How to Save Thousands by Learning to DIY

How to Save Thousands by Learning to DIY
This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

There are many areas in your life where, when trying to save money, you can save a lot by doing things yourself. I am not very handy myself, but I have learned to do many things, that are much easier than they look.

Cooking

A first, obvious area, is cooking. By having a few basic recipes that you are comfortable with, such as pasta, stew, stir fry and big salads, you can invent as many recipes as there are days in the year. Preparing a huge salad with every vegetable about to go bad in the fridge is easy, cheap and healthy.

Get creative, look for recipes to accommodate your ripest food. And stop buying convenience food.

For example, when I go shopping, on the way back I am tired and stop for fried chicken. A fried chicken breast costs as much as a fresh fish from the lake. With soda and fries, it is more expensive than a full fish dinner with a glass of wine. Convenience is expensive and not necessarily better.

I try to make most meals around pasta, potatoes, rice or beans. Meat is only added for taste, in much smaller quantities than if you do steak and salad for example. Chilis, lentil stews, veggie lasagna... are all great budget meals, so you can have more money for a special dinner on the weekends.

Home DIY

Since I started fixing up my house, I have learned about many little things, like adding an electric plug to a room, installing pipes for water and painting a house. All of this is REALLY easy. And very cheap compared to having someone do it for you. Just watch a 10 minutes tutorial online, get the idea, go shopping for materials and start your project. I painted my whole house with lime wash for under $5, and probably added at least $500 value to it. Focus on leaks, bad insulation... and anything that is costing you money over time. Go slowly, make notes if you are not sure to leave everything right when you reassemble, and rely on the internet for inspiration. A little paint can give your furniture a new life, instead of throwing and buying something else.

Car DIY

Another thing that I have learned recently is how to perform maintenance on cars and motorcycles. Again, it is really easy to change the oil or the brake pads on your vehicle, and something that can save you a lot of money over time. It requires patience the first time, but the more you do it, the quicker it will go. Oil changes are really easy, and your car will run better if you perform them religiously.

Gardening

I love my little plants in the garden and gardening is a hobby, it keeps your active, relaxes you and saves you money if you get a decent little crop. I chose a mix of the vegetables I eat the most, and some that I enjoy and find quite expensive, like bell peppers. I also put basil, mint and other plants that will freeze well and provide a fresh supply all year long.

This post appeared first on Reach Financial Independence

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot