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The average cost of a remodeling job can be anywhere $18,000 and $30,000 which is basically the cost of buying a new car. Remodeling shouldn’t have to be that much though. There are so many ways to cut the costs so that your budget doesn’t get stretched too thin and you still get all the remodeling done that you wanted. Here are the top pro-tips for saving money while you remodel the house.

1. Make a Budget That You Plan to Stick To

Never go into a remodeling job thinking, “It will cost whatever it costs,” then brush off any of the finances. It’s so important to actually sit down with your roommates or your spouse and plan out what needs to be done and how much you can spend on it. Have an actual plan when you sit down to do it. If you need to, cut other bills that you might not need so you can make room for the renovations. Think about getting cheap car insurance that will still cover the necessities but will give you a little more wiggle room when it comes to your budget. After the budget is finalized, do not go over it. The budget is a law when it comes to saving money.

2. Don’t Rush Anything

If you start to rush, then you’re going to be hiring other people to finish things up, and you’ll be taking shortcuts left and right. Bad idea. Taking the easy way out is also taking the expensive way out. Rather than pushing your limits one month, just wait until the next month when you have more change in your wallet. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice food or activities just because you want things done faster. Take your time and slowly pay out everything that needs to happen with the remodeling. No one blinks twice at an unfinished room. If anything, it looks rustic.

3. Do it Yourself

Doing things on your own is the real way to save money. Rather than paying someone else for their time, why not use the time that you have and learn about the inside of a home. There are plenty of YouTube videos that explain how to do certain steps that you may not know. If you’re uncomfortable with that, then call in the professional for the hard parts like plumbing and drywall but save the easy stuff for yourself. You can easily get around with a paintbrush and some paint or put the final touches on a room. If you think there’s the slightest chance that you could do it on your own, then give it a shot.

4. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

It might sound silly, but the phrase is true, “reuse, reduce, recycle.” You can save so much money by reusing appliances or resurfacing things around the home rather than buying something completely new to replace it. If you have some extra wood from one job, find another job that you can use it for. Don’t let anything go to waste. It would be better to have to run out and get more of one thing than to end up with way too much of one thing that you won’t be able to return to the store. When you are done with the project, see if any of your neighbors are planning to remodel and ask if they’d want to buy your extra material off of your for cheap. That way, they save and you earn back a portion of what you spent.

5. Sell What You Don’t Need

Before, during, and after the remodel, take a look around the home and pick up items that you’re not using anymore or things that no longer match the style. Host a garage sale or put things up for sale online. Items are likely to sell fast if they’ll well-priced and if they’re in good condition. Doing that will earn you some extra money that will go a long way when it comes to covering the cost of a remodeling job.

The important thing to remember is that you want to be comfortable with the amount that you spent on the project. If the project’s cost is ever too daunting, then don’t worry about pushing it off for a year or two until you’re in a better position for it.