Cheap Construction Guide OSRS: Budget-Friendly Ways to Build Your Dream House

Picture this: you’re knee-deep in Gielinor, slaying dragons or bossing for loot, but your Player-Owned House feels like a sad shack from the tutorial island days. I get it. As someone who’s sunk over 5,000 hours into Old School RuneScape, I’ve been there. Back in my early days, I blew through 50 million gold pieces on mahogany tables just to hit level 50, only to regret it when I needed cash for a bond. That’s why I’m all about smart, cheap plays now. If you’re hunting for a cheap construction guide OSRS style, you’ve landed in the right spot. We’ll break down the absolute cheapest ways to level up without emptying your coffers. No fluff, just real talk from a vet who’s maxed the skill twice.

Let’s kick things off with the basics. Construction isn’t just about flexing a fancy portal hub; it’s your ticket to faster teleports, better storage, and even some sweet combat boosts. But man, it can sting your wallet if you’re not careful. The good news? In 2025, with updates keeping things fresh, there are killer budget options that make 99 feel doable on a shoestring. I’ve tested them all, from grinding planks at the sawmill to chilling in Mahogany Homes contracts. Stick with me, and you’ll see how I turned a measly 10 mil into a level 80 house that rivals the big spenders.

Ever asked yourself, “Do I really need to drop 200 mil on Construction when I can barely afford next month’s membership?” Short answer: yes, you do, but not the expensive way. Construction unlocks essentials like the mounted skillcape for infinite teleports or an occult altar for those juicy prayer bonuses. Without it, you’re stuck hoofing it across the map or burning through law runes like candy.

From my experience, ignoring Construction early on bit me hard. I once spent three hours running from Varrock to Lumbridge because my house portal was still at level 1. Oof. Now, I preach cheap methods to newbies in my clan chat. They save gold for bosses like Vorkath, where every coin counts. Plus, in this meta, cheap training means more time for fun stuff, like clue hunts or minigames. Who’s got time for bankruptcy quests?

The real magic? These budget routes cut costs by up to 80% compared to old-school plank spamming. We’re talking under 50 gp per XP point if you play it right. Sound too good? It’s not. Just requires a bit of patience and the right setup.

Essential Gear and Prep for Budget Builders

Before we dive into methods, let’s gear up. You don’t need a fortune to start; a basic toolkit will do. Here’s what I always pack:

• Saw: Grab one from the sawmill or buy for 13 gp. Essential for planks.
• Hammer: Free from tool leprechauns or 13 gp in shops.
• Nails: Iron ones are dirt cheap at 5 gp each, but we’ll minimize those.
• Plank sack: Unlocks at 40 Construction, holds 27 planks. Game-changer for efficiency.

Pro tip from my ironman days: Stock up on teleport to house tabs. They’re about 1k each, but save you tons of running time. I once forgot mine and wasted 30 minutes trekking from Falador. Lesson learned.

For teleports, house tabs are king on a budget. If you’re feeling fancy, grab a house portal stone from the grand exchange for under 2k. It lets you jump to your house from anywhere, no runes needed.

Now, levels matter. Under 50? Focus on flatpacks and benches. Over 50? Mahogany Homes steals the show. I’ll break it down next.

Quick Checklist for Newbies

• Teleport runes or tabs: At least 10.
• Gold: Start with 5-10 mil for supplies.
• House location: Rimmington for easy access.
• Quest: “The Eyes of Glouphrie” for gnome planks if you’re clever.

Got that? Good. Now, onto the meat.

The Cheapest Method Hands Down: Mahogany Homes

If there’s one thing that changed my Construction game forever, it’s Mahogany Homes. Launched a few years back, this minigame is the budget king’s dream. No massive plank hauls, no nail farms. Just contracts from Bob in Rimmington, where you repair fancy furniture for XP and gold rewards. I hit 70 Con here during a lazy weekend grind, sipping coffee and listening to podcasts. Total cost? Under 20 mil.

Why’s it so cheap? You get paid to train. Each contract nets you 500k-2m gold back, plus XP rates that rival oak larders but at half the price. In 2025, with the recent tweaks, it’s even better, faster load times and more contract variety.

But is it for everyone? Not if you’re speedrunning 99. It’s slower than max efficiency methods, clocking 200-300k XP/hour versus 400k+. Still, for us casuals, it’s perfect. I remember finishing a teak table contract and thinking, “Wait, they PAY me for this?”

How to Crush Mahogany Homes on a Dime

Start by talking to Bob. He’ll hook you with contracts based on your level. Low tiers use oak, mid use teak, high mahogany. Focus on the ones matching your planks to avoid waste.

Here’s my step-by-step from personal runs:

1. Grab supplies: Buy planks from the sawmill guy. Oak logs are 300 gp each, plank make costs 350 gp. Total under 700 gp per plank.
2. Teleport in: Use a house tab to Rimmington.
3. Repair and build: Right-click everything. Use the stamina trick, run between rooms to keep energy up.
4. Claim rewards: Gold, XP lamps, and sometimes rare logs. Bank those for later.

Small tip: Always do the “quick repair” option if available. Saves planks like crazy.

During one marathon session, I chained five contracts and banked 3 mil profit. Felt like cheating the system. You?

Pros and Cons Table

See? It’s a no-brainer for cheapskates like us.

Alternative Budget Methods for Early Levels

Mahogany shines at 50+, but what about scraping to get there? I’ve got you. Early game, flatpack furniture is your bestie. Crank out mahogany bookcases or gnome benches at a sawmill. Costs? Pennies compared to building in your house.

Take level 1-33: Nail those crude wooden chairs. 175 XP each, 100 gp total cost. I did a stack of 100 in an hour once, blasting some lo-fi beats. Hit 20 Con feeling like a pro.

Question: Hate nails breaking? Me too. Switch to plank-only builds ASAP. At level 33, oak benches are gold. 340 XP, 2k gp each. Stack em at the Varrock sawmill for bonus logs.

For 33-52, gnome planks if you’ve quested. They’re free-ish after “The Eyes of Glouphrie.” I farmed gnome logs like mad on my alt, turning 1 mil into 40 levels. Genius move.

Level Breakdown: Cheap XP Milestones

• 1-20: Plank benches. ~50k XP/hour, 20 gp/XP.
• 20-33: Oak larders. Jump to 100k/hour, still under 50 gp.
• 33-50: Teak tables. My fave, 150k/hour for 40 gp/XP.
• 50+: Mahogany Homes takeover.

Long story short, mix these with daily challenges for extra lamps. I once got a 100k XP lamp from a challenge and blew it on a quick level skip. Life hack.

Mid-Game Hacks: Oak Larders and Beyond

Okay, say you’re at 52, eyeing that mahogany phase. Oak larders are the bridge. 500 XP each, 5k gp cost. Sounds steep? Nah, buy logs bulk from GE, plank em cheap.

I grinded 52-70 on larders during a heatwave, house fan blowing full blast. Sweaty but satisfying. Pro move: Use the lunar spell “Plank Make” if you have 86 Magic. Saves 20% on fees, drops cost to 4k per.

But wait, is there cheaper? Flatpack larders. Same XP, half the hassle. Build em in your house, no removal fees. I filled my inventory with 28 flatpacks and smashed sessions. Total for 10 levels: 15 mil. Bargain.

Ever tried the sawmill minigame? For every 250 planks, free log. I hit that daily cap religiously, saving 500k gold weekly. Small wins add up, friend.

Supply Cost Table for Key Builds

Numbers from my latest runs, GE prices as of September 2025. Prices fluctuate, so check daily.

Late-Game Budget Bossing: Max House on the Cheap

Hitting 70? Time for the big leagues. Mahogany capes and altars await, but keep it thrifty. Gilded altars are endgame gold, but setup’s 1-2 mil. Worth it for prayer training? Absolutely. I built mine at 75, trained prayer to 70 in a week. No more diamond dust blues.

For 80-99, stick to Mahogany Homes elite contracts. XP creeps to 300k/hour, costs dip below 25 gp. I finished 99 last year on a dare from clan mates. Took 200 hours, cost me 40 mil total. They thought I was nuts; I called it victory.

One quirky tip: Use XP lamps from contracts on Construction itself. Doubles your gains. I lamped a 200k boost at 95, skipped a whole plank stack. Sneaky, right?

What about POH layouts? For cheap maxing, prioritize portals, costume room, and workshop. Skip the throne room fluff. My setup: Rimmington portal, occult floor, infinite house options tab. Total under 50 mil.

Must-Have Budget Rooms List

• Portal Chamber: Level 50, essential teleports.
• Chapel: Level 45, cheap prayer altar.
• Study: Level 37, lecterns for teleports.
• Garden: Level 1, fairy ring access.

Build these first, expand later. I wish someone told me that sooner.

Common Pitfalls and How I Dodged Them

Look, even experts mess up. Early on, I overbought nails, lost 2 mil to breakage. Fix? Go plank-only. Another time, I forgot to enter building mode, wasted an hour clicking air. Duh.

Question: Running out of space mid-grind? Bank everything, use noted planks. Saved my sanity during a 52-62 push.

In 2025, watch for GE flips on logs. Oak logs dipped to 250 gp last month; I stocked 10k and profited on the rebound. Side hustle vibes.

Long para time: Training Construction cheap isn’t just about gold; it’s mindset. I started OSRS as a broke student, flipping herbs for pocket change. Construction taught me patience, planning those plank runs like a military op. Now, with a maxed house, I host clan events, feeling like a Gielinor landlord. You can too. Mix methods, track costs in a notebook (old school style), and celebrate small levels. Level 50 party? Mine involved a cake from Cook’s Assistant. Silly, but memorable.

Oh, and that uppercase thing? Sometimes I get HYPED mid-grind, yelling “YES!” at a big contract reward. Keeps the energy up.

Wrapping Up Your Cheap Construction Journey

So, there you have it, my full cheap construction guide OSRS rundown. From flatpack basics to Mahogany mastery, you’ve got the blueprint for 99 without the regret. I leveled my main this way, and my bank stayed fat for raids. What’s your next move? Dive into Bob’s contracts today, or stock planks for a larder binge?

Drop a comment if you’ve got tweaks or horror stories. I’ve shared mine; now it’s your turn. Happy building, RuneScape fam. May your house always have that perfect portal glow.