Posted: Monday May 23, 2022
Thanks to social media, the do-it-yourself craze has taken off. These days, everyone and their brother is a DIYer. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as being able to show off something you’ve made or something you’ve done yourself and saved big on.
As fun and satisfying as DIY projects can be, there are some instances where doing things yourself just doesn’t make sense. Below, we discuss some of these times.
Even for the hardcore DIYer, there are times when doing something yourself just doesn’t make sense.
Store-bought is better.
For example, you can make a nice dining room table for less than $100, whereas buying a new one in the store could cost upwards of $1,000.
On the other hand, the Internet is full of homemade dishwasher detergent tutorials, but the reality is, they simply don’t work as effectively as the store-bought ones.
The materials cost more than buying it pre-made
You may have a great time creating something on your own, but if the cost of materials exceeds buying it already made, DIY really doesn’t make sense.
The timeline for making something is just too long
When you figure in the amount of time it will take you to do something yourself versus the amount of money you will save, it’s likely that you’ll discover the project really isn’t worth it. Of course, if it’s something you enjoy, then we say, “Go for it anyway!”
It’s just too stressful
If you tackle a DIY project solely to save money, it could end up causing you a lot of stress, especially if it ends up being more work than you anticipated or it doesn’t turn out as you expected. DIY projects can be labor-intensive and unpredictable, so keep this in mind as you decide whether to do the work or not yourself.
You should really call a professional
YouTube has given a good portion of the population an inflated sense of ability when it comes to complex DIY projects. Having said that, there are times you should leave the work to the professionals (electrician, plumber, etc.) If you haven’t gone to school to learn a specialized trade, it’s best to call in an expert for this type of work.
Despite the objections listed above, there are times when DIYing makes a whole lot of sense.
You really can save money
While some DIY projects cost more than just buying store-bought, there are some instances where it really does pay to make something yourself. For instance, there are some homemade household cleaners that cost just pennies to make and work better than their store-bought counterparts.
You really enjoy making it
There’s a lot to be said for enjoying what you do. So, if you already have the skill and you really like what you do (and it won’t cost too much), there’s no reason not to do it yourself.
You want something that comes from the heart or is custom made
There may be times when a DIY project won’t save you money, but if what you want is something that can’t be store-bought, making it yourself is a great idea. Handmade projects that are unique and made with love are often the best kind.
At the end of the day, tackling projects yourself is a decision that can only be made by you. DIYing is a personal thing, with no two projects holding the same value from one DIYer to the next.
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