7. Silence Squeaky Floors with Talcum

Save yourself the time of calling a carpenter for squeaky wooden floors. Simply sprinkle talcum powder and use a paintbrush to work it into the joints between boards. Sweep away the excess. You can also use powdered graphite from a tube for tighter spots.

Cost: $5 for large container of talcum powder or small tube of powdered graphite

Savings: Starting at $50/hour to hire carpenter for repairs