Thrifty ideas for your DIY

[LucidRant]

I know there is already a thread about tips and tricks, but I wanted to start a thread based on saving money. As I'm sure many of us know, creating a custom build is something that can easily burn a hole in your pocket if you're not smart about where you spend you dollar signs.

So if anyone has advice from past or current builds, I would love to get a collection of money saving tips! After all, with gas prices hitting our wallets hard, we want to save where we can, right?

I guess I'll start out with what I've researched so far.

Something that has been mentioned often enough: Look for aquariums on Craigslist/Ebay and any other discount websites or stores you can think of. It really is suprising what people are willing to give away for a bargain. I would also try flea markets, community garage sales, etc.

The particular trick I learned with aquariums and vivs on craigslist is to wait. You're less likely to haggle the price of an aquarium down if the posting is new. Start with the later postings and work your way to newer postings. When people get desperate enough to get rid of something, they become WAY more flexible on the price. Oh, and always ask upfront just how flexible they are with the price. That way you can save time and energy on butting heads with someone.

Another money saver: Save any and all styrofoam that comes into your hands. Before I thought I had to have a specific type of styrofoam for a build to be successful and long lasting. After looking through many, many DIY tutorials, I've seen so many different ways of approaching building with styrofoam. It doesn't have to come in a fancy and expensive sheet to be usable.

Those are what I can think of for now. I've just started my decent into the dark scary world of DIY (joking!), so I'll be sure to post anything I come across.

So what about everyone else? Have any ideas or advice for the bargain seekers?

*If this thread is too similar to the tips and tricks thread, please feel free to delete*

[CLennerton]

A great money saver is to simply plan ahead. For my build, I spent at least a week planning how I want my tank to look when I am done as well as the materials. There is nothing worse than starting your tank and realize you need to run out and buy something else that you forgot. Planning will also help you prevent mistakes that could lead to you tearing it down and starting all over again, costing more money.

[MartinM]

1.Patience: Bargains turn up if you keep looking

2. Scavenge: A walk in the woods, or along a river bank, lake shore, or the sea shore will often turn up nice pieces of wood, pretty rocks, and mosses, ferns, and other terrarium-hardy plants. Even if you live in a citified area, such things are still to be found.

3. Swap: get connected with local hobbyists and trade things you have for things you need.

4. Improvise: I made an external canister filter from a food-storage container with a lock-on lid, cheap PVC pipe fittings, and a few pieces of other hardware. Total cost, about $7 vs. $30 for a store-bought model. I'll post pictures if people are interested.

Martin

[LucidRant]

CLennerton- That's actually a problem I'm faced with now! I bought materials without a clear image in mind, and now I'm finding that I need to buy materials all over again. Thanks for the reply!

MartinM- Good advice! I would be very interested in learning how you built the canister filter. I'm sure others would appreciate a how-to as well.


Here's a few more tips:

1. Don't buy hardware or tools if you don't have to. Borrow from a friend or neighbor. Most likely there is someone close by who has the tools to help you finish your project. Or they have extra hardware from a previous project that they are willing to give away. You just have to ask nicely.

2. Along the same lines: Make sure you know what tools you are going to need to complete the job. If you have to buy new equipment, multipurpose tools will save you money and space.

3. If you're attempting to complete a project that you've never tried before, or that is outside your current skill range, ask a veteran DIYer. They've probably experienced some pitfalls in their past projects, and can help guide you through the process safely. Nothing saves money more than to get the job right the first time.

4. Buy in bulk. Same concept with groceries applies to just about anything else. If you know you're going to be using a lot of a specific material or item, buying the 'economy size' will be cheaper in the long run.

Here's to hoping we get some more money saving tips!

[MartinM]

With regard to buying in bulk: Even if you won't need great quantities yourself, you might still save by going in with other hobbyists with similar needs.

Martin

[Will3]

1. Plan ahead, measure, calculate and all of that.

2. Buy in bulk

3. Get GOOD tools, nothing is more anoying than cutting a laminated board and getting bad edges because of a crappy sawblade.

[LucidRant]

Brand name v. Bargain items

Nothing worse than paying a ton of money for something that is supposedly the best on the market, only to realize there was a non-brand name item capable of doing the same job for half the price. Research what you're interested in purchasing, and make sure you know the pros and cons of each item. Sometimes you trade cost for reliability, other times you're just shelling out bucks for a prettier looking package and the brand name.

To help me decide, I usually looking on sites like Amazon and check out user reviews. But then again, I always do research on things that I buy. Guess that's part of being a research dork.

[LucidRant]

Personal story time!

1. I was checking the Craigslist postings in my area and found a woman who was selling stock ponds and aquariums. Since I don't have room for a stock pond, I contacted her about her 55 gallon aquarium. The posting was old, so I was sure I could talk her down from her offer. In the end, she ended up giving me the tank for free!

Moral of the story: Check Craigslist religiously. You NEVER know what you'll find!

2. At the community center I work at, a badminton player came up to the front desk and asked me to throw away two canisters that held birdies. They are just the right size for hollow branches, so I decided to keep them for my future builds!

Moral of the story: Recycle! Sometimes you find building materials in the strangest places!


If anyone has a story about their thrifty finds, please feel free to share! Or post pictures!

[cuervo25_1]

Home construction sites is a great place to find scrap foam. I have a bunch from that, may also find scrap untreated lumber and other goodies as well. Just check with the builder first.

[LucidRant]

Originally Posted by cuervo25_1

Home construction sites is a great place to find scrap foam. I have a bunch from that, may also find scrap untreated lumber and other goodies as well. Just check with the builder first.

My neighbors are renovating their home to sell. I'll have to ask them for their unwanted materials.


Another tip/trick:

I didn't want to buy a pothos plant at a store (because they're always huge, and pretty pricey) so I asked my hairdresser for a cutting of the plant she had in her salon. She thought I was kind of weird, but hey, I got a cutting for free! Now it's sitting in a pot in my room until I finish my tank.

I'm thinking of asking my neighbor (who happens to have a green thumb) for some cuttings of the plants she grows too. That is of course, if she has plants that would suit my terrarium. We'll see!