Most homeowners procrastinate when it's time to fix a leaky toilet, drafty doorway or loose floor tiles, but the tough economy is providing a new incentive to get household projects done quickly and on the cheap. "When I used to work on Trading Spaces it was all about 'What can we do to spice up our house?'" says hunky handyman Carter Oosterhouse. "Now it's about the end of the month. What is that heating bill going to look like? Can we lower that?" He suggests simple weather stripping to close drafty windows and doors. "You can save on your energy costs 15 to 20 percent, and it can take you only a day to do it."

While the HGTV host of Carter Can makes all home repairs look simple, he says there are times when it's best to leave it to the experts. "You want to call a professional when you get into your plumbing," he says. "When it's electrical, that can get a little difficult because it has to be up to code. But if you have a job that's a little bit too much to take on, there's a great Website right now that I'm working with - it's called ServiceLive.com - and you can go to it and you can actually hire a handy man and you can name the price and what time [they should] come over."

Though sites like that may make it easier to find help, Carter hopes his tips will inspire you to try some repairs on your own. "I'm just giving you the confidence to go!" he says. To show how easy it can be to do something yourself, Carter demonstrates refinishing an old table. Click on the video above to get his tips.

Related Links

Carter Oosterhouse.com

Service Live.com