Since the housing crash a lot of people have found themselves in homes that don’t have any equity built up, meaning they have no easy way to pay for the home improvement projects they planned when they first moved into their homes. Though selling a home and moving can be expensive, it can be just as costly to upgrade an existing home in many cases due to the high cost of construction materials and labor.

Most big home improvement projects are expensive enough that it’s difficult to save up all the money you need all at once. By the same token, home improvements have become much more involved and complex and often entail completely changing a room rather than just applying a little paint and moving around some furniture. Here are three ways you can make a home improvement more affordable:

Break It Into Smaller Jobs: There’s no point in doing the entire project at once if you really don’t have to. For example, what if you need to replace the windows in your home? Instead of paying to replace all the windows at one time, why not replace a couple at a time over the next few years? You’ll spread out the costs, still save money on your energy savings and you won’t break the bank.

Hardware Store Credit Cards: A lot of home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and The Home Depot offer low interest rate credit cards with zero interest or no payments for a limited amount of time. If you’re able to buy all the materials from one of these stores with a credit card you may be able to spead the costs of the home improvement out over many payments, making it much more affordable.

Hire Yourself: Completing a home improvement by yourself is a great way to build your confidence, feel a sense of pride in your home and save yourself a ton of money! It’s estimated that 50% of any home improvement project pay for labor, so you could definitely save yourself some serious money if you chose to complete the project yourself. Be sensible: only do work that you’re comfortable doing. There’s no sense in doing something dangerous or potentially harmful to your home just to save a few dollars.

When it comes to improving your house, remember that you only really have to please yourself and the people who live there. Don’t be talked into paying more for a home improvement than you feel comfortable. Most people end up spending many years in the same house, so taking your time with home improvements can really save you money and allow you to savor the feeling of watching your home become your castle!

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