Many freelancers are the DIY type, and are also often on the lookout for easy ways to save a little cash. Home experts are suggesting that one way to do so in 2015 is no farther away than the kitchen.

Considering that the national average cost for cabinet repairs is $586, according to HomeAdvisor, learning a little bit more about basic cabinet and other home fixes can save quite a bit of money in the new year. “Even if you’ve gotten used to living with problem cabinets or drawers, cabinet repair should really be a priority on your ‘Let’s Finally Get Organized’ list,” reads a Dec. 23 article from the Mother Nature Network.

The article also provides some helpful tips for the most common and easily remedied cabinet problems.

• Sticky Drawers: Drawer glides can be easily cleaned with soap and water, then lubricated with WD-40.

• Loose Doors: If a cabinet’s doors won’t stay closed, the fix may be as simple as tightening the screws on the hinges. If the problem persists, the cabinet may be hung improperly and need professional repair.

• Stripped Screw Holes: Stripped screw holes can be filled with toothpicks or matches, glued into place. This should allow for the screws to attach hardware securely again.

• Marred Finishes: A wood fill stick can cover most minor imperfections.

• Banging Closures: Door and drawer bumpers can be stuck in place to keep the noise level down.

• Sagging Drawers: A quarter-inch sheet of plywood (cut to the size of the drawer bottom) can be attached with wood glue as a reinforcement.

• Lackluster Hardware: A good buffing with metal polish should be the first line of attack; if that doesn’t produce the desired result, hardware can be unscrewed and spray painted.

And if your cabinets are functional but need sprucing up, Paula Pant advises for DailyFinance that a refinishing job isn’t out of reach for most homeowners. “As long as you label which cabinet goes where before you remove them, you can totally refinish and repaint existing cabinets to make them look new,” she writes in a Dec. 29 article.

Some cabinets may even be able to be easily replaced. Built-in cabinets are typically custom fitted to the situation and fixed in place, but some freestanding cabinets can be self-installed.

But if your cabinets have workspace on top, installing your own granite countertops is definitely a “DI-don’t,” according to Pant. “Bad measurements can cost you dearly, and improper installation can result in issues like breakage and water damage. Not to mention: granite slabs are incredibly heavy,” she reminds readers. “If you’re going to spring for granite, spring for professional installation.”