Whether you’re renovating your house or looking for creative ways to save on the rising cost of living it’s likely you’ve thought about DIY recently — and why wouldn’t you? DIY is empowering, it’s an instant mood booster and it comes with the added bonus of saving you money.
Here at ClassBento, we’re a little DIY-obsessed, and in this increasingly inflated economy, we’ve found that the best and most rewarding ways to save money at home combine convenience with a dash of creativity. So without further ado, here are our top money-saving tips for those little luxuries that can be a whole lot more fulfilling when you make them yourself!
Switch your weekly food delivery for home-cooked meals
“Learning how to cook has saved me loads of money on takeaway and eating out. We also use the time spent in the kitchen to have fun, be mindful and enjoy time together!"
- Ryan, Head of Business Development
Hungry for savings but scared of your stove? From folding your own dumplings to mastering the slow cooker — there are limitless ways to save money at home with cooking. Once you’ve learned the basics, you can switch out your weekly takeaway meal for a DIY pizza night or boost your veg intake with stir-Friday.
We’ll let you in on a little secret when it comes to building confidence in the kitchen — it’s all about experimenting and finding your own flavour. Turn up the tunes and approach each dish as a new adventure. We can guarantee that you’ll find the process of cooking at home to be a far more nourishing Friday night-in.
Need some guidance before becoming your own pizza chef? At cooking classes you can learn how to make pizza dough from scratch for even more hands-on kitchen experience and added savings!
Become a home barista and brew your own daily coffee
“Every morning I wake up and brew a filter coffee with my trusty Aeropress. It takes 5 minutes, is such a relaxing morning routine, and has saved me literally hundreds of dollars in long blacks.”
- Katie, Head of Editorial and Production
Making the trip to your local cafe and wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of coffee is a magical feeling. What if we told you that you can recreate that feeling at home (at a much lower price point) with a few simple barista tricks up your sleeve?
We hear you. Coffee machines can be expensive, but you’re looking at a one-off purchase compared to a daily spend of $5.10*, depending on how much coffee you like to consume. With the rise of inflation this cost is only expected to grow.*
Say goodbye to long cafe queues and spend your morning soaking in the mindful benefits or steaming and swirling your latte milk to velvety perfection. If you need some help mastering the pour, there’s a passionate bunch of local baristas running coffee classes who can help.
Learn how to knit your own accessories
“Last year I had a realisation - I don’t really have a hobby. Mortified, I decided to swap online orders for a ball of wool and some needles out of my mum’s excessively large knitting box. I learned to knit by watching my grandma, so it almost felt like she was guiding me as I knitted my way through three divine alpaca wool scarves. I’ve worn my DIY scarf every day in winter this year and my neck’s never been warmer!”
- Charlotte, Content Marketing Executive
If you’ve ever felt the warm joy of a hand-knitted scarf wrapped tightly around your neck you’ll know exactly what we’re talking about. Recreate that wonderful cosy feeling and stitch your own style into knitted accessories that will benefit you in more ways than one.
Unravel your ball of yarn section by section and watch as it transforms into a functional piece with each click of your knitting needles. You’ll be able to settle into this pocket craft anywhere, anytime and experience the many mindful benefits that come with knitting.
With DIY knitting, say farewell to expensive price tags and fast fashion clothing that wears out after just a few washes — save money and the planet by creating something you can be proud to call your own.
Spruce up your space with DIY home decor
“Learning how to paint has given me an appreciation for art and colour so much more. I now have more confidence to just scribble and splatter paint. It saves money and is so much more personal.”
- Natasha, Business Development Manager
When figuring out how to save money at home, one of the first things you can cut from your monthly expenses is non-essential decor (hold gasps). However, you don’t have to sacrifice style for savings, there are a bunch of budget-friendly ways you can brighten up your space and boost your mood too.
DIY room decor such as paintings and macrame are a great way to add character to your home without spending big. Materials for the most part are inexpensive, and you’ll be investing big in your downtime and creativity!
Grow your own herb garden for ingredients on-demand
“I always found when grocery shopping I could never rely on the herbs I was after being available. I had no idea just how convenient it would be to grow my own and what an easy way to save money too! I still have my first ever rosemary and thyme plants, so it’s pretty cool to still harvest from them almost three years on.”
- Laine, Editorial Manager
Keen to have the freshest-possible garnishes but don’t want to overspend on recipe optionals? Boost your budget and your gardening skills with a DIY herb garden!
All you’ll need to grow your own flourishing patch is a garden bed or simple pot, good quality potting mix, a nice sunny spot and a sprinkle of water once a week. Not only will you be able to pick herbs like thyme, rosemary and basil as you need them, but you’ll have discovered an enriching new hobby too.
If you need some help turning that brown thumb green, try out gardening classes in your local neighbourhood and learn from an expert plant lover.
Make every Friday happy hour with home bartending
“Now that we’re saving for our wedding, my fiance and I decided to become cocktail making experts. We’ve had so much fun learning about new spirits and garnishes and seeing what we can come up with each week. We love having friends over and using our new skills to make drinks and are saving so much money not spending $20 on cocktails!”
- Kate, Growth Partner
After a long week, there’s nothing better than enjoying a refreshing cocktail or two. It’ll cost you though — at least $15 depending on where you go — and with inflation increasing, that post-work espresso martini might be starting to sound a lot less tempting.
The good news is, you can easily learn how to make your own cocktails and you’ll not only save money at home, but you’ll also transform your Friday night drinks into fun mixology memories — all without the surging Uber hangover in the morning.
Kick off the money-saving celebrations with a cocktail class and learn all the insider tips and tricks while supporting your local.
Choose personalised DIY gifts over store-bought ones
“Making DIY gifts allows me to share my creations with loved ones and save money. I really enjoy adding personal touches to each DIY gift I make and seeing the joy on people’s faces when I tell them I made it.”
- Veronica, Graphic Designer
Working out how to save money at home doesn’t just have to be about you. Putting together DIY birthday gifts or DIY Christmas gifts is a great way to save with heart and invest quality time and energy into the people you love.
From handmade cards to learning how to make candles from scratch, you’ll save on presents and get the added bonus of watching your loved one light up at the sight of your handmade gift.
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