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As someone who is independent, I try to do as much around the house as I can. I don’t mean housework or laundry; I mean things like unclogging the toilet and putting up shelves. I try to stay as independent as possible to save money and so that I don’t have to be subjected to someone else’s time schedule.
But most of these require certain skills I’ve never learned. I haven’t used an electric snake, or a toilet auger. I have put up shelves which is difficult to do by yourself.
I used to change my own oil and filter until they made it so that you needed a car lift to accomplish this task. Now that I have an electric vehicle, I no longer have to worry about that.
My question to the talented group of Humble Dollar (HD) readers is this:
However, I found this interesting: 12 Home Improvement Projects You Should Never, Ever DIYhttps://www.rd.com/list/diy-home-improvement-projects/
I don’t agree with some of the items on this list. It all boils down to your training and/or skill level. All home repair or maintenance projects should be approached with a plan and ample time to complete the job.
The machine that has saved me the most money is my lawn mower. I estimate it saves me well over $1,000 each year, and a new generation electric one with two batteries saves even more. (Do your own fertilizing and weed prevention, too. It is easy once you know the calendar.) Next, a good power drill is easily the #2 tool. (Both wired and battery have their place.) I have a garage wall full of tools, but it is the knowledge of when and how to use each one that is most valuable. “The right tool for the job” is a 100% correct maxim. You won’t really need big tools like a table saw or jig saw unless woodwork is your passion. I don’t buy a new tool unless I see that the value in a particular project will pay for the tool. Even one use can make it worthwhile to buy. Over a lifetime, the basics – good quality screwdrivers, wrenches and clamps, hammers, razors and cutting tools, paint brushes, and a good selection of screws, nuts and bolts and small things like that – all prove invaluable. A level, for example, isn’t used much, but having it when you need it is essential, like hanging pictures. When you do a project, you want to see it was done carefully, instead of being reminded of your mistakes. The most important skill? Being methodical and careful, researching and planning things out, measuring carefully twice or more, and not feeling rushed. I leave electricity and plumbing to professionals – the mistakes there can be costly or even dangerous. Also, water is a home’s worst enemy. Never let a water issue go unresolved.
There are lots of “how to” videos on the internet. Watching some helped us with very simple domestic repairs. And putting together some flat-pack, ready-to-assemble furniture.
Of course having mechanically minded children and daughters/sons-in-law is the most helpful.
It’s Win-Win! We get to watch our grandkids while they do the work!
Your questions reminded me of two quotes from Bernard Baruch:
“If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” – So, use the right tool. Sometimes that tool is using the phone to call the pro.
“During my eighty-seven years I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think.” – I have a friend that is an ER nurse who has numerous stories of DIY projects that have landed in the ER. Thinking is an under rated tool for the DIYer.
Great suggestions! I envy those of who have so many skills. I know how to sew and that is another skill that can save a lot of money. The skills I would most like to learn are plumbing and electrical. We have fix-it clinics in our area where you can bring items in and someone can show you how to fix the item. I brought a microwave in and received great advice.
Regarding Tools – I don’t know if this is unique to Seattle, but my SIL volunteers at a community free tool “library.” The tools range from the most basic hammers to things like miter saws and air compressors and more.
We have a Cresco Equipment Rental where you can rent for jobs you may not do frequently to buy the equipment. I rented a polisher for my wood floors many years ago and would do it again.
The Red Bank, NJ Library has a tool for loan section. They have a pretty big selection of hand and power tools; they even have an air compressor and nail gun. The library also has some small appliances lie a hand mixer. I wondered if anyone else had seen something like this.
As I think about it, I have no skills to save money other than an ability to not spend. I have no DIY skills for sure.
Skills to remain independent? Not sure how to answer. A check book?
Essential tools? I have a hammer, screwdrivers and pliers. Is that what you mean?
oh yes, I have my son, the home repair, handyman’s phone number in my i phone. Now, that is essential. If he can’t fix it he knows people.
As for tools, a modest addition: some good glues. I seem to use glue pretty frequently (maybe because I tend to break things!). One problem I frequently have is that my glues dry up in the container and become useless. I’ve had this problem repeatedly with Gorilla Glue.
One I’ve found that avoids this problem: “Shoe Goo”, which I use on shoes but also on a wide variety of small jobs. It works well and never dries up.
“Super glues” are the ones that dry up on me the quickest. But (fingers crossed) I may have finally found one that doesn’t: “Loctite Super Glue Gel Control”. So far it’s done the job and has shown no signs of drying up.
Thanks of the tip Andrew. I seem to find myself buying new glue whenever I need it.
Along with skill(s), to stay independent, you have to get wiser about what tasks you decide to take on. I know a lot of folks who have fallen off of ladders, stools, chairs etc, or off of roofs or other elevated places. As you age, recovery from an accidental fall of this type gets a lot harder. Falling off of a roof can kill you.
And, what about lifting heavy objects? Twenty years ago re-setting a toilet on a new seal was easy, now at age 78 I call a handyman. What does a bag with 2 CF of potting soil weigh?
Finally, are you up-to-date on any tech which was built into the thing you need to fix? Something to think about.
Interesting topic. I’m probably a bit extreme. I strove to become independent beginning at age 17 and never stopped.
Because I’m a RVer, I own a few specialty tools.
Norm
Another issue for me is where to store all these tools/equipment. Do you think Harbor Freight tools are inferior?
Harbor Freight has several tiers of quality. I do use them for specialty tools which seldom use. For example, I purchased the “Shower Valve Socket Wrench Set” $10.99. I did major bath renovations and this is a tool I used for the job. Will probably sell at a garage sale. I’ve always liked Craftsman tools (formerly Sears). As for storing, one has to be selective about purchases. I have tool bags of various sizes. I sort by type, etc. Because I RV in a classB I don’t have a lot of tool storage space.
Norman, when you say your sort by type, do you mean plumbing tools in one bag, electrical tools in another bag, etc?
My father taught me to buy Craftsman tools.
Skills I’ve developed and used over my 60 years of adult life:
All of the above were either learned by reading, practicing, copying, or more recently by YouTube (wish I had it earlier). I’m confident I’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars (maybe $100,000) over the years. Most developed into hobbies which gave me great pleasure as well as saving money.
Skills most useful in remaining independent:
Essential Tools (links for illustration only):
Buy more tools only as needed for the next project. You don’t have to spend on the highest quality tools because you’re not using them to make a living. There were tools I wish I had bought earlier like electric screwdrivers and an electric miter saw. (I used a miter box and hand saw for years.) I also have the advantage of having a walk-down oil pit in my garage for getting underneath my cars.
Thanks Bob, these suggestions are helpful
The most valuable skills that I have learned came from my DAD.
Those are the most rewarding. Mine come from a grandfather, father and a brother.
Up votes for the socket and screwdriver set with lots of bits along with the battery operated screwdriver, which can also serve as a drill.
also upvoted the painting labor. We’re repainting one room now, but we’ve also hired two different painters through the years, including most recently this summer. I don’t get up on the roof anymore like I did all the time 20 years ago.
The biggest savings though is with Plumbing. Changing a faucet that has started to leak or shower valve can easily be $400 in my area. The parts tend to be free if you’re the original owner of certain brands. So if you can do it yourself, there’s no out-of-pocket cost at all. I work with two plumbing companies for the big stuff like an entire hot water heater which my house has two and so while they are here doing something that requires soldering copper pipe or that I don’t want to do I walk them around to get prices on anything else I need done Then either choose to hire them or DIY.
I love this topic!
I’m a DIY believer. There aren’t too many house projects I won’t try to tackle. I generally stay away from plumbing, but I’ve even done some minor projects in that realm.
The scenario usually starts out like this: I get the names of a couple people/contractors to do some type of work. Then I get the estimate. Then I research the project. Then I do it myself.
I think painting has been the most valuable skill for saving me money. In 2018 I purchased a home that was physically in good condition. But as far as aesthetics go, it was pretty ugly. It had been painted a horrible shade of green both inside and outside. There was some old wallpaper on a few of the walls.
Over the course of four years, I painted every wall–inside and out. I stripped off the old wallpaper, patched minor holes in the walls and polished all the wood trim work. I suspect if I paid someone else to do all of that work it could have easily cost me $20,000 or more. Instead, I suspect I came in at about $1500 total cost. The difference all the work made in the appearance of the house was huge.
I’ve done electrical repairs, replaced flooring and recently tore out a shower door. There’s not too many things I won’t try at least once.
As far as staying independent, I would argue eating healthy (no sugar, no grains), walking 7-10 miles a day and maintaining a healthy weight are the best things I can do to try and stay independent for as long as possible.
Wow, that’s impressive. I guess it depends on which you have more of: time or money.
Also how much motivation you have to do things that might be a one-off.
In my case, I enjoy doing projects around the house because I have to stay busy. I just don’t have the kind of personality that allows me to stay in one place for more than a few minutes. My mind (and body) are in constant motion.
I was going to answer “nothing” to all of your questions but then read some of the comments below. I’m not handy AT ALL around the house, but I can:
OK, I’m not quite as useless as I thought, but I do have Ed coming over tomorrow to put up our new painting. It’s heavy and neither of us wanted to mess with hanging it. And we have a house cleaner.
I’d like to put in a plug to men and women who cook meals at home. Not only are restaurant meals at least 5 times as expensive as home cooked meals, but meals cooked at home are much healthier, as you get to decide what goes into the meal. If you use meal kits, you’re paying 3 times more than cooking from scratch.
My husband and I make a variety of soups during the winter months—he’s the sous chef and I’m the head chef. We make a winter harvest soup that’s chock full of a variety of vegetables and is delicious, not to mention economical.
lol Marjorie, I get to brown the beef, peel the potatoes, boil the water…. I’ve said that my role in the kitchen is akin to being on the dumb end of the tape measure.
Yes! We eat ‘no sugar, no grains’ so eating out really isn’t an option.
We just started soup season in our house. I made a smoked ham and vegetable soup the other day that was delicious.
Great response.
Thanks Ed. I did say I’m head chef, but I’m more like the Swedish Chef from The Muppets” show!
This is a great topic, especially as we get older. When we bought our first house I bought 2 Reader’s Digest books on plumbing and electrical work. They served me very well for a few decades. That, and access to friends who were plumbers,. electricians, and carpenters allowed me to do most of the work in our first 2 homes. Also, working with many engineers gave me access to many highly skilled, smart people. One of the things I’ve learned is that the building codes are not static, electrical codes especially. There are also many new products on the market, like the frost freeze hose bibs on our new house. One of the benefits of using, for at least talking to, professionals is understanding the latest products and techniques. One of the best skills you can develop is the judgment to know what you are capable of, and what you should get help with.
Doing my own electrical work makes me nervous. You really have to know the current codes in your area. Insurance companies can deny a claim if an unlicensed individual does the work.
I bought “Plumbing for Dummies” and “Electricity for Dummies” a very long time ago. They both came in very handy.
In the past, I did a lot of automobile repair. I wrote about it in an earlier HB piece. That probably saved the most money, but I quit when the electronics got in the way of the mechanical aspects.Just being able to use tools, understanding “righty tightly and lefty loosey”, and knowing that brute strength can solve lots of a problems.A good 1/4-inch drive ratchet set with both metric and english sockets, and an adapter for screwdriver bits (straight, phillips, hex, torx, etc.). A high quality rechargeable battery-driven screwdriver and driver with accompanying bits. A good, basic set of screw drivers, pliers, hex wrenches, and a hammer. For small in-the-house projects, include a short bubble level, tape measure. If you do electrical work, an inexpensive volt-ohm meter would be helpful. Everything else I would only purchase if needed for a particular project.Also, here are others.
Other folks have recommended YouTube. I heartily endorse that option. It can save time and frustration. But not everyone on YouTube has the solution to your problem – or they have the wrong solution. Don’t rely on the first video you watch. Review several and look for consistency and logic.A good, independent hardware store can be a lifesaver. If you walk in with a good description of a problem plus a picture or two, they can often walk you through the parts you need and the steps required.Don’t buy a large predetermined selection of hardware (bolts, machine screws, washers, wood screws, metal thread-cutting screws, lock washers, etc.). Just buy the hardware you need for a particular project. I have buckets of leftover hardware from myriads of projects.
Excellent list. Agree completely.
I think the previous comments are all useful, but I would say it depends. I once made my living with construction, so many jobs around the house are familiar to me. For someone without that experience, but with a knack for using tools, there’s a YouTube video for just about everything. That allows skipping on-the-job training and getting right to the repair. But if I had to start from scratch to gain both knowledge and experience, the time might not be worth the eventual savings. And don’t discount the cost of blunders during the learning process.
Even now, with the ability to do many maintenance and repair jobs, I choose to pay to have some of it done, because it’s a job I don’t like or my schedule won’t allow, and money’s not as tight as it once was. That said, it’s nice to be able to do a quick job like changing a light switch, faucet or cartridge without the expense and wait time that a service person would cost.
But I think Jonathan’s comment shouldn’t be overlooked. Money also brings independence.
“And don’t discount the cost of blunders during the learning process.” A great point, speaking from my experience.
I recently changed a faulty ground fault circuit interrupter. It was easy Peary. Shut off the power transferred one wire at a time, install, turn on power.
i was however shocked at how much one cost.
Our current home is the first we’ve owned with Arc Fault Circuit interrupter outlets. We recently added a new circuit in our basement and it was required to be an arc fault breaker. That was newer technology to me.
I had planned to replace a GFCI breaker for the garbage disposal that kept tripping. Those a pain in the you-know-what because they get triggered so easily. I chickened out of any electrical work because if there was a fire I can see insurance denying the claim.
One upgrade that I was adamant with the builder is I wanted a whole house surge protector in the panel. No need for them all over the house to protect electronics, appliances etc. don’t know what it cost, but didn’t matter. I was more concerned with protecting all the things from damaging surges.
David, I didn’t even know a whole house surge protector was a thing. That’s a great idea.
About the my current house I would say my gardening, landscaping, and lawn care. After we built our retirement house in 2016 I built a dry fit stone retaining wall up against the house for planting as well as a natural stone walkway from the driveway to the front stairs. All of the landscaping such as planting bushes and trees were planted by me. This definitely saved me thousands of dollars in labor costs and increased the value of my home to boot.
Regarding my previous house which was a 100 year old Victorian I saved thousands by scraping and painting the entire house multiple times over the 20+ years we owned it. I also did a lot of the demolition and rehabilitation of the house such as insulation, sheet rocking, painting, and refinishing floors.
One of my motos is I won’t pay someone to do something I can do myself.
That’s quite impressive David!
I’ve never thought of myself as mechanical in nature, however, YouTube has allowed me to make repairs I never thought myself capable of. For instance, I’ve replaced my dryer heating element several times, something I never would have done previously without seeing via video how relatively easy it was. You do get a nice feeling of accomplishment when the repair works and your wife may again think you are useful. I’ve found a good set of socket wrenches, pliers, and battery powered drill very useful recently. Bottom line, I’ll try to do it myself if I think I can do it without making things worse or hurting myself, otherwise I get a pro.
Excellent point Pat, youtube videos have enabled me to take on several repairs.
In my youth I was confident dealing with bolt on car parts; water pump, radiator, oil changes. Friends used to come to me to install fancy radios and tape players. Not anymore, cars today are a whole ‘nother breed of beast.
I’m okay with rough carpentry but am getting too old to be climbing ladders. I did recently build a 6 by 24 foot platform over the floor in the front of the garage, and installed wall and base cabinets. That probably saved us about $3k in labor. It was fun and satisfying, but wore me out.
Essential tools? I’m hoping my saws and my brain remain sharp. I don’t own contractor grade power tools because I don’t use them often. In addition to decent saws and drills, oscillating saws and rotary tools come in handy.
Of course I do my own taxes, and manage most of my investments.
I seem to be unable to saw a straight line. I did build shelving that was supposed to be a weekend project. Took me 6 months
“I’m hoping my saws and my brain remain sharp.”
I don’t know about your saws, but the quote above seems to confirm that the brain is doing just fine.
I know you’re focused on practical skills, but let me put in a plug for managing money: That’s a skill — minimizing fund expenses, limiting advisory fees, holding down interest costs, avoiding overdraft fees and so on — that’s potentially worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
I’ve noted several commercials and ads that promote apps that can flag duplicate paid subscriptions you’ve signed up for. Is anyone else taken back by this “need”? I can see the ease with which one can sign up for a free trial period and forget that after the trial ends, your subscription signup becomes automatic and possibly reoccurring on a monthly or annual basis. Even so, a quick reminder placed on your calendar to cancel the trial several days ahead of such a threshold is pretty basic stuff. Egads! We need to change the credit card commercial to, “What’s coming out of your wallet?”
Thanks for saying so. I was feeling pretty useless after reading the original post. 🙂
Me too. And I do my own taxes!
Yes indeed. Saving $30 on an oil change while paying 1 or 2% in advisory and fund fees is penny wise and pound foolish.