My son makes firestarters from old cardboard egg cartons. Sometimes grocery stores will give you cardboard holders, but they are really cheap online. He first buys candles at a thrift store in our area..(go when it's 50% off day) then melts them down over the fire. Then, he adds sawdust or dryer lint to the bottom of the egg carton and pours the melted candle wax over each compartment. It is easy to just tear off the individual fire starters when needed...and they work great!
If you know you have a painting job coming up, start scouting out the “oops” shelf at Home Depot. This is where unused, returned paint is sold at a steep discount. The paint is usually returned because the tint didn’t work for the person who purchased it. You can often find a suitable color for just $5 per gallon!!! Many times matching quart cans of trim paint can be had for only $3.
