I was considering giving myself a haircut – if I botched it my pesky spending moratorium nixes a quick fix at the salon – but the challenge has been put off until August. My video producer (yes, I was going to make a video of the ordeal) is on vacation.
But it got me thinking, when is Doing-It-Yourself in the name of saving money a really awful idea? A countdown.
10. Cutting your own hair. The opportunities for disaster are as thick as my hair. Not that this is going to deter me. Hair grows back!
9. Butchering your own (wild) animal. I heard on NPR that a grown buck is worth hundreds of dollars!
8. Using bug spray with abandon. One man blew up his home this way.
7. Making your own clothes. Fixing buttons and socks, sure, but princess seams?
6. Car repair beyond the basics. Your safety is important, yo.
5. Trying a bold new hair color at home. You pay your stylist for their skills and a second opinion.
4. Electrical work. There are reasons why electrical work requires licensed professionals and permits. Reasons like fires and explosions.
3. Making your own fireworks display. This is sure to get you a Darwin award.
2. Repairing your microwave. The cost of new parts will likely cost more than buying a new one, and fixing the broken involves handling very dangerous parts.
And the No. 1 activity that is a stupid way to save money is…
1. Nipple piercing. One hapless gal from “Lower Indiana” tried this at home and concludes “I still have trouble believing how tough the skin was to pierce.” Ouch.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve done to save money?
Within the past week both my step-father and my brother-in-law fixed broken appliances on their own. In normal times, I’m betting they would have called up a repairman to take care of it. But these days, money is shorter than time. Luckily, there are many online resources that make DIY work a cinch.
Fixya.com is a site that provides tech support, manuals and trouble shooting for half a million products. You can ask a question, browse recent questions, or search by brand. It helps to have the model number. Answers are provided online via chats or message posting. One user paid a repairman $142.30 to fix a fridge problem that my brother-in-law took care of himself for the cost of the part, $35.
ReliableParts.com has been supplying parts for appliances and BBQs since 1933. They sell parts online and have stores in seven states (CA, OR, WA, UT, NV, AZ and HI). Store credit is offered for unused parts returned with 45 days.
For more than appliance repair advice, RefDesk.com has a long list of sites that offer DIY help on everything from brewing your own beer to making candles and wood working.
BeJane.com has home improvement tips and projects aimed at women, however the site seems to be broken at the moment.
