How can I update my kitchen cabinets without spending a lot of money?

First try changing the handles and the knobs. I did that and it made a big difference, not to expensive also.

Paint! It isn't as hard as it sounds. It is time consuming. It took me a week. I spent around $200 and that was because I did two colors. A single color would have been $150. That includes a good primer, paint, brushes and other necessities. There are great tutorials here and on Pinterest or youtube. White was super easy. The cobalt blue was trying on my patience! But worth it.

Hi Judith, I had a tiny, tired kitchen. The cabinets were in good condition, but well worn. I painted the cabinets white and instead of replacing my hardware, I used Rub n Buff. It's a great product and a little goes a long way! I get mine on Ebay because they have a large variety of colors, but you can get it for around $5 - $6 at Walmart, Michaels etc... One little tube did all my hardware and I have over 20 cabinets! Here's a link that tells about the product and how to use it. http://thriftdiving.com/5-ways-to-use-rub-n-buff/

Good luck!

Contact paper and replace the hardware. Here is an example! http://www.uptodateinteriors.com/2015/08/kitchen-cabinet-makeover-part-one.html

Chalk paint is the best...

Chalk paint, contact paper, staining, new knobs, even stencils are great options

just reface them... or paint them