If you’ve always wanted to fix up your backyard and make it your own private oasis, now is the perfect time to get to work. Let’s say you want a pool, but don’t want to cough up the cash for it. Consider a stock tank pool! These are inexpensive DIY above-ground pools attached to a pump. You can find instructions for installing one online. If you want a dining or sitting space in your yard, create a DIY patio with gravel from a home renovation store. Add a fire pit to the middle, and you’ve got a great party spot! If beauty is what you’re after, let your kids paint a mural on your fence. Or, hang lights along your roof to add a little extra to backyard.

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If one of these ideas piqued your interest, you’re going to need to budget before you start! ArvestMoneySkills.com has free calculators you can use to crunch numbers and create monetary plans for all kinds of events – buying a house, retirement, or sending a kid to college. Our calculators can assess your current finances and will give you suggestions for meeting your savings goal.