TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
- I get the appeal of blue painter’s tape, but honestly, I’ve had decent luck with the green stuff from the hardware store—just have to pull it off sooner. Not sure it’s always worth paying double.
- For outlets, I actually made a set of thin plastic covers out of an old binder. Cut them to size, label with a Sharpie, and just reuse every time. They wipe clean and don’t warp.
- Ziplocks are handy, but I switched to a small parts organizer box for screws and covers. Less waste, and I don’t lose track of anything.
Tape’s convenient, but there’s usually a workaround if you’re willing to tinker a bit.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I’ve definitely gone down the rabbit hole of comparing painter’s tapes. The blue stuff is reliable, but I agree—it’s not always worth the markup, especially for quick jobs or if you’re careful about timing. I’ve used the green tape too, and as long as I don’t leave it on for more than a day or two, it works fine. The only time I splurge on the pricier tape is for delicate surfaces or when I know I’ll get distracted and forget to pull it off right away (which happens more often than I’d like to admit).
The DIY outlet covers are clever. I’ve been using old business cards for that—just slide them behind the plate and they catch most of the splatter. Not as durable as plastic, but they’re everywhere in my junk drawer and it feels good to finally use them for something.
On the organizer front, I switched from baggies to a tackle box a while back. It’s meant for fishing lures, but those little compartments are perfect for screws, wall anchors, even tiny paint touch-up brushes. Plus, it’s way easier to see what’s missing at a glance. Only downside is remembering to actually put things back where they belong... organization is always a work in progress.
I do think there are times when convenience wins out—like if you’re juggling multiple projects or working in tight spaces—but most of the time, a little creativity goes a long way toward saving money (and cutting down on waste). Sometimes it just takes that first experiment to realize you don’t need half the stuff you thought you did.
“I do think there are times when convenience wins out—like if you’re juggling multiple projects or working in tight spaces—but most of the time, a little creativity goes a long way toward saving money (and cutting down on waste).”
That’s a good point—sometimes convenience is hard to beat, but I’m always looking for ways to cut waste. Have you tried reusing things like drop cloths or even old shower curtains for paint jobs? I’ve found they last surprisingly long and keep a lot of plastic out of the trash. Curious if anyone’s found a good alternative to single-use painter’s plastic that actually holds up.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
I’ve actually used old bedsheets as drop cloths a few times—worked better than I expected, though you have to double them up if you’re dealing with anything really drippy. The shower curtain idea is smart, too. I tried those cheap plastic painter’s tarps once and they tore almost immediately when I dragged a ladder across them. Total waste of money.
One thing I’ve started doing is saving those big paper feed sacks from the garden center. They’re thick enough to catch most splatters and you can just lay them flat or tape a few together for bigger areas. Not perfect, but way sturdier than the single-use plastic stuff. Plus, they don’t slide around as much on hardwood floors.
Honestly, sometimes it feels like half the battle is just figuring out what you already have lying around that’ll do the job. It’s not always pretty, but it gets the job done and saves a few bucks in the process.
TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES
- Bedsheets as drop cloths—yep, done that too. They’re surprisingly tough, but I’ve noticed they can bunch up if you’re moving ladders or heavy stuff around. The paper feed sacks are a clever idea, never tried that.
- I’ve always been skeptical about those thin plastic tarps. They’re basically single-use, and the cost adds up if you’re doing a lot of jobs. I usually go with canvas drop cloths, even though they’re a bit more up front—they last forever if you don’t mind them getting ugly.
- Sometimes I raid my own garage for cardboard boxes. Flattened out, they work for smaller paint jobs or under saws to catch dust. Not perfect, but they’re free and easy to toss when they get trashed.
- Curious—has anyone found a good reusable alternative for taping off trim or windows? I’ve tried blue tape, but it always seems like I’m peeling off paint with it, or I end up buying roll after roll. There’s gotta be a better way that doesn’t eat into the budget...
