There’s a certain pride and satisfaction that comes with completing a project by yourself. DIY projects can be fun and exciting.
But they can still cost a great deal to complete, including materials, tools, etc. In rare cases, you may need to rent a van in order to carry materials.
But there is always more room for savings. So here we present to you 9 ways to save on your DIY project.
Borrow Tools
If you’re building a deck, for example, you’re going to need a pole digger. If you don’t have one, you could rent one.
But to save money, you could borrow one from a friend or neighbor. Most friends or neighbors would probably let you have it for free, but offer them something anyway for their trouble.
“Borrow” Materials
Maybe your neighbor or a friend has some leftover material that you could use, like shingles, lumber or other things. Make a reasonable offer for them, or barter. They might also let you have them. Either way, this could maximize your DIY budget.
Paint Sensibly
Painting each room in a different color means leftover paint for each color. That’s money sitting there.
The solution? Paint your rooms one color, something neutral. That way you’ll end up with maybe one can left over that’s half full, instead of 3 or more cans half full left over. At $60 per can, you have $30 worth of paint left over, instead of $90!
Shop Around
If you need materials, like lumber, for your project, you might be prone to go to your usual choice to get it. There’s nothing wrong with that, but check to see if you can get a discount on them.
Otherwise, it doesn’t hurt to shop around if there are other lumber yards in town. When there’s more than one, they’re likely to compete on price.
DIY Landscaping Savings
Your town probably has a yard waste recycling center. Take your pick up truck there and fill it with mulch you need for the bases of your trees. You could save big here.
Ditch the Dumpster
This could depend on the amount of waste generated by your project, but having the waste management company drop a dumpster could be expensive.
If possible, use your pickup truck to haul your waste to the landfill. It will still cost you per load, but it will still wind up cheaper than a dumpster.
Free Tree?
If you need a tree on the boulevard in front of your house to add some flair to your landscaping, here’s an idea: Check with your city to see if they have a provision for planting free ornamental trees in that very place. And the cost? Just a phone call.
In-Stock Items
Maybe your DIY project is flooring, or a remodel of your kitchen. Special order products are more expensive than in-stock items, and can take longer to be delivered. In-stock products are going to usually be of decent quality anyway, so if you can find a style and color you can live with, buy those instead to save money.
Habitat for Humanity In-Store
If your town has one, this is a great place to find a wide variety of donated items for several DIY projects. You can buy countertops, sinks, fixtures, cabinets, and a host of other things at huge savings.
Once again, DIY projects can be fun, exciting and gratifying. But they don’t have to cost you a bundle either. We hope you can put one or more of these 9 tips to good use.
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