A general contractor typically charges up to 20 percent of the total cost of a home renovation, according to Angie’s List, which might make it tempting to do the job yourself. The trouble is, unless you know exactly what you’re…
Tending your yard isn’t cheap — homeowners spent an average of $407 on lawn and garden care in 2016, according to the annual National Gardening Survey by Harris Interactive. While do-it-yourself types can pocket savings by not hiring pros, the…
Warm weather and sunny skies mean backyard barbecues are coming soon. Don’t let worn outdoor furniture bring down the mood. From making new cushions to painting chairs to restaining wood furniture, here are 10 quick tips to help revive your…
From the kitchen and closets to the home office and beyond, clutter doesn’t just overwhelm us. There’s evidence that even mild hoarding is bad for emotional health. Minimalism is freedom from the prison of stuff. By aspiring to a minimalist…
Temperatures may be dropping soon, but there’s still plenty to enjoy in a fall vegetable garden. Whereas fruit plants require particular care and take quite a while to mature (years, in the case of bushes and trees), some vegetables are…
The fruits of a well-planned garden can add up to major savings on food while providing weeks of fresh and nutritious homegrown produce. The 11 recipes featured here incorporate crops popular with home gardeners, including herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, greens,…
Mosquitoes are a backyard nuisance every year, but headlines about the mosquito-borne Zika virus may have more people than usual scrambling for ways to keep these pests in check. If…
The average American spends about $500 a year on dry cleaning, according to industry reports. While it may seem a necessary expense, many consumers are simply throwing money down the…
Downsizing is growing among people seeking to decrease their environmental footprint and declutter their lives. Enter tiny houses. Beyond simplifying lifestyles, the tiny house movement seeks to curb overcrowding, overconsumption,…
The buzz around organic food has drawn mainstream stores such as Walmart and Kroger into the arena and made prices more competitive. Now Aldi, the discount supermarket chain known for…
The average kitchen remodel costs about $20,000, according to HomeAdvisor, although costs vary considerably based on location, square footage, extent of the project, quality of materials, and who does the…
Many parents worry about the financial and environmental impact of disposable diapers and toy with the idea of using cloth diapers instead. But the hassle and mess put many people…
Swiffers and the like make traditional mops seem positively archaic. This new breed is defined by disposable cleaning pads and self-contained cleaning chemicals. Goodbye, dunking, ringing, and swishing around. It’s…
Chilly winter weather is synonymous with cozy sweaters, hot cocoa — and steep energy bills. It’s no surprise that running the heating system on high nonstop pushes monthly costs sky…
It’s tempting to spend lots of money in the pursuit of organization. Binders, boxes, entire closet systems, apps, and more are sold as the solution to messiness. But if a…
Every home has some old junk lying around, taking up space. Instead of sending it to the landfill, unleash your creativity and save money by turning it into something useful…
Homemade cleaning products have myriad advantages over store-bought counterparts, the two most important being their lower toxicity and cost, as many can be made for pennies on the dollar. Most…
There are a number of small, simple ways a family can reduce their carbon footprint and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle — even saving money in the process. These easy-to-incorporate…