Your time is not free

[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 Sex 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!