The only way to get surefire pleasure? To get that special, private satisfaction of meeting your own needs on your own terms? Three little words, baby:
Do it yourself. A bitch has two hands and shouldn’t be afraid to use them.
Oh, get your head out of the gutter. We’re talking home projects, grooming products, wardrobe ideas. We want to know how you please yourself, what you make, how you make it, what you save, and (most importantly) how it brings you bitchin’ pleasure.
So today we’re announcing… drumroll/trumpet solo/tambourine shake/kazoo squeal… it’s officially DIY MONTH!
We’re so excited to launch into our second contest, and we want to hear from you. Tell us what you do yourself. Be specific. Include a pic if you want. Post your entry in the Drop-a-Dime box (scroll down to the bottom of this page) by January 10. Best entry wins fame and fortune! Well, a copy of BITCHES ON A BUDGET, anyway. Plus its author and her (or his) ideas will be featured on our blog! Enter now. Enter often. You know you want to.
19 comments
Asia Lyons says:
Jan 4, 2010
I was spending $75 to get my hair relaxed at a shop not far from my house. One day I happened to see that a beauty school had opened near me. I tried it out, leary of anyone touching this bitches hair but, it turned out wonderfully. Now I can get my relaxers done for $23. That’s what I’m talkin’ about! I even have enough money left to have them trim the edges and deep condition it.
admin says:
Jan 5, 2010
Smart B!
Tiffany Duffield says:
Jan 5, 2010
Dec 19th here in cold, cold Michigan our furnace went out. My husband was at work and when I called our local repair company they wanted $200 just to come out because it was “after hours” I started trouble shooting it myself. Found the control box and then called the company to find out what the blinking error sequence meant. Internal error is all he could tell me so off to Google I went. After 3 hour of reading I was positive I found the problem and a quick trip to the hardware in the morning to buy the part only cost me $40.00. I printed the pages for my husband and helped him tear it apart. My father in law told me the exact same repair cost him $400 10 years earlier. Moral of the story, trouble shoot and research before you call a service, 90% of the time it could be a DIY project.
Kat Riggers says:
Jan 6, 2010
I have refinished a piece of furniture. I was given an entryway table but it was in country blue with a pine top, not my decor choice. I painted the table semi-gloss black, changed the drawer pulls from plain wood to brushed nickel and used self stick brushed aluminum on the top and viola a black and chrome table that looks fab in my house and it was under 20 bux and little bit of my time
Sherry Hansen says:
Jan 6, 2010
As I stay-at-home mom I try to cut corners wherever I can……instead of going to a salon to get my hair cut,colored and styled-i’ll buy haircolor from Sallys Beauty Supply and me and a friend will dye eachothers hair…then Ill go somewhere inexpensive for the trim (saves BIG money with the amount of hair I have)To make my self-tanning lotion last longer, I mix it with reg lotion, it lasts twice as long and the color’s more even. also, when one of our vehicles “acts up” I do my research on the internet to try and pinpoint the problem, then call around to various service shops and figure out pricing. If its cheaper to get it fixed if you bring the part-I check out salvage yards and parts stores for the best deals! A little bit of research and shopping around makes all the difference in the world!
Jessica Aguilar says:
Jan 6, 2010
I tend to get bored easily with the decor of my home, and the way my living room is designed, you really can’t move the furniture around. I desperately wanted to change things up, but didn’t have the money to do it buy purchasing new furniture and accessories. After watching countless hours of HGTV and reading lots of articles in magazines and online about home decor, I seemed to long for a change even more! I mustered up the courage to buy some beautiful neutral colored paint (as my walls were stark white) and painted the walls and fireplace and added some great accent colors as well. Well, then the windows looked naked with just the cream colored blinds. Our windows are about 9 feet high so you can only imagine how expensive window treatments can be, so I re-introduced my sewing skills I learned as a kid and in high school home-ec. class and made some beautiful light tangerine and chocolate brown silk curtains. We have some over sized chairs with an ottoman that sit under the huge windows, and because they were bright red, they no longer matched the more neutral colors in the space, so, once again, many countless days and hours behind the sewing machine allowed me to upholster the 2 chairs and ottoman in a lovely paisley print that matches my chocolate brown leather sofas and silk curtains. Talk about cozy-ing up the place!!
Ratosha M says:
Jan 6, 2010
I wanted laminate floor in my living room. Companies estimated 2000 to do the work and for the materials. I bought the materials and took a clinic at home depot to make sure I new what I was doing;it only cost me eight hundred dollars.
Kimberly says:
Jan 6, 2010
I have one of those near me. The beauty school only charges $15 to dye hair. Which is great for me since I got LONG thick hair. Takes 6 bottles of dye to cover my hair!! They do a good job and are supervised by their teachers anyway. So if anything goes wrong they can correct it. If I don’t feel like taking that chance my hubby’s friend is a hairstylist and for extra cash she does it from home for $30.
Merilee says:
Jan 6, 2010
I went on vacation to come home and find that the wire unit in my closet fell apart from the wall. After trying to find the studs and whatnot to put it back up, I gave up. I took the wire stuff out and made my own clothes rack from galvanized pipe and wood blocks of wood for feet. It’s still in there and it’s about 5′ long and holds all of my heaviest clothing and jackets.
Judi says:
Jan 6, 2010
I hate the fact I was spending 40.00 a month on cheap laundry soap. Went online found a way to make it and love it, clean smell works well and ends up costing me about 2 cents a load. I usually make two batches at a time so I only do the actually “cooking and making” every couple months. If anyone wants the receipe let me know. It is easy and takes about 15 mins to make a gallon
Jacqueline Fluent Downs says:
Jan 6, 2010
Paint is a girl’s best DIY friend! There is sooo much you can do with a can of spray paint, or left over paint from a previous project. Since I couldn’t afford a new dishwasher, I spray painted my old white dishwasher black to match the rest of my appliances. It looked so good, people thought I got a new dishwasher! All for the price of a can of spray paint. I also love the look of oil rubbed bronze. I have found a spray paint that will give me the look that I like without the added cost. Most recently, I painted my mudroom floor in a checker board pattern with paint I already had from a previous project and “mistake” paint that I had purchased in the wrong finish. The result was fantastic, and many of my friends thought it was tile! That project not only used paint I already had, but only cost me the price of a quart of polyurathane!!! I have found that paint gives me the chance to reuse and repurpose many things in my home while saving a ton of $$.
Marilyn says:
Jan 6, 2010
I make my own greeting cards, home-baked pies (sweet & savory), and pack me & the kids chocolate lunch bunches for weekday fun:)
Yvette Woodall says:
Jan 7, 2010
I would love the reicipe for the laundry soap Judi.. My email is yvettewoodall@yahoo.com and thanks in advance!
Lana Olivas says:
Jan 7, 2010
When the food in the freezer is running out, I take out and cook all the different foods.For example….a hand full of fries, chicken, beef,pork.Keep in mind I have 4 kids. We have fry nite. Make fries, with the beef make meatballs,chicken bake with b-b-q sause,pork cook with verde sause. My kids love it a Buffet at home all their favorite foods and our freezer is empty, but the Best part, I didnt throw food away! Our food has too last and it does. I really try not to throw any food away! Hell I work hard to buy that food! I am on a Budget!
Phoebe P. says:
Jan 7, 2010
Having been fortunate enough to get lots of hand-me-downs, I believe in continuing the handing down of my sons clothing. However, there are always a few pieces that are sentimental. So, I’ve been saving just a few pieces that have a story behind them and when I have enough, I will piece them together to make them into a quilt for him. When I buy fabric for a quilt, it costs $90, but I think I’ll only need $25 worth and the rest will be the priceless stories of his childhood.
Kim says:
Jan 7, 2010
I haven’t been to a hair salon in about two years and my hair looks better than ever. I discovered forum.blackhairmedia.com where professional stylists mingle with do it yourselfer’s, and I’ve now learned how to do my own relaxers, promote healthy hair growth (my natural hair is midback length now), and install my own sew-in weaves. You can also learn these techniques by watching videos on youtube. I’ve saved HUNDREDS of dollars a year by avoiding expensive hair salons. Black women, we do NOT have to be a slave to bad stylists who take our money and hours of our time (however, if you do find a good, concientious stylist, hold onto them!!).
Also, I recently set up a home spa of sorts, consisting of a foot bath and paraffin wax station ($6.50 from Walmart), and treat myself to a relaxing bubble bath/pamper session weekly. It keeps me sane, and costs practically nothing.
Also, I make my own custom bubble bath solutions and creamy soaps by getting unscented shampoo from the dollar store and adding in lovely smelling essential oils. I make the bars of soap by visiting the craft store and getting glycerin, pouring it into molds with essential/fragrant oils, and letting it sit. It’s also a really cool gift for friends!
Finally- I do my own at home microdermabrasion facial treatments using a little bit of baking soda combined with warm water. It clears the skin, it’s safe, and when you follow the treatment with some vitamin E oil on the face, it’s the best way I’ve found to combat acne.
Hope that helps!
Barbara says:
Jan 7, 2010
I love when I create something that is both sexy and practical. ; )
When I found little jars of essences at a gift shop I sniffed away until found one that was such a delightful “earthy jasmine” scent. So…. I bought a small spray bottle, tipped in about 10 drops of the natural essence, then filled it to the top with distilled water (buy cheap by the gallon in a supermarket).
Now, my natural room spray is not only so inexpensive but is such a nice, fresh, natural scent – – a bit of feng shui space clearing with just a few spirts! Lovely!
Laura says:
Jan 7, 2010
Being that I’m highly allergic to paying retail prices especially on furniture…almost every piece of furniture in my home came from http://www.craigslist.com. The best part? Some other bitch already paid for the delivery and the financing of it…and I get to enjoy it inexpensively until I get the desire to change themes myself. My house looks good and it’s exciting to wait for just the perfect piece to come along. I get a lot of decorating ideas too. Instead of buying the red framed mirror for $125–I’ll paint my own mirror for just a few dollars.
vdenisew says:
Jan 15, 2010
I found an inexpensive way to make bath salts by purchasing Epsom salts and then adding 15-20 drops of essential oils and even a couple drops food coloring. A little food coloring goes a long way and a small amount will not color the skin. Get creative and layer your colors!
You can also make your own soaps by purchasing glycerin in the craft store, melt down in the microwave, add a little essential oil (and color if you like), pour into plastic mold and voile….your own inexpensive bar soap. Both make great gifts.
Finally, on a recent trip to Cancun for my 20th wedding anniversary, my husband bought me several lasso necklaces made from glass seed beads. I received so many compliments on my necklaces that I decided to try and re-create more for myself in different colors. It is tedious stringing seed beads, but the end results are so worth the effort.