 |
 |
| Credit Answers > Debt-Management-Articles-2008 > Frugal Do-It-Yourself |
|
|
| |
The phrase "do-it-yourself" or DIY mostly refers to home improvement or craft projects. In order to save money, you may be able to apply the DIY concept to other areas of your
life. Below are some tips that may help you review your budget and find tasks that you can do yourself instead of paying somebody else.
Beautify yourself
According to Beauty Store Business Magazine, an average retailer that offers both salon and beauty products can generate $400,000 per year. If you have become accustomed to
frequent visits to the salon or spa, this luxury can start to seem like a necessity that is difficult to eliminate from your routine. As you strive to save for your debt settlement,
you may consider perhaps forgoing a manicure or pedicure appointment and perhaps doing your own nails at home. Visit this site:
www.nailcareguide.com for tips on DIY nails. You can read about frugal hair care tips at
www.happyhousewife.com, courtesy of the Happy Housewife, which is an online community that offers tips for families
living on one income. If you are interested in making your own natural beauty products, visit www.mybeautyrecipes.com.
The site states that some of the homemade products may be less expensive than purchasing store-bought goods.
Cook at home
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Americans spent 47 percent of their food budget on eating out. You can usually cook meals at home for a fraction of a cost.
If you are short on time, consider preparing food in large quantities and freezing it so it will be ready throughout the week. "Brown-bagging" or taking your lunch to work can
also be less expensive than dining out or ordering take out. You may also want to keep staples such as peanut butter, bread, and dry soups at work instead of remembering to pack
a lunch.
Make your own gifts
A priceless homemade treasure may bring more happiness than an expensive mass-produced item purchased at the mall. Although making gifts is usually more economical, planning
early is essential because some projects may be time-consuming. If you run out of time or the completed project is not what you had in mind, you may be forced to purchase a gift
at the last minute, which defeats the purpose of saving money. Visit craft stores or look in magazines to spark your imagination. You are sure to discover some inexpensive and
creative ideas. For example, collect old photographs of your siblings and make a colorful scrapbook. Write a poem to your spouse and frame it. You can find many do-it-yourself
ideas at the DIY network at www.diynetwork.com/diy/crafts and on the Do-It-Yourself GIFTS web site at
www.do-it-yourself-gifts.com. Also, the holiday season is still a few months away, but the following web site,
www.christmas-ideas.net may help you get a get a head start on ideas for inexpensive and homemade gift ideas.
Educate yourself
There will always be some fields of study that require formal education. But, if you have an interest in a specific topic or field of study, consider alternatives to expensive
classes. Take advantage of the resources at your local library. If your local branch does not stock a particular book, many libraries can locate the item via inter-library loan.
One way to find interesting reading material is to visit shopping sites such as www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com. Instead of always buying the book, contact your local
library to see if they can find it with the ISBN number. You can also visit bookstores and peruse the aisles of topics that spark your interest. Many stores also have quiet
reading areas that allow you to browse through books to see if you want to purchase it. Again, rather than always buying it, see if you can get a copy through your library.
As you may know, you can also find vast amounts of information online as long as you consider the source. Remember that education is a lifelong process! We learn something new
everyday.
|
|
|
|
|
Get Debt Relief Now!
For a free consultation call 1-800-297-6417 or start by filling in the form below and one of our specialists will contact you. We are here to help you 24 hours a day.
|
|
 |
|
|
