Putting off home repairs is a very common—and very risky—mistake. That slow leak or cracked fixture might seem like a minor inconvenience that has little bearing on your daily life but left unattended, that damage could escalate into an emergency situation.

Paying for Services You Don’t Need

Hiring out services such as pool or yard maintenance, house cleaning, small repairs, or minor home remodeling projects does save you time, but it costs money that might have been better spent (or saved) elsewhere in your budget. Instead of engaging a professional, have your teenage son or daughter handle pool or yard care, and consider tackling small DIY and maintenance tasks yourself.

Buying Extended Warranties

If you’re buying a new major home appliance, the salesperson will probably pressure you to purchase an extended warranty. Although this may sound like a money-wise choice, the truth is that many consumer advocates advise against them. The exclusions and fine-print rejections in an extended warranty can be lengthy, and chances are, if your appliance does need to be serviced, it will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Review your manufacturer’s warranty first to help you decide if you need the extra coverage.

Using Old-School Light Bulbs

If you’re still holding on to your incandescent light bulbs, it’s time to let them go. While CFL and LED bulbs might cost more upfront, they ultimately save you big through longer life and superior efficiency.

Doing Unnecessary Improvements

Before hiring a contractor to dig that swimming pool or add a new home office, think long and hard about how much you really need that expensive addition, and how much it will cost to maintain after the initial investment. After crunching the numbers, many homeowners find that the actual cost of a home improvement far exceeds their initial expectations.

Neglecting to Save for Emergencies

Nobody can foresee when household emergencies will strike—whether it’s a hole in the roof, a rusted-out water heater, or a doomed central heating system. But these malfunctions are all part of homeownership and it’s best to be prepared when they do occur. If you don’t set aside a portion of your savings for these types of home emergencies, you’ll end up having to pay for repairs on credit and get hit with a double whammy: the cost of the repair and the interest on your credit card.

Paying for Storage Pods or Self-Storage

As a general rule, if you are paying to store your possessions in a pod or storage unit, you are wasting money. Unless you have a firm plan for using your stored items—say, a canoe for this summer’s family vacation, or an artificial tree for Christmas—assume that you’re never going to drag them out. Sell or donate your excess possessions, close your storage account, and save money.

Setting the Water Heater Too High

If your water heater is set above 120 degrees, your utility bills are too high. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a water heater setting of 120 degrees to save money, reduce wasted energy, and lower the risk of scalding your skin.

Not Changing Air-Conditioning Filters

If you rarely—or even worse, never—change the filters in your HVAC system, you’re lowering its efficiency while raising your energy costs. To keep your air clean and your energy bills low, change your filters seasonally. Switch them out more often if you live in an especially dusty area, smoke, have pets, or suffer from allergies.

Planting High-Maintenance Landscaping

While every home’s curb appeal can benefit from attractive landscaping, it’s best to pass up on extravagant or delicate plantings that will require a professional’s expensive care. Instead, choose hardy greenery that will thrive with minimal maintenance, and liven up the yard with attractive and affordable annuals planted in pots and window boxes.

Not Comparing Insurance Quotes

If you went with the insurance company your real estate agent recommended when you bought your home, or if you automatically signed up with the same company that provides your auto insurance, you may be paying too much. Shopping around can save you a considerable amount on your insurance premiums.

Smart Savings

Sometimes in order to save money around the house, you have to invest a little into it first. While your instinct might be to cut corners on repairs or to choose cheaper products, there are instances when spending more will save you on costs in the long run.

Here are four tips to lower your kitchen remodel budget.

Refresh Rather Than Replace the Cabinets

In general, all tear-out-and-replace projects are more expensive than projects that keep most of the materials. Kitchen cabinetry is a prime example of this. New kitchen cabinets can be very expensive, especially if you need custom-made pieces to fit your space. Fortunately, there are ways to refresh your existing cabinets that are both eco-friendly (because the old cabinets won’t end up in a dumpster) and cost-effective.

• Painting: Painting kitchen cabinets is a classic method of updating them. The process of sanding, priming, and painting can be time-consuming depending on how many cabinets you have. But it’s simple enough that beginners can achieve good results.
• Refacing: More expensive than painting, refacing adds a new veneer to the outside of the cabinet boxes and entirely replaces doors and drawer fronts. This is difficult to do yourself, as it requires tools and expertise that most DIYers don’t have. But it’s still cheaper than getting all new cabinets, and it will completely change your kitchen’s look.
• Hardware: In addition to the cabinet finish, consider updating the hardware. Sometimes modern knobs and handles are all it takes to make existing cabinets feel brand new.
• Shelving: Instead of purchasing new cabinets or refinishing your old ones, consider installing some open shelving. Shelves are inexpensive, and you can easily match them to your kitchen’s style, resulting in an airy feel almost like that of a commercial kitchen.

If you do need to replace cabinets, look for ready-to-assemble options. It’s typically not that difficult to assemble the pieces yourself, so you won’t have to pay for labor costs. But getting the right fit for your kitchen can be a challenge, especially if you have odd angles.

Refurbish the Appliances

In the past, many appliances were sent to the landfill during the course of a kitchen remodel. Thankfully, that antiquated thinking is on its way out, as municipalities have enacted restrictions against sending appliances directly to landfills.

Now, information about fixing kitchen appliances is readily available. And there’s a thriving online service parts marketplace. This makes it possible for many homeowners to refurbish their own appliances, rather than paying for a professional or spending money on something new.

Some appliances you can fix yourself include:

• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator
• Microwave
• Water heater
• Water softener
• Garbage disposal

Of course, the ability to repair an appliance depends on your skill level and whatever’s causing it not to function like new. But it’s often worth an attempt to DIY before you shell out more money.

Keep the Same Kitchen Layout

Dramatically changing the kitchen layout is one sure way to drive up the remodeling budget. For instance, moving plumbing for the sink, dishwasher, or refrigerator entails hiring plumbers. They’ll have to punch holes in your walls to run new pipes, which means an added cost of materials in addition to the labor.

On the other hand, keeping your kitchen layout essentially the same while updating the elements within that framework is incredibly cost-effective. You generally won’t have to add any new plumbing or electrical. You also can keep your existing flooring if you wish. (Flooring often doesn’t run under cabinets, so if you change the layout, you’ll have to deal with gaps in the flooring.) And you still can achieve a whole new look and feel in the space.

Furthermore, galley-style or corridor kitchens often have such limited space that footprint changes aren’t possible unless you want to spend a lot of money on major alterations to the home’s structure. One-wall kitchen layouts allow for a little more flexibility because they have an open side. In this case, adding a kitchen island is a great way to gain more prep space and storage without expensive layout changes.

Do Some Work Yourself

Do-it-yourself home remodeling projects allow you to pay for the materials while bringing labor costs down to zero. Some remodeling projects that require beginner to intermediate expertise from DIYers include:

• Interior painting
• Tiling
• Flooring installation
• Changing outlets and lights
• Hanging drywall
• Installing baseboards and other trim

Local hardware stores and community colleges often have how-to classes and demonstrations for common home projects. Plus, hardware store employees are usually available to offer advice on products and projects. Even better, these educational resources are often free of charge.

However, in addition to cost, an important factor to consider when deciding between DIY and hiring a professional is time. While a tight timetable typically means hiring a team of professionals, if you have the luxury of time to complete your kitchen remodel, you can do much of the work yourself.

Only trust encrypted websites

Not all e-commerce sites provide the ideal conditions for safe online shopping. It’s important to limit your shopping to encrypted websites, and only conduct transactions when you’re on a trusted WiFi network. “Look for a padlock symbol on the URL bar, as well as next to your WiFi network’s name,” advises Satish Kanwar, product director at Shopify.ca. “Following these steps is the best way to ensure that your personal information is being transferred in the safest way possible.”

Protect your personal information

It’s normal for online retailers to request additional details and preferences to make your online shopping experience more personalized. However, if they ask for too much information—like your social insurance number, for instance—that’s a definite red flag.

Create unique passwords for each website

Avoid using the same password for every online shopping site you frequent. “That way, if your login information gets stolen on one website, your other accounts likely won’t get compromised,” says Kanwar.

Look for the ‘S’

Any time you input personal or credit card information into a website, ensure the page is secured. Kanwar says that the quickest way to check for this is in the URL. “The website URL should start with https:// (rather than http://) and should have a padlock symbol to indicate that the page is secure.”

Be wary of dream deals

Kanwar warns consumers to regard sale-of-the-century price tags with a healthy dose of skepticism. “When items are priced significantly lower than they should be, that should raise a flag about the legitimacy and authenticity of the website,” he says. “Low prices are enticing, but if it’s too good to be true, it usually is.”

Look for customer service information

Safe online shopping sites have their toll-free customer service line or email address readily available. Kanwar also recommends reading over the website’s refunds and exchanges policies: openness about these conditions is often a good indicator of credibility.

Don’t click on untrusted pop-up ads

While it’s common practice for retailers to use pop-up ads for e-newsletters, promotions and flyers, Kanwar warns consumers to keep an eye out for phishing scams. “Pesky pop-ups are a way for scammers to lure or confuse online shoppers,” he says. “Make sure to have an ad-blocker installed when shopping on unfamiliar websites to avoid getting phished.”

Check your credit card statement

Keep a close tab on your credit card statements, even after you’ve received your purchased item. “It’s always smart to ensure that there were no hidden charges tacked on, or unfamiliar names deducting from your account,” Kanwar suggests.

Americans spend around $2,000 on energy bills per household on a yearly basis. This huge amount of money can easily decrease by making small changes. For example, by investing in a “smart” thermostat, you can save up to $100. Something even simpler, like replacing all light bulbs with LED bulbs, can cut $50 from your electricity bill.

Use dryer balls when putting your clothes in the dryer

Compared to other home appliances, a dryer spends the biggest amount of energy. That’s why some people tend to air dry their clothes. However, if that’s not possible with you, you can simply add a wool or rubber dryer ball with your clothes. These simple things have the ability to separate your clothes and give them some air to dry faster.

The wool balls especially can absorb some moisture which helps the whole drying process finish faster. Another pro is that dryer balls reduce static, which means that you won’t need to change your dryer sheets as often.

Cook with the lid on

A nice habit that you can pick up while cooking is to simply put lids on your pots and pans. This way, you can set a lower temperature and decrease cooking time. This happens because you don’t allow the steam and heat to leave the pan and therefore your food is ready in less time.

What you will also decrease by following this habit is the energy you consume by up to 66%. Another helpful tip is to match the burner with the pot size so that no heat is escaping from the sides. Using unmatched burners and pots will result in up to 40% energy loss.

Increase the temperature in both your fridge and freezer

Many people believe that the lowest the temperature, the best it is for preserving your food. However, your fridge doesn’t have to be set lower than 38°F (3°C) and your freezer will operate just fine at 5°F (-15°C). It has been suggested that if you set them at least 10 degrees lower than that, you will spend up to 25% more energy.

If your frozen goods look like they are melting after you’ve increased the temperature, you might need to call for a professional. Another helpful tip to help your devices operate at their maximum efficiency is to keep them at least 3 inches from the wall. This way the air will have enough space to circulate.

Use an electric kettle to boil water instead of the microwave

It’s early in the morning and you only need a cup of tea and you have both the microwave and the kettle near you. According to a researcher, you should go for the electric kettle since it will do the job much faster and using less energy. As he found, a microwave loses 50% of its energy while converting electricity into microwaves. On the other hand, a kettle is very well insulated and loses only 20% of the total energy it uses.

Turn your blinds off to save up on air conditioning costs

Around 30% of a house’s heat is escaping through the windows during wintertime. And almost 76% of the sunlight that hits our windows enters our homes and turns into unbearable heat. Now, blinds might not be able to control the loss of heat in the winter, but they are very capable of keeping our interiors protected from the sun’s powerful rays.

More specifically, highly reflective blinds can shield the interiors from extreme heat. Especially the horizontal ones can reflect the heat on a light-colored ceiling, which will then diffuse the warmth.

Clean your dryer’s lint trap

Letting your dryer operate with its lint trap full of dirt, will only result in it being less efficient at its job. The dirt forces the device to work harder, taking up more energy and time to dry clothes. Depending on how dirty the lint trap is, the dryer could be spending up to 75% more energy than it normally would. That’s because the dirt doesn’t allow the air to circulate properly, forcing it to work extra hard.

The first thing you need to do often removes the lint trap and clean it. If you are still noticing issues with your dryer’s performance, you might need to check the exterior vent. If no steam is coming out while the dryer is working, then you probably need to do some cleaning there too.

Plug all your electronics in power strips

Not everyone realizes that our electronic devices still consume energy even when we have turned them off or put them to sleep mode. That’s why plugging everything in a power strip will give you the ability to completely disable them when you are not using them. Remember that you have to push the on/off button when you want to disable them. If you don’t, then your devices will keep on consuming energy.

Keep the oven door closed when broiling

Back in the day, ovens didn’t have any air circulation system and that’s why cooks used to leave it open a tiny bit to prevent a fire breaking out. However, modern ovens have great air circulation and systems that can prevent overheating. Also, most ovens don’t allow you to keep the door open unless you are holding it. This means that they are telling you in their own way that you need to keep the door shut.

The biggest drawback of keeping the oven door open is that you lose about 50% of the heat. This means that you will need to cook your food for double the time and therefore spend double the energy.

Switch to a low-flow shower head

The average showerhead uses around 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) of water per minute. However, you can easily switch to a 1.7 gallon per minute (6.6 liters) showerhead. This change will save more than 11,000 gallons (42,000 liters) of water and 1.180 kWh of energy per year. You will also notice a huge difference in your water bill, which can vary based on where you live.

Putting a dent in your home improvement to-do list can often put an even bigger dent in your wallet. But these humble DIY projects reduce, reuse, and reimagine what’s already under your roof to yield big results—and even bigger savings.

Homeowner Hacks

It’s no secret that owning a house comes with a lot of responsibilities—and costs. Even when you budget for certain repairs or tune-ups, there are plenty of other times when unexpected hiccups occur. That’s why it’s always useful to have a few home maintenance hacks in your back pocket. From the garden to the garage, these tips and tricks help you save money while still keeping an orderly home.

Sponge Split

Sponges soak up everything in their path, including the funds required for frequent replacement. Fortunately for the budget-conscious, half a sponge packs as much grime-fighting ability as a whole sponge. So, you can get twice the utility out of one sponge by cutting it into two pieces.

Hosed Down

Just as hosiery brings polish to an outfit, it can add luster to surfaces around the house. Slip old, outworn tights or pantyhose onto your hand like a glove, and then buff dusty lamps, dingy furniture, and other accessories to achieve polished perfection—no commercial cleaners required!

Stay Afloat

Unless you own a dual-flush toilet, you’re probably dumping way too much water down the drain with each flush, which in turn raises your water bill. Flush smarter by adding a brick or full plastic water bottle to the toilet tank. The extra bulk will raise the tank’s float arm faster, which means you’ll need less water to fill the tank.

The Razor’s Edge

Before you dispose of disposable razors, try sharpening them with an adaptable accessory already in your wardrobe: a leather belt. The particulate grit on the underside of a belt acts as a strop, refining the dull edges of the blade until it is as sharp as ever and ready for many more shaves.

Cleaner Coils

Grit and gunk that collect on your refrigerator’s condenser coils can put the hardworking appliance into overdrive—and this can lead to sky-high energy bills. Using a vacuum cleaner with a crevice-friendly attachment, banish unsightly accumulations from the coils for improved energy efficiency.

Running on Empty

Don’t cry over spilled milk! Instead, put that empty container to good use. Empty milk containers or other large bottles placed in a half-full fridge can help increase cold air circulation and reduce your electric bill. Those frosty empty jugs keep the surrounding items cold, maintaining a low average fridge temperature—and a lower utility bill.

Mesh Well

The flexible mesh bags that commonly house store-bought onions and potatoes can be given a second life in the kitchen as pot scrubbers. Start by cutting and folding the bag into the desired dimensions, then use a yarn needle to stitch the edges closed with rug yarn. That’s it! You’re ready to take your new scrubber to the sink and start cutting through grease!

Clean Sheet

Single-use commercial dryer sheets can make laundry day more luxurious and fresher scented, but who needs them when you can make your own! To create an all-natural equivalent, dip clean, cut-up rags into a solution of vinegar and essential oils. The sheets can be stored in an airtight container until needed and then reused for countless spin cycles.

Recycled Regimen

If you’re down to the last few shards of that bar of soap, don’t replace it. Instead, reconstitute the soap slivers into a like-new beauty bar! Start by melting the soap scraps over the stove. Then, pour the mixture into soap bar molds, letting the bars dry before you lather up.

Stylish Stowaways

In lieu of buying expensive organizing solutions to declutter your workshop, let mason jars or other glass containers take on the job. Rinsed, dried, decorated, and filled with fasteners or tool bits, these easy-to-come-by vessels become storage-smart accents suitable for indoor or outdoor use.

You need 80 per cent of your pre-retirement income to maintain your current lifestyle during retirement

Talk to your old man or your grandma and they’ll nag you to the ends of the Earth about preparing for retirement. But while these money-saving tips seem smart on the surface, John Deglow, CFP, AIF, at Unified Trust Company, says the reality is many retirees live well below their means and this figure greatly overestimates the income they’ll actually need once they put in their notice.

As an example, a couple might make $100,000 a year after taxes, but once the kids have flown the coop and the mortgage has been paid off, they actually spend $50,000 annually on expenses. So why would they suddenly need $80,000 to make ends meet when they’re job-less? “A better assumption might be that you would need 80 per cent of your current expenses—not income—during retirement,” he says. Even so, make sure to book a one-on-one with a trusted financial professional who can help you better understand the effects of inflation and accommodate other issues unique to your situation, he adds.

Make a pro/con list of major expenditures

When it comes to signing on a dotted line, you shouldn’t have any doubts, says David Rosen, licensed associate real estate broker. “Often, people advise making a list of pro’s and con’s to decide which home to purchase,” he says. “However, if you feel uneasy about an investment or a savings platform, then you are right. Just don’t do it. That list is there to trick your intuition, but your intuition is keenly aware of what’s likely to be a poor investment.”

You should prepay or make additional payments on a home mortgage

Debt might always have a negative connotation, but Jeffrey Sklar, managing partner of Sklar, Heyman, Hirshfield & Kantor LLP, says pre-paying and making additional mortgage payments aren’t smart money-saving tips. How come? Your cash could be put to better use and make you more money. “Most folks don’t analyze if there is tax benefit to the interest deduction, as well as opportunity cost in taking the funds from a potential investment with a better rate of return,” he explains.

Skip your latte

If your addiction to Starbucks is nearly as committed as your marriage, your friends might raise an eyebrow when you talk about your daily visit. Sure, it’s pricey, but financial expert E. Matthew Buckley says skipping your morning latte fix won’t make a huge difference in your savings picture, though it will impact your level of happiness and concentration. “Life is too short to skip the things you enjoy. This type of money-saving tip is very tactical and amounts to nothing more than running around in front of a steamroller to pick up dimes,” he shares. Instead, talk with a professional who can help you come up with a savings plan that leaves room for your caffeine fix. You should also steal these secrets from the filthy rich.

Save 10 per cent of your income for retirement

We hate to break it to you, but for most, this figure is far too low, according to Deglow. How come? Between modest incomes at first jobs and student loan payments, most people aren’t able to save 10 per cent of their income until they’re further along in their career. And once they reach the point where they’re able to tuck away cash, it could be too late to only set aside 10 per cent. To determine the smartest percentage for your lifestyle, chat with a professional who can map out a detailed plan with money-saving tips to prep you—and your bank account—for your golden years.

Over withhold on taxes from your wages to ensure a tax refund

Depending on your tax bracket and incoming earning, your tax refund in April might feel like the only way you can save money. But this is a dangerous way to save, since it doesn’t directly benefit you in the way the dollars could if you invested them instead, Sklar says. As he explains, “Every taxpayer is better off investing their funds than providing the government an interest-free loan in the form of overpaying their taxes. It’s much better to have the extra money go directly into an investment each pay period.”

You need life insurance equal to seven times your annual salary

There’s a lot wrong with this statement, according to Deglow. First and foremost, he notes, not everyone needs life insurance. “If there isn’t anyone who would become financially compromised should you pass prematurely and you have enough assets to pay off your liabilities, life insurance may not be a necessity,” he explains. However, if you do have a spouse and/or children, you need to crunch the numbers to fully understand how much you’re setting aside. As an example, Deglow explains someone who brings in $100K a year and opts for a $700K life insurance benefit, might be shortchanging their family. “Withdrawing 4 per cent of $700,000 would provide only $28,000 annually for your family. A more aggressive withdrawal rate of 6 per cent provides $42,000, again much less than the family was accustomed to,” he shares. And to make it more complicated, he notes this doesn’t address other liabilities, such as mortgages, credit cards, student loans, and more. His advice?

You really don’t need an estate plan unless you are elderly or particularly wealthy

If the thought of an estate plan hasn’t crossed your mind, consider this your not-so-gentle nudge to do so. While Deglow acknowledges it might not be a super-happy topic to address, the truth is no one know when his or her last day will be, and it’s important to plan for what will happen to your assets. And even if those earnings or ownerships are minimal? It’s still your responsibility. “Regardless of income or wealth, families should plan for guardianship of their children, list beneficiaries, and create other documents addressing Powers of Attorney, naming an Executor, and establishing a living will. Essentially, everyone should leave instructions for what they want to happen, so that those decisions don’t fall on family members who are likely already going through a difficult time,” he says. “If you pass without an estate plan, your state has a default plan for you, which may or may not follow your wishes.”

Be a bad tipper

Less practical and more karmic, Rosen says being a Grinch with tipping isn’t a way to get ahead on your savings goals. “The opportunity costs of being known as ‘cheap’ as opposed to ‘generous’ are great! However, the amount of money you save by skimming a few bucks here and there are not life-changing,” he shares.

Prepay your taxes

Much like your mortgage, if you use your extra cash to prepay your taxes, Rosen says there are better uses for the extra dollars. While some do this in an effort to avoid paying them late—which carries a steep penalty—he notes a better money-saving tip is to place the funds in a low-risk cash flow investment. “You will come out ahead, and it’s probably a better investment. The government is going to stay in business with you paying on time, there is no benefit to you to pay them in advance,” he explains.

By Jill Nystul – One Good Thing

Wax paper has always been a staple in my kitchen, even though I typically haven’t used it very often. It’s useful in certain situations for keeping food from sticking, and every so often I’ll use it as a medium to preserve flowers and leaves.

But most of the time, my roll of wax paper simply sits in a drawer—at least, until now. Because today I’ll be sharing 13 brilliantly practical uses for a wax paper that I hadn’t considered before!

Easy Fridge Cleanup

Line the drawers in your fridge with pieces of wax paper for easy cleanup. In the event of a spill, drip, or splatter, you can just toss the wax paper out and replace it with a fresh piece.

Ice-Free Ice Cream

While it’s certainly better than eating no ice cream, eating icy, rock-solid ice cream isn’t the most pleasant experience. Luckily, a little wax paper can help keep your ice cream ice-free!

Just press a piece of wax paper onto the surface of the ice cream before replacing the lid and putting it back in the freezer.

Keep Cheese Fresh

After cutting into a block of cheese, wrap the remaining cheese in a piece of wax paper before putting it back in your fridge. The wax paper will allow the cheese to “breathe” without drying out.

Baking Helper

Wax paper can be a huge help when you need to roll out dough for a baking project. Place a piece of wax paper between the dough and the rolling pin to prevent the dough from sticking without the need for extra flour.

Fast Funnel

Need a funnel but don’t have one on hand? Just roll a piece of wax paper into a cone shape. This is especially helpful when dealing with liquids because the liquid won’t soak through the paper.

Unstick A Zipper

Stuck zippers used to be a huge pet peeve of mine, but now I know that wax paper can help both solve and prevent stuck zippers. Rub a piece of wax paper over the teeth of a zipper and it will glide more easily, which can help unstick a stuck zipper or prevent it from sticking in the first place.

Cork Helper

If you’re struggling to get a cork back into a bottle, wrap the cork in wax paper! The waxy coating will help the cork slide back in without compromising the airtight seal.

Shine Your Faucet

Wax paper can keep your faucet shiny and free of water spots. The next time you clean your faucet, finish by rubbing it down with wax paper. The paper will leave behind a thin layer of wax that will add shine to your faucet and help keep it clean!

Photo Rescue

Spilled water on a special photo? Lay it out to dry on a piece of wax paper. The wax paper will help the photo dry out without sticking to it.

Microwave Protector

The next time you heat up food in the microwave, put a piece of wax paper over it first. The wax paper will help prevent splatters and keep your microwave much cleaner.

Consider Your Needs

Moving beyond appearance, keeping your lifestyle and culinary needs in mind when shopping for appliances can help save some bucks. If most of your meal preparation consists of plating takeout or heating prepared foods, a multi-burner, high-BTU cooktop or double oven will likely offer way more firepower then required. This could be a good place to scale back.

Keep an eye out for appliance options and extras, and skip the ones you won’t use or don’t need. For example, a lot of refrigerators come equipped with external water dispensers—some even offer a choice of cubed or crushed ice. It’s a neat feature, but one that wouldn’t get a daily or even weekly workout in some households. Finding a model without these goodies would benefit your bottom line.

Mix it Up with High-Low

When it comes to cabinetry, home remodelers can learn a lesson from clothes-conscious fashionistas, who have always found ways of making a statement with a kind-to-the-budget blend of high and low. Just as the well dressed and the beautiful can make headlines by pairing a Gap T-shirt with a couture skirt, savvy kitchen remodelers can create a stir at home by mixing and matching items from big box stores and boutiques.

Architect Mark R. LePage, AIA, president and partner in charge of operations at Fivecat Studio in Pleasantville, NY, recommends dressing up simple, budget-conscious IKEA cabinets with decorative high-end knobs and pulls.

Pairing IKEA cabinet boxes with custom wood doors and drawers is another of his money-saving strategies, as is using open wooden shelving in place of the lower cabinets. LePage likes to shop at commercial kitchen supply houses for open stainless steel shelving and rolling carts, which make versatile and smart-looking storage units. Though low cost, they tend to play nicely with upscale kitchen elements.

Plywood Can Be Beautiful

Sealed plywood cabinets are an affordable option, according to LePage. Made of wood veneer layers from trees like spruce, birch, or tropical hardwood, plywood often has a bold, distinctive grain and can be decorative as well as durable.

Cabinet savings can go more than skin deep. Instead of ordering units equipped with built-in rollouts and dividers, consider retrofitting them from the array of less-expensive ready-made items available through storage specialty shops, catalogs, and big box stores. It’s also fun to improvise your own in-cabinet storage solutions: Stamp your kitchen with personal style by combining storage bins, boxes, and baskets in a mix of sizes, colors, textures and materials.Photo: formica.com

Resist Temptations

Cutting cabinetry costs may make it tempting, and possible, to splurge on an extravagant countertop. Resist the temptation. There are lots of ways to get good-looking and well-functioning counters at a smart price, especially by aiming for that high-low blend. Use pricey materials such as stone or wood sparingly; focus them on specific workstations for tasks like baking or chopping. Topping the remainder of your counter space with less expensive surfaces (e.g., laminates).

LePage suggests dressing up laminate countertops with wood or stainless steel edging for a custom look. He also likes to create counters by repurposing salvaged materials such as stone, stainless steel or wood.

Consider Tiles over Slabs

For those who love the look of natural stone like granite, marble, and even alabaster, tiles are typically more affordable than the bigger, thicker slabs that must be custom cut to fit. Ranging in size from petite mosaics to 12-inch squares to even larger rectangles, and available in a seemingly unlimited variety of colors and patterns, stone tiles are a versatile option for counters, floors, backsplashes and elsewhere. Again, there are almost endless mixing and matching options, with the luxe-looking natural stone employed sparingly as accents, borders, or to create a pattern in a surface otherwise dominated by wood, ceramic tile, or another less expensive material.

DIY Your Backsplash

The backsplash can be a place to let your imagination—and your do-it-yourself chops—run wild. Applied to the walls, sheet metal such as copper, galvanized aluminum, stainless steel or traditional tin ceiling panels can add a touch of bling to the room. LePage likes using broken colored glass for a lively and nontraditional backsplash mosaic. Or recycle your broken pottery shards, tile scraps, and other ceramic odds and ends into a pique assiette pattern, reminiscent of the playful works of the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

With a combination of careful shopping, imagination, flexibility and creativity, you can plan your way to an affordable new kitchen.

1. Liquid Soap

Shampoo makes an excellent liquid hand soap, and it’s loads cheaper than any soap refill that you can buy. Just fill your soap dispenser about a third of the way with shampoo; fill the rest of the space with water, and give the dispenser a good shake to combine everything.

Have a foaming soap dispenser? You can use shampoo to make your own foaming soap refill, too. Just dilute the shampoo even further.

2. Shaving Cream

Cross shaving cream off of your shopping list for good. A squirt of shampoo works just as well, and will never leave those nasty rust stains on your tub.

3. Body Wash

Save some cash and cut down on the number of bottles in your shower by using shampoo in place of your body wash. It will lather up beautifully and leave you smelling great. You can also add a capful of shampoo to your bath water in place of bubble bath or mix some salt or sugar into your shampoo to create your very own body scrub.

4. Hand Wash Laundry Detergent

Forget about buying special laundry detergent for your delicates. A squeeze of shampoo in a sinkful of water is all you need to clean undergarments, sweaters and anything else that you like to handwash. Think of it as an emergency laundry detergent substitute.

5. Laundry Stain Remover

Blast away your toughest laundry stains with a squirt of shampoo. It works especially well on oil and blood stains. Just work a bit of shampoo into the spot; let it sit for a little while, and rinse clean. Repeat if necessary.

6. Carpet/Upolstery Stain Spot Treatment

Work a small amount of shampoo into any carpet or upholstery stain. Then, simply dab the spot with a damp rag until the stain lifts. If you’re worried about colorfastness, test this trick out in an inconspicuous area first.

7. Kitchen Degreaser

Use shampoo to remove grease buildup from your kitchen counters, walls, and appliances. Just apply a small amount of shampoo to a wet rag. Work it into the area that you wish to clean, and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse clean, and all that grease should be gone.

8. Floor Cleaner

Make your own mopping solution by adding a capful of shampoo to a bucket of warm water. It’ll do a great job on your linoleum or ceramic tile floors.

9. Bathroom Cleaner

Shampoo is designed to cut through oil and hair product build-up, so it works great on soap scum, too. Use it to clean your tub or shower, and you’ll drastically reduce your scrub time. Just apply shampoo with a rag, let it sit for a bit and rinse clean. That’s really all there is to it.

10. Bubble Solution

Keep the kids entertained by making bubble solution from diluted shampoo. It works just as well as store-bought, and costs way less.

1. Cooking Oils

Any chef knows that cooking oils are among the most important ingredients in the kitchen. But pantry staples like canola and olive oil have a pretty short shelf life, lasting only about three to six months on the counter before turning rancid. If you don’t fry or sauté too often, stick with smaller bottles of oil to avoid frying your wallet.

2. Eggs

Buying a 36-pack of eggs at a big-box store is usually not cheaper per egg than buying a dozen at a regular supermarket. And because eggs go bad in just three to five weeks, you don’t want to buy more than you plan on cracking open in a month.

3. Bleach

Bleach is an essential household cleaning product that you might assume never expires. But the active ingredient in bleach breaks down over time (or when exposed to temperature changes), weakening the solution. Bleach will typically be most effective for the first six to nine months after opening, so it is best not to buy too much at a time.

4. Coffee

Enjoying a good cup of joe is a cherished morning ritual, so why would you want anything less than the freshest beans you can buy? Coffee beans are at their tastiest within two weeks of roasting, so skip the bulk bag and opt for smaller servings that were packaged closer to their roasting date.

5. Spices

Dried spices don’t exactly spoil, but they will get stale and lose flavor over time. Ground spices will stay fresh for about six months, while whole spices can last a little longer. To ensure tasty freshness, forgo buying that bulk cinnamon and choose smaller containers that you know you can use up, or at least won’t need to spend a king’s ransom to replace.

6. Ketchup

While ketchup and many other condiments have preservatives that guarantee a long shelf life, once a bottle is opened it shouldn’t stay shoved in the back of the fridge for more than six months. Skip the oversize bottles and watch for seasonal sales around summer holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

7. Sunscreen

Stocking up on extra-large bottles of sunscreen can burn more than just your wallet. Sunscreen loses effectiveness over time, especially when the bottle is left baking under the hot sun on the beach. When it comes to sun protection, don’t sweat buying a fresh bottle each summer.

8. Brown Rice

Unlike white rice, which has a nearly indefinite shelf life, brown rice is high in oil, which makes it prone to spoiling in as few as six months. It’s best to buy only as much as you will cook, and be sure to store brown rice in an airtight container kept in a cool, dry place.

9. Pain Killers

Over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen can be expensive, but it is doubtful that even a large family could finish off a bulk bottle of pills before the expiration date, which is usually a year or two after the manufacture date. Stick to more modestly sized bottles and generic brands to reduce the pain on your wallet.

10. Baked Goods

Unless you are making enough sandwiches to feed a whole soccer team, it doesn’t make sense to buy bakery products like loaves of bread in bulk. No one likes a moldy PB&J!

11. Beer

Beer usually has a shelf life of only four months to a year, especially if stored at room temperature. So, unless you’re stocking up for a big weekend party, stick to cold six-packs for your everyday alcohol needs. Cheers!

12. Detergent

Both liquid and powder laundry detergent can start to lose their potency after a few months on the shelf. In order to maximize the cleaning power of your detergent, buy only as much as you will use in six months. Similarly, dishwasher detergent has a shelf life of just three months.