How to Save Money on DIY Projects and Crafts

Save money on DIY projects with these simple tips and tricks! I’m really excited to put this post together for all of you because I’m very passionate about this topic! The methods below have helped me save money on so many DIY projects! Whether it was tackling projects for my wedding or my home, these hacks apply to just about any DIY project. So, without further ado, let’s discuss how to save money on DIY projects with this post from Katie T’s Home!

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Updated: March 14th, 2024

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Katie T’s Farmhouse Home Fun Fact #23

Fun fact time! This is a new section I’m including on my blog posts so my readers can get to know me on a personal level!

So, for my 23rd fun fact, I want to share that one of my favorite pizza toppings is pickles!

Yes, you read that right! If you’ve never tried dill pickles on pizza (both red and white sauces are equally good but for different reasons) then you should totally try it!

The Key to Saving Money on DIY Projects

Okay, so what I’m about to tell you is the big key to saving money. It might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s super important. Without knowing how to do this the right way, you won’t save nearly as much money as you could. And don’t worry, I will go into full detail and break down how to go about implementing this hack into your everyday DIY project.

So are you ready to know what it is? It’s simple. You have to be thrifty.

I bet being thrifty is not what you were expecting! But let me break this down because being thrifty means so much more than just going to a thrift store.

How to Save Money

At its core, saving money means not spending it. However, when doing DIY projects, you need materials. So, you have to think outside the box with ways to acquire materials without buying them at full cost.

I see a lot of other bloggers mention thrift stores as one of the ways that they save money. That’s great, but personally, I think it can be taken a step further.

The tools required to save money on DIY or even décor projects are creativity, connections, space, and time. Below, I explain and give examples of applying these four aspects to your DIY or décor routines.

Creativity

Okay, so this tip might be a challenge to start with. But once you get used to actively implementing it, it becomes second nature. To do this, you have to follow two simple steps.

First, you have to diagnose the problem. To give an example, I wanted a farmhouse-styled coffee station. I didn’t have any furniture that matched what I was envisioning. That meant I either had to buy something or make it.

The next step to being creative is to stop looking at materials for face value.

So, to continue with my example, I had a readily available bookcase, just sitting in my closet. Instead of keeping it a bookcase, I decided to turn it into a coffee station! By going beyond the face value of the bookcase, I now have a coffee station.

Coffee Bar Décor on a Budget for a Modern Farmhouse

Below are some more examples of this process:

I wanted a large picture frame in the master bedroom without having to go out and buy one (problem). So, I decided to make one out of wood. Instead of buying new wood, I decided to use the wood from pallets (not looking at materials for face value).

Another example is this desk that I got for free from Facebook Marketplace. It needed some updating and TLC to match the vision I wanted for the desk.

After using it before updating it, I decided to go without the top piece and only focus on the bottom half. Pieces were missing from the bottom half, making gaps between the cabinets (problem).

So, I took trim from the top part and attached it to the bottom portion of the desk to fill the gaps (not looking at materials for face value).

I also had this metal filing cabinet that needed a visual upgrade (problem). I decided to spray paint the base and use vinyl flooring for the face of the drawers (not looking at materials for face value).

Lastly, this jar was in my kitchen cabinet, taking up space (problem). I already have jars that I like to use because they are more my style. Instead of tossing the jar, I turned it into a decorative vase (not looking at materials for face value).

Now you know how to diagnose a problem and solve it by not looking at materials for face value!

Connections

So, this piece is also important. Without it, you won’t be able to do much. And to elaborate, you need connections.

It can be people you know or places like thrift stores, yard sales, or Facebook Marketplace to get materials for free or reduced cost.

Thrift stores, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace are pretty self-explanatory. Facebook Marketplace is good for getting furniture, like in the example given earlier.

But what about people? Now, every situation is different because you need the “connections”. However, once people know that you are looking for supplies, they like to help out and do what they can to be able to provide those supplies.

For example, my brothers are in the trades, and I’ve gotten free scrap wood that I’ve used for my coffee station barn door, farmhouse headboard, or even pallet wood for my picture frame.

DIY Gel Stain Farmhouse Headboard Makeover

Now, these materials tie into the second aspect of creativity. So, keep the creativity concept in mind.

But even if you don’t have family or friends in the trades, there are ways around this.

For example, sometimes people get rid of picture frames. Picture frames are gold in my book because they can be spray-painted easily. Even if you don’t use them for pictures, you can always make a decorative sign with them.

Or even materials that stores may get rid of. For example, a local grocery store gets their products in bulk. They have these large pickle buckets that they get rid of.

I used to work at this grocery store, so I have an in, but other customers also asked for the buckets back when I worked for them. So, by using creativity and connections, I got free planting containers for my fig tree and vine plants!

Flower and watering can for Home Entrance Décor Curb Appeal

But like I said before, once people know that you like to do DIY projects, more often than not, they offer the supplies they come across, which ties into my next point.

Space

This might be a challenge for some, depending on your living circumstances. So, this is where you’ll have to get picky with what you take and hold onto if that’s the case. Regardless, you need space to hold onto things.

For example, my husband works with masonry supplies and, from time to time, will get free or discounted tile or stone because it was either promotional or leftover.

Whether it’s just 10 pieces of orange tile or a pallet’s worth of stone paneling, I need to make space to hold onto them. This saves me money because it’s one less cost down the road.

Time

All other tips considered, you need time on your side. To fully take advantage of time, you have to be good at planning.

Planning is crucial when using time wisely because it allows you to get the materials before you need them. This also saves you space because if you can plan and know what you need to get the job done, then you can acquire the necessary materials and not have to worry about keeping everything and anything.

So, to give an example, I plan on building my home (be sure to sign up for the newsletter below for behind-the-scenes updates). I have a layout and design already in mind.

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Because I’m naturally a planner, this comes as second nature. But essentially, I follow the steps listed in this blog post to save money in the future.

I am trying to make this build budget-friendly without sacrificing style. So, for example, the master bathroom vanity could cost a pretty penny (problem). So the question becomes what can I use to create a bathroom vanity at a fraction of the cost?

Well, what about a dresser? (not looking at materials for face value).

So, this means I need the connections on getting a dresser at a fraction of the cost, if not free. To accomplish this, I’m waiting for a dresser to appear on Facebook Marketplace with the correct dimensions and structure for a reasonable price.

Then, once I DIY the dresser, I’ll need a space to put it until I can use it for its intended purpose. All of this would not be possible if I did not have time on my side.

So, in essence, the planning part of time is key. And if it works out, I could save a thousand or more because I had the forethought and time to do it.