50 Nifty DIY Tricks To Save Money

There are numerous do-it-yourself (DIY) tips and strategies to reduce your household expenses without sacrificing comfort or quality of life. From quick fixes that offer instant savings to long-term investments in energy efficiency, this comprehensive guide will walk you through 50 clever tricks to keep more money in your pocket.

Quick Fixes for Instant Savings

Making small changes around your home can lead to big savings over time. Here are some easy-to-implement ideas that will help reduce your expenses right away.

1. Install dimmer switches and use energy-efficient halogen bulbs to reduce your monthly electricity bill.
2. Replace central air conditioning filters every month during the summer to save you money on cooling costs.
3. Set your computer to sleep mode, including the hard drive, after 10 minutes of inactivity to lower your electric bills.
4. Shorten your dryer-vent hose, vacuum it out, then trim it so it’s just long enough to pull the dryer a few feet from the wall. This fix can reduce your energy costs and dry your clothes more quickly.
5. Close closet doors to reduce the square footage you’re heating and cooling.
6. Shop online for major appliances and ask your local retailer to match the lowest price you find.
7. Wait to replace outdoor items, such as grills, lawn mowers, or patio furniture, until fall. Stores mark down inventory to make room for holiday items and typically lower the cost of summer items.
8. Borrow specialized tools from other DIYers in your area for a small fee. Websites, including Zilok, offer better deals than rental centers.
9. Buy firewood in the spring when it’s more affordable and stack it in a dry spot to season.
10. Choose in-stock materials for remodeling projects. Retailers often discount these items to clear warehouse space.

Pro Tip: Max Sherman of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory advises that sealing holes in your home’s perimeter can save 10 percent on your heating bills: “Use a can of spray foam to seal holes in the perimeter of your basement—in walls, sills, and rim joists—as well as in the floor of the attic to help prevent heated air from escaping and cold from intruding.”

Money-Saving Kitchen Hacks

While the kitchen is often the heart of the home, it can be a major source of expenses. Here are some ways to cut costs in your kitchen without compromising on quality or taste.

11. Use your microwave instead of your range, when possible, since it consumes half the power.
12. Set up a makeshift kitchen during remodeling projects. With just a prep surface, microwave, coffeemaker, and fridge, you can save each day on take-out and coffee shop visits.
13. Plan meals around in-season produce and sale items.
14. Invest in a pressure cooker or slow cooker. These appliances can turn less expensive cuts of meat into delicious meals while using less energy than traditional cooking methods.
15. Grow herbs in your kitchen window instead of buying new herbs for every meal.
16. Clean your refrigerator coils regularly to improve your fridge’s efficiency.
17. Use the right-sized pots on stove burners. A 6-inch pot on an 8-inch burner wastes more than 40% of the burner’s heat, increasing your energy usage.
18. Run your dishwasher only when full, and use the air-dry setting. This habit can help you save on both water and electricity usage, reducing your utility bills.
19. Replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR models, which are more energy-efficient than traditional brands.
20. Use a toaster oven for small baking tasks. It uses less energy than heating a full-sized oven, saving you money on your electric bill.

Pro Tip: Steve Feldman, president of the nonprofit salvager Green Demolitions, advises: “When a multimillionaire buys a house, he or she redoes the kitchen, and that usually means replacing the perfectly good appliances that the previous owner installed just a few years earlier.” Consider checking house-parts recycling centers in well-heeled zip codes for gently used high-end appliances at deep discounts.

Thrifty Bathroom Renovations

Bathrooms are often targets for expensive renovations, but there are many ways to update your space without breaking the bank.

Money-Saving Alternative: Instead of replacing your entire sink setup, turn a table gathering dust in your attic into a sink console. TOH editors found that a wood end table topped by a marble slab adds stylish storage beneath an existing wall-hung sink. For an even thriftier alternative to a slab, rest your sink on three scrap strips from the stoneyard for about $40 in materials.

21. Install a shower timer in the kids’ bathroom to save on water and heating costs.
22. Replace your old showerhead with a low-flow model. This simple switch can save you up to 60% on your water heating costs.
23. Fix leaky faucets promptly. A faucet that drips once per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of water per year.
24. Install a dual-flush toilet converter. This item can save up to 70% of water used in toilet flushing.
25. Use a faucet aerator to reduce your sink’s water flow by 30% or more without sacrificing water pressure.
26. Refinish your bathtub instead of replacing it.
27. Update cabinet hardware for a fresh look. New knobs and pulls can change the appearance of your vanity for less money than a remodel or new cabinets.
28. Use peel-and-stick tiles for a quick floor update.
29. Frame your mirror with molding to transform it into a custom piece.
30. A fresh coat of paint and new hardware can transform your vanity for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Pro Tip: TOH contractor Charlie Schumacher advises: “Sometimes staying flexible is the secret to renovation success.” He was able to complete a dramatic cosmetic overhaul on a bathroom for just $4,000 by using contractor’s surplus and stock finds.

Frugal Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance

Maintaining your home’s exterior and landscaping doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars. Here are some cost-effective strategies for keeping your outdoor spaces looking great.

31. Start plants from cuttings, as this is a more affordable way to gain more foliage outdoors.
32. Get free mulch and compost from your town’s yard-waste recycling center.
33. Plant a deciduous tree on the south, west, or east side of your house. Once mature, it can cut your cooling costs.
34. Create your own compost bin instead of purchasing fertilizers and soil enhancers.
35. Use native plants in your landscaping. These plants typically require less water and maintenance, saving you money on water bills and landscaping services.
36. A fresh coat of paint on your front door can improve your home’s curb appeal without breaking the bank.
37. Install solar-powered landscape lighting. These lights require no wiring and use solar energy, saving you money on installation and electricity costs.
38. Edge your lawn and gardens to give your yard a manicured look without the expense of professional landscaping.
39. Rent a power washer for the day and clean your home’s exterior and driveway.
40. Create a low-maintenance rock garden to reduce the size of lawn you need to maintain.

TOH readers Brigitte and her husband saved money on their landscaping project by collecting free rocks from neighbors redoing yards and driveways, and sourcing materials from the “free” section in local newspapers. They bought pavers a few at a time at home centers, driving them home in their car. To build up the soil, they used lawn clippings, hauled in composted horse manure and hay, and took advantage of free mulch available from their homeowners’ association.

Pro Tip: Master gardener Janet Marinelli, author of Stalking the Wild Amaranth: Gardening in the Age of Extinction and director of publishing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, notes: “It’s happening all across America as people realize that they don’t want to spend their weekends mowing a lawn.”

Home Office and Electronics Savings

With more people working from home, optimizing a home office for energy efficiency can lead to more savings.

41. Laptops use about 80% less electricity than desktop computers, so use a laptop instead of a desktop computer when possible.
42. Plug electronics into a SmartStrip surge protector. This device automatically cuts power to electronics when they’re off.
43. Opt for ENERGY STAR-certified office equipment. These devices use 30%–60% less energy than standard models, leading to substantial savings.
44. Use natural light when possible. Positioning your desk near a window can reduce your reliance on artificial lighting during daylight hours.
45. Enable power management features on all your devices to reduce your devices’ energy consumption by up to 50%.
46. Repurpose existing furniture for your home office instead of buying new pieces.
47. Use open-source software alternatives. Programs like LibreOffice can replace expensive office software suites, saving you hundreds in licensing fees.
48. Opt for refurbished electronics. These devices often come with warranties and can cost much less than new models.
49. Using simple materials, you can create an ergonomic workspace for a fraction of the cost of commercial standing desks.
50. Set up a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system, such as Google Voice, to receive free or low-cost phone services for your home office.

Our Conclusion

Implementing these 50 DIY home savings strategies can reduce your household expenses without sacrificing comfort or quality of life. From simple habits, such as closing closet doors, to more involved projects, such as installing solar-powered landscape lighting, there are options for every skill level and budget.

The beauty of these money-saving tricks lies in their simplicity. Take the sconce installation example: using a low-voltage Flat Wire system, you can plug a transformer into a standard wall outlet and simply connect paintable, paper-thin wiring to the sconces — no poking holes in walls or fishing electrical wires required.

Pro Tip: J.B. Sassano, CEO of Mr. Handyman, advises: “Never call in pro help for a single small job. Keep a running list of projects so that when you hire a plumber, electrician, or handyman, you can give him a group of tasks. Keeping him on the site longer may cost more up front, but you’ll save the typical $40 to $80 minimum cost per visit each time he comes back.”