Self-hosting guides, homelab builds, and budget-friendly infrastructure.https://budgethomelab.com/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/vaultwarden-family-organizations/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/vaultwarden-family-organizations/Stop sharing a login over text. Set up Vaultwarden organizations and collections so your household shares the passwords it should, and nothing it shouldn't.Thu, 13 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/mini-pc-ram-upgrade-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/mini-pc-ram-upgrade-homelab/RAM is the cheapest upgrade that makes a homelab mini PC useful. Here's how much you actually need, what your machine will really accept, and which kits to buy without wasting money.Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/ntfy-self-hosted-push-notifications/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/ntfy-self-hosted-push-notifications/Run your own push notification server with ntfy. Send alerts from any script or service straight to your phone, with authentication on from the first boot.Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-vs-cloud-cost-2-years/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-vs-cloud-cost-2-years/Two years ago I projected self-hosting would beat my cloud subscriptions in under a year. Here is the actual 24-month ledger, including the costs I did not predict and the subscriptions I went back to paying.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/self-hosted-internet-speed-monitor/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/self-hosted-internet-speed-monitor/Run Speedtest Tracker in Docker to log your real download, upload, and latency every hour, then pair it with Uptime Kuma so you have proof when your ISP says the line is fine.Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homepage-vs-glance-dashboard/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homepage-vs-glance-dashboard/A homelab dashboard comparison: Homepage, my daily driver wired into my whole stack, versus Glance, the newer tool I spun up to evaluate but haven't switched to.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/used-enterprise-ssd-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/used-enterprise-ssd-homelab/Used data center SSDs on eBay look like an absurd deal. Here's what you actually get, what the endurance numbers really mean, and when a new consumer drive is the smarter buy.Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/npm-https-letsencrypt-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/npm-https-letsencrypt-homelab/A repeatable workflow for putting trusted HTTPS in front of every service in your homelab using Nginx Proxy Manager and free Let's Encrypt certificates. No self-signed warnings, no per-service certs.Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-budget-managed-switch-vlans-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-budget-managed-switch-vlans-homelab/The 2026 shortlist of the best budget managed switches for homelab VLANs: the $25 hero pick, a cheaper rival, and upgrade tiers for PoE and 2.5G networking.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/tl-sg108e-vs-netgear-gs308e/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/tl-sg108e-vs-netgear-gs308e/TL-SG108E or GS308E for homelab VLANs? Real differences in VLAN capacity, price, warranty, and expansion, plus which one wins for IoT isolation.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/truenas-vs-unraid-vs-openmediavault/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/truenas-vs-unraid-vs-openmediavault/A practical comparison of TrueNAS, Unraid, and OpenMediaVault for a budget homelab NAS: cost, drive redundancy, hardware requirements, and which one fits your build.Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-email-notifications/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-email-notifications/Get one inbox that tells you when a service goes down, a backup fails, or a container updates. Free email alerts from Uptime Kuma, Proxmox, and Docker using a Gmail app password.Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-ups-for-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-ups-for-homelab/The 2026 guide to picking a UPS for a homelab: how to size one by watts instead of VA, which units are worth buying, real runtime numbers, and how to wire up automatic shutdown.Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/syncthing-homelab-devices/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/syncthing-homelab-devices/Scale Syncthing past one laptop. Real folder-sharing strategy, versioning, and per-device ignore patterns for a mesh of laptops, phones, and a homelab server.Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/my-budget-homelab-stack/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/my-budget-homelab-stack/A full tour of my budget homelab stack: the hardware, every service I run grouped by job, and the real monthly cost breakdown with numbers.Mon, 06 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-networking-from-scratch/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-networking-from-scratch/Set up homelab networking the right way: internal DNS, reverse proxy with HTTPS, wildcard SSL, and secure remote access via Tailscale or Cloudflare.Thu, 02 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-self-hosted-password-managers/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-self-hosted-password-managers/Comparing the top self-hosted password managers: Vaultwarden, KeePassXC, Passbolt, and official Bitwarden. Tested on real homelab hardware.Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-rack-server-vs-mini-pc/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-rack-server-vs-mini-pc/I ran rack gear for two years. Here's what the homelab rack server vs mini PC tradeoff actually taught me, and what I run now instead.Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-security-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-security-guide/A practical, layered homelab security guide built on a real stack: close every inbound port with Tailscale, add HTTPS with a reverse proxy, and put SSO plus 2FA in front of everything with Authelia.Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/self-hosting-worth-it/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/self-hosting-worth-it/Not everything belongs in a container. An honest, category-by-category look at what self-hosting actually pays off at home and what you should just keep paying for.Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-automation-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/homelab-automation-guide/Set your homelab to back itself up, update its own containers, and tell you when something breaks. A practical automation stack using cron, Watchtower, Proxmox vzdump, and Uptime Kuma.Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/portainer-vs-dockge-docker-management/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/portainer-vs-dockge-docker-management/A practical comparison of the three ways to manage Docker in a homelab: Portainer, Dockge, and the plain command line. Which one to pick based on how you actually run your stack.Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/immich-syncthing-photo-backup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/immich-syncthing-photo-backup/Combine Immich and Syncthing for bulletproof phone photo backup. Get a plain-file copy of your camera roll on your server AND a searchable Immich timeline, with no cloud and no subscription.Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/low-power-homelab-under-25-watts/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/low-power-homelab-under-25-watts/Build a homelab that idles under 25W while running 15+ services. Hardware picks, container density tips, power budget table, and honest trade-offs.Mon, 08 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/immich-icloud-optimize-storage-trap/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/immich-icloud-optimize-storage-trap/Running Immich for photo backup? iCloud Optimize Storage can quietly back up 3MP thumbnails instead of originals. How to audit your library and fix it.Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-lxc-docker-template/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-lxc-docker-template/Build a reusable Proxmox LXC template preconfigured for Docker. Cuts new Docker-host setup from 30 minutes to 30 seconds, with the kernel module and apparmor settings that actually make it work.Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/start-here/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/start-here/Not sure where to begin? This is the reading order through Budget Homelab, from your first mini PC to a fully self-hosted stack.Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-networking-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-networking-guide/How networking actually works inside Proxmox: virtual bridges, Linux bridges vs OVS, VLAN tagging, static IPs, and the built-in firewall. Written for budget homelabbers who want more than the default vmbr0 setup.Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-total-cost-breakdown/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-total-cost-breakdown/Year-one total cost of ownership for a budget homelab: hardware, electricity, time, storage, recurring fees, and the upgrade spiral. With real numbers.Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-usb-passthrough/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-usb-passthrough/Pass a USB drive, scanner, or other device from your Proxmox host into a VM or LXC container. Covers both the web UI method and the config file approach, with the Paperless-ngx scanner use case as the example.Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/wireguard-vs-tailscale-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/wireguard-vs-tailscale-homelab/A direct comparison of WireGuard and Tailscale for homelab remote access. Which one to run based on your setup, your patience for configuration, and how often you actually need to get in.Wed, 13 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-gpu-self-hosted-ai-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-gpu-self-hosted-ai-homelab/A practical buyer's guide to GPU selection for local LLMs: the used 3060 12GB, 3090, P40, and Intel Arc compared on VRAM, noise, power draw, and real inference speed.Tue, 12 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-mini-pc-home-assistant-2026/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-mini-pc-home-assistant-2026/The opinionated 2026 buyer's guide to mini PC hardware for Home Assistant: five picks across price tiers, real performance notes, and the accessories that make the whole thing work.Mon, 11 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/ollama-local-ai-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/ollama-local-ai-setup/Set up Ollama on Docker to run large language models locally (Llama 3, Mistral, Gemma, and more), with a web UI for chatting and an API for integrations.Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/self-host-llm-at-home/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/self-host-llm-at-home/Run a private, offline ChatGPT alternative on your own hardware for $0/month in ongoing subscription costs. No GPU required. Full setup from hardware selection through first conversation.Fri, 08 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/npm-vs-caddy-vs-traefik/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/npm-vs-caddy-vs-traefik/A direct comparison of the three most common reverse proxies for self-hosting. Which one to pick based on how you actually run your homelab.Wed, 06 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-security-basics/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-security-basics/The practical security checklist for homelabs: what actually matters, what's overkill, and what most guides skip entirely.Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-mini-pc-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-mini-pc-setup/Everything you need to run Proxmox on a budget mini PC: hardware selection, BIOS prep, install, power management, and first VM. Built around the N100 machines that have become the homelab standard.Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-hardware-comparison/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-hardware-comparison/A direct comparison of the three hardware paths for a first homelab: mini PC, used enterprise server, and Raspberry Pi. Cost, power, noise, and what each one is actually good at.Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/plex-vs-jellyfin/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/plex-vs-jellyfin/An honest comparison of Plex and Jellyfin for self-hosted media: where each one wins, where each one loses, and which to pick for your homelab.Fri, 01 May 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-beginner-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-beginner-guide/A plain-English walkthrough of how Proxmox actually works: VMs vs. containers, the web UI, storage, networking, and how to run your first self-hosted service without breaking anything.Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/build-homelab-under-300/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/build-homelab-under-300/How to build a homelab on a budget: a real, working build covering hardware, setup, and what you can actually run, with a full parts list, under $300 total.Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/used-mini-pc-homelab-under-200/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/used-mini-pc-homelab-under-200/The best refurbished and used mini PCs for running Proxmox, Docker, and self-hosted services without spending new-hardware money. Real picks with current pricing.Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/how-to-start-a-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/how-to-start-a-homelab/A step-by-step guide to building your first homelab in 2026: what hardware to buy, what to install, and which services to run first, without overspending.Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/nextcloud-aio-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/nextcloud-aio-setup/Set up Nextcloud All-in-One on Docker for file sync, photo backup, calendar, contacts, and office document editing, all on your own server.Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/pihole-adguard-homelab-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/pihole-adguard-homelab-setup/Compare Pi-hole and AdGuard Home, then set up whichever fits your homelab. Full Docker Compose configs, DNS integration, and blocklist recommendations.Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/wireguard-vpn-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/wireguard-vpn-setup/Set up a WireGuard VPN server on Docker using wg-easy for a clean web UI, then connect your devices for secure remote access to your homelab.Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/beelink-vs-minisforum/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/beelink-vs-minisforum/A direct comparison of Beelink and MINISFORUM mini PCs for homelab use. Which brand builds the better budget self-hosting machine in 2026?Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/grafana-prometheus-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/grafana-prometheus-homelab/Set up Prometheus to collect metrics and Grafana to visualize them: CPU, memory, disk, and container stats across your entire homelab.Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/cloudflare-tunnel-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/cloudflare-tunnel-homelab/Expose homelab services to the internet without opening a single port using Cloudflare Tunnels. Free, easy to set up, and more secure than traditional port forwarding.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/jellyfin-setup-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/jellyfin-setup-guide/Set up Jellyfin on Docker with hardware transcoding, organize your library, and access it from any device. Full walkthrough with working Docker Compose config.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/portainer-setup-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/portainer-setup-guide/Install Portainer to manage your Docker containers, stacks, volumes, and images through a web interface instead of the command line.Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/tailscale-subnet-routing/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/tailscale-subnet-routing/Set up Tailscale subnet routing to expose your full home network to all your tailnet devices. No VPN server required, no port forwarding.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/wildcard-ssl-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/wildcard-ssl-homelab/Get a single wildcard SSL certificate that covers every subdomain in your homelab. No more per-service certificates, no more HTTPS warnings.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-backup-strategy/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-backup-strategy/A practical backup strategy for your homelab that actually gets done: what to back up, where to put it, and how to automate it without overcomplicating it.Wed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-self-hosted-apps-beginners/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-self-hosted-apps-beginners/The five best apps to self-host first, chosen for low complexity, high value, and real impact on your privacy and monthly bill.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/watchtower-auto-update-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/watchtower-auto-update-docker/Use Watchtower to automatically keep your Docker containers updated to the latest image versions, with notifications and scheduling options.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/immich-setup-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/immich-setup-guide/Set up Immich on Docker to replace Google Photos. Face recognition, mobile backup, timeline view, all on your own hardware. Full Docker Compose walkthrough.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/pihole-setup-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/pihole-setup-guide/Set up Pi-hole on Docker to block ads and tracking at the DNS level across your entire network. No browser extensions, no per-device setup.Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/wazuh-homelab-siem-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/wazuh-homelab-siem-setup/Deploy Wazuh as a dedicated Proxmox VM to get centralized security monitoring, file integrity alerts, and vulnerability scanning across your entire homelab, with agents on every Linux host and Windows coverage via Tailscale.Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/reverse-proxy-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/reverse-proxy-homelab/A reverse proxy puts your services behind a single entry point with HTTPS and clean domain names. Here's why it matters and how to set one up with Nginx Proxy Manager or Caddy.Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/proxmox-cluster-high-availability/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/proxmox-cluster-high-availability/Proxmox clustering lets VMs migrate between nodes automatically if one goes down. Here's how it works, what you actually need to set it up, and whether it's worth the complexity.Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-network-setup-vlans/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-network-setup-vlans/Set up homelab VLANs on a $25 managed switch: tag VLANs, configure trunk ports, route between networks, and isolate untrusted IoT devices. Exact config included.Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/vpn-kill-switch-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/vpn-kill-switch-homelab/A VPN kill switch blocks all traffic if the VPN connection drops. Here's how to implement one for specific containers or your whole server, and why it matters.Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-snapshots-backups/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-snapshots-backups/The difference between Proxmox snapshots and backups, how to take both, and how to restore when something goes wrong.Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/open-source-google-workspace-alternatives/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/open-source-google-workspace-alternatives/Google Workspace costs $72-$216/user/year. These self-hosted alternatives cover email, docs, calendar, and storage, and they run on hardware you already own.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/uptime-kuma-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/uptime-kuma-setup/Set up Uptime Kuma on Docker to monitor every service in your homelab, get instant alerts when something goes down, and publish a status page.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-mini-pc-homelab-2026/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/best-mini-pc-homelab-2026/The complete 2026 guide to mini PC homelab hardware: every tier from $80 to $475, real idle power numbers, and the picks that actually run Proxmox and Docker well.Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-power-usage/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-power-usage/Your homelab runs 24/7, and that adds up on your electric bill. Here's how to actually measure what you're using and cut it without cutting your setup.Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/replacing-google-one-self-hosted/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/replacing-google-one-self-hosted/Google One keeps raising prices. Here's what it actually takes to replace it with a self-hosted alternative, and whether the trade-offs make sense.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/authelia-sso-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/authelia-sso-setup/Set up Authelia as a forward-auth middleware in front of Nginx Proxy Manager to protect every homelab service with a single SSO portal and optional 2FA.Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/netdata-setup-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/netdata-setup-guide/Netdata gives you per-second system metrics, automatic anomaly detection, and 2,000+ pre-built charts, all without writing a single config file.Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/paperless-ngx-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/paperless-ngx-setup/Install Paperless-ngx with Docker Compose, configure OCR and automatic tagging, and set up an inbox folder that processes documents automatically.Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/k3s-kubernetes-at-home/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/k3s-kubernetes-at-home/K3s makes Kubernetes small enough to run on a Raspberry Pi. But should you? Here's an honest take on when home Kubernetes makes sense and when Docker Compose is the better call.Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/duplicati-backup-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/duplicati-backup-setup/Duplicati backs up your homelab data to local storage, a NAS, or cloud storage, encrypted and deduplicated. Here's how to set it up and what to actually back up.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/mealie-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/mealie-setup-docker/Install Mealie with Docker Compose, import recipes from any URL, and set up meal planning with a self-hosted recipe manager that actually works.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/syncthing-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/syncthing-setup-docker/Set up Syncthing in Docker in under 10 minutes. Sync files between your laptop, phone, and homelab server. No Dropbox, no subscription, no data on someone else's server.Sun, 22 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/technitium-dns-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/technitium-dns-setup/Run Technitium DNS in Docker to get internal hostnames, ad blocking, and split DNS for your homelab. No more IP addresses in your browser.Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/nas-vs-das-homelab-storage/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/nas-vs-das-homelab-storage/A NAS isn't always the right answer for homelab storage. Here's when direct-attached storage wins, when it doesn't, and how to decide which one you actually need.Fri, 20 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/tailscale-homelab-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/tailscale-homelab-setup/Set up Tailscale on your homelab server and access every service securely from anywhere. No port forwarding, no public IP required.Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/uptime-kuma-advanced-alerting/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/uptime-kuma-advanced-alerting/Go beyond basic HTTP checks. Configure Uptime Kuma to alert on response time, SSL expiry, keyword presence, and send notifications to Discord, Telegram, or email.Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/vaultwarden-self-hosted-password-manager/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/vaultwarden-self-hosted-password-manager/Vaultwarden is a self-hosted Bitwarden server that runs on almost nothing. The full setup walkthrough, backup strategy, and honest trade-offs before you trust it with your passwords.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/nginx-proxy-manager-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/nginx-proxy-manager-setup/Install Nginx Proxy Manager with Docker Compose, add your first proxy host, and get HTTPS working for every service on your homelab.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/hidden-costs-of-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/hidden-costs-of-homelab/Electricity and hardware get all the attention. Here's the full list of what a homelab actually costs, including the things most guides skip.Sat, 14 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/homarr-dashboard-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/homarr-dashboard-setup/Homarr is a clean, modern homelab dashboard that integrates with your services, shows real-time stats, and gives you a single page to launch everything from.Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-monitoring-prometheus-grafana/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-monitoring-prometheus-grafana/Prometheus scrapes metrics. Grafana makes them pretty. Together they give you dashboards that actually tell you what's happening on your homelab.Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-hardware-under-500-2026/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-hardware-under-500-2026/How to allocate a $500 homelab budget across compute, storage, and networking. Covers which mini PC to buy, what to skip, and what to add first when you have room to grow.Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/docker-compose-basics/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/docker-compose-basics/How to write Docker Compose files, organize your homelab services, manage environment variables, and keep everything maintainable long-term.Sun, 08 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/k3s-proxmox-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/k3s-proxmox-setup/Run a lightweight Kubernetes cluster on Proxmox VMs. This guide walks through VM prep, K3s installation, kubectl access, and your first deployment.Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-vm-vs-lxc/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-vm-vs-lxc/Proxmox VM vs LXC: the exact split I use in my homelab (with a decision chart). Plus the one config mistake that breaks Docker in LXC every time.Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-subreddit-hardware-guide/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-subreddit-hardware-guide/What r/homelab and r/selfhosted actually recommend for hardware, and what the forum consensus gets right and wrong for budget builds.Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-post-install-checklist/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/proxmox-post-install-checklist/A practical checklist of everything to configure after a fresh Proxmox VE install: repos, updates, email alerts, storage, and more.Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-storage-options/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-storage-options/How to think about storage for your homelab: the tradeoffs between a NAS, direct-attached storage, and drives in your server, with real recommendations.Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/ghost-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/ghost-setup-docker/Deploy Ghost on Docker for a clean, fast self-hosted blog or newsletter platform with membership support, built-in SEO, and a polished editor.Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-monthly-cost-real-numbers/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/homelab-monthly-cost-real-numbers/The real monthly cost of running a homelab: power draw, hardware amortization, domain, and services. Based on what I actually pay, not estimates.Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/paperless-ngx-scanner-workflow/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/paperless-ngx-scanner-workflow/The 'now what?' guide for Paperless-ngx. Pick a document scanner that actually works with it, set up your consume folder, and build a workflow that runs in under 30 seconds per document.Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/gitea-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/gitea-setup-docker/Set up Gitea on Docker for a self-hosted GitHub alternative: code hosting, issue tracking, pull requests, and CI/CD pipelines on your own server.Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/proxmox-vs-plain-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/proxmox-vs-plain-docker/Docker on bare metal vs Proxmox: a direct comparison of both approaches, when to pick each, and when running both on the same machine is the right call.Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-not-dot-local/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-not-dot-local/Using .local for your homelab DNS zone conflicts with mDNS (Bonjour/Avahi). Here's why resolution breaks intermittently and what to use instead.Sat, 21 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-i-dont-open-ports/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-i-dont-open-ports/Port forwarding used to be the standard way to access homelab services remotely. Here's why I stopped doing it and what I run instead.Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/freshrss-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/freshrss-setup-docker/Deploy FreshRSS on Docker to follow blogs, news, and podcasts through a single self-hosted feed reader, with multi-device sync and app support.Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/linkwarden-setup-docker/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/linkwarden-setup-docker/Deploy Linkwarden on Docker to save, organize, and archive web pages, with full-page screenshots, PDF snapshots, and tag-based organization.Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/budget-homelab-starter-stack/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/budget-homelab-starter-stack/Skip the overwhelm. These five self-hosted services cover file sync, password management, reverse proxying, remote access, and document storage.Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/guides/stirling-pdf-setup/https://budgethomelab.com/guides/stirling-pdf-setup/Deploy Stirling-PDF on Docker to merge, split, compress, convert, and edit PDFs without uploading files to third-party websites.Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/self-hosting-vs-cloud-cost/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/self-hosting-vs-cloud-cost/A clear-eyed breakeven analysis of self-hosting versus cloud subscriptions, with real costs, real trade-offs, and an honest answer for different situations.Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/what-is-a-homelab/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/what-is-a-homelab/A homelab is a server you run at home. Here's what that actually means, what people do with them, and how to figure out if you need one.Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-self-host-in-2026/https://budgethomelab.com/articles/why-self-host-in-2026/Cloud services keep getting more expensive and less private. Here's the cost, privacy, and time case for building your own homelab this year, with the trade-offs included.Sun, 08 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMT