A taste of luxury, at very little cost

No cash for a renovation? Five small ways to improve your home for under $500.

3 of 5
BACKNEXT
Hang a porch swing
Hang a porch swing
A comfortable porch swing will quickly become your favorite spot for reading the newspaper, sipping a drink, or just riding the afternoon breezes. If you don't have a porch, hang it from a sturdy tree branch - or from a stand. Among the best options: the woven-rope offerings at nagsheadhammocks.com, which run from $300 to $500 (plus $200 or more for an optional stand).

Tools: a tape measure and a power drill.

Time to do the job: 30 minutes.

NEXT: Plant a backyard orchard
Last updated April 24 2009: 5:54 AM ET
More Galleries
8 great summer vacation deals Want the perfect summer getaway? MONEY searched for destinations with balmy weather, unique attractions, fun stuff to do, and great deals from four different categories: beach, mountain, culture and city. More
Best ways to catch up on your retirement savings Even the most financially responsible people make a few mistakes or run into obstacles along the way. These tips -- from cutting taxes to selling securities -- can preserve a safe retirement. More
Nearing retirement? Fortify your finances Your financial goals are within reach. Here are tips and tools to make sure you achieve them. More

Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.