DIY on a tight budget

stumpycat

For wonky walls, this is my favourite stuff:
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Jointing-Compound/invt/220995

It's a very fine plaster and lasts forever. You can smooth over cracks and holes using a spreader or wallpaper scraper. Let it dry & it shrinks a bit, then re-do it and it's amazing the difference it can make.

dander

Oh, and don't forget ebay. Particularly good for curtains because they are the kind of things people change their mind about or buy the wrong size and then sell off brand new and in the packet for just a few pounds.

GoldFool

Another vote for eBay - particularly with accessories, such as rollers and the like. Find a store and then buy everything together for bulk mail pricing; I bought all of my painting materials like this, and saved at least £40. The mark up for these items in stores like B&Q is considerable if you're doing a lot of work.

Wickes' home brand paint is also surprisingly effective, especially their interior wood paint - no smell and significantly cheaper than the more known brands.

dander

I was in Poundland today and I saw they were selling rolls of lining paper in there - £1 a roll, obviously!