I’ll be posting a full budget breakdown when our kitchen and bathroom are complete, so you can see how we (hopefully!) did a remodel on a small budget. But until then, I wanted to share some ways that we’ve figured out to save at the Big Box home stores. Hopefully they’ll save you a dime or two next time you’re in!
- I posted this on Twitter a while back, but I was psyched to find out that Home Depot/Lowes can mix up custom paint colors on demand. This means you can use more expensive colors, and sometimes better colors (ie: Restoration Hardware, Benjamin Moore) at the lower price. I’ve had custom colors mixed up for all of our paint so far, except for the trim, and I’m just using regular old Behr. It’s a great way to save.
- I’ve been using Behr’s new primer/paint in one, and it’s been pretty good so far. For a few more dollars per gallon, you can cut back on the number of coats you’re using, ultimately saving you cash. I have yet to paint a lighter color over dark (which I’m going to be doing tomorrow in the master bedroom) so I’ll give you an update on how well it works in that instance. But I have switched over to their new paint, and I’m enjoying the time it’s saving me as well as the dollars!
- We’re using Home Depot for the most part, since they’re much closer to the new house than Lowes is. It’s really just a matter of location. Our Home Depot happens to be a brand new one, so I’ve been pleased with the over-eager servicepeople and their newest-of-everything-stock in store. At any rate, our Home Depot (and probably yours!) will accept competitor coupons. This rocks our world, since we’re constantly getting coupons in the mail from Lowes, which we can then use at Home Depot. So far I’ve saved $35 this way, and I just received another coupon for $10 off my next purchase of $50 or more.
- When it comes to appliances, you can save big if you buy them in bulk. Over Labor Day weekend, I went into Lowes (this time because they had the dishwasher I wanted) and told the salesman, “I need three new appliances. I want them to be Frigidaire, I want them to be XY&Z models, and I want them all for $1,000.” (I actually wound up with a non-Frigidaire dryer to save a little more.) He gave me the Labor Day Sale price, a multiple appliance purchase discount, and honored my two coupons which were not supposed to be used together. I got my ice maker for free with a rebate that I today sent away for in the mail. And now I have the fridge, dishwasher and dryer all for the price I wanted – ultimately saving over $300.
- Cash in those credit card points! We cashed in our Amex points for two $100 giftcards to Home Depot. We blew through those last weekend for drywall (and necessary accoutrements) in the kitchen and breakfast nook. The fact that the project was virtually free made it a heck of a lot easier to accomplish.
- Craigslist! I’ve already told you how I bought my new washing machine off of Craigslist. Today we hooked her up, and she’s more beautiful than I could have imagined. I saved $300 (and more in sales tax) by buying her second-hand, but still in the box.
Now do YOU have any money-saving home renovation tips to share?
