Do It Yourself - Hardly a New Idea, Folks

This morning, The Washington Post published an article about how many people are cutting back on extras and learning how to do things themselves. This is an interesting development, but one I don't think really needs a whole lot of attention.

Since my family has never been flush with money, things like manicures and pedicures were never on our list of must-haves. I only had my hair professionally colored once - I found most of the cost was just for the stylist's time, not the supplies used. A box of Clairol doesn't cost $60 and I'm not forced to listen to the latest gossip from the ladies next to me in the salon.

Years ago, my father-in-law discovered I didn't know how to put oil or radiator fluid in my car. He escorted my out to my car and showed me how to do it. I still don't know how to change the oil, but I know how to put some in. This comes in handy since my van leaks like a sieve and the cost to plug up the leaks is somewhere in the thousands. Jim has Alzheimer's now, but I'm very grateful to him for showing me how to be less reliant on a mechanic.

Doing for oneself is hardly a new concept. For years, I have heard about money saved on doing your own repairs. Lowes and Home Depot have workshops to teach the consumer how to do just about any home repair or improvement - install bathroom tile, repair your faucets, rewire a room, etc. Our local, family-owned hardware store has employees who will show you exactly what you need to do for whatever predicament you are in. These guys are amazing and no question is too dumb. They taught me how to install a new shower head and made sure I had all the tools and supplies I needed.

There is a downside to doing things for yourself. If it's something you aren't very good at doing, it really shows. Take a look at my yard and you can see I'm no gardener. Every year, I try, but by mid-summer, everything looks terrible or dead. A landscaper could really change that for me, but I can't afford one. So, I must content myself with looking wistfully at Better Homes and Gardens magazines and ignore the crabgrass that defies all weed killers.