powers that be, we no longer have mere balconies or decks or patios, we have outdoor "rooms." The aim is to carry on your indoor decorating style outdoors. It's an appealing idea but a bit daunting to those of us with no money in the kitty to replace the green plastic table and chairs with wrought iron patio furniture.
Still, all is not lost. With a few dollars and a smidgen of creativity, you can make your balcony/deck/patio an inviting place to entertain or simply while away sunny hours watching the birds and squirrels. If, like me, your favourite place in the sun gets too hot to handle at a certain time of day, this might work for you, as well. Beach mat "blinds" are super easy to install and, at a buck a piece, hard to beat for price. Simply use garden-variety tacks (also available at dollar stores) to nail your mat to the wood on the inside of the patio overhang. Make sure that the tacks go through the coloured trim, or you might get some shredding and ensure that the end with the tie goes at the top. When you are finished using your "blinds," simply roll them up and fasten them with the attached strings. If, like me, you find the ties on these mats a tad skimpy, buy some decorative tassel ties (four for a dollar in the craft section). Shoelaces would do just as well. It's always a good idea to keep your makeshift blinds rolled up when not in use to protect them from inclement weather, playful pets and creatures that may come prowling at night.
How Does Your Garden Glow?
If you like the backyard nightlife, you don't want to be sitting out there in the dark. Or, maybe you do but we're not concerned with that here. For those of us who enjoy listening to the crickets but don't want to have to rely on our neighbour's porch light to keep us from tripping over the garden hose, here are a few finds to light your way, keep the bugs at bay and entertain with style.
A 6" glass lantern can be set on a table or hung by its handle to provide some illumination on a deck or patio. It costs two bucks with the candle. A few of these hung around the yard would add much to the ambience for entertaining. Or add a pair of votive candleholders (two for a dollar) to your outdoor table setting. The citronella votive candles were 4 for $1.
To keep mosquitoes from crashing your outdoor gatherings, dollar stores have a variety of solutions from citronella tea lights to citronella oil for garden torches to citronella on a stick.
I hate to sound like your mother, but feel compelled to leave you with these final words: Never leave a burning candle alone and please insure that they don't come in contact with anything likely to melt or otherwise go up in smoke. We don't want to barbecue anything but the weenies.
Marlene Alexander is a writer living in Ontario, Canada. For more on dollar store shopping, visit her website at www.dollarstorestyle.com.
Take the Next Step:
If you enjoyed this article you might also want to check out:
Sign up for our free weekly eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times.
Looking for an answer to a frugal living question? Click here to ask a Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!
To subscribe, check the newsletters you wish to receive, enter your email address and then click Subscribe.
Each month one TDS reader will win $100 just for telling us your favorite time or money saving idea. It could be you!
Click here to share your idea.
Recent winners are:
- Michelle from NC
- Matt from CO
- Joan from CT
- Joanne in New York
|
Money problems? Struggling with credit card debt? What you need to know about bankruptcy? Trouble repaying student loans?
|
Copyright 1996 - 2012 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Contact the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton FL 34280
Voice 941-761-7805
Fax 941-761-8301
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
| About Us | Privacy Policy | Writer's Guidelines | Sponsorship | Media | Contact Us |
Dollar Stretcher Community
Forums
Blogs
Also In This Week's Issue
In The Dollar Stretcher Community
Reader Favorites
Newsletters
Email
Print
Contact Editor
RSS Feed
Share
Leave a Comment
