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Home & Garden Basics Edition

Home & Garden Basics

Simple, cost-effective tips for maintaining and improving your home.

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DIY Home Repairs

DIY Home Repairs

Most slow drains have straightforward causes. Learn how to identify and clear the blockage yourself …

16 stories
Budget Gardening

Budget Gardening

Sowing at the right time reduces failed crops and wasted seed money. This calendar covers key planti…

16 stories
Home Energy Savings

Home Energy Savings

Walk through every room in your home with this practical audit checklist to spot where energy is bei…

16 stories
Before You Call a Plumber: Diagnosing a Slow Drain
Featured

Before You Call a Plumber: Diagnosing a Slow Drain

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min read · Nov 3, 2024

Latest in Home & Garden Basics

DIY Home Repairs Caulk vs. Weatherstripping: Choosing the Right Draught Seal

Caulk vs. Weatherstripping: Choosing the Right Draught Seal

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 5 min · Mar 6, 2023
DIY Home Repairs Common DIY Repair Myths That Could Make a Small Problem Worse

Common DIY Repair Myths That Could Make a Small Problem Worse

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Jun 3, 2026
DIY Home Repairs DIY Home Repairs: A Complete Starting Point for Beginners

DIY Home Repairs: A Complete Starting Point for Beginners

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 21, 2023
DIY Home Repairs Decoding Paint Finishes: Which Sheen Belongs in Which Room

Decoding Paint Finishes: Which Sheen Belongs in Which Room

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 10, 2025
DIY Home Repairs End-of-Lease Repair Checklist for Renters

End-of-Lease Repair Checklist for Renters

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Jul 5, 2023
DIY Home Repairs Filling and Repainting a Wall: Getting an Invisible Finish

Filling and Repainting a Wall: Getting an Invisible Finish

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Jul 6, 2024
DIY Home Repairs Fixing a Door That Won't Latch, Stick, or Close Properly

Fixing a Door That Won't Latch, Stick, or Close Properly

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 3, 2025
DIY Home Repairs Patching a Drywall Hole Without Calling a Pro

Patching a Drywall Hole Without Calling a Pro

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Aug 21, 2024
DIY Home Repairs Re-grouting a Tiled Bathroom Without Removing the Tiles

Re-grouting a Tiled Bathroom Without Removing the Tiles

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Jan 6, 2025
DIY Home Repairs Silencing a Squeaky Floor Without Pulling Up the Boards

Silencing a Squeaky Floor Without Pulling Up the Boards

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Nov 28, 2024
DIY Home Repairs The DIY Repair Toolkit: What You Actually Need to Own

The DIY Repair Toolkit: What You Actually Need to Own

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 5 min · Oct 12, 2023
DIY Home Repairs The Repairs Homeowners Delay Too Long (and What It Costs Them)

The Repairs Homeowners Delay Too Long (and What It Costs Them)

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 5 min · Mar 22, 2026
DIY Home Repairs What Every Renter Should Know Before Attempting a Home Repair

What Every Renter Should Know Before Attempting a Home Repair

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · May 26, 2023
DIY Home Repairs When DIY Saves Money and When It Creates a Bigger Bill

When DIY Saves Money and When It Creates a Bigger Bill

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Dec 23, 2025
DIY Home Repairs Why Your Running Toilet Is Wasting Water (and How to Stop It)

Why Your Running Toilet Is Wasting Water (and How to Stop It)

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Sep 23, 2023
Budget Gardening A Seasonal Planting Calendar for Low-Cost, High-Yield Vegetables

A Seasonal Planting Calendar for Low-Cost, High-Yield Vegetables

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Nov 14, 2023
Budget Gardening Before You Buy Garden Tools: A Checklist for Prioritising What You Actually Need

Before You Buy Garden Tools: A Checklist for Prioritising What You Actually Need

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Sep 22, 2025
Budget Gardening Container Gardening: What Works, What Doesn't, and What It Really Costs

Container Gardening: What Works, What Doesn't, and What It Really Costs

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Apr 13, 2024
Budget Gardening Garden Centres vs. Online Seed Suppliers: Where Your Money Goes Further

Garden Centres vs. Online Seed Suppliers: Where Your Money Goes Further

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Jun 10, 2026
Budget Gardening Making Compost at Home: Turning Kitchen Scraps into Free Fertiliser

Making Compost at Home: Turning Kitchen Scraps into Free Fertiliser

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · May 29, 2026
Budget Gardening Natural Pest Control Methods That Don't Require Buying Anything

Natural Pest Control Methods That Don't Require Buying Anything

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Mar 30, 2025
Budget Gardening Perennials vs. Annuals: Which Plants Give You More for Less

Perennials vs. Annuals: Which Plants Give You More for Less

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Apr 2, 2024
Budget Gardening Plant Swaps, Cuttings, and Freecycle: Building a Garden Without Buying Plants

Plant Swaps, Cuttings, and Freecycle: Building a Garden Without Buying Plants

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Jul 28, 2023
Budget Gardening Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Planting: Which Setup Costs Less Over Time

Raised Beds vs. In-Ground Planting: Which Setup Costs Less Over Time

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Mar 21, 2026
Budget Gardening Renter-Friendly Gardening: Growing Food and Flowers Without a Yard

Renter-Friendly Gardening: Growing Food and Flowers Without a Yard

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 9 min · Jul 9, 2024
Budget Gardening Seed Saving: How to Collect, Dry, and Store Seeds from Your Garden

Seed Saving: How to Collect, Dry, and Store Seeds from Your Garden

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 3, 2025
Budget Gardening Spending Money on the Wrong Things First: Common Budget Gardening Pitfalls

Spending Money on the Wrong Things First: Common Budget Gardening Pitfalls

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 5 min · May 6, 2023
Budget Gardening Starting a Garden on a Shoestring: What You Actually Need

Starting a Garden on a Shoestring: What You Actually Need

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Jan 19, 2026
Budget Gardening Watering Your Garden Without Watching Your Water Bill Climb

Watering Your Garden Without Watching Your Water Bill Climb

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 5 min · Mar 27, 2023
Budget Gardening What 'Companion Planting' Actually Means and Whether It Saves You Money

What 'Companion Planting' Actually Means and Whether It Saves You Money

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Apr 16, 2026
Budget Gardening Why Expensive Potting Mix Isn't Always Worth It

Why Expensive Potting Mix Isn't Always Worth It

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Mar 17, 2024
Home Energy Savings A Room-by-Room Energy Audit for Renters and Homeowners

A Room-by-Room Energy Audit for Renters and Homeowners

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · May 4, 2024
Home Energy Savings Cutting Hot Water Costs Without Cold Showers

Cutting Hot Water Costs Without Cold Showers

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Mar 7, 2024
Home Energy Savings Energy Efficiency Terms Every Householder Should Know

Energy Efficiency Terms Every Householder Should Know

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Oct 6, 2023
Home Energy Savings Getting Started with Home Energy Savings: A Practical Primer

Getting Started with Home Energy Savings: A Practical Primer

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Mar 21, 2026
Home Energy Savings Home Energy Myths That Keep Your Bills High

Home Energy Myths That Keep Your Bills High

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 26, 2025
Home Energy Savings LED vs. Incandescent Lighting: The Long-Term Energy Picture

LED vs. Incandescent Lighting: The Long-Term Energy Picture

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Nov 17, 2023
Home Energy Savings Laundry Habits That Quietly Inflate Your Energy Bill

Laundry Habits That Quietly Inflate Your Energy Bill

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 4 min · Feb 2, 2024
Home Energy Savings Natural Ventilation vs. Air Conditioning: Choosing the Right Cooling Strategy

Natural Ventilation vs. Air Conditioning: Choosing the Right Cooling Strategy

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Jul 26, 2026
Home Energy Savings Phantom Loads: The Silent Electricity Drain in Every Room

Phantom Loads: The Silent Electricity Drain in Every Room

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 7 min · Oct 1, 2023
Home Energy Savings Programmable vs. Smart Thermostats: Which Saves More Energy?

Programmable vs. Smart Thermostats: Which Saves More Energy?

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · Oct 14, 2024
Home Energy Savings Sealing Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows

Sealing Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · May 14, 2024
Home Energy Savings Seasonal Energy Saving: A Year-Round Household Approach

Seasonal Energy Saving: A Year-Round Household Approach

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Home Energy Savings Solar Panels on a Budget: What the Costs and Savings Actually Look Like

Solar Panels on a Budget: What the Costs and Savings Actually Look Like

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Home Energy Savings Thermostat Settings That Actually Make a Difference

Thermostat Settings That Actually Make a Difference

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 6 min · May 28, 2026
Home Energy Savings Why Insulation Is the Most Overlooked Energy Upgrade

Why Insulation Is the Most Overlooked Energy Upgrade

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 9 min · Mar 21, 2023
Home Energy Savings Your Home Energy Bill, Explained

Your Home Energy Bill, Explained

By Home & Garden Basics Editorial Team · 8 min · Feb 11, 2025