Do It Yourself and Save

One of the best ways to save money is to do it yourself when you can. DIY isn't always possible (I wouldn't advise re-wiring your house on your own), but there are tons of things that you can do, or learn to do, that will save you a bundle over paying someone else to do it. Consider the following do-it-yourself projects and pocket your savings in your laughing wallet!

Change your own oil. It's awfully easy to just zip into the nearest oil and lube shop when it's time to change the oil on your car, but you can do it yourself and save quite a bit by getting your hands dirty. It's not a complicated process, and after you've done it a time or two, you'll wonder why you paid someone else so much to do it.

Mow the lawn. It may seem like a bargain when you pay that neighbor kid to mow your lawn, but it's money that you don't have to spend, and it adds up over time. And if you're paying a lawn care service, you're really shelling out unnecessary dollars. If you'll do your own lawn care, you can save money and get some exercise. And you don't have to do everything yourself. Get everyone in the household to pitch in, raking leaves, trimming bushes, etc. Everyone can help out doing something, and it'll go quickly. For more ways to save money on your yard, check out my frugal lawn and landscaping tips.

Cook. Home-cooked meals are much less expensive, and often much healthier, than restaurant meals or fast food. If you've never done much cooking, take a class on the basics to get you going. The class will pay for itself in savings in no time!

Do your own taxes. You might be nervous about preparing your own taxes. No one wants the IRS after them! But unless you have a particularly complicated situation, you will likely be just fine using one of the many tax software programs widely available, such as TurboTax and H&R Block At Home. The programs walk you through the process and many people are eligible to file for free.

Clean your own house. No one is going to claim that cleaning is fun, but it doesn't require any special training that justifies calling in the pros when you're trying to be frugal. So just give yourself a pep talk, arm yourself with a rag, and do it yourself. It's not that bad! Need some inspiration? Explore my frugal cleaning tips for suggestions on making cleaning easier and cheaper.

Be your own beautician. Getting gorgeous doesn't have to involve a team of hair, nail and skin specialists. Sure, you want to get a good haircut and should probably pay a pro for that, and if you've got special skin issues, you should consult with a dermatologist, but there are many beauty treatments you can do on your own that will save you money. Some easy beauty treatments you can do on your own include manicures and pedicures, facial treatments, hair removal and hair color. For more ideas on keeping your beauty regimen thrifty, see my frugal beauty tips.

Wash your own car. I know you love to watch your car glide through the whirl of brushes and suds at the automated car wash, but you know you can wash your own car. And it's much cheaper to do it yourself. Even the self-serve laser washes are more expensive than doing it at home with the hose and a sponge. Don't be afraid to get a little wet - you'll save a bundle.

Put on your tool belt. When most people think of DIY, they think about home improvement projects. The reason is because so many of those projects are very doable for even a novice do-it-yourselfer! From painting to building a deck, a huge variety of projects can be done by the average homeowner at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional handyman, and many resources are available to help newbies do it right, including library books, educational DIY television shows and websites, such as the DIY Network website. And don't forget about the professionals who work at home improvement stores or hardware stores. They're not just there to tell you that the hammers are on aisle four. They can also give you guidance and advice about how to properly do a project you're working on.

Frugal Grocery Shopping

Frugal Exercise

Frugal Cleaning

Frugal Energy

Make Things Last Longer

Frugal Laundry

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