Helpful Do-it-Yourself Websites

Junkyards and trash bins see more than just discarded packaging and kitchen scraps. That means half-broken CPUs, out-dated kitchen appliances, and that iPod that still works but is SO 2006. But now that the recession has hit nearly every corner of the economy, most people can't afford to just throw away something because it needs a little tune up.

Thankfully a few websites have thought along these same lines and are ready and willing to help you with your fix-it-at-home projects and do-it-yourself endeavors.

The website fixya.com is the fix-it-yourselfer's best friend. The site lists thousands of solutions to possible problems with electronic devices, everything from hardware to software to how to turn the darn thing on. The best features include the "Ask an Expert" and "Ask an Owner" section. Here you can submit your question directly to one of the site's experts or you can ask someone who owns the same product.

And we're not just talking about fixing a laptop or a set of speakers. Fixya.com takes you directly to the brand and make of the project you're trying to fix. That way an expert can help you in relation to your specific device, right down to the model.

Ehow.com takes a community-oriented approach to sharing information on how-to's. While fixya.com let's you communicate other users, it mainly focuses on its panel of experts. Ehow on the other hand focuses on the community -- you ask a question to the group and hopefully someone in the community can help you out. Most quesitons involve day-to-day tasks and projects, and the site also has user-generated how-to videos. Everything on the site is free from the articles to joining the community. It's a good place for those who want to share information as well as gain it.

If you're not interested in articles on how to do things and you just want to watch a video, you should definitely start with howcast.com. One of the more user-friendly how-to websites out there, Howcast.com is 100 percent about video. There are videos on just about every topic, from "how to write a resume" to "how to avoid the 'friend' zone with women you want to date." The site couldn't be simpler. Search, click, watch, learn. That's it.