Most home improvement centers have a great resource for do-it-yourselfers: the tool rental department. You can rent tools for half a day, at a fraction of the cost to buy. Get everything you need to shampoo your carpets. For big jobs, there are routers, staple guns, and belt sanders. Redecorating? Try a wallpaper steamer or a cordless paint sprayer. For your yard, you can rent everything from ladders to lawn mowers. Tool rental is a great way to try before you buy.