Frugal Living Tips for Homeowners

Paint strainer

You don't have to toss out old paint just because it contains a few gooey globs or chips. Instead, filter out the bad bits with a disposable paint strainer. Two types of strainers are readily available at home centers and paint and hardware stores: the cone type and the mesh type, which does the job faster but is a bit messier to use. Keep in mind that old acrylic latex paint may not stand up to the elements as well as new paint. So if you have leftover exterior paint that’s more than four years old, play it safe and buy new paint. Better to spend a few bucks now than to scrape peeling paint later.

Fuel stabilizer

You know how much the average small-engine repair costs? I don't either, but it's a lot! And a huge source of revenue for small-engine repair shops is fixes to engines that were operated with old gas. Modern gas formulations just don't last as long as earlier ones did. And when gas starts to break down, it not only makes the engine hard to start but also gunks up the whole system with gum and varnish. So if you have a boat, or keep gas onhand to run small engines such as lawn mowers, power washers and chain saws, treat the gas with a stabilizer right after you buy it. That'll save you big money on repair bills later.

Check water temperature

Reuse plastic containers

You can drop a few bills buying storage totes for supplies like nails, screws and plumbing parts. Or you can make your own with laundry detergent jugs and a utility knife. They're big, tough and mobile—and they'll make your workshop stink nice.