How I saved £500 in my first year doing DIY

A year ago I moved into my first flat with no tools, no skills, and no idea what I was doing. This is the breakdown of every job I tackled myself and how much I saved versus calling someone in.

Month 1: The dripping kitchen tap (saved £95)

The tap had been dripping when I moved in. I assumed it needed a plumber. I spent an afternoon reading a guide. One £2 rubber washer and 45 minutes later — fixed. A plumber quoted me £80–110 for the same job. That washer is the highest-return purchase I have ever made.

Month 2: Bleeding radiators (saved £0 but gained a noticeably warmer flat)

Okay this one didn't save money directly — but every radiator in the place was half-warm. I bled eight of them on a Saturday morning. The flat was noticeably warmer that evening. The bleed key cost £1.50. Total investment: £1.50 and 40 minutes.

Month 4: Putting up shelves (saved £90)

I needed shelves in the living room. A joiner quoted £120. I bought a spirit level, some wall plugs, and a secondhand drill for £30. The shelves cost £45. Total: £75 versus £165 for the joiner. Saving: £90 (minus the drill I'll use for the rest of my life).

Month 6: Painting the bedroom (saved £305)

The bedroom was magnolia. I hated it. A decorator quoted £350. Paint, brushes, roller, and a Saturday cost £45. I did it myself in a weekend. The edges aren't perfect. I don't care. It's my colour and I did it myself.

Month 10: Unblocking the bathroom drain (saved £80)

I am embarrassed how long I left this. Shower draining slowly for months. A £3 drain snake and 15 minutes. That's it. A plumber would have charged £60–100 for the same.

The total

Rough saving across the year: £570 not including the tools I now own and will use for decades. The real lesson isn't the money — it's that I now look at every problem in the flat as something I might be able to fix, not something I have to pay someone else to deal with.