Using DIY Projects to Enhance Your Life (And Your Finances)

Most of us do a certain extent of household chores or jobs on our own. However, even the thriftiest of us can learn new DIY skills. If you have more time than money, invest a little time in learning how to do them on your own. Here are a few DIY projects, ranging from the easy to a little more complex:

Lawn Care
Cooking
Manicures
Housecleaning
Haircuts
Portrait Photography
Dog Grooming
Decorating
Sewing
Appliance Repair
Entertainment
Car Maintenance
Making Food
Home Improvement Projects

As you go through life and perhaps find yourself with more financial resources, there’s nothing wrong with hiring someone more qualified to do the things you don’t enjoy (or don’t have time) to do on your own. However, still incorporating some DIY projects into your life can help you learn new skills, cultivate creativity and grow as a person. What areas do you really enjoy? For example, if you enjoy cooking, try to expand to DIY projects like gardening, canning, or learning to make pasta. With the internet, there is more information available than ever before to learn new skills.

This was recently posted by Mommysavers Member mousemaker, “As a single mom with only the one income to support the family every penny counts. I only hire someone when all else fails. This past weekend I watched a 2 minute video on the internet to learn how to tune up my own lawn mower (yes I am the family lawn care specialist along with many other hats I wear). I watched what they did (no speakers on the computer) went to the store and got a new spark plug, air filter and oil then changed them all myself. I was so proud of myself for not having to hire anyone and saving about $35 by doing it myself. Try things yourself first. We can do a lot more than we think we can if we just try. Dont sell yourself short and NEVER say you cant do something because you are a "girl".”

Assignment: Try at least one DIY project this week. Report back to us on what you did and if it was something that you enjoyed.

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We do DIY projects all the time, we have replaced our fence posts, rebuilt our deck, put down the laminate on the kitchen floor and a few months ago I tiled and grouted all 3 bathrooms! Sunday I tackled the slow drip coming from the backyard faucet. Dh and I replaced the valve. Am I tooting my own horn? You betcha! I think back on all the money we saved doing everything ourselves (even the call for the plumber on the last one) and I am proud of being able to do it ourselves.

And a big ol "WOO-HOO" to mousemaker for doing the lawn mower tune up!!

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Hey, I am an expert on this one!!! I mowed the dang grass 2 days ago!!! We have a large lawn!!! It took me two hours. I never mow, dh always does, but he still can't do heavy work. We do most things around the house.

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

DH & I are all about DIY projects! And between our friends & family, if we don't know how to so something, they are always willing to come & get us going to show us how! We are very blessed with our friends & family

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"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." ~ Phyllis Diller

For those with less time on their hands, how do you pick and choose which DIY projects you'll do, and which ones you leave to others?

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Dh is such a handy man. He can do everything himself regarding home improvements. One time he build an addition to his first house. He does the electrical work, plumbing, and any renovations needed at the time in our apartment. He also cuts the grass and does all the yard work. I can't wait for us to get a house so I can put him to work.

I cut everyones hair, take pictures at functions, do the dog grooming, housework, cooking, and other stuff myself. The only thing I go and get done is my haircut which I don't get often. I also wish I knew how to make clothes.

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We do our own portraits with a digital camera and then wait for a sale on enlargements. I've also started taking photos of friend's kids. I upload them for a 99 cent 5x7, buy a frame from the dollar store and for $2 have the perfect gift .. a portrait of their own child or children.

We also do our own painting, floor installing, etc. It would be great to learn about basic plumbing and electrical though!

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Mom to dd (age 9) and ds (age 11)
blogging daily about purpose and personal identity

We have been really big on DIY What we did have help on

Insulation work. Its messy, we don't have the equipment and skills to do it right. However, we called our gas company they had a rebate if we used there contractor. The gas company covered around $1500

Counter tops for our kitchen. DH and I had a argument on this one and I gave in. $800 and the installer was here for maybe an hour.

We called a plumber once to get our drain cleared after trying everything ourself.

For the rest it is not what you know but who you know. We put in a retaining wall and my DH got the concrete crew from work to come out for burgers and beer.

My FIL and Dad come out a lot. FIL former contractor, my dad an electrician helped get alot of things done. (The new wiring and service for our home) We do alot of work ourselves so far we have done a kitchen, electrical, and patio remodel

Still we have a list of hire out projects.
Installing carpet, Insulation, roofing, oil changes.
Photography (I have a few friends who are photographers it helps support another SAHM I go for it)
My hair cuts (the rest we do ourself)

We look not only at our skill level but the materials and tools cost. Take the insulation it would have been spendy for us to buy the protective gear, rent a blower, and get the materials to our home.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

Even though we both work full time we do the majority of DIY projects. My motto when it comes to this is do what you can save money on, not what may cost you more money if you screw up! And since DH and I are both pretty handy, we do most everything. I think the only thing we won't touch is plumbing. otherwise everything is game!

When our water heater was replaced last week, I considered it well worth what we paid our plumber to replace it. The water heater had rusted out and was leaking. The plumber had a water heater in the size we needed; from my online comparison of stores, that size had to be ordered. Not to mention the fact, that our utility room is cramped, and things had to be moved out to remove the old heater and install the new one. Due to DH's health problems, he doesn't always feel or is able to do as much anymore. Plus, paying to replace the leaking water heater now seemed to be cheaper than allowing it damage the flooring.

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Michele