3 Budget-Saving Home Improvement Tips
Homeownership is expensive, but there are ways to make meaningful improvements to your home while on a budget. Knowing where to invest each dollar to reach its maximum potential is the basis for improving your home.
This guide will walk you through the three of the biggest cash-saving ways to improve your home. From DIY projects to smart shopping tips and energy-efficient upgrades, there are plenty of practical strategies to enhance your living space without overspending.
1. Focus on Energy Efficiency
Energy is one of the biggest costs of running a home, so optimizing how your home sources and uses its energy is one of the best changes you can make. While electricity is the most versatile type of energy, it is usually more expensive for certain applications. If you have access to natural gas, try substituting electric-powered appliances for gas-powered ones. If electricity is your only option, there are a few things you can do to trim down your energy bill:
Install a high-efficiency heat pump AC system: Although an initially large investment, the cost savings associated with a heat pump AC unit will pay for itself quickly. Heat pumps spend less energy because they move warm and cool air instead of generating it. That makes them much more efficient than traditional heating systems, translating to less energy cost on your part.
Install energy-efficient lighting: Lighting is one of the most power-consumptive aspects of any home. While keeping lights off when not in use is a great habit, you can also use higher-efficiency solutions. LED bulbs consume less energy than incandescent bulbs, so switching these out will lead to lower lighting costs.
Install Solar Panels: Installing and even leasing solar panels can give you off-grid independence with your energy. Since you would be generating the energy yourself, they can help minimize the cost of your regular utility bill. They can also make you eligible for the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit for pursuing sustainable energy alternatives.
2. DIY Where Possible
When it comes to home improvements, some projects will inevitably require a professional’s help. However, for many tasks, taking a “do it yourself” approach can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars compared to paying a contractor. The key is to consider what projects you can afford to mess up.
Different home projects vary in complexity, so consider if the quality of your work will match a contractor’s and think about the consequences if your DIY project doesn’t go according to plan. For instance, if you’ve never done electrical work before, you significantly increase the chance of damaging your property and risk installing something improperly. Worse case, you might catch your house on fire or die, not ideal. Typically, electrical work, plumbing, and structural changes are best left to professionals because errors can be catastrophic.
On the other hand, simpler tasks with minimal risk are likely the best use of your time. These projects are more forgiving if not done perfectly:
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Patching drywall
- Fixing a door hinge
- Installing shelves
- Replacing cabinet hardware
- Hanging curtains or blinds
Use your judgment to determine what you can handle and how your time will be best spent. While tackling a project on your own can feel intimidating at first, remember that YouTube is your best friend when DIYing anything. A few quick videos can help you solve many simple tasks around the house and save some money.
3. Repurpose and Reuse
Instead of purchasing new items for your home, consider what you already have that can solve your needs. You can repurpose existing items for shelving, cabinet organization, furniture, and decor. Many possessions you might think are useless can be creatively transformed to enhance your home.
The first step is to realize that many items in your house have more than one use. Almost anything made of plastic, glass, metal, or cloth can be made into something new. It just takes a little bit of imagination.
Old furniture can be disassembled and repurposed. You can turn a worn-down kitchen table into a workbench. You could also sand down an old toy chest, stain it, and turn it into an ottoman for your mudroom. Consider how individual components of the furniture can be used for other purposes. Even if you have no use for a piece of furniture, you can salvage hardware from it for future projects.
Before you throw away or recycle anything in your home, consider whether it could have an alternate use. Glass jars or tin cans from food items can be reused as storage containers for pantry items and craft supplies. An old wooden ladder can be turned into a bookshelf by mounting it to the wall. Reusing everyday items you might otherwise discard can save money and demonstrate your resourcefulness.
It’s All About Mindset
Improving your home without breaking the bank starts with the right mentality. With time, energy, and research, you can achieve this while spending much less.
Focus on optimizing your energy usage, reusing as much as possible, and doing projects yourself. These three things will make you more self-sufficient and help you achieve your home improvement goals affordably and effectively.