Mum transformed council house with charity shop bargains spending just £600

A mum said she transformed her "damp" council house into a cosy home by teaching herself DIY skills and finding charity shop gems - all for just £600.

Becki Foster, 31, and husband Adam, 32, faced a tight deadline to find a new place when he was medically discharged from the army.

With Becki heavily pregnant, the couple could only view photos of their future home before moving in September 2023. To their dismay, the three-bedroom property, near Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, was far from welcoming, was 'damp and smelly'.

They hired a tradesman but after being left with a botched job and £2.5k out of pocket Becki set about doing it herself.

She re-plastered, repainted and upcycled furniture for her kids room, her bedroom and living room. The self-employed baker has spent around £610 so far and says she is "proud" of herself.

She said: "The difference is amazing. It properly changes our mood. When all the walls were stripped it looked horrible. It was almost embarrassing. It didn't feel like home."

"Now it just looks nice. It does feel like a big accomplishment."

The family had to leave their military accommodation last year due to Adam's chronic back injury leading to his discharge. Becki was on maternity leave and the couple were left with no option but to apply for council housing.

They were offered a house near Middlesbrough but were unable to view it in person as Becki was 32 weeks pregnant and Adam couldn't drive after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Becki said: "We just thought is the house big enough and accepted it. I was 38 weeks pregnant when we moved in and my feet went straight through the floorboards.

"The carpet in the living room - we could smell a musky smell. There were damp patches. It