How DIY Projects Can Help You Save Your Hard Earned Cash

Rolling up your sleeves and using your hands may just save you more money than you realize.

Of course, there’s no surprise that doing some projects yourself can save you some cash.

Not only will doing the work yourself free up your money to use elsewhere (whether you just want to save it or already have a new purchase in mind), but it will also expand your talent base and remind you that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Here is a list of three of the most common DIY projects and how they can save you large stacks of bills if you do, in fact, do them yourself:

#1: Furniture refinishing

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According to HomeAdvisor.com, the average annual cost of furniture refurnishing is $705 per household (with a range of $588 to $822). Unless you have three-quarters of a grand just lying around, this could take a huge chunk out of your savings account. That is, unless you decide to work your own magic.

Certainly, this is no small undertaking as you will spend hours sanding and staining or painting the one piece of furniture that you’d like to transform. However, imagine the pride that you’ll feel when you show all of your friends the before and after pictures and watch the amazement on their faces when you reveal that you did it all on your own!

If you’ve never refinished furniture before, you’ll want to either get some expert tips from someone you know that has, or read up about it on reputable online sites so you learn the proper techniques to change your chair, dresser or mirror into something spectacular.

#2: Installing hardwood floors

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Some women aren’t afraid of power tools, so if you have a saw in your garage just begging to get some wood related action, you may decide to rip out your current trampled on flooring and put in some hardwood floors instead. You will definitely work your behind off when you do, but the amount of cash you will save may be more than worth the effort.

Homewyse.com estimates that the average cost to have hardwood flooring professionally installed in a 200 square foot area is anywhere from $1,600 to $2,000, depending on your geographical location. Of this amount, almost half of it is labor! So, think of all the dough you’ll save by learning how to do it on your own.

Before you get overwhelmed at the thought, there are several YouTube videos that can assist and some hardware stores even offer classes that will teach you all you need to know for a nominal fee. Invite a group of friends over to help and you’ll have more than enough money to spring for pizza and refreshments, with some left over to put in that hungry little piggy bank of yours.

#3: Interior painting

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One way to dramatically change the look of the interior of your home without major renovations is to repaint it. You can either go with the same color to refresh it after years of crayon smudges and furniture marks, or you can expand your color horizons and pick fresh and bold hues that excite your eyes every time you look at them.

ProMatcher.com estimates that paying a professional painter to repaint your interior for you will cost approximately $62.50 per hour, or $2.12 per square foot. If you want the old paint removed first, you’re looking at an additional $47.50 per hour, or $1.00 per square foot. Redo your whole home and you’re in for a huge bill.

However, decide to splash some colors on your walls yourself and you can do it much cheaper. Decent paint is available for under $10 to $15 a gallon, and brushes, rollers and paint tins are fairly inexpensive too. Just make sure you cover up the furniture and floor in case it splatters.

You might not be able to get it done as quickly as the pros, but when you’re pinching your pennies the time is worth the savings. Besides, then you don’t have to worry about someone else trampling through your house and seeing all of the dust bunnies and long-lost toys that have fallen behind the furniture that has just been moved from the walls.

DIY projects can not only help you protect your bank account, but think of the skills you’ll be able to add to your already super long list. You are a Queen which means that you can do anything – and save while you do!

About the author

Christina DeBusk

Changing careers mid-life from law enforcement to writing, Christina spends her days helping others enrich their businesses and personal lives one word at a time.

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