BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP APRIL 20 - APRIL 26, 2018 33
Five musts for a low-stress,
on-budget DIY home project
Owning your own home is
a life accomplishment for
many adults, and keeping it
looking sharp and adding your personal
touches brings a sense of pride.
It seems there are always things you
want to improve, so don't let a limited
budget or lack of know-how hold you
back from dreaming.
There are plenty of ways to enhance
a room or remake a space
without breaking the bank, along
with many resources out there to
show you how.
With a little research and a weekend
or two of elbow grease, your budget
and your abilities are more than
enough to take on many smaller jobs.
When you're done, the satisfaction
you'll experience from a successful
DIY project will give you plenty of motivation
to start the next improvement.
Before you launch your plans, here
are a few tips for an affordable and
stress-free DIY project.
1. Map it out -- Prioritize the projects
you'd like to tackle first. Whether
it's painting the living room,
replacing the kitchen countertops
or retiling the bathroom, the project
will be much less stressful when you
have solid planning behind it.
Set a realistic schedule, gather your
supplies in advance and be sure and
review instructions before starting.
If you're making an improvement for
a special event or out-of-town guests,
give yourself ample time to complete
it so you're not adding stress to the
project.
2. Find creative ways to cover
costs -- Make a budget for your project
that includes a list of expected
expenses and add padding for the
unexpected. Assess what funds you
have available, and if you don't have
enough, consider a savings plan so
you can avoid paying interest and
fees on a credit card.
To speed up your progress, grab
your change jar and bring it to a
Coinstar kiosk where you can select
cash or a no-fee eGift card from
retailers including Amazon.com,
Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears. You'll
be surprised at how quickly a jar of
coins can add up to purchase needed
supplies on your list.
3. Learn through many available
resources -- If you're like most
DIYers, you'll find online videos and
home improvement websites are
great sources for how-to tips and
information.
And if you're a novice, take advantage
of the vast information that's
available at your fingertips and
review several sources so that you
completely understand the process
and are confident before your dive in.
Don't be afraid to tap friends, family
members and neighbors who have
completed similar projects, as they
can be good advisers and may even
offer to help! You can reward them by
inviting them back to your newly improved
home to just relax and enjoy.
4. Keep it light -- Doing DIY projects
with a spouse or a family member
can be fun if you take the right
approach. When working alongside
each other, it's all too easy to take a
frustration out on each other.
Two-thirds of those surveyed in a
recent Coinstar survey said they do
projects with others in their household,
and 65 percent said they got into
a disagreement during a home DIY
project.
Minimize tension by creating clear
expectations and give everyone a
defined role. Take needed breaks
and acknowledge accomplishments
along the way. Keeping things calm
and positive ensures everyone feels
good about their contribution.
5. Permission to make mistakes
-- Most homeowners are not professional
contractors and projects
can and do go wrong. If you make a
mistake, do your best to correct it and
don't beat yourself up.
Focus on the fact you're making
progress in getting your house just
the way you want it and saving money
by doing it yourself. Next time, you
will be that much more proficient!
According to the survey, 90 percent
of homeowners say they feel a
sense of pride after completing a DIY
project. Pat yourself on the back and
plan your next DIY endeavor!
To learn more about how Coinstar
can help you find the cash you need
for your next DIY project, visit coinstar.
com. (BPT)
AT HOME