There have been three DYI (do-it-yourself) opportunities at home this week that allowed me to choose frugality over unneeded spending by hiring someone else to do the work.
- I repaired three leaks on a ceramic tile roof and re-plastered and painted the indoor ceiling where rain water had leaked through. I was able to do the repairs myself instead of calling a handyman or contractor.
- A sink in one of the bathrooms started leaking at the valve where the water comes from the wall to the hot and cold water pipes going to the sink. I was able to replace and install the water valve myself instead of calling a plumber.
- My wife wanted a window shelf to put between the laundry room window and the washer and dryer to store detergents and other laundry supplies. Since it was an odd size, the cost to have one made was $42 plus $40 for the installation. Instead, I used some spare chipboard we had stored. I cut the board to the exact measurements and attached the shelf with handmade wood brackets to the ceramic tile wall.
I don’t know how much money I saved on these three projects but I’m sure it was hundreds of dollars. My cost was only $4 for two drill bits for going through ceramic tiles. All other materials and hardware were from my own stash of materials and parts I had purchased over the last 35 years at garage and estate sales.
Besides saving money, I had fun doing them. Isn’t that what being frugal is all about?
