With home and mortgage prices still greatly reduced around the country, many people are taking advantage of the market and buying their first homes. For most buyers, a first home is usually a bit older and often in need of some upgrades and repairs. However if you have purchased a beautiful older home and are now concerned that you might need to spend thousands of dollars in upgrades to make your new home comfortable and inviting, do not fret.

There are many ways that you can begin to add upgrades to your new older home without breaking the bank.

Install storm windows & doors: Storm doors and windows can add a great layer of protection from the elements for your home. For many older homes, storm windows can pay for themselves by saving you money on your heating bill. They will also make your home far more comfortable over the winter months by keeping out the drafts.
Seal drafts: One of the cheapest ways that you can help keep your new home toasty warm is by keeping the heated air from drifting out of cracks around windows, doors, and wall plugs. Install new weather stripping around your doors to help prevent cold drafts. Check out the selection of draft fixes at your local home improvement store for your particular needs.
Paint: A fresh coat of paint can brighten up an older home and make it look far more inviting than the 20 year old paint job that you bought the home with. Fresh paint can also help if the previous owners or tenants were smokers. If you are covering up stained or smelly walls, make sure that you talk to the pain expert at your local home improvement store so that you have the proper primer to use under your paint for best results.
Install water saving devices: Depending on how old your home is and how much you can afford, there are a variety of water saving features that you can use in your home to cut down on the amount of water you are using which can save you both on your water bill and your water heating costs. A new energy efficient hot water tank might be a bit pricey, but it can save you lots of money in the long run. Other great green options are water saver shower heads and faucets.

Even though it’s not uncommon to be a bit financially strapped when you first buy a home, there are often a few things that you can do to help make your new house feel more like home. See what improvements you can fit in your budget.