Owning a home is a great way of building equity and credit, and it’s important to invest in maintaining its value. Caring for a home can often feel overwhelming. I know I’ve had stretches of times where it felt like my home was vacuuming my money; one thing after another seems to need fixing or replacing. One week we had our washer and dryer go out the day after a windstorm took a branch from a tree in our backyard through one of our kitchen windows. Situations like that are inevitable for homeowners, but luckily, there are ways to stay on top of your home repairs and continue investing in the value of your home without breaking your monthly budget or eating away too deeply into your savings. I’ve found that by tackling as many projects as I can by myself and using coupons when I purchase supplies and when I make big purchases like appliances, it is possible to maintain my home successfully without spiraling financially.