A simple way to think about it is to treat home improvements like a subscription you pay to your future comfort. For many average households, keeping aside 1–2% of the property’s value per year, broken into monthly chunks, is a reasonable goal. In simple terms, if your home is worth, say, $150,000, then $1,500–$3,000 per year (about $125–$250 per month) is a practical range for ongoing small improvements and maintenance.
Now, not everyone can or wants to set aside that much every month. So even if you can’t reach that ideal number, having any fixed budget is better than doing nothing and waiting for big, painful repairs later. Even $50–$100 a month, consistently used, can slowly replace old fittings, buy better lighting, improve storage, or refresh one area at a time.
The key is planning. Make a simple list of priorities for the next 12 months – maybe paint the living room, upgrade a bathroom tap set, change some lights, fix a door, add a shelf. When money comes in, you already know what to tackle first. This way, you avoid random impulsive purchases and actually see visible improvement in your home every few months.
