52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}

Welcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!

I like staying busy. I don’t do well with idle time. I also like saving money. When you combine the two, you are often left with some great DIY projects that save big money. Today we’re talking about making things yourself to save big on your budget. We’ll cover a wide range of DIY items, from making your own cup of tea to making your own detergent. Every little DIY project you tackle adds money back into your pocket. Here are a few ways I like to make it myself and save.

Gifts: Even if you are on a tight budget, there will still be instances where you have to attend a baby shower or birthday party for loved ones. Showing up empty handed is always tacky, but you don’t have to break the bank to bring a personal, homemade gift they’re sure to love. These Minky Burp Cloths or Easy Dishtowel Bibs make for perfect baby shower gifts. Check out these Homemade Lavender Bath Salts for a friend’s birthday or these DIY Redneck Wine Glasses for a fun bridal shower gift. The internet is filled with DIY gift ideas that rival the best store bought item for any occasion.
Home Decor: Whether you are redecorating a room or doing a bit of light remodeling, a few DIY projects will show you first hand how making it vs. buying it is the way to go. I recently remodeled my home office and made these awesome Easy Tissue Paper Pom Poms that cost me nothing since I had all the supplies lying around. I also used a little spray paint to make these Old Brass Light Fixtures New Again and for a measly budget of $15, turned this chair, which was headed for the trash, into a DIY Reupholstered Office Chair.

Clothes: If you know your way around a sewing machine, making your own clothes can save you big time. Buying fabric and patterns, even if they aren’t on sale, will probably reduce the back to school shopping sticker shock! Even if it’s just the occasional Halloween costume or outfit for the school play or dance recital, that sewing machine can work to reduce your overall clothing budget. But even if you are a sewing novice, learning to hem pants or sew on a patch using this handy DIY Knee Patch Tutorial to salvage those kids’ jeans will save you, too.

Coffee: I should have put this one at the top based on the potential savings. As Americans, we spend so.much.money at coffee shops. Sure we can make that coffee or tea ourselves for a fraction of the cost, yet we are drawn to the corner Starbucks and continue to shell out billions each year. Yes, billions. Like, on average, $20 billion. WHAT? If you want to see an immediate weekly savings, whip out your Keurig or coffee pot and skip the coffee shop on your way to work.

Cleaning Supplies: Another are to save big if you take a few extra minutes to make things yourself. As an added bonus, when you make your own DIY Laundry Detergent Tabs or Dishwasher Tabs, you know exactly what ingredients are being used and you can avoid all those junky chemicals. Check out my full list of DIY Cleaners.

How Much Can You Save: $780+ A recent survey reported the average American worked spent about $15 a week on coffee outside of the home, and a total of $1,200 a year total on coffee. So that means only a fraction of that, or $420ish, is spent making coffee from home. Doing simple math and you’ve got yourself and almost $800 savings per year. Wowza.