When It Makes Sense, Do it Yourself

A few years ago, my son started growing out of his room. To increase floor space and give him more room to play, my husband and I decided to invest in a loft bed. That was easier said then done. He wanted to make the bed. I wanted to buy it.

We started by doing it my way. I had several of my shopaholic friends researching with me for a sturdy, wooden, full-size bed frame to fit the mattress we already had. Unfortunately, the only loft beds we could find in my price range were metal and flimsy. After weeks of shopping, I finally just let my husband do it. The project took him a week or two while working around other commitments, but he made the perfect bed – sturdy, full-size, real wood, with a huge airplane on the side. Our cost was less than $200, plus my husband’s time. It would have cost us at least $1,000 to buy the same bed. He was right. It made sense to do this ourselves.

That’s not always the case. About six months ago, I was in the grocery store looking for cheese sticks for my son’s lunch. The price was more than I was willing to spend, so I bought a big block of cheese and decided to make them myself. Bad idea. I couldn’t get nearly as many cheese sticks out of that block of cheese to equal the number in a package of individually wrapped cheese sticks. And, the time it took me to try wasn’t worth the $.50 cents I was saving.

Doing it yourself is not always the cheapest, most effective option, and there are many factors to consider. I failed to mention earlier that my husband has been doing carpentry work since he was a kid. Those skills were a good match for the bed project, but I would never trust him to lay tile in my kitchen. And, I can make a decent Halloween costume with some fabric and fabric glue, but that in no way qualifies me to make curtains for my windows. It wouldn’t even make sense.

Here are some things to consider when deciding whether it makes sense to do it yourself:

1. Your time is money. How much would it cost if you paid someone to do it, and how does that compare to the time it would take to do it yourself?
2. Do you have all the tools necessary to complete the project, or would you have to buy them?
3. Do you know what you’re doing? Some people are just instantly handy. Does that describe you?
4. How much will it cost if you do it yourself, mess up and pay someone to fix it?
5. How much money are you really saving? Consider the cost of labor, supplies and your personal time commitment. 

Do-It-Yourself projects can be fun, rewarding and thrifty. Just be sure it makes sense before you start them.

What are some other things to consider before doing it yourself? Leave a comment so we can continue the discussion.