Spring Into DIY Discounts

I’ve been watching with a little bit of envy as some of you have fully embraced your spring projects. I very much hope to rejoin the DIY brethren soon. This D*mn House is at that phase where something, anything, just has to get done – baby steps toward making it an actual house again!

While I don’t know when exactly that will be, I do know one thing that I will be armed with when it does happen: discounts. We love saving money at This D*mn House. (It’s that much more to put toward the next project!)

Fred and all our friends over at One Project Closer maintain a few posts with the most recent coupons from the major home improvement stores. The first two – courtesy of Home Depot and Lowes – include instructions for getting a 10% off coupon mailed directly to you from each of them. A third, this one for Sears, offers up their latest online deals (like when Kenmore appliances or all things Craftsman go on sale).

Go check it out:
Home Depot Coupons - 10% Off & More
Lowes Coupons - 10% Off & More
Sears Coupons - Appliance Discounts, etc...

These articles contain instructions on getting other deals from these places, too, both online and in-store. Bargainmasters Fred and Ethan do a great job of keeping on top of the lists. Thanks, guys, for making that DIY dollar go even farther!

It's ALL Good!

I highlighted One Project Closer's Before and After '09 program a few weeks ago. I sent them an entry just like I had last year.


Today, it features my brick and walkway project! Because Gmail is being a difficult creature, I learned this from Google Reader instead of the nice note they sent me of which I can only see the first line. I have to tell you, I'm blushing a little but still bursting with pride at the same time.


This is really great for a number of reasons. It's always fabulous to be recognized by great sites like OPC. And a $25 gift card to Lowe's, Home Depot or Amazon -- you guys really know how to make a girl smile! But the best thing of all ...


Having a donation made to Habitat for Humanity in my name. What a great thing that is! This is a group that I've worked with before and that I promise, if I can ever get This D*mn House under control, I'll work with again. My mediocre skills and collection of tools can definitely be put to the greater good.


Thank you Fred, Ethan, and gang for the honor and the accolades!


Be sure to put your own B&A into the mix because it's ALL good!

A Magical Visit to HardwareLand

It’s Friday. There will no doubt be lots of banter at some point today about everyone’s weekend plans. Barbecues. Pool parties. Out-of-town guests. Baseball games.

But me, I’ll have none of it. The mother is meeting me at the station tonight and we’ll head off to HardwareLand, that magical place that empties your wallet, loads your car, and hijacks your agenda for most of the year. How can you possibly compete with that, you say? I’ll give you a pointer. You, too, can visit HardwareLand at a discount, courtesy of One Project Closer.

A few weeks ago, I discovered their post on a Lowe’s project starter coupon which is good for $10 off a $25 purchase when you use your Visa card. The catch: It expires July 31. So print your coupon, plan your project, and save a few bucks in the process.

As for me, I’ll be buying the rest of the landscaping forms for the walkway, more gravel, and more mortar because my plan is to actually get the concrete removed tomorrow. I think my alternate plan will work now that the biggest piece is out already. (Emphasis on the word think.)

If it doesn’t, it’s going to be a loooooong weekend to be sure.