Cassie Tatone borrowed a sewing machine from her mother-in-law in the spring of 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic robbed her of her job and shut down most businesses and activities.

With no income and lots of spare time on her hands, the millennial put the beginner sewing skills she acquired from a class earlier that year to practice.

She used fabrics she owned around her home, asked community members in an online forum if they had any extra scraps lying around, watched YouTube tutorials and got to work.

Soon enough, Tatone fell in love with the craft.

Now, the thrifty 32-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 wardrobe is made up of 80 per cent of clothing she made B次元官网网址� from overalls, to dresses, to underwear.

B次元官网网址淭he clothes I would realistically love to buy, because IB次元官网网址檓 now so picky about quality, would be really expensive,B次元官网网址� said Tatone, who shares her DIY sewing journey on social media.

B次元官网网址淪o I get to make the clothes that I want at a budget that works for my lifestyle.B次元官网网址�

And sheB次元官网网址檚 not alone. Many young Canadians are turning to do-it-yourself (DIY) projects in an effort to save money as the cost of living soars.

Alex Antrobus, a 28-year-old living in Vancouver, started cutting their own hair in August 2021 for two reasons B次元官网网址� to avoid catching COVID-19 through close contact at salons and to save some dough.

And while they admit theyB次元官网网址檙e still perfecting the art of hairstyling B次元官网网址� they said theyB次元官网网址檝e incorporated a B次元官网网址渟cruffyB次元官网网址� hairdo into their aesthetic B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檝e kept up the DIY activity ever since.

B次元官网网址淎 decent salon in Vancouver is pretty dang expensive B次元官网网址� I generally keep (my hair) at shoulder length or so, so anytime it gets past that, normally it would have been a $100 salon visit or whatever, but this is much cheaper,B次元官网网址� said Antrobus.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 happy about it, especially with the cost of living. Every little bit of thriftiness I can incorporate, I always feel pretty good about it.B次元官网网址�

The pandemic and rising costs of just about everything have also inspired Canadians to tackle their own home improvement projects.

Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault, a design and DIY expert based in Burlington, Ont., said there are many appeals to DIY home decor and design. For one, thereB次元官网网址檚 the customization factor.

B次元官网网址淒IY allows within your space to really show off your personality,B次元官网网址� the self-proclaimed DIY ninja said.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 also the knowledge that whatever project you undertake can be reinvisioned later on, she said.

Most importantly, Allaire Perrault, who calls paint her B次元官网网址渟ecret weaponB次元官网网址� and has painted everything from furniture, to bathtubs, floors, countertops, cabinets and backsplashes, said itB次元官网网址檚 helped her save B次元官网网址渢housands and thousandsB次元官网网址� in the last decade that sheB次元官网网址檚 been DIYing.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 almost priceless because you canB次元官网网址檛 buy these pieces,B次元官网网址� she said.

To tackle home improvement projects on a budget, Allaire Perrault recommends writing down the steps as well as the associated list of materials and costs for each project, doing some research to find the right product and visiting community tool libraries or renting tools if you donB次元官网网址檛 want to invest in tools you might not use again.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one thing to save up for the next five, maybe 10 years for your dream kitchen to get those quartz countertops and new cabinets, but why put off the dream B次元官网网址� when you can get that look for less by doing a few little DIY tweaks here and there?B次元官网网址�

Allaire Perrault encourages those thinking of giving DIY projects a try to not be afraid of making mistakes and to give themselves the time to really develop a skill.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not as easy as going and buying something off the shelf, you do have to put in a little bit of effort to do the research, and then what youB次元官网网址檙e saving in dollars, you have to invest in elbow grease,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淏ut at the end of the day, thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like the pride of completing something and being proud of it.B次元官网网址�

When it comes to making clothes and giving your hair a trim, Tatone and Antrobus also suggest doing research beforehand to get the best results.

For sewing, Tatone suggests watching online tutorials or learning the ropes from a loved one.

She also recommends borrowing a sewing machine from someone you know, buying fabrics and sewing patterns at thrift stores, practising techniques on unwanted fabrics and checking out clearance sections at fabric stores to save some money.

B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址橧B次元官网网址檓 making really, really high quality clothing for a fraction of what it costs to buy and for me, that is where it is worth it,B次元官网网址� said Tatone.

Antrobus, the DIY hairdresser, also recommends watching online tutorials to get hairstyling techniques down.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like itB次元官网网址檚 a choice that not everybody would want to make, sacrificing having a good haircut, or having a completely inexpensive one, a free one, but the little things that you can save on do tend to add up.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擭oushin Ziafati, The Canadian Press