DIY savings
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Get rid of excess items rather than buying storage solutions.
To live simply and be happy.
one person who lived it
Loosen burnt residue by boiling Bar Keepers Friend and salt in the pot for a few minutes before scrubbing.
This method reduces the need for heavy scrubbing.
one person who lived it
Stop buying soda and bottled water in favor of tap water.
Soda is bad for you.
one person who lived it
Do not put food in contact with junk mail pressed into plates due to toxic printer ink; use them as coasters instead.
Printer ink is toxic.
one person who lived it
Print your own greeting cards instead of buying them.
One person reported saving money on this approach.
one person who lived it
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Replace grass with a rock garden to reduce water usage and costs, provided you have access to affordable rocks.
Water prices are increasing and usage caps may apply.
- Buying rocks can be cost-prohibitive if you do not have ready access to them.
one person who lived it
Consider buying an inkwell printer for long-term cost savings on ink.
The cartridge options make up the higher upfront cost if ink is the primary expense.
one person who lived it
Avoid Charmin toilet paper if it produces dust that causes sneezing.
Toilet paper should not make you sneeze.
- Charmin Ultra Strong is reported by some to not produce dust or leave residue.
one person who lived it
Avoid installing shelves or cupboards over bathroom doors.
It can make the room feel like a cave.
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Store unused items in boxes in a hard-to-reach place for one year; discard anything not retrieved during that time.
One person reported never regretting discarding items left behind.
one person who lived it
Install direct task lighting over your home office desk.
To prevent sore eyes.
one person who lived it
Check curbside trash for discarded appliances that may only need minor repairs, such as replacing a battery.
Many things are repairable, but people often discard them due to laziness or lack of information.
one person who lived it
Adjust shoe tree springs carefully to avoid warping the sides of boots during storage.
A bent spring can tilt on an angle and warp the side anyway.
one person who lived it
Consider buying cheap, disposable furniture if you move frequently and lack funds for durable pieces.
Moving thrift store furniture can cost more than replacing it.
- Based on one person's experience moving between states.
one person who lived it
Buy toilet paper in bulk from Costco to save money and reduce purchase frequency.
It is by far the cheapest option found and reduces the need to buy for months.
one person who lived it
Buy durable, higher-quality brands for small appliances like kettles and rice cookers to avoid frequent replacements.
Cheap versions may die shortly after the warranty expires, whereas reliable brands last longer.
one person who lived it
Assign static IPs to wireless printers via the router.
This solves connectivity issues.
one person who lived it
Reduce physical clutter by converting your book collection to e-books.
One person reported this brought tremendous relief.
one person who lived it
Use printablepaper.net to download graph paper PDFs.
It is less invasive than other sites.
one person who lived it
Cut steel wool pads in half with kitchen scissors to reduce waste.
Steel wool often rusts out partially, so cutting it minimizes the amount thrown away.
one person who lived it
Crochet stuffed animals for children as an alternative to expensive commercial toys, as kids often appreciate handmade items more.
Children may love something more because you made it.
one person who lived it
Practice sewing buttonholes on scrap fabric or old tea towels before starting your main project.
To make sure you are following the instructions properly.
one person who lived it
Buy modular, repairable, upgradeable, interchangeable, and cross-vendor compatible products to avoid being locked into one platform.
This prevents having to rebuy items every year due to platform lock-in.
one person who lived it
Search for free Pepakura files online instead of paying for printable origami mask instructions.
Free files are available all over the internet as cheaper alternatives.
one person who lived it
Create desk organizers or shelves using empty cardboard boxes found around the house.
It avoids spending money on plastic organizers when materials are already at hand.
one person who lived it
Dumpster dive behind stores for discarded items like toilet paper, soap, and food that are tossed due to minor packaging damage or clearance issues.
one person who lived it
Use a label machine to print custom labels for replacing worn appliance decals.
one person who lived it
Rinse empty detergent bottles directly into the washing machine to extract remaining product.
This method takes only a few moments.
one person who lived it
Cover a broken or removed built-in oven timer hole with a magnetic timer.
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Avoid using Command Strips or adhesive hooks to mount Echo Dots.
The heat generated by the device can soften the adhesive and cause it to fall.
one person who lived it
Add a tiny amount of scented bleach to passive humidifier water every other day to prevent mold growth.
Mold thrives in passive evaporators.
- Do not use this method for a long time.
one person who lived it
Use heat shrink tubing over power cables for a durable, neat finish that keeps the wire firm.
It provides a nicer appearance and keeps the wire firm.
one person who lived it
Avoid using electrical tape for long-term outdoor wire protection.
Water will wick into the connections and get stuck.
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Consider using Sugru, silicone caulk, or heat shrink tubing to prolong the life of fraying cables safely.
Sugru is noted as being good at prolonging cable life without starting fires.
- There are many better solutions available.
one person who lived it
Cover windows with baking paper or wax paper for privacy while letting light in.
It fixes privacy issues and still lets light in.
one person who lived it
Be aware that melamine foam can remove paint from drywall, which may result in losing your full security deposit when moving out.
One person lost their full security deposit after a friend used it on drywall.
one person who lived it
Use low-expansion spray foam specifically designed for windows and doors when sealing gaps.
Standard foam can damage window function.
one person who lived it
Leave the bathroom door open during showers without running the exhaust fan to distribute humidity throughout the home.
It provides added humidity benefit, though not constantly.
one person who lived it