What is something you always DIY and never buys?

31 comments

  4. There’s a lot of services, especially with our house, that we DIY rather than pay someone to do. As far as a tual objects go I don’t think we actually make any. Recently I’ve been looking at furniture and I’m coming to the conclusion that I’ll either be building stuff myself or refinishing antique pieces.

    Edit: oh, we are going to build a fence rather than buy fence panels. Obviously we won’t be making the wood, but yeah.

  5. I don’t personally, I can’t do Jack shit but I can call family members or family friends to do just about almost anything for me lol

  7. A lot of simple home repair.

    Shredded cheese usually (occasionally I will buy pre shredded if I am making something elsewhere like on vacation or for a potluck or holiday at someone else’s house).

    Cooking almost all the time. I rarely go out for convenience. I try to limit it to when I really want something I can’t make as well.

    Pancakes and biscuits. I am fast enough that the pre-fab mix doesn’t save me any time and from scratch just tastes way better.

  8. Semi-diet sweet iced tea.

    I’m not sure if it saves money but the ratio of splenda, honey, and tea is always perfect. I probably go through 2 liters/day and, like a true ex-southerner, there’s always a pitcher of it in the fridge.

  9. I DIY nearly all of my auto repair & modification, to include all suspension work, engine rebuilds, drivetrains, brakes, electrics & wiring, etc., plus I fabricate some parts myself. The exceptions are hardcore precision machine work (e.g. balancing a crank), most bodywork & paint (but I have replaced multiple windshields myself), and tire mounting & balancing. I would do the tire mounting & balancing myself, as I used to work in a tire shop, but I don’t have access to mounting equipment these days (I have access to a balancer and regularly re-balance, but I am not going to forego the “balancing” part of a “mounting & balancing” charge when I buy tires).

    I also DIY my steaks. I’d rather pay $$ for a nice cut at a butcher and cook it myself than go to a restaurant and pay significantly more for the same. I *do* like eating at a restaurant, but mainly for stuff I wouldn’t cook myself (i.e. I don’t have a deep fat fryer, so I don’t do most fried stuff at home).

  12. There isn’t much around the house I cannot do or figure out, but I leave gas and electrical to pros. I also hired an AV guy to wire Cat6 throughout, but that was less about me not knowing how to do it, but me not knowing how to do it without looking like shit on the drywall and with matching faceplates.

  13. Stock/broth

    Salad dressing and marinades

    Pedicures

    Most herbs, vegetables, and seafood

    Cooking

  15. At this point, most soda. I got a Soda Stream as a birthday gift this year and after the initial startup costs I find it’s cheaper than commercial soda.

  21. I don’t think I’ve done anything DIY tbh. I live in an apartment in a city, not much to do lol

  24. I change the filters for my HVAC system and my fridge, and add also salt to my water softener.

    My aunt does none of that herself. She pays for it to be done for her.

  28. Oil changes.

    My parents owned an auto shop until my dad died. I was never a tradesman, I actually got an entirely different job, but I still have a bunch of tools and stuff and can do a lot of the basic maintenance.

  31. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, TVs repair was raised up in the home where dad never called any repairman for anything ever.

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