Escape to the Med with a £3 garden hack that'll transform your summer nights

By HOAR Team 9 May, 2025 5 mins read 68 Views

Look, I've been dreaming about Italian coastlines since January. Haven't we all? But my bank account is laughing at my flight searches. So when I stumbled across these little miracle workers at Dunelm yesterday, I nearly knocked over an elderly woman reaching for them. (Sorry, Margaret!)

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The £3 wonder that's saving my summer sanity

Dunelm's selling these Citronella Tealights that honestly smell like you've been teleported straight to a taverna in Santorini. For THREE QUID. That's less than my daily coffee habit.

You get 24 in a pack which lasted me about two weeks last summer when I had them burning every single night. My neighbor actually texted to ask if I'd "gone on holiday without telling her" because my garden smelled so Mediterranean.

God. The citronella and eucalyptus combo is magical.

Bug repellent that doesn't smell like chemical warfare

Remember those horrific mosquito repellents our parents used to spray everywhere in teh 90s? The ones that made everything taste like you were licking a battery? These are nothing like that.

These clever little things keep the bugs away without making your food taste weird. One shopper wrote: "Does the trick, bugs stay away whilst they are lit." Another said: "Great value tea lights. Lovely aroma. Useful for dining in the garden."

I'm sold.

Will they survive the British heatwave? (If we get one...)

These aren't your average pathetic tealights that collapse into a puddle the minute the temperature hits 25°C. The outer shell is aluminium and they're designed to withstand summer heat without turning into sad little wax pools.

Each one burns for about 3 hours, which is just enough time for me to finish a bottle of rosé and pretend I'm overlooking the Amalfi Coast instead of my neighbor's questionable fence paint choice.

Dunelm offers free click and collect, or delivery if you're feeling particularly lazy (like I was last weekend).

Aldi's jumping on the garden glow-up train too

While we're talking about cheap garden transformations... Aldi's brought back those Solar Honeycomb Lanterns that I impulse-bought last June. Only £4.99! My sister-in-law tried to steal mine twice during family BBQs.

They've got this butterfly silhouette that casts the prettiest honeycomb light pattern once it gets dark. The best part? They're solar-powered and turn on automatically at dusk. No faffing about with switches or batteries.

Available in grey, pink, and rainbow. I bought the rainbow one and it's been sitting proudly on my patio table since 2023.

The Facebook frenzy has already begun

These lanterns became something of a cult item last summer. I remember standing in an Aldi queue at 7:45am behind a woman who'd driven from three towns over just to get her hands on one.

Social media's already going nuts again. One Facebook user commented: "Would love to see them again — I got them last June and they were gorgeous." Trust me, they are.

Between these and the citronella candles, my sad little patio might actually become the Mediterranean escape I've been fantasizing about since winter.

At least until it rains again.

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Statistics

As of 2021, the median household income in the U.S. was approximately $67,521, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to a survey by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), about 66% of Americans could not correctly answer four basic financial literacy questions.
In 2020, the average retirement savings for Americans aged 60 to 69 was approximately $195,000, according to Fidelity.
Research by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that individuals who receive financial education are 25% more likely to save than those who do not.
A report by Bankrate indicated that only 29% of Americans have a written financial plan.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends about $1,500 per year on coffee.
As of 2021, the average American household had approximately $8,400 in credit card debt, according to Experian.
The average cost of raising a child in the U.S. is estimated to be around $233,610, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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How To

How To Manage Debt Wisely

Managing debt wisely involves understanding your financial obligations and creating a structured repayment plan. Begin by listing all debts from smallest to largest, including interest rates and minimum payments. Consider using the snowball method, where you focus on paying off the smallest debts first, which can provide motivation. Alternatively, the avalanche method prioritizes debts with the highest interest rates to minimize overall interest paid. Make consistent payments above the minimum on your chosen debts while maintaining regular payments on others. Additionally, consider consolidating high-interest debts into a single loan with a lower rate, which can simplify your payments and reduce interest costs.

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https://hellofaread.com/money/heartbroken-small-kent-caf-forced-to-shut-doors-as-government-hikes-deliver-final-blow