DIY

6 homemade DIY cleaners that will save you money

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A clean home is a happy home, but getting it that way can cost you serious money. You don't need to schedule a pricey cleaning service or stock up on a cupboard full of expensive cleaning products to create a sparkling clean space. A few easy-to-make homemade cleaners can serve you better than an … [Read more...] about 6 homemade DIY cleaners that will save you money

How to make your own simple face mask

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advised wearing cloth face coverings when you go out in public, to help slow the spread of COVID-19. With face masks hard to find, we suggest you just make your own. If you sew, there are many patterns out there. But we found a pattern so simple, … [Read more...] about How to make your own simple face mask

Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes

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This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Do you want to can food at home, but are put off by the cost? For around $15, you pull together most of the essential equipment by using equipment you probably already own. Below we list … [Read more...] about Preserve food with cheap canning equipment and free recipes

Cheap, quick and easy homemade valentines

There’s something nostalgic about trading store-bought Valentines with cute pictures and candy-heart messages. They’re also cheap, and if that’s the way you want to go, we’re OK with that. But if you can’t find the “just-right” box of cards or you want to add a little personalization to your … [Read more...] about Cheap, quick and easy homemade valentines

12 cheap, easy Christmas DIY decor projects

Ho-ho-homemade is the key to cheap, but pretty, holiday decorations. I mean, have you seen the prices on real Christmas wreaths? Here are some ideas we gleaned from various sources to help you put some sparkle into your holidays without busting the budget. Bonus: Most of these ideas are … [Read more...] about 12 cheap, easy Christmas DIY decor projects

3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything

You don’t need to buy a cupboard full of expensive cleaning products. Just three ingredients clean almost everything in your house. Using vinegar, baking soda and Borax, you can make your own all-purpose spray cleaner, cleanser, drain cleaner and disinfectant. Here’s our handy list … [Read more...] about 3 cheap, eco-friendly cleaning products for everything

Auto Zone’s Loan-A-Tool service offers free tool rentals

Tools can be very expensive. Unless it's part of your trade, it's often not cost-effective for "do-it-yourself-ers" to buy tools for quick repair jobs around the house or on a car. Thanks to Auto Zone's Loan-A-Tool, there's no more need to pay for tools you need temporarily. Using the FREE service … [Read more...] about Auto Zone’s Loan-A-Tool service offers free tool rentals

7 DIY projects to decorate baby’s nursery on a dime

Your baby’s nursery should be a calming retreat where you can bond and lull your little one to sleep, but that doesn’t mean it needs to cost a fortune. Save the money for items you’ll really need like diapers and wipes (although, the cloth options would help save there, too!). Once you decide on … [Read more...] about 7 DIY projects to decorate baby’s nursery on a dime

How to learn a foreign language for FREE

Studying foreign languages is my hobby. Notice I didn’t say learning foreign languages. In the years that I’ve been merrily racking up classes in Japanese, French, Turkish, Italian, Latin, Arabic, Persian, German – even ‘olelo Hawai’i (the Hawaiian language) – I’ve never risen to the level of real … [Read more...] about How to learn a foreign language for FREE

Save money with your own home security system

If you have reviewed your household budget lately, you might have been amazed by how many recurring monthly charges have added up over the years. One that jumped out at me recently was the amount we spend for my home security system's alarm monitoring. ADT service starts at about $30 a month. … [Read more...] about Save money with your own home security system

New book shares easy DIY home decor projects

Kelly McCants, a Virginia-based author, entrepreneur, blogger, seamstress and mother of two teenagers, has a new book out. It’s called At Home with Modern June: 27 Sewing Projects for Your Handmade Lifestyle. Modern June, in case you’re wondering, is McCants herself, who also wrote Sewing with … [Read more...] about New book shares easy DIY home decor projects

How to consign your old clothes

Buying new clothes usually means spending money, no matter where you shop. One thing I learned not long ago was how to consign clothes for sale in order to better afford new ones. This is also a great way to make sure that your closet, drawers and other places you store clothes are more … [Read more...] about How to consign your old clothes

Save money by dehydrating home-grown foods

My sister, Andrea Vargo, lives in Minnesota and is an avid gardener. She also is a dedicated dehydrator. She says if you grow a garden, dehydration is the best method for preserving all that bounty. It’s easy, the food retains its flavor, and it takes up way less space and equipment than … [Read more...] about Save money by dehydrating home-grown foods

Craft store smartphone apps save money on the spot

If you've ever tackled a do-it-yourself project of the crafty nature — or simply wanted to buy a cool picture frame as a shower gift — you know the frustration. You are face to face with that edge punch, that set of artist's brushes, that stem of artificial flowers, and the disappointment nearly … [Read more...] about Craft store smartphone apps save money on the spot

5 best websites for do-it-yourselfers

A lot of my DIY knowledge came from my father. He taught me at a young age that French cleats are not shoes, tire irons do not flatten tires, and doing things myself can bring satisfaction. I held onto those tattered old Family Handyman books for years before passing them on to one of my sons. But … [Read more...] about 5 best websites for do-it-yourselfers

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