Home renovations needn't cost the earth and can be wholly rewarding - as entrants to Tuis|Home magazine's annual Fix it with Flair competition keep discovering.

The winning couple of the 2012 competition, Yolanda Cilliers and Oostewald Bekker from Boston, Cape Town impressed the judges by demonstrating how a small budget can go a long way when it comes to updating an old, run-down home.

Through not being afraid to get their hands dirty and by doing most of the building work themselves, this enterprising couple managed to transform a neglected house into an inviting home - all within a modest budget of only R22 100.

We asked Yolanda for a few of her tips on how to make a large impact with a small budget. Check out her top eight tips here.

1. Look for an old worn-out house that you can fix up to suit your taste and budget as an already renovated house is usually overpriced.
2. Paint tiles instead of buying new ones.
3. Sell your old kitchen cupboards. Better still, get the people who buy them to remove them.
4. Paint makes a vast difference. Try to incorporate the colours used on the outside of the house to that of the inside. Use the same colour pallet when it comes to choosing dark and light colours.
5. Shop at secondhand shops and online sites to find less expensive furniture. If you feel that your old furniture does not go with the look you are trying to create, think about recovering or painting them for a whole new look. PAINT IS MAGIC!
6. Take your time while planning in order to do a thorough job. Live in the new house for a while and try to get a feel for which rooms or aspects of the house you would most like to change. 
7. Don’t just shop at one well-known shops, compare prices. You would be surprised what the difference in prices if you shop around.
8. Lastly and most importantly go out and buy Home Magazine for inspiration!

The Fix it with Flair competition for 2013 kicks off with a call to entry in the February issue.