Save on Home Improvement Costs

The weather is beginning to warm up, and with it many people will begin working on some of their home improvement projects¹, from painting rooms, redecorating, completing repairs, and more. Whether your project ideas are big or small, home improvement costs can add up quick and you might feel like you’ll never be able to afford to complete these projects. Here are some ways you can achieve your home improvement dreams while also working within a budget.

Shop Around

There are many places you can go to get the materials you need for a home improvement project. Each of these places are likely to have different price points for the same item. When searching for materials for your project, look at a few different stores to see who’s offering the best price. While shopping at different stores for each item you need will certainly take longer than if you shopped all in one place, it could help you save a lot of money in the long run.

Sales & Coupons

Just as with any other store, home improvement stores often have sales or offer coupons you can use for a discount on certain items. A quick search online will tell you if a store is having any current sales, but oftentimes stores will also offer a weekly ad which will tell you about any upcoming sales too. Though you might have to pause your project to wait for an upcoming sale or for a coupon to become available, your wallet will thank you for the savings you’ll receive.

Buy Used

Oftentimes, purchasing gently used materials comes with a steep discount over buying new.² Many times, when someone completes their home improvement projects, they sell materials they no longer need or want to get some money back on their investment. Though these items are not brand new, they can often be reused or repurposed to complete a new project. There are many ways you can find gently used materials for sale. You can hit up local yard sales or flea markets over the summer, or search online platforms such as the Facebook Marketplace. You could also search for a Habitat ReStore in your area, or for a store which is similar. Habitat ReStore acts much like a thrift store, and accepts donations of gently used furniture, appliances, building materials, and more. They then resell these items often at a much lower cost than if they were bought new. Shopping at Habitat ReStore also helps your community as profits made from the store are used to support Habitat for Humanity, which is a charity that helps build, rehabilitate, and repair homes for families in need.

Take Your Time

Home improvement projects can be exciting, and you may want to jump right in and get to work. However, if the project you have in mind is larger and will be more expensive it may make more sense to take your time and spread the project out. Allowing yourself more time to complete the project will also allow you more time to pay for it. Work on one thing at a times so that you can pay as you go and ease some of the burden on your wallet.

Cash Central

If your home improvement project is unexpected, keep in mind Cash Central always has your back. Anytime you have emergency or unexpected expenses between paydays and need funds to bridge the gap, you can log in to your Cash Central account and request funds.*

*In California, deferred deposit loans are provided in accordance with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation pursuant to California Deferred Deposit Transaction law, Cal. Fin. Code §23000 et seq.  

Sources:

¹Flynn, Jack. (2023, Mar 12). Retrieved from: https://www.zippia.com/advice/home-improvement-industry-statistics/

²Abrams, Amanda. Retrieved from: https://www.houselogic.com/save-money-add-value/money-saving-diy/saving-money-salvaged-building-materials/