Most people have a dozen or more projects that need to get done around their home. They can range from major expensive things like adding a deck or shed or painting your entire house or they can be small things like repairing a leaking toilet or adding a shelf. Often we can get thrown off track by the magnitude and expense but with some simple planning and being willing to act when you see opportunity you can save yourself lots of time and money.
Making A Timeline List
Making a timeline is a little different than just listing out the things you need to do. Many projects like planting your garden or getting work done outside during good weather need to be scheduled and other things can be done whenever you have time.
If you are working with contractors then the scheduling process gets even more important. Work that one contractor has to complete before another can begin might mean that you end up paying extra for rush service. For example if you were replacing the cabinets in your kitchen and found out that you needed unexpected plumbing repair you can’t have your contractors waiting weeks for a plumber to be available. In this case paying the extra cost is worth it because it keeps the project moving which will save you money overall.
For smaller projects that you can complete at will you can throw those in when you have unexpected delays or you can add them on when you see the chance. For instance if you had to call that plumber out to fix the kitchen supply lines you might also be able to get them to install the plumbing for another job like a washing machine hookup. Grouping the work if possible might give you a jump ahead and bring down the cost.
The main thing is to understand what work must be done and then be able to schedule correctly to get more work done at a lower cost.
Options For Discounted Materials
Discounts on materials can be really difficult to find and even finding the right items for your project can be a difficult waiting game. This is why when you see an opportunity to save money you should take advantage. Many big box stores will offer sales at different times throughout the year. Most of the time those sales fall on holidays. It is important that you understand the normal or historic price for the materials you need so that a sale price will stick out when you see it. Another way to find sales is to visit the store’s website and search for available rebates. Rebates normally last at least a week but can be just one weekend or an entire season until the product runs out.
For instance one big box store consistently has at least three paint sales from spring to fall and they land on Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day. You can normally save about 10% off a gallon but that is not the end of your savings. You can also purchase gift cards for this store at a 10 to 15% discount and you can also use a cash back credit card to save an additional amount off your gift card purchase. This seems like a lot of work but honestly it can be worth it in the end. You might save anywhere from 10% to 27% or more off of your purchase which can be substantial but it does mean you need to do the extra work of constantly looking for opportunity and jumping on it.
The same is true for many different products but other options include buying products in bulk which saves you money or adjusting the product you are buying because there is a similar one by a different manufacture that costs less. You will also find that some products are available at specific stores for less. If they are the exact same item then there is no reason to pay more but always check model numbers and features because sometimes the product might be very similar on the outside but very different on the inside.
For Instance you might find a cordless tool set made by the same manufacture for much less. They are both lithium batteries with 18v and the same Amp Hours but when you look closer you find out that the higher priced kit has tools with brushless motors. Sometimes it might only be a single tool out of all of them that is of a lesser design such as a 1/2″ drill vs a 1/2″ hammer drill that both look substantially the same but the hammer drill will allow you to drill into concrete and brick where the other model won’t. So you have to be very careful and make sure you are getting exactly the same item with the same warranty and specifications when you are shopping different suppliers and that isn’t too difficult to recognize when it is a cordless tool kit but it can be difficult to recognize when it is a box of screws or roofing underlayment or even a tube of caulk. Things you don’t expect to be different.
Final Note
Home Projects have become extremely expensive and contractors hard to find in the past few years but there are times when you don’t have a choice but to complete a project.
These are the types of projects that you should prioritize. If you don’t need to do something then don’t do it. Your money can be better spent someplace else. Putting $500 into a large garden vs painting your garage shouldn’t be a choice because the garden is going to pay back for months and years to come and you can probably live for a while without changing the color of your garage or at least until you find that paint sale.
Considerations of whether a project has a way to pay you back is very important. Sometimes the payback of peace of mind or enjoyment make things worth it but for the most part you should be looking to do things that save you money up front and for an extended time.
Planting a vegetable garden can actually supply you food which offsets the cost of the garden. If you are lucky you end up with the ability to can, dry, freeze and store that food for many months. If you save seeds from your crop you can plant again next year. This mentality should be applied to all of your projects.
For instance buying blackout blinds may make your living room more comfortable and allow you to reduce your air conditioning costs. They will last for many years so there is a long term payback. However if their initial cost is too high you might not see a payback in energy savings? Should you reject this project? Not if it allows you to sit in your living room and enjoy yourself in a cooler environment.. So sometimes you have to look at a decision from many directions and make the best choice.