YOU don’t need solar panels to harness the power of the sun.
It’s a bright idea to use those rays to power your garden lights or charge your phone if outdoors.
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Make the most of the long days with these solutions . . .
LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE: Solar-powered garden lights look lovely and are low-cost.
You can charge them during the day and they automatically turn on at night.
They don’t add to your energy bill and can be cheap to buy.
Poundland has fun rainbow solar lights on spikes, that you can stick into a lawn or flowerbeds, for £1 each. Sainsbury’s has lights in a similar style, but in stainless steel or copper, for £1.50.
Or string solar fairy lights from trees or across trellis. ??Homebase has a string of 40 Festoon solar lights for £20 — and buy one set of lights, get another half price, across the range.??
BOTTLE THE MAGIC: You may have seen mini-lights that turn an empty bottle into an indoor lamp.
If you opt for the solar bottle lights from The Range, £2.99, you can get the same effect to turn a used bottle into an eye-catching outdoor lantern.
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The lights last for six hours on full charge.
You can use any bottle, but the pretty coloured glass of Mermaid Gin from the Isle of Wight will make for a great lamp, and it’s down from £38 to £33 for Tesco Clubcard holders.
Or use a blue bottle of Faustino Albarino wine, down from £14 to £12 at Asda.
SOLAR CAMPS: Going camping? Add solar kit to your packing list.
With a Mixx Solar 10 Powerbank, down from £39.99 to £29.99 at Robert Dyas, you can still charge your phone or tablet via the USB ports or using the wireless charge pad.
It also has a torch function and will fit in your pocket.
SUN SENSE: To get the best from your solar devices, leave them in natural sunlight for as long as possible.
The longer the solar panel stays under the rays of the sun, the better the battery will charge.
Avoid shade or semi-shady areas and clean the panel with a damp cloth once a month to make sure that dust and dirt isn’t affecting its performance.
- All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability
Deal of the day
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GET a pop of sunshine all year round with the Brixley three-seater sofa from Habitat, reduced from £594 to £326.
SAVE: £268
Cheap treat
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POP some yum in your tum with Terry’s Chocolate Orange truffles, 200g, down from £5 to £2.50 for Tesco Clubcard holders.
What’s new?
FOR Argos’s 50th birthday, it is offering up to 25 per cent off selected LEGO and Chad Valley toys until Tuesday, including the Stack and Store Transporter, down from £36 to £27.
Top swap
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THE Jacquard kaftan mini-dress, £45 from Next will see you from beach to bar, while Boohoo’s printed tiered kaftan dress, £22.40, is also sure to become a summer staple.
SAVE: £22.60
Leah’s little helper
GET your summer reading sorted with three selected fiction books for £6 at The Works – including Always With Love, by Giovanna Fletcher.
Shop & save
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TREAT your pooch to four packs of Forthglade complete-meal dog food for £4 at Morrisons, which is £1.90 a pack when full price.
SAVE: £3.60
Hot right now
BREWDOG is offering a free meal for under-13s when an adult buys a main meal in its bars and pubs.
Book the Kids Eat Free offer at brewdog.com/kids
PLAY NOW TO WIN £200
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