by Heather Kindberg

Created on: June 09, 2009   Last Updated: March 13, 2012

In the place you call home, some improvements can both save you money and enhance your abode. The difference between improving a rental and an owned asset, of course, is that any appreciation from improvements benefits the owner, not the renter. Well here are ten money-saving tips that specifically serve renters financially and aesthetically:

Moving in:

1. Lease 'n' save

Ask the landlord:

Can you receive a lower monthly rental rate for signing a longer lease? What items will or will not be deducted from your deposit? Painting, carpet cleaning, etc. Can your deposit be placed in an interest-bearing account so you can earn something on it while it sits?

Improvements and upgrades:

2. Dodge the draft

To save money on heating and air, install draft stoppers for doors and windows that don't seal tightly. Purchase draft protectors that either screw into, or slide onto, the bottom of the door. For an inexpensive or temporary fix, fill tube socks with fabric scraps or batting, sew or tie the ends, and place in front of drafty windows or doors.

3. Treat your windows well

Curtains or drapes not only enhance aesthetically, but they can help to maintain inside temperature. Curtains of heavier material can bring substantial savings on the hottest of days and coldest of nights. They can also move with you to your next place.

4. Get lit

Switch to those more expensive compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the rooms you inhabit the most. Your lower electricity bills will repay you in full over approximately six months AND you can reinstall the old bulbs when you leave, taking those CFLs with you.

5. Patchwork

Artwork nail holes may well be the only "damage" you leave upon moving out. To fill those holes yourself and possibly save some of your deposit, all you need is a small tub of spackling paste, a putty knife and some sandpaper. Follow the directions on the paste tub to apply. When dry, lightly sand smooth, and voila!

6. Sell yourself

If you're handy, or just plain frustrated with a landlord who isn't moving along on repairs, offer to trade the repairs you can accomplish yourself for a reduction in that month's rent.

7. The great cover-up

If there are floors without carpet in your rental, purchasing some inexpensive area rugs will go a long way toward accomplishing several goals: They can improve/change the look of a room, help insulate, and if you're in close proximity to neighbors, they can dampen the sound of your footsteps while also acting as a noise barrier for

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