Story highlights The cost of supplies for her dream home: $130,000

She and her children built their 3,500-square-foot home in nine months

(CNN) With two bad marriages behind her and debt that came with them, Cara Brookins needed a place to stay for her and her four kids.

But Brookins, who writes young adult novels for a living, didn't have the money to hire builders. So she built one by herself -- using YouTube tutorials.

"Things can get a little expensive when you are escaping an abusive relationship and have four children," Brookins explained.

Brookins' initial intention was to buy a home. But she found they were either too expensive or just too small. Then she realized that YouTube is a great tool for how-to's.

So after careful research, Brookins brought an acre of land in Bryant, Arkansas, a suburb of Little Rock, and began building.

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