I did up my garden on a shoestring budget with Aldi buys…I got trolled but I’m not a bus ticket, I don’t need validation
GARDEN renovations can be costly, especially if you feel the need to hire a patio contractor to get the job done.
One woman has decided to cut the cost by having a go at doing it all herself on a ‘shoestring budget,’ but online trolls are giving her a hard time.
On TikTok she goes by the name of MissKittenheels and describes herself as the “average middle aged mum.”
She initially set up her page to document her deep cleans and Sunday resets, but has since decided to document her on-going garden renovation, in hopes to inspire her 12.1K following this summer.
As part of her garden renovation, the middle aged mum wanted to pave over a mud pile and create a raised feature corner to house her new wheelbarrow planter that she picked up for just £15 in Aldi’s middle aisle special buys section.
In her part 5 clip on TikTok the mum of one gets to work using some donated slabs she paved over a mud pile in her backyard. She then created a homemade wooden planter using wooden palettes from Freecycle.
Despite her efforts to cut costs and be resourceful by using recycled materials, some commenters were far from impressed with her work.
One commenter said: “What a mess, give up and spend [money] on your garden.”
While others continued the criticism saying: “The slabs are upside down.
“Pointless saying that’s good it’s not, it’s a mess.”
With her high-Vis jacket on, the mum of one gets back to work in part 6 of her vlog to hit back at the trolls who knocked her efforts.
“I think people might have missed the purpose of my renovation,” she said
“I’m not a professional, never claimed to be, never will be, but I’m having a go and it’s got to be done on a shoestring budget.
“And there’s me first time laying bricks, I even mixed it all up myself and I used the spirit level this time.”
The DIY enthusiast admits: “I’m an absolute novice, just having a go at making my home beautiful.
“Social media shows us perfection, and if you’re not perfect you worry about putting stuff out there. But luckily I’m not a bus ticket – I don’t need validation.”
Talking directly to the trolls who slated her work she said:
“The mocking commentary in my comments say more about you than they do me.
“I would love to see some of these landscape lawns manicured and the mansions you all live in.
“Sometimes there are spectacular failures, but sometimes I do things right. It’s about being realistic and relatable I hope.
“I said I was a DIY enthusiast, but I didn’t say I was a good DIY enthusiast,” she confessed.
Speaking about her next job she says: “I’m nervous about my decking, but if it goes wrong, I’ll just fix it.”
With this some commenters offered her some encouragement saying: “I’m a builder and for the energy you have I would employ you in a heartbeat.”
While another added: “Everyone [thinks] they’re an expert on TikTok, you’re doing a great job.”