Your time is not free

[SPYDERLK]

boys, if you are doing your own work; slow down, you'll make more money.
Why finish in 4 hours and only make $360 when you could drink a few more beers and go 8 hours and make $720 and have more beer money.

Reading through this thread has cost me about two hours, but it was worth a grand of fun !!

...So reading all this funny sh*t made me a $815 profit (that includes computer depreciation, electricity consumption and a beer)

I sat down an came up with a list of things i can't afford anymore.

8 hours sleep - $720
watching a football game - $360
Going to a movie- $180 plus popcorn ......Yikes!

Sorry little Jimmy, but watching your ball game costs me $270.......I'll have to pass.

[[Wait....what the heck am I doing]]....Who's stupid idea was this anyway?

Anyone mind if I just go back to having fun?

Yeah. Lets not twist around the OPs concept. Disagreement does not mean disrespect.
larry

 

[smstonypoint]

Yeah. Lets not twist around the OPs concept. Disagreement does not mean disrespect.
larry

I agree. Many of the posts on this thread fixated on the OP's use of $90/hour. That was his opportunity cost of working on his project. He never claimed that $ figure should be used by anyone else. As a consequence of this fixation, many posters apparently missed his point.

Steve

 

[harpoonalt]

Yeah. Lets not twist around the OPs concept. Disagreement does not mean disrespect.
larry

Free time is not free. Using the op's concept, my post is valid. If he values his time at $90 an hour leisure activities, family time cost him that as well. Using humor, maybe poorly, I meant to point out that fact. A few of the op's comments could be construed as disrespectful as well but I took them as good natured ribbing. I get what he's trying to say, even agree, just my version isn't so strict. Larry, you owe me $20 for this reply.

 

[doall]

No point missed, in an earlier post I stated that what I thought he meant was that if you spend $100 on a homemade box blade or whatever, You really have more than $100 in it if you count your time. Is this right?
No more disrespect here than from the other side. I hate being talked down to. But I think everybody's ok. It seems like some couldn't see the side that; it doesn't matter what the opportunity cost is if you only have the $100 though. That's real cost.

 

[SensibleNick]

Given that the OP said he'd rather go boating )(if I remember right) than spend time building stuff, I assumed him to mean simply that he'd rather pay more for the things he *could* do himself, and save the time to do things he'd rather do.

The $90 I saw as arbitrary.. I also understood his statement to be along the lines of "you'd all rather do something else than build stuff or fix stuff".

Well.. I don't own a boat, I don't fish, and have have a missus who'd rather I was messing about in the workshop instead of drinking beer with mates and watching TV or something other waste of time. (because she knows that makes me happier)

I consider making stuff and repairing stuff to be Excellent fun, I'd often rather spend time making my own things and maintaining my own things than forking out for someone else to do it. That way I get to have fun, and also know it has been done properly.

There is little in the world that gives me more pleasure than *making* something. It's like a little spark of magic every time I look at a tool or machine that works and get to say (even if only to myself) "I made that..."

It's even nicer when the gloating wee git on my shoulder whispers "And someone else would have probably paid twenty times more to get one of half the quality"

Just my 2 Kronor

 

[BethesdaEC]

Anyone mind if I just go back to having fun?

I don't know. Can you afford it?

 

[DRL]

"Disagreement does not mean disrespect"
Since when, in this land of free speech(for now), does speaking you mind get misconstrued as disrespect. Its disrespect only if it was meant that way, not if some third party took it that way.

DRL

 

[jgrreed]

"Disagreement does not mean disrespect"
Since when, in this land of free speech(for now), does speaking you mind get misconstrued as disrespect. Its disrespect only if it was meant that way, not if some third party took it that way.

DRL

DRL - I haven't looked through all of your comments specifically, but I do agree with SPYDER-man that there has been a fair bit of disrespect on this thread. That's what's incited most of my 'excited' responses. There on some posts on this thread that are, without question, meant to be disrespectful. This is not what TBN is to be about, and it's sad to see.

-Jer.

 

[joes_427_vette]

Well, Thought I would catch you up on ther latest... My dog received an " Over Draft " notice from the bank. We have an appointment at the pet food store to try out a cheaper ( more economical ) brand of food. Scrap steel is back to .38 cents a pound. We will be cutting up previous projects to make new ones ( hope we don't miss the old prototypes ). Were capturing swamp ( methane ) gas for the oxy/ act torch to lower expenses. I'm going to have to put up a sign ( Labor Rate $10.00 an hour ) as soon as i can afford the wood / paint to construct it. Family and relative rates remain unchanged $00.00 per hour which is 98% of my work load.
Here is hoping the president makes the necessary " CHANGES " he has been yaping about to build a better America. I would settle for the old one where people were paid less, enjoyed life more, and were less hung up on new fangled machines that removed creativity and individualism.

 

[o2batsea]

Free time is not free. Using the op's concept, my post is valid. If he values his time at $90 an hour leisure activities, family time cost him that as well. Using humor, maybe poorly, I meant to point out that fact. A few of the op's comments could be construed as disrespectful as well but I took them as good natured ribbing. I get what he's trying to say, even agree, just my version isn't so strict. Larry, you owe me $20 for this reply.

You missed the whole concept. Never wrote nor implied that my leisure activities are worth $90/hr.
Fabricating a tool/implement that is to be used to do a job/chore around the house/barn is valued at $90/hr minimum. I cannot count that as "fun" or "hobby" time if it is going towards grounds maintenance or upkeep or the like. It has to be considered as part of the expense of the property, even if I am sorta liking it. If it was a hobby, I would be making stuff merely for the **** of it. Like doing Jigsaw puzzles. I would not do a jigsaw puzzle because I was thinking I was going to sell it when I was done. I don't think many of us are building implements and tools for the **** of it. I mean it would be pointless to build a backhoe just cause you love to build stuff if you just left it sit unused once you were done. Clearly you would build it because you wanted to use it for WORKING.
Can't see why that is so hard to understand.

 

[tungularafishcamp]

I don't think many of us are building implements and tools for the **** of it. I mean it would be pointless to build a backhoe just cause you love to build stuff if you just left it sit unused once you were done. Clearly you would build it because you wanted to use it for WORKING.
Can't see why that is so hard to understand.

What I have a hard time understanding is why you care how someone other than you or your family choose to spend their "free" time. I can't think of a more boring thing for ME to do than a jigsaw puzzle but I wouldn't criticize someone if that is what turns their crank.
I make my living bouncing around on the ocean so in my free time I can't think of anything worse than to just go "boating" unless we are going somewhere for another activity. Now when I come in cold, wet, tingling from jellyfish from work and go into the greenhouse to snack and pull a few weeds with my home made weeder you would call that working while I call that relaxing and FUN.
I see your from Maryland, maybe the close proximity to all of those politicians has rubbed off on you so that you like to tell folks why they do things as well as what and how to do it besides your obvious distaste for physical work. I think it is a good thing that we are all different with different ways of looking at and doing things, if not we would be a herd of sheep but then again that's what the folks in DC seem to want:2cents:
Rick

 

[harpoonalt]

I see so many threads where the poster claims they only have a few bucks worth of materials in a project. I always calculate my own "shop hourly rate" into my projects to see whether I am actually saving money by doing some of these things myself. My personal rate is $90/hr.
My current wind powered pond aerator project is rapidly nearing the cost of the commercially available ones using this calc, but I'm in too deep to stop now so I will just go on and see it through.
It's an old habit and hard to break as the urge to do it myself is very strong. I am learning slowly that everything you bring home takes a little piece of your life away from you, whether it is a dozen eggs, a TV or a tractor. Spend your time wisely.

I thought this was your point. Spend your time wisely. Totally agree. What I gleaned from your original post was that you started a project that you wished you hadn't. You could have bought a commercial one and not had the hassle. I've had those happen too. It's how we learn. In my first house, I did all the painting and staining and felt probably like you do with your project. However, I had time but not much money, so I had no choice. In my last house I did all my hardwood floors. I saved $8000 on just that and actually would do it again. I worked from the basement up to the roof peak and know the house inside and out. I was there every day and a little piece of my life was taken away. 7 months of my life is invested in this house that I helped build for my family to live in and enjoy. I don't regret a minute. And yes, it's still standing, lol.
My point is life isn't as cut and dried as you painted it. I do stuff I like and stuff I don't when I HAVE to. And thank god for people who tinker and build stuff for no apparent reason. That's how all the cool stuff we have available is born. No disrespect intended. If we met in person, I'd buy ya a beer!

 

[BHD]

Everything has a cost,
either TIME
monetary FUNDS
or RESOURCES.

most have a input of all three,
just in various amounts,

some have the time and resources, some have money,

you have benefits from each of the process, some appeal to some persons and some not to others,

some people enjoy the process of planing and building, some do not, some enjoy tools, some use projects as an excuse to build up there tools and shop capabilities and there personal skills,

so instead of saying this project cost me $XX XX, is ever thing valued in dollars?
and trying to value ever thing in dollars,

I guess if doing it your self is costing you,

then do you hire some one to have *** with your wife, it may be cheaper than doing it your self.
I am sure you may be able to even find some one to do it for FREE.
HEY some may even pay you depending on your wife.
Just think of the savings,
After all your free time and doing it your self costs you.

so, valuing ever thing in dollars is kinda of a DUMB argument,

 

[beppington]

I built this picnic table last week: Woodworking Plans from Shopsmith Hands On!...........(except I extended it from 6' to 8' long)

I'm guessing it would've cost I dunno $250 or 300 to buy already built?

All materials cost me $103 at Home Depot.

Difference between $250 & $103 = $147. Took about 6 hours to build, so I "made" $24.50 an hour. Waaaaay below OP's hourly rate.

However, I couldn't be happier. Not only did I save the cash I would've had to pay for a ready-made table, but I enjoyed the process of building it, got to build it exactly the way I want, added some extra beef to it here & there, & have a feeling of accomplishment. What hourly rater do I put on all that?

Also, had I not been doing this, I would've probably been sittin' on my butt watching college football ... & not makin' a dime doing it.

I'm pretty confused at this whole topic.

ps It cost me $12 more to extend it from 6' to 8'

 

[o2batsea]

What I have a hard time understanding is why you care how someone other than you or your family choose to spend their "free" time. I can't think of a more boring thing for ME to do than a jigsaw puzzle but I wouldn't criticize someone if that is what turns their crank.
I make my living bouncing around on the ocean so in my free time I can't think of anything worse than to just go "boating" unless we are going somewhere for another activity. Now when I come in cold, wet, tingling from jellyfish from work and go into the greenhouse to snack and pull a few weeds with my home made weeder you would call that working while I call that relaxing and FUN.
I see your from Maryland, maybe the close proximity to all of those politicians has rubbed off on you so that you like to tell folks why they do things as well as what and how to do it besides your obvious distaste for physical work. I think it is a good thing that we are all different with different ways of looking at and doing things, if not we would be a herd of sheep but then again that's what the folks in DC seem to want:2cents:
Rick

I think you spend too much time making false assumptions about me. I am anything but elitist, and no I don't earn a lot of money at my job. Yes, I work in DC about two blocks away from the Capitol. I have built houses, trucks, engines, and own a barn full of tools including two tractors, a chipper, a boat I outfitted and rigged myself, and I don't know why I am justifying anything to you anyway. If you don't agree with my premise, then just don't agree. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize.
http://www.facebook.com/William.T.Adams

 

[hr3]

I thought this was your point. Spend your time wisely. Totally agree. What I gleaned from your original post was that you started a project that you wished you hadn't. You could have bought a commercial one and not had the hassle. I've had those happen too. It's how we learn. In my first house, I did all the painting and staining and felt probably like you do with your project. However, I had time but not much money, so I had no choice. In my last house I did all my hardwood floors. I saved $8000 on just that and actually would do it again. I worked from the basement up to the roof peak and know the house inside and out. I was there every day and a little piece of my life was taken away. 7 months of my life is invested in this house that I helped build for my family to live in and enjoy. I don't regret a minute. And yes, it's still standing, lol.
My point is life isn't as cut and dried as you painted it. I do stuff I like and stuff I don't when I HAVE to. And thank god for people who tinker and build stuff for no apparent reason. That's how all the cool stuff we have available is born. No disrespect intended. If we met in person, I'd buy ya a beer!

Very well put.. I've done much the same in my life,, and will buy the second round for all if allowed,, :licking:

 

[jonyyuma]

Hr3 , we should meet, and i would buy u a beer. I just finished glueing down bruce hardwood floors in my home. I am so proud to be finished, the contractor refused to do it my way so...It was some of the most demanding work... $90.00 an hour-at least..Jy

 

[chad22]

Also, had I not been doing this, I would've probably been sittin' on my butt watching college football ... & not makin' a dime doing it.

That's what I would probably be doing "Sitting watching TV" had I not been outside working on some project.

And I'd much rather be out working on making my backhoe or making something else other than sitting in the house all day.

I don't value everything in money. I just got back from helping a friend haul some wood to her house. I spent 2 hours of my time gathering it and loading it in my truck, driving to her house and then unloading it for her.

I didn't charge her a dime for any of it. Including gas for my truck.

Chad

 

[Renze]

I mean it would be pointless to build a backhoe just cause you love to build stuff if you just left it sit unused once you were done. Clearly you would build it because you wanted to use it for WORKING.
Can't see why that is so hard to understand.

I assume you miss the essence of "free" time: The only purpose of free time, or hobby time, is pleasure or relaxation, NOT a material or monetary one. (It might be a collateral benefit though)
"free" time is just what it says: free. Untill you begin counting an hourly rate for it, as then its sole purpose is lost, because you'll just be working for a material purpose.

hobｷby
1    /ˈhɒbi/ Show Spelled[hob-ee] Show IPA
墨oun, plural -bies.
1.
an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

As long as i dont charge an hourly rate for unpurposeful time spending such as woodcarving and stamp collecting, my time remains FREE.
...and YES, think about the double meaning of the word FREE: free as in "not expecting a financial or material reward in return" and free as in "not subjected to anything that controls, constrains, burdens" because what i tried to say all the time is that if my time isnt free anymore, it aint "free" anymore !!

Short said, i am only a capitalist on weekdays 8:00 - 16:45

 

[harpoonalt]

Very well put.. I've done much the same in my life,, and will buy the second round for all if allowed,, :licking:

Bring some Gritty Mcduffs brown ale and i'll buy dinner!