21 Money-Saving Tricks That Every Homeowner Needs to Know

Putting a dent in your home improvement to-do list can often put an even bigger dent in your wallet. But these 21 humble DIY projects reduce, reuse, and reimagine what’s already under your roof to yield big results—and even bigger savings.

By Manasa Reddigari | Updated Feb 28, 2022 04:36 PM

Homeowner Hacks

1/23
Homeowner Hacks

It's no secret that owning a house comes with a lot of responsibilities—and costs. Even when you budget for certain repairs or tuneups, there are plenty of other times when unexpected hiccups occur. That's why it's always useful to have a few home maintenance hacks in your back pocket. From the garden to the garage, these tips and tricks help you save money while still keeping an orderly home. 

istockphoto.com

Sponge Split

2/23
Cut Your Sponges in Half

Sponges soak up everything in their path, including the funds required for frequent replacement. Fortunately for the budget-conscious, half a sponge packs as much grime-fighting ability as a whole sponge. So, you can get twice the utility out of one sponge by cutting it into two pieces.


Related: 10 Extras to DIY for Your Kitchen

Instructables via Culturespy

Stay Afloat

3/23
Fix a Low Toilet Fill Level

Unless you own a dual-flush toilet, you're probably dumping way too much water down the drain with each flush, which in turn raises your water bill. Flush smarter by adding a brick or full plastic water bottle to the toilet tank. The extra bulk will raise the tank's float arm faster, which means you'll need less water to fill the tank.


Related: 10 Easy Repairs Never to Pay Someone Else For

istockphoto.com

The Razor's Edge

4/23
Extend the Life of Your Razors with a Leather Belt

Before you dispose of disposable razors, try sharpening them with an adaptable accessory already in your wardrobe: a leather belt. The particulate grit on the underside of a belt acts as a strop, refining the dull edges of the blade until it is as sharp as ever and ready for many more shaves.

Youtube via The Grommet

Cleaner Coils

5/23
Vacuum Refrigerator Coils

Grit and gunk that collect on your refrigerator’s condenser coils can put the hardworking appliance into overdrive—and this can lead to sky-high energy bills. Using a vacuum cleaner with a crevice-friendly attachment, banish unsightly accumulations from the coils for improved energy efficiency.


Related: 9 Bad Habits That Are Killing Your Appliances

Youtube via eReplacementParts.com

Hosed Down

6/23
Make a DIY Duster with Old Pantyhose or Tights

Just as hosiery brings polish to an outfit, it can add luster to surfaces around the house. Slip old, outworn tights or pantyhose onto your hand like a glove, and then buff dusty lamps, dingy furniture, and other accessories to achieve polished perfection—no commercial cleaners required!

Related: 9 Things You're Doing to Make Your Home Dustier

Instructables via Carleyy

H2-Whoa!

7/23
Upcycle a Plastic Bottle to Save Water in the Garden

When water is at a premium, save your wallet and the environment by DIYing this slow-drip watering device for your garden bed. Constructed from a perforated water bottle filled with absorbent socks or strips of denim, the device can be planted next to young seedlings to continuously hydrate growing roots.


Related: 10 "Zero Dollar" Garden Hacks

Instructables via Kiteman

Running on Empty

8/23
Fill Up a Half-Full Fridge with Empty Milk Jugs

Don't cry over spilled milk! Instead, put that empty container to good use. Empty milk containers or other large bottles placed in a half-full fridge can help increase cold air circulation and reduce your electric bill. Those frosty empty jugs keep the surrounding items cold, maintaining a low average fridge temperature—and a lower utility bill.


Related: The 1-Hour Home Energy Audit That Can Save You Money Every Month

istockphoto.com

Mesh Well

9/23
Make a Pot Scrubber with an Onion Bag

The flexible mesh bags that commonly house store-bought onions and potatoes can be given a second life in the kitchen as pot scrubbers. Start by cutting and folding the bag into the desired dimensions, then use a yarn needle to stitch the edges closed with rug yarn. That's it! You're ready to take your new scrubber to the sink and start cutting through grease!


Related: 21 Timesaving Tricks That May Change the Way You Clean

Instructables via lgooms

Clean Sheet

10/23
DIY-Reusable-Dryer-Sheets-with-Dish-Towels-and-Vinegar

Single-use commercial dryer sheets can make laundry day more luxurious and fresher scented, but who needs them when you can make your own! To create an all-natural equivalent, dip clean, cut-up rags into a solution of vinegar and essential oils. The sheets can be stored in an airtight container until needed and then reused for countless spin cycles.


Related: 14 Home Essentials You Never Need to Buy Again

helloglow.co

Keep Your Cool

11/23
Save Money in Summer with a DIY Air Conditioner

Skip the AC (and the AC bills) this summer by creating your own DIY air conditioner. Consisting of an old fan placed atop a bucket that holds a natural cooling source—frozen water—this quick hack will help you stay cool and comfortable as you soak up summer. 


Related: 7 Tricks for Keeping Cool Without AC

eHow.com via Debbie Williams

Recycled Regimen

12/23
Recycle Scraps into New Bar Soap

If you’re down to the last few shards of that bar of soap, don’t replace it. Instead, reconstitute the soap slivers into a like-new beauty bar! Start by melting the soap scraps over the stove. Then, pour the mixture into soap bar molds, letting the bars dry before you lather up.


Related: 9 Ways to Make Your Old Bathroom New Again

Instructables via Castile_Soap

Stylish Stowaways

13/23
Reuse Glass Jars to Organize Your Workshop

In lieu of buying expensive organizing solutions to declutter your workshop, let mason jars or other glass containers take on the job. Rinsed, dried, decorated, and filled with fasteners or tool bits, these easy-to-come-by vessels become storage-smart accents suitable for indoor or outdoor use.


Related: 18 Clever Storage Solutions You Can DIY for Free

funkyjunkinteriors.net

Canned Response

14/23
Boost Your Wi-Fi with a Soda Can

A can of soda offers more than just a sugar boost. It can also boost a weak Wi-Fi signal, and as a result, your Internet speed. Cut off the bottom of the can, then slice off the lid, leaving an inch or so connected to the can. Cut and unfurl the can, slip the mouth of the lid over your router’s antenna, and again enjoy buffer-free streaming sessions—all without having to buy an expensive name-brand signal booster.


Related: No Gimmicks: 6 New Home Technologies That Really Matter

Instructables via Timothee Gillier

Looking Sharp

15/23
Upcycle a Planter to Store and Sharpen Garden Tools

If your tools aren’t the sharpest in the shed, skip the trip to the knife sharpener and consider storing them in this specially outfitted repurposed planter instead. When painted, sealed, and tightly packed with sand and mineral oil, a commonplace terra-cotta pot can help keep your gardening gear clean and the blades sharp, all at the same time.


Related: Wage War on Weeds with 7 Unbeatable Tools

onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Right as Rain

16/23
Install a Rain Barrel for Free Water

Why consume extra water to hydrate your homegrown plants when you can capture and reuse your roof and gutter runoff with a rain barrel? Installed below the eaves for optimal water collection, a bargain barrel can reduce your next water bill and help you pep up your plants.


Related: 12 Rain Barrels That Make Water Conservation Stylish

istockphoto.com

Weed Out Weeds

17/23
Keep Overgrown Weeds and Plants Away from Your HVAC Unit

Lush foliage is a pleasant surprise anywhere but near your HVAC unit, where it can cause the system to run less efficiently. Maintain proper airflow and reduce electrical consumption by plucking weeds and pruning bushes in the immediate vicinity of the unit.


Related: 7 Weirdly Effective Ways to Weed

istockphoto.com

The Final Curtain

18/23
Trim Your Shower Curtain Liner to Prevent Mold and Mildew

When your shower curtain liner has become mired in mold and mildew, replacing it is sometimes easier than cleaning it. But if you keep an eye out for early signs of these unsightly intruders, you can keep the curtain looking good longer. When you spot the first bit of buildup, trim the bottom of the curtain with scissors to keep grime from encroaching any further.


Related: 8 Ways to Mildew-Proof Your Bathroom

istockphoto.com

High-End Fashion

19/23
Ditch Your Dryer and Hang Up a Clothesline

Few can resist the warmth and fragrance of garments fresh out of the dryer, but that experience becomes somewhat less appealing when you think about all the energy it takes to machine dry. A clothesline or drying rack works just as well, and using one will not only save you money on your electric bill, but it can also lengthen the life of your threads.


Related: The Dos and Don'ts of Air-Drying Everything You Own

istockphoto.com

Fair-Weather Fan

20/23
Run Your Ceiling Fan Counterclockwise in Summer for Energy Savings

Before you turn up the dial on the air conditioner—and pay the price later—consider installing a ceiling fan. A fan not only allows for greater comfort and energy savings in the hot summer months, but if you go the extra mile of switching it to run clockwise when the weather gets cold, the fan can help warm up the room come winter. 


Related: 7 Simple Ways to Cut Your Home Cooling Costs

istockphoto.com

Home Free

21/23
Pick Up Free Mulch from Your Town

For a freshly manicured lawn on the cheap, don’t call your local landscaper—call your local parks department. You may be able to obtain mulch and compost from them at no cost, allowing you to beautify your front yard for the bargain price of—nothing.


Related: The Invincible Yard: 12 Ideas for Lazy Landscaping

istockphoto.com

Paste Pal

22/23
Roll Up Your Toothpaste with a Pencil

Good for more than scribbling the day's to-do list, a short pencil can also help you draw out the last drop of toothpaste from the tube. Starting at the end, wrap the mostly empty tube around the pencil, then roll the pencil up until you extract the tube's contents—and extend your budget!


Related: 9 Surprising Alternative Uses for Toothpaste

Instructables via Paige Russell

Penny Pincher

23/23
Penny Pincher

Every little trick counts when you're trying to save money. 

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