By nature, DIY projects are meant to be frugal. The idea, at least insofar as it relates to home improvement, is that you’re rolling your sleeves up to do a task yourself that you might otherwise pay someone else to do for you. Thus, at least on the surface, you’re saving money.
The trouble is that a poorly executed DIY project can often end up costing you more than the same project if you’d simply paid to have it done. Mistakes, poor shopping habits, clean-up, and various other inefficiencies can add up quickly! To help you avoid these issues, consider the following tips for a particularly frugal approach to in-home DIY efforts.
1. Be Patient
This is a very general tip but it’s an important one for anyone considering extensive home improvement work. Family and lifestyle site, Life As Mom, posted an article about 12 ways to save on home improvements, and the first three dealt with patience and restraint. The idea is basically to wait and be absolutely sure before starting up on a project, because once you start, it’s going to cost you. In short, don’t make any rash decisions about improvements.
2. Study First, Work Second
Before undertaking any home DIY project, it’s important to study up on what you’re doing and learn the whole process before you start. If you start a project without a clear picture of how it’s going to go, you’re likelier to mess it up and need to redo it (which will almost certainly cost you more money on supplies, repairs, etc.). Or you may even stop altogether and call in the professionals! By studying the sort of undertaking you’re considering first, you should have a better idea of whether or not you can get the job done and how to go about it.
3. Look For Supplies Online
It’s pretty common knowledge at this point that one reason many people prefer to shop online is because they can often find lower prices or deals. Tools and home improvement supplies, however, can fall into the category of things a lot of consumers prefer to handle and try out in person.
Don’t let this sway you from at least browsing online if you’re in need of equipment or supplies, as you may find affordable options that suit you just fine. Hardware retailer Screwfix offers free next day delivery options on certain items, and with features like that, you can couple the pricing and convenience of online shopping with the immediacy of in-person retail—all without spending more.
4. Make Your Own Cleaning Materials
When it comes to tools, hardware, and other supplies, shopping online is a good way to save money while maximising convenience. However, there are some materials that factor into in-home DIY projects that you can actually avoid shopping for altogether!
Being Frugal put together 75 frugal “hacks” for the home, and one of the most interesting suggestions therein was making your own cleaning products. Indeed, various mixtures of water, vinegar, Dawn, and baking soda can pretty much substitute for any commercial cleaning products you may pick up in a store. This can save you money throughout a DIY project, as most of them involve their fair shares of clean-up.
5. Save & Organise Materials
Finally, if you foresee more DIY home improvement projects in your future, it’s absolutely vital to save any tools you’ve used or materials you have left over, and keep them stored neatly. Being able to go into a closet, tool shed, or cabinet and easily know what you have and what you may still need will keep you from making unnecessary purchases on future projects.
