One of the biggest expenses in homeownership is rarely considered before purchasing. Maintaining a home is handled a little differently when you own your home vs renting. The difference? You foot the bill and fix it all yourself! Fun! Who doesn’t love a good DIY project? While you likely have homeowner’s Insurance (required if you have a mortgage, and not a bad idea if you own outright), there’s always a steep premium, and usually still a headache even if insurance pays out.

In fact, before opening a claim with an insurance company, you better be certain they’ll pay. Otherwise you still have to fix whatever it is that’s not working and you’ll still be on the hook for the premium. Sometimes, it’s a real lose-lose. Not only are there many instances in which insurance companies won’t pay out, there is also a huge list of items insurance won’t cover at all. Ever.

Appliances and Electrical

The simple truth is that all mechanical things break down, and your House is chock-full of machines of all kinds. From your simple machines like ceiling fans to more expensive items like garage doors and heating and cooling systems, there are plenty of things that can slice into your bank account.

The best way to save money on these items is to simply take care of them. To make them last as long as possible, try to keep your appliances clean and always perform the recommended maintenance. We like to set reminders on our phones when it’s time to change the filter in the furnace or run a cleaning cycle on our washing machine. These little maintenance checks can save you from needing more expensive professional fixes down the road.

Plumbing

Even if you don’t have any home improvement skills, most plumbing jobs are fairly simple to take on. Whether you are fixing a toilet, switching out a faucet, or installing a garbage disposal, all you really need is a decent wrench and a willingness to get a little dirty. Most plumbers will charge you $100/hour or more, so learning how to do tasks of this kind can save you big money in the long run.

Aesthetic Upkeep

Everyone likes to have a home that is warm and cozy and a nice place to visit. Unfortunately, it’s easy for many people to let things get out of hand when it comes to home decorating. You see your neighbor’s shiny new fill-in-the-blank and suddenly your own home starts to feel a little dull and dated. In reality, it is often possible to give your house a fresh and updated look without spending a fortune. A fresh coat of paint will cost about $25, and give a room a fresh look. For artwork, why not tap into your creative side and create something original and beautiful. Also, remember that less really is more with decor.

Lighting and More

There are certainly some costs that come along with home ownership that you just can’t get around. For example, all of the light bulbs in your house will eventually burn out and need to be replaced. Thankfully, bulb technology has come a long way with the spread of CFL and LED bulbs that can last for years.

Maintaining flooring and furniture can also be costly, but there are ways to prevent the need for full replacement. A lesson we have learned the hard way in our home is that there needs to be rules about food, drink, pets, and other mess makers. We have a “no shoes on the carpeting” rule in our house. We also don’t eat or drink anything that stains on the carpeting or near any upholstered furniture. While most of our friends and family oblige without fuss, we do know a few who think we’re too strict. The truth is we’re just frugal!