Who doesn’t love a good DIY home project? But how do you take what you see online or on television and translate that into your home, especially when you are not naturally handy?

Today, we’ll look at what you need to know to get started and build up your DIY skills!

Getting Started with DIY home Projects

Last week we were talking about being a frugal foodie, home brewing, and having a garden at your place.

These are some of my favorite topics.

I enjoy talking about how to save money and put it towards goals that matter to you but I also love learning new things.

 As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t a natural gardener. 

My first attempts are pretty bad keeping plants alive. I ended up going with cacti and fake plants inside the house for a few years. 

By starting off small with a little front patio garden. I began to get some practice and to learn some skills. And I would not call myself a garden expert. 

Now I’m really proud that we have a space out back where we can grow the vegetables that we enjoy and love.

I feel the same way about DIY.

Neither one of us are naturally handy people, but when we became homeowners, we out of necessity had to learn some skills. Not only so that we can save some money, but turn our house into our home.  

If you’re thinking of taking on some home projects, but you don’t know where to start, then this is your episode. 

Whitney Hansen, who’s the creator and host of The Money Nerds podcast is here today. 

 

Besides her financial skills, she also has some serious DIY talents. She loves to jump into projects whether it’s painting her house, building a fireplace, or flipping furniture.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• why and how she got started with her home projects
• how to save money when you’re doing DIY, and
• where she finds resources to learn new skills. 

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Make Your Home Projects less stressful and on budget

If you’re planning on doing a home DIY project and you want to keep it stylish and affordable, here are some resources to check out! 

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Designer Kitchen on an IKEA Budget?
• Renovate, Remodel…Relax!
• Save Money, Gain Skills with DIY Home Repairs
• Weekend Home Organization Projects
• DIY vs. professional renovation: What to tackle yourself and what to leave to the pros
• Home DIY 101: Tools Every Couple Needs

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today!

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Key Takeaways with DIY Home Projects

Here are a few key takeaways from today’s episode!

• Start where you can. With Whitney, flooring was one of her first projects. You may be more along the lines of us, where our project was painting. It may not sound like much but you can always build up. Fixing up furniture you find at yard sales or thrift stores. repairs around the house, including your gadgets are ways to practice and develop skills. 
• Run the numbers and outline the project. Whitney mentioned she kind of wings it, but she also mentioned breaking the projects down. Even if you hire a contractor, it is really beneficial to be familiar with the overall process so you can make sure you’re getting a good deal and paying them fairly. 
• Safety first. An additional benefit of breaking down and understanding the process is knowing your limits. It’s not worth saving money for your safety in jeopardy.  Whitney is comfortable with some electrical work in part because she had an electrician show her the ropes. For us, we’ll do some plumbing, but will call for electrical work. 

There’s so much we can chat about, so come join in our Facebook group  Thriving Families. 

We’re there to support one another with our family and financial goals. I’d love to share any tips I can and I know there are others too. 

We’d love to see you there!

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Music Credit

Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.