Lifestyle

Here Are 7 Ways To DIY That Will Help Save You Money

by Shannon Ullman

Remember the days when wearing the sweater your grandma made was so not cool?

Well, it seems those days are done.

With the rise of the millennial culture and its love for being thrifty, DIY projects have become much more impressive than spending a ton of money on something you could have made yourself for free.

People who are saving big bucks by DIYing are seemingly living better than the rest, using their saved income for travel and investing.

If you want to start doing things on your own, here are a couple of ways to get going that will help you save money:

1. Use the internet.

OK, it may be pretty obvious, but it just has to be mentioned!

Simply getting on your computer and doing a basic search into DIY can yield massive results on how to make pretty much anything.

Let the search engines be your best friends when it comes to saving money by simply asking them what you need to know.

Want to brew your own beer instead of going to the bar?

Have your heart set on making your own body lotion or knitting your own socks?

The internet will likely have the answers.

2. Watch some videos. 

The ease of obtaining information is what has allowed this generation to fully embrace DIY.

If you're a visual learner, there is a whole portion of the internet dedicated just to videos. YouTube is full of DIY channels that can help you make everything from dinner and furniture, to wedding decorations and party favors.

Throw a video on while you're on the exercise bike and learn how to make something yourself.

3. Take a few free classes.

If structure is more your thing and you want to keep with the theme of being thrifty, look for free classes to teach you how to DIY.

Sites like Coursera and CreativeLive offer online classes that are cheap or free.

You can sign up and take them at your own pace to learn new skills that can help you both save and make money.

4. Team up with your friends.

Look toward your community of friends, family and neighbors to learn how to DIY.

Everyone has different strengths and experiences can accomplish a lot when they are brought together.

See what sort of skills your friends have and ask them to teach you.

If you are a pro at wood working and your neighbor is great at sewing, ask to trade skills so you both get something out of it.

Bartering has been around for centuries, so why not tap into its benefits and add even more DIY skills to your resume without spending any cash to do so?

5. Read a book.

If you're old school and don't like technology too much, sitting down and reading a book is still a great method to learn some DIY tactics.

Used bookstores and libraries are great ways to get instructions on a budget, too.

Amazon also offers discounted books through the mail, and if you like technology enough to own a Kindle, you can find some pretty cheap reads to download, too.

7. Gain some experience. 

Experiential travel and gifts are also trending these days, and while they give you a memorable experience, they also serve as great teachers.

Want to learn how to make your own wine? Sign up for WOOFING (working on organic farms) and spend some time in Napa working on a real vineyard.

Want to learn how to grow your own food? Try signing up for volunteer opportunities that teach those skills.

You can learn how to DIY while getting an incredible experience out of it, too.