Your time is not free

[blueriver]

If I paid myself $90 per hour last week I worked about 65 hrs or $5850 take that times the 4.3 weeks and last month I would have wrote a check to myself for $25,155.00

NOW HEAR THIS ... it would have bounced, NSF ... then I would have had to hire myself as a collection attorney at $450 per hour which would have resulted in about $4500 plus court cost ... resulting in a judgement against me ... there goes my good credit!!

BUT ... what a tax deduction !!!!!!

 

[blueriver]

OOPS ... forgot, I would not have been able to pay the taxes that I held out of my check ... and dad gum it ... those folks would be on me like white on rice!!!

 

[looknlearn]

Another thing is, is that for some people, money doesn't go on trees. I make things myself, no matter how long it takes because I can't afford most things I want or need. I can afford the time.

 

[ihuntbear]

i do all my own plumbing,carpentry,driveways,laundry,diging my own ditch mowing the lawn,etc.I think I'm rich and don't even know

 

[blueriver]

i do all my own plumbing,carpentry,driveways,laundry,diging my own ditch mowing the lawn,etc.I think I'm rich and don't even know

Thats six jobs ... Man you are loaded and don't even realize it!!!

 

[wldrbob]

well i dont get paid for watching tv, so i guess if im in the shop instead of sitting with my feet up. its free for me

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...Napping trumps welding every time as far as I am concerned. So does boating...

If you could find someone to drive your boat around the lake for less than $90/hr. would you?

Why?

 

[bobodu]

Life is worthless if you must assign a dollar value to each measure.

"And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return! "
Kipling

 

[Gary Sweat]

Our big screen TV (I know, there ancient) wouldn't turn on. So I got on the internet, looked up the model and found it was a common problem and how to fix it. Hopped in the truck, drove the 30 miles to town, bought the 39 cent capacitor, drove back and replaced it. The TV works again

So I'm out about $6.00 bucks in gas and 39 cents. I think I saved some money on that. (Not sure after reading all the posts) Especially after I called a repair service and they gave me an estimate of $450.00 to repair it.

The FEL I built is a different story. Don't think I really saved any money over buying one but I had fun (sort of) building it. And, when I was done I didn't have to drain my bank account or make payments on it. Just bought the stuff as I had the money.

Some things are worth doing it yourself and some may not be. But, I don't mind trying

 

[Scotty370]

I can't believe this 'Thread' got legs so fast! I had to read it twice! I'll weld-up anything you want for $90- an hour! You provide the steel, welding rod, etc. (You'd have to buy them anyway!) Well, maybe not, because you see, "It's not 'MY' project"! Seriously though.......Some of us treat seat time, or shop-time as a "Labor of Love". The satisfaction of having a situation, or tool requirement, that one can fabricate with their own two hands, and God-given knowledge, goes far beyond the paper 'duckets' with the pictures of Presidents on, that you seem to hold so dear! Using your formula, I couldn't even afford to 'take a dump', and, no, I don't negelect my family, in the process. ~Scotty

 

[hr3]

One would think that if a person were worth the 90 bucks an hour they would have been able to figure the cost of there "wind powered pond aerator" before they started the project.. hmm maybe it's peso's :laughing:

 

[o2batsea]

Clearly you girls are completely missing the concept behind my post. All you see is that $90. My time is actually priceless.

 

[JJZ 109]

If I charged myself $90 per hour I would never do any projects

Exactly. Especially since I don't make $90 an hour at my real job.
If I did make that much at my job and personal projects took me away from that $90 an hour, then maybe I'd consider my labor.
As it is now, I consider any projects a learning experience. If I was in a tech school or college, I'd be paying someone else for that learning experience. So am I saving myself that much per hour by doing/teaching myself?

 

[Scotty370]

Well then, I believe your in the wrong forum! And "No", I'm not a 'girl'! We could go to a TSA Airport screener to prove that, but that's another thread........ We guy's actually enjoy fabricating, and sharing ideas. If your in the game for purely economical gain, as I say, I think your in the wrong forum......~S

And darn, Bill Gates, I wish you'd stop 'crashing our party" ! ~S

 

[MaJYk]

The fact is, you're missing the concept of this site and the people who use it like a screwdriver. You seem to be the exception, this is the DIY section, not the how much should I pay section.

 

[CowwFace]

Well you know what they say on the "Red Green Show" ..

"If the Women don't find you handsome ... They better find you handy" ...

Goodness knows I ain't handsome ... So every thing I fix etc around the house means I'm saving $90.00 on paying for .... .... welll nevermind. How does that work into this equation?

tractor on my friends.

 

[HiTechTed]

Clearly you girls are completely missing the concept behind my post. All you see is that $90. My time is actually priceless.

The time you took to type that cost you about 75 cents.

 

[yankeerider]

... Napping trumps welding every time as far as I am concerned. So does boating.

I think what you are saying is that you don't enjoy welding, but you do enjoy napping and boating. Based on that, you view activities that you consider "work" to cost you $90/hr, but activities that you enjoy to be free.

If you truly considered your time to be worth $90/hr, then napping would cost you $90/hr too, and you'd be better off building, because then you'd at least have something to show for that "cost."

I work at a job that pays a decent wage, but doesn't give me great feelings of accomplishment. Spending an hour doing machining, welding, or other fabricating give me a great feeling of accomplishment. Time spent on my tractor or excavator gives me just as much enjoyment. I view time spent in those activities the same way you view napping and boating.

 

[moeh1]

OP makes a good point "spend your time wisely" - whatever that means to you, not neccessarily his personal definition. I certainly don't put a $90 value on my time, but will buy things I could make - but don't want to... However, I've made things to educate myself that I could have bought cheaper.... I guess if you factored in tuition or tutoring I might still be ahead. Oh, there are no plumbers, carpenters etc. around here. The family built the entire house. We know what we have and how to fix it. Priceless!

 

[HiTechTed]

I think what you are saying is that you don't enjoy welding, but you do enjoy napping and boating. Based on that, you view activities that you consider "work" to cost you $90/hr, but activities that you enjoy to be free.

If you truly considered your time to be worth $90/hr, then napping would cost you $90/hr too, and you'd be better off building, because then you'd at least have something to show for that "cost."

I work at a job that pays a decent wage, but doesn't give me great feelings of accomplishment. Spending an hour doing machining, welding, or other fabricating give me a great feeling of accomplishment. Time spent on my tractor or excavator gives me just as much enjoyment. I view time spent in those activities the same way you view napping and boating.

I wouldn't enjoy welding either if I had to charge myself $90/hr to do it.