Save hundreds by sprucing up your home without hiring a contractor

TAMPA - We all know that painting can add a little pizzazz to your home and doing it yourself can save you hundreds of dollars on each project.

But that's not the only thing you can do.

You can learn to be your own handyman for free.

Bill Cronin with Home Depot says, “We're all in the same economic boat right now, some are in the front, some are in the back and some are in the middle but we're all trying to save money any way we can."

Saving doesn't have to be hard... You just have to know where to look.

The Home Depot has free classes every weekend.

Cronin says, “You can save anywhere from $100 to $300 by doing a lot of projects yourself. And they're not hard.”

He says it starts with some basic tools, including a hammer, adjustable wrench, screwdrivers, a drill and a combo kit.

Those simple tools can get you working on all sorts of things like a bath vanity, a faucet, even a shower head. You can spruce up the whole bathroom for cheap.

Insulation is another easy project, which helps keep the air conditioning inside during the summer and heat in during the winter. And that can cut your energy bill by up to 20 percent.

The kids even get involved on saving you some cash.

“They make useful things like a fireboat, a bird house, a little step stool, a lamp kit and then they get a certificate of accomplishment and they get a pin and they get a little apron. As they grow, their skill level will grow so by the time that they're my age, they can probably build a house,” says Cronin.

Cronin says no matter what the project you have to be realistic.

“A key factor is knowing the difference of when to hire somebody," adds Cronin.

And you don't have to do it alone.

Cronin says, “Father, mother, sons, daughters, it's always good to involve the family because it's basic, cheap family entertainment and you also will see some reward on it. And you're building a team, everybody gets involved.”