Comments on: Save Money with Do-It-Yourself Jobs http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/ Christian Personal Finance - Financial help blog, debt help and other financial resources Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:22:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steph http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-21133 Steph Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:38:28 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-21133 Great ideas but note that some communities don't allow washing cars. I know, it is hard to believe but homeowners' associations have the rule that no one is to do mechanical work and/or wash their own car. We lived in a condo whose HO association forbid and there are many (at least in California) that don't allow in regular single-family homes. I guess it is "unsightly". Where we live now, one has to obtain a permit from the HO association to have more than one yard sale a year, there can be no changes to windows that are visible to the streets, satellite dishes have to be placed so they are not visible, etc. Also in areas where there are drought conditions, cities ban car washing since the water just runs down the gutter. At car washes, they recycle the water somehow. Just a heads up - you might want to check with local rules with the powers that be first. Great ideas but note that some communities don’t allow washing cars. I know, it is hard to believe but homeowners’ associations have the rule that no one is to do mechanical work and/or wash their own car. We lived in a condo whose HO association forbid and there are many (at least in California) that don’t allow in regular single-family homes. I guess it is “unsightly”. Where we live now, one has to obtain a permit from the HO association to have more than one yard sale a year, there can be no changes to windows that are visible to the streets, satellite dishes have to be placed so they are not visible, etc. Also in areas where there are drought conditions, cities ban car washing since the water just runs down the gutter. At car washes, they recycle the water somehow. Just a heads up – you might want to check with local rules with the powers that be first.

]]> By: Jamie http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-21100 Jamie Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:02:29 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-21100 As for housecleaning, I hire my kids! At ages 13, 10 and 7, they take care of vacuuming, loading and unloading the dishwasher, keeping the bathrooms (fairly) clean, emptying trash and litter box, cleaning out the fridge, mowing, etc. For this and more, they are paid an allowance (more like a wage). It leaves me with the cooking and dad does the laundry and whatever big jobs the kids can't do (like getting the bathroom truly clean). I think we otherwise do the rest of the stuff on your list. We don't do car stuff and home repairs have to be minor, or its beyond us. As for housecleaning, I hire my kids! At ages 13, 10 and 7, they take care of vacuuming, loading and unloading the dishwasher, keeping the bathrooms (fairly) clean, emptying trash and litter box, cleaning out the fridge, mowing, etc. For this and more, they are paid an allowance (more like a wage). It leaves me with the cooking and dad does the laundry and whatever big jobs the kids can’t do (like getting the bathroom truly clean). I think we otherwise do the rest of the stuff on your list. We don’t do car stuff and home repairs have to be minor, or its beyond us.

]]> By: Jason @ One Money Design http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20993 Jason @ One Money Design Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:23:06 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20993 Matthew, thanks for sharing your experience. That's a good point in that you're already in the habit of doing these things and changing could be challenging. However, if one needs to save money, you're a great example of how these things can be done; it's not out of reach. Joe, I think we can definitely have the exceptions, especially when it's within our budget limitations. bondChristian, Wow! Great idea for coming up with a way to make some extra money too. Should I have titled this "Save or Make Money...?" Matthew, thanks for sharing your experience. That’s a good point in that you’re already in the habit of doing these things and changing could be challenging. However, if one needs to save money, you’re a great example of how these things can be done; it’s not out of reach.

Joe, I think we can definitely have the exceptions, especially when it’s within our budget limitations.

bondChristian, Wow! Great idea for coming up with a way to make some extra money too. Should I have titled this “Save or Make Money…?”

]]> By: bondChristian http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20991 bondChristian Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:45:12 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20991 Yes, I do all the items on the list. Except washing my own car... I let the rain take care of that. :>) These can be great ways to pick up some extra cash if you can find someone who'll pay you to do them too. -Marshall Jones Jr. Yes, I do all the items on the list. Except washing my own car… I let the rain take care of that. :>)

These can be great ways to pick up some extra cash if you can find someone who’ll pay you to do them too.

-Marshall Jones Jr.

]]> By: Joe http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20990 Joe Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:38:07 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20990 I am like Matthew. I started out doing all of those things on my own because we simply didn't have the money to pay anyone else. Now these tasks are ingrained into my psyche (I am a tightwad) so I continue doing most of them myself. I am fortunate enough to be semi-retired now so there are a couple of exceptions: we occasionally hire a housekeeper to get to the things we can't or don't want to do. We also hire out some home repairs that will keep me off the roof or tall ladders. I am like Matthew. I started out doing all of those things on my own because we simply didn’t have the money to pay anyone else. Now these tasks are ingrained into my psyche (I am a tightwad) so I continue doing most of them myself.

I am fortunate enough to be semi-retired now so there are a couple of exceptions: we occasionally hire a housekeeper to get to the things we can’t or don’t want to do. We also hire out some home repairs that will keep me off the roof or tall ladders.

]]> By: Matthew - www.Adventure-Some.com http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20952 Matthew - www.Adventure-Some.com Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:37:08 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20952 I do most of the items on this list, because I started out always having to do them, financially speaking. Since I live in an apartment, I can't wash my car in the driveway, but I can go through the touchless wash and do it myself. Last night cost about $3, instead of more for an automated wash, or even more to pay someone to do it. I can do my own laundry (and I don't iron very often) in-between other tasks. Start a load, work on project, take break from project when buzzer sounds and switch clothes to dryer, return to work, take break and fold/put away clothes. It's a whole lot easier to do these activities myself since I never started paying someone to do it. It would be hard to cut have to take up yard work again if I'd gotten out of the habit, I suppose. However, I've saved a fortune! I do most of the items on this list, because I started out always having to do them, financially speaking. Since I live in an apartment, I can’t wash my car in the driveway, but I can go through the touchless wash and do it myself. Last night cost about $3, instead of more for an automated wash, or even more to pay someone to do it.

I can do my own laundry (and I don’t iron very often) in-between other tasks. Start a load, work on project, take break from project when buzzer sounds and switch clothes to dryer, return to work, take break and fold/put away clothes.

It’s a whole lot easier to do these activities myself since I never started paying someone to do it. It would be hard to cut have to take up yard work again if I’d gotten out of the habit, I suppose.

However, I’ve saved a fortune!

]]> By: Jason @ One Money Design http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20950 Jason @ One Money Design Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:40:09 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20950 Craig, I agree. In the spring or summer, I'd much rather have the time outside to get the fresh air and of course it saves some money. Dirac, That's an interesting thought. I guess it's all in how much you value your time, right? I suppose someone with less free time may put a higher value on time than others. But, if people are trying to make serious budget cuts to get out of debt or increase savings, the do-it-yourself approach for ironing clothes may be much more valuable (even if it's not very enjoyable). :) Thanks for your thoughts. Craig, I agree. In the spring or summer, I’d much rather have the time outside to get the fresh air and of course it saves some money.

Dirac, That’s an interesting thought. I guess it’s all in how much you value your time, right? I suppose someone with less free time may put a higher value on time than others. But, if people are trying to make serious budget cuts to get out of debt or increase savings, the do-it-yourself approach for ironing clothes may be much more valuable (even if it’s not very enjoyable). :) Thanks for your thoughts.

]]> By: Dirac http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20949 Dirac Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:02:49 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20949 What I would advise a reader to do is find a dollar value of time calculator online and figure out how much free time is actually worth. On this list, ironing my own dress shirts is not an effective use of my time/money. I found a local person who can wash and press for a very cost effective amount. Also, with respect to house cleaning, if I could find someone I would trust with a key, I would have someone in in a heartbeat. If only to do the bathrooms, dust, sweep/vacuum/mop floors. During my average to 2.5 hours of downtime each night, I would rather not clean or dust. What I would advise a reader to do is find a dollar value of time calculator online and figure out how much free time is actually worth. On this list, ironing my own dress shirts is not an effective use of my time/money. I found a local person who can wash and press for a very cost effective amount. Also, with respect to house cleaning, if I could find someone I would trust with a key, I would have someone in in a heartbeat. If only to do the bathrooms, dust, sweep/vacuum/mop floors.

During my average to 2.5 hours of downtime each night, I would rather not clean or dust.

]]> By: Craig http://christianpf.com/save-money-with-do-it-yourself-jobs/comment-page-1/#comment-20942 Craig Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:21:59 +0000 http://christianpf.com/?p=5217#comment-20942 When its summer I like to wash my car sometimes, great way to get outside in the nice weather and do something with the day and clean the car too. When its summer I like to wash my car sometimes, great way to get outside in the nice weather and do something with the day and clean the car too.

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