We have all been locked away in unsolicited hibernation for winter, forced to look around us at the many little things that need to get done around the house. The endless hours of being housebound has led to endless hours of watching home improvement shows on TV and million and a half ideas have been planted. As the sun finally starts to make its appearance, warming our souls, and germinating those ideas — the dreaded relationship wrecker is about to be made. The “honey do” list is an old fashioned term, but go with me on this, even if you are single. I am going to go out on a limb and also create a “honey don’t” list.

1. Don’t allow the “do list” to become a mandatory list.

Make this list a way to capture lots of different ideas and then do a second run through prioritizing what you think are your top 5 items. Believe me, I have seen lists that are pages long and this just becomes too overwhelming for any “do-er.”

2. If you are working with a partner (this can even be a roommate), don’t take it all on yourself to create the list.

Handing down a demand list is not a good way to get started and let’s face it, dictatorship is not exactly popular right now. Work on the list together or each of you create your own list and then have a meeting to go over them together. Who knows, that may be the way you find the 5 priority items — the 5 items that are on both lists!

3. Don’t leave things hanging.

Having a list is great, but if there is no follow through, nothing will be accomplished. Once you have established the priority items, decide who has the skill sets that best qualify them for that “do.” If no one feels comfortable, then still assign the project so that one person is responsible for doing the research on a contractor that can do the job.

4. Don’t go in without some idea of how much money you have to work with for this spring’s improvements.

Don’t go out of your financial comfort zone. In this stressful economic climate, don’t take on more than you can afford — the project that was supposed to be either necessary or fun will become a complete burden.

5. Don’t drive around to get information.

You will have lots of research to get pricing on materials and labor, but that is all part of the fun of doing projects. The internet is such an amazing resource; look things up, make phone calls, don’t waste money on gas and time driving from place to place, do as much as you can in advance. This will save you a great deal of money.

6. Don’t pay full retail for materials!!!

One of the coolest places I have found when it comes to making materials purchases for a home project is the Habitat for Humanity REStore. They have everything from drawer pulls to windows, from patio furniture to paint, from appliances to cleaning supplies. I got an awesome pedestal sink for $50 and decorative inset tiles for a bathroom for about 50% less than regular retail. They are located throughout the US and Canada and their stock varies from day to day, so you will have to drive for this one. Just bring in your list of everything you need for the project and see how much you can get there before heading to the big box stores. Also look for their sale weekends where they mark things down dramatically to make room for more stuff. Some items are new (donated by builders who bought too much for a project or stores that are closing out), but many items are used items that still have lots of good life left in them. And the best part is that the money you pay for this stuff goes to Habitat for Humanity as a non-profit home builder for families that could not normally afford a home. So not only are you helping out the planet by re-using, you are helping a wonderful organization to improve neighborhoods. I call that “winning.”

What are some of the projects you want to do this spring? I would love to hear about items you have found to re-use for these projects too.