Comments on: Rule #9: Do It Yourself.

By: Chantel

Chantel — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:24:11 +0000

Some of you are very negative. Don’t get too bogged down in the details, or in this case suggestions. I felt the message of this article was that if you can do something yourself, and you are willing, then when not give it a try. If you are successful, then you will feel great about what you accomplished, and you will know that you can do it again if you need to. As for how cheaply you can get an oil change done if you do it yourself, I don’t believe that was the true message. I think the message was more of the kind that you could work an hour less in a day by spending the 30 minutes to do it yourself. Maybe the first time won’t be as fast, but every time there after will be faster.

Also, not only did you gain an extra 30 minutes of freedom(not including the time that you might have to wait in line for other cars to finish, the cost of gas and time to get there), but you can also show your child (Learning is achieved only in company.
-The Talmud )or a friend, or even someone in your community how to do it. What a great way to strengthen relationships and pass on knowledge. After all, if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach him to fish, he you will feed him for a lifetime. I would say Trent is trying to teach you to fish, not command which type of fish you catch. Thank you Trent.

By: IASSOS

IASSOS — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:55:26 +0000

I do a lot of things myself, because it’s cheaper, but also because it’s satisfying, and finally because it means I won’t be helpless in an emergency.

By: steve

steve — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:17:04 +0000

Even better, when you’re in there install a Fram Sure-Drain instead of the normal oil drain pan bolt and you’ll never have to undo the drain pan bolt again, but simply screw on a hose adaptor to drain the oil out cleanly right into a waiting container.

By: steve

steve — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:12:27 +0000

@ littlepitcher who has given up on the self oil changes because of arthritis:

if you have arthritis in your hands, an electric (corded) or battery impact wrench or impact ratchet (whichever will fit into the necessary space), and impact sockets are your friends. It will get that oil drain plug out in 2 seconds.

Wear full eye protection and don’t use chrome sockets with them but only impact grade sockets because the chrome ones are harder and more likely to shatter under impact tool usage.

A corded impact wrench will cost under $50.

Just be careful to power it down to about 33 lbs-ft so you don’t strip out the oil pan.

By: Rosa Rugosa

Rosa Rugosa — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:28:03 +0000

I think these posts are all just intended to be food for thought; at least that’s how I intend to use them. I think it hampers the cause to get judgmental. I have a good job, 401K , good marriage, own home, almost debt-free, both cars paid, and we both have tattoos. And we’re not half bad at the DIY and maintenance stuff. I mean really, what do the tattoos have to do with anything? I like tattoos! Oh, and an artist friend did them for free! How frugal is that?
We all have different talents, desires, and tolerance levels.
I come to this site because we haven’t always used our resources as wisely as we should have, and I’m rethinking our “easy come easy go” philosophy.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:16:53 +0000

I thought this was a great article. A lot of people argue that it doesn’t apply to their situation, but I don’t think Trent is arguing for that at all. It’s just a reminder that if you are trying to save money that there are little things you can still cut out that make a difference. I’m constantly looking for ways to save money and if it is applicable to my situation, and saving money is really valuable to me in that circumstance I think it is great advice. The fact is sometimes I am lazy and would like to hire someone to mow the lawn, but I am able bodied and can make time in my day to mow the lawn because I don’t want to pay someone $20 for an hour of work.

By: TomK

TomK — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:45:48 +0000

Great ideas that really can help you save! Here is a source that can help you keep track of doing many of these things. Lets you know exactly when you did it last and when it’s due again. Good educational and motivational tool. http://www.myhomechannel.org

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:22:17 +0000

I have to laugh at how many people seem to be taking Trent’s post as a personal attack. I think what he’s doing here is giving people who say “I never seem to have any money” some ideas as to how they can free up some money. He’s not saying we should all stop buying anything from stores and start slaughtering our own beef. He’s giving ideas as to how those who want (or ought) to be budget-conscious can maybe change some of their ways.

I like to can my own salsa and jam and pickles and things. I certainly don’t look down on those who don’t, because it can be hot messy work, and I have family and friends who aren’t good with paying attention to stoves. It’s something that gives me pleasure and I get to give inexpensive gifts for birthdays and Christmas. I wouldn’t change my own oil, but I wouldn’t pay someone to mow my lawn either. Different strokes, right?

By: KoryO

KoryO — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:55:38 +0000

Trent, did you ever consider that there may be other reasons to hire people to do things for you that you haven’t considered?

I hire a lady to mow my yard, and I have TruGreen come by and treat the lawn, too. Sure, it might be cheaper to do it ourselves….until you count in the facts that I’m pregnant (not a good idea to get exposed to chemicals at this time, or get overheated), my son has decided not to nap anymore (no way am I going to leave a nearly three year old unsupervised in the house while I go mow….or worse yet, expect him to play quietly nearby while I mow and not run into our relatively busy street), and my husband suffered from a day of allergies every time he mowed last year. With the economy the way it is, we can’t afford for him to take sick days every week just so our lawn meets community standards.

Add all that up, and yeah, I think spending the money is definitely worth it. Maybe your “wasteful” neighbor also has health concerns that make such an expenditure worth it to him/her?

By: Mo-Town

Mo-Town — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:22:56 +0000

I’m a big DIY fan, too. Just this year I’ve installed attic fans, added insulation, hung drywall and built a workbench in my unfinished garage, added baseboard and crown moulding, and painted. I have a desk job, and for me, weekend projects around the house are therapeutic.

But there’s definitely a learning curve. No matter how many DIY books you read, it’s going to take practice before you can do something as well as a skilled tradesman. I wasted plenty of baseboard before I figured out how to make seamless mitred and scarp joints, and I won’t even go into some of the misadventures I had before I mastered painting with an airless paint rig.

And I second (or third) the comments made about electrical work. If it involves more than swapping out an existing fan or light, I pay an electrician to do it. :-)

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:10:47 +0000

I am an advocate for doing things myself. The only services I would consider hiring are: plumbers due to issues beyond my capability, electrical work for the same reason as plumbing, and pest (mice, cockroaches, termites)removal.

Last year we paid a ton of money for lawn service, and for the life of me, I was unable to figure out the statement for services rendered. In the end it was a huge regret. This year the weeds are worse than ever, which goes to show that to keep weeds and grubs at bay and the grass lush and green, you have to keep up with it. This can easily be accomplished by doing it yourself for far, far less than hiring a service.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 01:14:21 +0000

#47 Rachel, consider that doing all these things, like hanging clothes out to dry, has a serious cost for you. People with fibromyalgia, arthritis, and other energy-sapping conditions who expend energy unnecessarily pay for it by not being able to do things that they want to do, or that are more important.

Also, forcing yourself to do unnecessary tasks will generally make you run yourself down even more. The equation for people with chronic illness is very different from that for healthy people.

The best illustration I can think of is on a site, “Butyoudon’tlooksick”. Search for “Spoons.” Obviously, if you have an adult son old enough to be married, they should be helping you out.

Probably the most insane thing I saw was the recipe in a magazine for people with fibro, starting out with getting round steak at the store and then grinding it for ground meat. That was a three-day recipe, starting with shopping, resting a day, then grinding the meat, resting a day, and then getting to the rest of the recipe.

The slogan should not be “use it or lose it,” but “Conserve it to preserve it.” Bake your cakes and enjoy them, but delegate the cleaning and vacuuming so you can write a story, make a phone call, attend a support group meeting, or go to a movie. Life is too short when you are ill to waste energy on things that don’t bring joy.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:44:27 +0000

I have fibromyalgia and am tired a lot. But I still do most things myself. I hang clothes out to dry, cook meals, and clean up, clean my own house, I have had to relax my standars somewhat, but I still get it done. I think that sometimes people don’t do for themselves because they don’t think they can. this is true of my daughter-in-law, she was never shown or taught certain things, and really doubts her ablility at many household chores. I will not pay $20.00 for a bakery birthday cake. I cannot decorate cakes, but I can bake cakes that everyone in my family enjoys, lemon for my husband, and chocolate for my son. these cost around $3.00. I just cannot justify $2o.oo for a cake made with $3.00 worth of ingredients. I do however like to pick up Little Caersars $5 pizzas. By the time I buy the
ingredients and do the work, I haven’t saved anything. But I don’t buy $5 pizzas if I don’t have $5. I cook whatever I have on hand. Pulling out a credit card in NEVER a good idea!

By: Elderly librarian

Elderly librarian — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:55:17 +0000

To Michael– I am going to imagine that I have granite counter tops just for the heck of it! I am going to wear a green garbage bag and call it Dior, etc. Well I won’t imagine the part about the wheelbarrow.

By: beth

beth — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:32:45 +0000

I’m sure the cost to “fix” what I tried to fix is not worth the time or money. Being able to do all those things for myself would b unbelievable. I think “desire” to learn is another huge factor to consider. There are some things I must learn (like how to budget and how to clean my house) but other things are specialized.

By: Leah

Leah — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:40:06 +0000

I definitely agree that it’s good to do things yourself. But I do pick and choose just some things from this list and allow myself to pay others to do tasks I don’t like as much.

For example, changing my oil: it costs me $30 to get my oil changed. But I don’t have to get icky, I don’t have to drop off the old oil, and the guys also check a bunch of other fluid levels and top those off. The one time I did change my oil, my friend and I also accidentally changed my transmission fluid. It ended up being fine . . . but I’m not eager to repeat that incident. I now know how to change my oil, but I’d rather pay another $15 to have someone do it.

But, by and large, I do a lot of things myself. I always move myself (have you looked at the costs of movers ever?), and I do lots of my own little home repairs. And I planted my own garden for the first time this year, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it really isn’t that hard. I did container tomatoes and herbs. I’ll definitely be expanding my garden in future years!

By: dsz5463

dsz5463 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:19:50 +0000

Posts like this seem to bring out the rancor in people. Nowhere was it written that one must take on projects beyond their abilities or comfort level and I did not see any condemnation of watching your favorite television show.
Everyone has a different situation. Some are able-bodied and strong, others may not be so physically inclined but can cook or sew. Some have little kids and love to read while others get a kick out of comedy shows or like board games or cat naps.
The examples given are just that-examples not edicts. The point of the post, I believe, is to evaluate where you spend your money and see if there’s a less expensive DIY alternative. Can you try to do something on your own, even if you have to invest some time and learn a new skill? If you’re not physically fit, don’t get on the ladder. If you’re not absolutely confident you won’t fry yourself, leave the electrical alone. But at least consider the possibility to do those things you can.
As to the TV comments, no one is condemning television-you enjoy your shows and want to relax, that’s good. The point was after you’re done watching your shows and you’re just flipping through to find something, anything to watch just to kill time maybe that’s the time to shut it off and do something else, maybe something that will improve your living situation and bottom line.
I think Trent wants to keep us thinking and evaluating and learning from one another how to make our lives financially secure and fulfilling.
My personal opinion is there’s a difference between choosing not to do a task for whatever valid personal reason and choosing not to even consider it when it’s a viable possibility. We are getting lazier and less self-sufficient as a society. I’m not saying we should all grow our own wheat, but I know in my life not much comes close to the feeling of looking at a completed project and knowing ‘I did that’. Our country was founded on the principles of freedom and independence. Making enough money to have the freedom to pay someone to do a task for us is fine, but sacrificing our financial security because we’re too lazy to consider doing something for ourselves as we’re able is self-imposed slavery. Where each of us draws that line is a personal decision, but shouldn’t we evaluate that line from time to time?

By: Kevin@OutOfYourRut

Kevin@OutOfYourRut — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:09:24 +0000

J (32)–Regarding a “Do it yourself” directive vs. “consider”, I much prefer the former. I like that Trent is definate about what he says. I think that’s a lot of the reason most of us come to blogs for information and conversation. People say things here and own it.

The mainstream media waffle on what they say and print, “this is what’s happening…but, there’s also the possibility of that happening”. They’re so afraid to be wrong, to say something that might offend someone that they talk out both sides of their mouths. I don’t get anything out of that. Blogs are a refreshing change; there’s no PC police here.

The worst example of talking out both sides of your mouth, IMHO, was Alan Greenspan. Yes, I know that in many quarters he was considered a genius, the Maestro was his nickname, but his speeches and testamonies were just plain tiring. He could go on for an hour and say a lot without saying anything, leaving everyone to interpret what he meant by the something he might have emphazed (or not), or left unsaid, or indicated in his body language, facial expression or tone of voice. The guy could never be wrong because he could never be pinned down.

I much prefer someone being definative of what they say or write, even if I disagree. The disagreement alone can make for an interesting exchange where we all lean plenty. The proof is in the number of comments that follow many of his posts.

By: Randy Conley

Randy Conley — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:44:03 +0000

“One big caveat, right off the bat: I’m not claiming that you should do everything yourself. There are certainly situations where paying others to do things for you is beneficial, and those opportunities become more prevalent as your income rises.”

Great post, Trent. As usual, as the comments build, more and more hyperbole and self-justification of the status quo is evident. Different strokes for different folks, for goodness sake!

I am a well-paid professional, no debt, own my home, but still take 5 minutes to refill my printer ink cartridge (saves $25)!

Keep up the good work!

By: jreed

jreed — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:03:09 +0000

Maybe the guy across the street works hard everyday and doesn’t want to come home and do yard work. Paying someone for childcare? Some people will take care of the lawn but send the kids to day care… and then blog about how “sad” it is that everyone doesn’t share the exact same values.