Millennial Money

But realize that it might be difficult to get a professional on the phone given the uncertain state of businesses and stay-at-home orders. As well, resist the temptation to do everything yourself.

“Wiring and plumbing shouldn’t be DIY unless you know something about it,” says Alexandra Barker, principal at Barker Associates Architecture Office in New York. “Because then, if you’re in a crisis, it’s hard to get a plumber or electrician to answer your calls right now.”

Vicki and Steph Kostopoulos, a motherdaughter duo who run the “Mother Daughter Projects” blog, suggest holding off on any project that involves a lot of sanding — during which you would need to wear an N95 mask — given the current demand for personal protective equipment in hospitals.

Do your research

Choosing a project can be exciting, but figuring out exactly how to do it is an altogether more difficult task.

“Before you start a project, watch a number of videos on how to do it so you can make sure you understand the process,” says Steph Kostopoulos. “By watching multiple sources, you’ll be able to get an idea of how it’s done.”

YouTube has countless hours of DIY videos, but the quality varies. For consistent and knowledgeable how-to videos, check out This Old House, a home improvement series that makes seemingly complicated DIY projects more accessible.

Set your project budget

You know what you want to accomplish and how you would do it — but can you afford it? Make sure you know the total cost of a project, then review your budget and see how much of your expendable income can be allocated for it.

The budgeting process might take some negotiation between what you can afford right now and what you want to accomplish. Given that we’re in a recession, it’s best to avoid going into debt or tapping your emergency fund for home improvements.

Consider making a simple spreadsheet that lists the items you need and how much they’ll cost. That lets you prepare for and track the cost of the project. And pad it a bit because your project will likely cost more than that when it’s done, Barker says.

“You always have to add in 10% or 15% of cost overage to your project budget,” she says. “You never know if your dog or cat could knock over your can of paint, then you have to buy another. Expect the unexpected as part of your budgeting.”

If you find the total expenses are more than what you can afford right now, see if you can divide the project into more manageable chunks over time. This will help you get started without stretching your finances.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An empty parking lot is seen at a temporarily closed Kohl’s department store in April 29 in Havertown, . Devastated by the coronavirus, the U.S. economy is sinking. Now, as some businesses in a few states start to trickle back to work, hopes are beginning to arise that the economy, damaged as it is, might be poised to rebound by the second half of the year.