DIY Skills That Save You The Most Money
Hands up if you have a ‘To Do’ list that keeps growing rather than shrinking? Small jobs that need doing but aren’t quite annoying or urgent enough to make you put down your G&T and actually get them done?! I think we’re all guilty of putting off odd jobs around the home, especially if they’re costly to fix. However, familiarising yourself with some basic DIY skills can save you serious money. With a little effort and a handy video from YouTube, you can save a packet by taking on those tasks yourself.
Start Small
It may be wise to start with a few small repairs before building up to the more challenging tasks. Fixing that squeaky door handle (WD-40 at the ready!) or painting over those chips in the paintwork will only take a few minutes but will go a long way to feeling that you’ve achieved something. You could then move on to perhaps hanging a picture or putting up a shelf. Who cares if it’s a little wonky? Dig out that drill, get your safety specs on and in no time at all you’ll be wondering why on earth you hadn’t done it sooner!
Aim Higher
Now your confidence is growing and you’re realising you are indeed the next George Clarke, you can tackle some bigger jobs. That hall flooring has been bothering you for months. You have the new oak effect laminate getting dusty in the garage but just haven’t been able to afford to pay someone to lay it. Take the time to watch a tutorial online (maybe more than once to be sure!), arm yourself with a saw and some spacers and set to work. You could save yourself upwards of £20 per square metre hiring someone to lay it, which could go towards some lovely fabric to make matching curtains and cushions for the lounge…..
Time For A Change
You now have your brand new flooring and your colourful homemade soft furnishings, so it’s time to spruce up the walls. The price of a decorator can average about £190 a day or around £400 per room, so it’s worth a go yourself first! If you haven’t done your own decorating before, you haven’t lived. Pay a visit to B&Q for some fashionable paint (I rather like Spiced Mulberry!). Then get the radio on, dig out your scruffiest clothes and get your brushes at the ready. You could even go wild and invent your own ‘wallpaper’ by stencilling.
If you’re ready for a real challenge, try hanging your own wallpaper! With a little care to match up the pattern – maybe start with a subtle print rather than a mural of a forest! – wallpapering is not too tricky, though a little messy!
The World’s Your Oyster
Now you’re a DIY expert, nothing will phase you. You could move on to tiling your own bathroom, building and installing your own kitchen cupboards, changing your locks (checking you won’t invalidate your house insurance before you do!) or even plastering. If you’re feeling particularly brave you could even tackle some basic plumbing like changing the taps or plumbing in your new washing machine. It may be wise to have the number of a good plumber handy in case of any mishaps!
There are online tutorials and information sites for just about every household job and the money you will be saving from doing these yourself could go a long way to setting up your own business as a painter and decorator with your new found skills!
