Are you grateful you are a handyman.....? And has is been worth the time and expense

[aczlan]

I don't get it either. I went back several times reading both posts but don't see the insult or any intent to insult. I tried to find it - can't find it. But maybe its just me.

I agree. I saw it as MossRoad talking about how some women don't take much to be convinced that you are "handy" not that MossRoad was making fun of Retiredguy2.

Aaron Z

 

[John White]

I don't see how Moss was insulting any one. You asked the question, he gave a answer. "I complained because I had no shoes till I met a man with no feet".

 

[Oaktree]

1). I have to think being handy is a blessing and a skill that brings you satisfaction most people cant get. You have to admit being the go to guy feels good and you cant put a price on the gratitude people bestow upon you.

2). The collection, organization and maintenance of my tools and supplies are a great piece of my hobby time. I enjoy the whole "process."

3). If you hired it out, the end result would rarely be done to your standards.

Pretty much sums up my attitude on DIY too. I can't imagine myself being any other way. As I've gotten older and my knees have gotten creakier there are things I'm content to leave to the pros such as high ladder work or a lot of auto maintenance (somehow lying on your back under a vehicle getting rust in your face loses its appeal after a while), but most I still do most building and maintenance myself. It sure has saved me a lot of money over the years, and I take a lot of pride in what I've done.

 

[check]

Three things tell me being handy for a lifetime is better than not: 1). I have to think being handy is a blessing and a skill that brings you satisfaction most people cant get. You have to admit being the go to guy feels good and you cant put a price on the gratitude people bestow upon you. 2). The collection, organization and maintenance of my tools and supplies are a great piece of my hobby time. I enjoy the whole "process." 3). If you hired it out, the end result would rarely be done to your standards. I am grateful I have the courage to tackle a few of the projects I have done and a wife that helps (really, she helps, no kidding).

Mine does too, thank God!

Here is a fun story.

My wife and I were out working on our boat House repairs, and some of our married cottage friends came drifting by in a boat, all in their bathing suits and obviously on a leisurely cruise. One of the women called out, "Hey James, why do you make your wife work like that?" So I retorted to the guys on the boat, "hey guys, I am so sorry that your wives do not support you like mine does. I really feel for you." LOL!

 

[BigBlue1]

I think of how much less money and stuff I'd have if I weren't handy enough to do about anything that needs to be done.

This.

With all the things I have been able to take care of myself I know I've saved a TON of money. Mind you, I ended up spending it all on other things, but at least I've been able to afford quite a few fun/extra/nicer/newer things. Plus, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I was able to fix or maintain something and that it was done right and that I can handle the next thing that needs doing. I really enjoy doing things like that so it is definitely not a waste. Also, what might be even better, is that I've passed the knowledge and desire along to my kids and others. Watching someone else be proud of the fact they could handle a situation when their friends couldn't or that they saved money on something or that they knew enough to tell the guy at the auto service place "No, my car really doesn't need XYZ done to it because I just did that service recently" is priceless.

One example of the above is when my daughter worked in a retail store during college. They had to vacuum every day and one day the vacuum wouldn't work. Three other employees stood there looking at it and were talking about calling the owner to tell them they needed to buy a new one. My daughter came up, saw the situation, flipped the vacuum over, opened the cover, slipped the belt back on and said "there, now it works." The other employees were mainly made up of ladies in the 40s-60s. Needless to say, they were impressed with her too. It's the little things in life...

Plus, when the zombie apocalypse comes I'll be able to fix my own septic pump...

Rob

 

[aczlan]

With all the things I have been able to take care of myself I know I've saved a TON of money. Mind you, I ended up spending it all on other things, but at least I've been able to afford quite a few fun/extra/nicer/newer things. Plus, I have the satisfaction of knowing that I was able to fix or maintain something and that it was done right and that I can handle the next thing that needs doing. I really enjoy doing things like that so it is definitely not a waste. Also, what might be even better, is that I've passed the knowledge and desire along to my kids and others. Watching someone else be proud of the fact they could handle a situation when their friends couldn't or that they saved money on something or that they knew enough to tell the guy at the auto service place "No, my car really doesn't need XYZ done to it because I just did that service recently" is priceless.

I have things that I choose not to do because they are complex, time consuming or need special tools that aren't worth my while for a one time job, but I try to do the basics myself.
Earlier this month, I had the motor go out on our oil burner. It is a Reillo burner, the motors almost never go bad and the rest of the burner if built around the motor, so I passed the job to my heating guy.
He said that the guys at the supply house were trying to talk him into not buying a motor (we talked on the phone about the problem and he stopped there before coming up to the house) as "the motors never go bad and the homeowner probably missed something" but he said that if I said that I had changed something (in this case, the filter and the intake screen), it was done and done right so he was willing to risk buying a motor ($150ish from the prices I found online) before looking at it.
It turned out to be the motor, so he dropped a new motor into it and it was happy again.
I have a similar relationship at a auto repair shop, I send stuff to them that I don't want to deal with or don't have the tools to handle and they throw me freebies from time to time (like a free mount/balance/install TPMS sensors for the wife's snows last fall when I dropped off the rims and sensors).

Aaron Z

 

[Paddy]

I started off in remodeling and after 8 years went back to engineering school. So I have the 8-5 job but skills to fix many things. Advantages are I have lawn mowers, cars most would have sent to the junkyard. I can have a car breakdown and solve it on the spot instead of having it towed. I've built two homes.

But there are down sides too. Sometimes you want to do it all. After you learn you could have hired it out cheaper. Example drywall! My wife taught me one major thing; when estimating the time to do it yourself, multiply it by 2.5. And sometimes the learning curve is not worth the time. Like drywall! I'm good at it now, but wished I'd learn guitar instead.

To some of us, doing all this is a hobby. Some folks spend $1000's a year on golf, model airplanes or what ever.

 

[EddieWalker]

Saw a Facebook message from someone today that was simply hysterical...she was telling others that her significant other was not handy....but he could actually open a box that contained a new lawn mower and put it together (!!!!!) and mow their lawn with it,,,,(LMAO here) I guess it is so hard to unpack a new mower and tighten the handle bolts and add oil and gas....she thinks that is being handy?

I'm at a loss why you find this hysterical? Is it because you consider this such a simple task? Or do you not understand that everyone has their limits and experiences, and for some, this is a big deal? My guess is that this husband that you mock is probably highly skilled at other tasks that you do not know about. A lot of my clients are Medical Doctors and Nurses. They do things every day that I will never be able to do, so when they hire me to assemble something, or hand a picture or whatever simple task that they want done, I do it with a smile on my face and respect towards them.

As for your question about about being better off not learning how to do things yourself, I think you answered that yourself with your comments mocking the gentleman assembling the lawn mower.

 

[RobS]

I'm an engineer with "the knack":

Dilbert "The Knack" Engineer Video - YouTube

From my first little red wagon that came in it's box and I assembled to the countless cars fixed and home projects, I've done about everything. I can't begin to imagine the money I've saved by doing things myself, even deducting for the many "oops" along the way. It takes it's toll though, in time. I'm now finding there are things I'd rather be doing and am working towards being less of a handyman. The downside will be more money leaving my pockets and our offset to that is a planned downsize so there is less that needs to be done.

Stay tuned...

 

[cat fever]

As to the title of this thread,

Yes I'm glad I am handy at doing most anything I need done. I think my most limiting factor would be the lack of the proper tools. Sometimes ambition.:laughing:
I am slowly adding tools as needed. I think it's good for people to be self sufficient. However, as a Master Plumber sometimes it would be good if some people didn't try to "handy man" things they clearly have no idea what they are doing.:laughing: But I have to give credit for them trying.