Things We Do Ourselves Instead of Paying Someone
There’s a lot of talk these days about rising costs—and it’s true, things are expensive. But one of the biggest ways we’ve kept our budget under control over the years is simple:
We do a lot ourselves.
Not perfectly. Not professionally.
But consistently.
Here are some of the things we handle instead of hiring out:
Around the House
- Finish wiring and add outlets
- Handle basic plumbing (fixtures, small repairs)
- Paint rooms, trim, and cabinets
- Install wood or tile flooring
- Patch drywall, caulk, and weatherproof
- Build and repair things as needed
Outside & Garden
- Mulch and maintain garden beds
- Grow a garden and start plants from seed
- Build trellises and supports
- Raise chickens so we always have eggs
Kitchen & Food
- Preserve food, freeze, and stretch what we have
- Bake bread
- Cook from scratch instead of relying on takeout
Clothing & Household
- Mend and alter clothes
- If it’s too big, we take it in
- If it’s long sleeve, it might become summer wear
- Repair furniture instead of replacing it
- Deep clean and reset spaces
Everyday Practical Skills
- Change out a car battery
- Swap wiper blades and handle basic maintenance
- Maintain our equipment (oil changes, winter prep, keeping things running)
- Change air filters and keep systems maintained
- Troubleshoot problems before calling someone
And the Bottom Line
If it breaks, we can usually fix it—whether it’s a ripped shirt, a boot sole, or a GFCI outlet.
Not because we have to do everything ourselves…
but because we can—and we choose to.
What About You?
What’s something you do yourself that most people would pay someone else to handle?
