6 D.I.Y. savers for your toolbox

With these low-cost toolbox basics and a little elbow grease, you can save as much as 75% on home projects.

1 of 7

Building sweat-equity

Whatever happens to the housing market, one real-estate strategy is still recession-proof: do-it-yourself home improvements.

Building sweat equity costs just a quarter to half of what you'd pay a contractor for the same job because you only need to buy materials - and the right tools, of course.

Most weekend projects don't require specialty tools, just a few good multi-taskers.

Here are six low-cost and easy-to-use basics that can handle the toughest jobs on your to-do list.

By Josh Garskof, Money Magazine contributing writer

NEXT: Lithium-ion drill

Last updated December 08 2008: 11:05 AM ET

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