35 brilliant ways to save money around your home

You don’t have to cut corners to cut costs. These simple projects and maintenance tasks will help you achieve the thing we love most about DIY: saving money!

Speed kills your fuel consumption and your wallet. Yes, you’ve heard it before, but how about some real-world numbers to, ahem, drive the point home? Aerodynamic drag is a minor concern in city driving, but it really kills your petrol economy at speeds over 90kph. In fact, increasing your speed to 105 increases drag by 36 percent! If you do a lot of highway driving, getting to your destination a few minutes early could cost you an extra $510 a year. Keep it closer to 90 kph and use your cruise control. It will pay off.

This device allows you to program the times when your water heater activates and deactivates during a 24-hour period. Each household is different and you must determine, based on your hot water use, if a timer is right for you.

A clogged cabin air filter can damage your car’s blower motor and cause your AC to run longer and harder in the summer. Cabin air filters are easy to access and replace and you’ll save about $30 by doing it yourself. It’s one of at least 100 car maintenance tasks you can do on your own. Buy a replacement cabin air filter at any auto parts store and ask the clerk to print out the installation instructions. Cabin air filters are usually located in the air ducts behind the glove box in late model vehicles. However, some car makers locate them in the cowling or console area. Just remove the access covers and slide out the old filter. Note the direction of the airflow arrows so you can install the new filter in the proper orientation. Then reinstall the covers and you’re done.

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Many furniture pieces, especially those from the late 20th century, were manufactured using higher quality materials than today’s offerings. Whether you plan to refurbish it or break down the piece for materials, this practice can really provide you with an opportunity to save a few bucks. The cost of hardwoods and exotics has risen steadily over the years. Old furniture can provide you with a free or inexpensive source for these materials.

Check out this great advice for upcycling furniture.

Keep your car aligned and save about $140 per year. If your tyres are bowed out of alignment by just 0.4mm, it’s the equivalent of dragging your tyre sideways for 164 kilometres for every 20,000 you drive. That’ll cost you $150 a year in wasted fuel. It will wear your tyres faster, costing you $70 more a year. Here’s an easy way to check your alignment without taking your car into the shop. Buy a tread depth gauge ($2) and measure the tread depth on both edges of each tyre (rear tyres too). If one side of the tyre is worn more than the other, your car needs to be aligned.

After a few years, your deck is sure to show some wear and tear. Don’t rush to replace boards that are otherwise in good condition. With a deck restoration coating and a few days in the sunshine, your deck will look as good as new.

Get the full how-to here.

A thermostat that opens too quickly or stays open can dramatically lower the coolant temperature and put a mega-chill on your fuel consumption. All you need to check it is an inexpensive infrared laser thermometer. Simply aim it at the thermostat housing. If your engine is warmed up and the thermometer reads less than 70 degrees Celsius, you’re wasting fuel and it’s time to replace the thermostat. (To reduce reflection errors, spray the thermostat housing with black paint prior to testing.) A new thermostat costs about $10 and is easy to replace.

You can help the environment and save a few bucks by making your own household cleaners. For instance, instead of using store-bought glass cleaner, mix 2 cups of water with a 1/2 cup of vinegar to create your own. Another easy formula for all-purpose cleaning is mixing 4 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 litre of warm water.

Check out a complete list of homemade cleaners you can do.

Intimidated by this seemingly daunting project? Don’t be. If you have the will and a whole day (or two) to yourself, you can refinish the hardwood floors in the major areas of your home. You don’t necessarily need to sand, but if the floor is damaged enough to warrant buffing, check out your local hardware store and rent the equipment for anywhere from 4-48 hours.