What needs do you fulfill by making it yourself?

[kork13]

So I've been in need of a new (larger) bookcase for myself, because the one I have simply is too small, and I've got books/movies/etc crowding the floor around it in my already rather small bedroom. So at the suggestion of a friend, today I went to my base's hobby shop, which has a wood working shop, and started to build it myself!

With some instruction and help from the people who work there, I've designed it to be exactly what I want/need, and cut most of the pieces today. I hope to have it built, stained, and finished within the next 1-2 weeks (time available to work on it obviously limited by my job). The wood cost me about $175 today, and all told, the project should cost about $225-ish once I buy the stain and pay my shop fees. Yea, that's sort of alot, but at the same time, to go out and buy a comparable bookshelf (solid maple, 6' tall by 3' wide, 6 built-in shelves) would cost me at least $400, more likely $600+. Plus, I can stain it to match my existing furniture, and most importantly, I can look at it and proudly say "I BUILT THAT!!!" I'm very happy that I'm able to build myself something that I need, and that it's something I can be proud of. Plus, it's saving me money in the long run.

What have you all done (or what do you do day to day) to save money by making/doing something yourself instead of buying it? I think one obvious answer is cooking at home rather than eating out, but I'm curious about what else everyone does.

[cptacek]

I have remodeled two houses (mostly paint, new light fixtures and new floors) before selling them, to great success.

I have made curtains, pillow cases, Christmas bags (with the recipient's names applicayed on them), Halloween costumes, and "quiet book" for a niece with my $99 walmart-special sewing machine.

I've also made planter boxes, a picnic table and benches with extra wood from when the patio was built.

I made all the decorations for my wedding, the invitations, the save the date cards, the programs, and the balloon arches. Of course, I had help, but didn't buy them.

[Bimmer]

I do as much of my own car repair/maintenance as possible.

A recent project had me taking scrap 2x4's and other wood from a neighbor's basement remodel and making shelving for my garage.

[Ima saver]

My husband does almost everything. We never have to hire anyone. He can build furniture, put down hardwood flooring, build cabinets, do electrical and plumbing, paint. You name it, he can do it. He also took apart our 1978 corvette, repainted it inside and out (inside, motor and parts) and put it all back together.
He cannot however, do anything with electronics or computers. Other than that, he is perfect.

[ladydii]

Diy

Probably the thing I do that saves me the most money is the cooking at home, but not just cooking from the box but most things from scratch. Recently, I started baking bread again. I sew, knit and crochet, both for things I need for the family and also for gifts. I do my own yard work (poorly) and have done some small renovations and house painting. I also believe in taking care of things that you own so that they last as long as possible so although I don't do all the work myself, I am diligent about keeping my vehicle and home maintained.
Dianne

[noppenbd]

I have built a lot of the furniture for our house, including a set of coffee and end tables for our living room, a plant stand, a small table, a toybox, and my daughter's crib. It is incredibly rewarding, and saves a little money in the process. I also remodeled our kitchen (installed the cabinets, flooring, wainscoting, trim). That saved a bundle and allowed us to buy a higher-grade cabinet than we would have otherwise.

[isthisused]

So I've been in need of a new (larger) bookcase for myself, because the one I have simply is too small, and I've got books/movies/etc crowding the floor around it in my already rather small bedroom. So at the suggestion of a friend, today I went to my base's hobby shop, which has a wood working shop, and started to build it myself!

With some instruction and help from the people who work there, I've designed it to be exactly what I want/need, and cut most of the pieces today. I hope to have it built, stained, and finished within the next 1-2 weeks (time available to work on it obviously limited by my job). The wood cost me about $175 today, and all told, the project should cost about $225-ish once I buy the stain and pay my shop fees. Yea, that's sort of alot, but at the same time, to go out and buy a comparable bookshelf (solid maple, 6' tall by 3' wide, 6 built-in shelves) would cost me at least $400, more likely $600+. Plus, I can stain it to match my existing furniture, and most importantly, I can look at it and proudly say "I BUILT THAT!!!" I'm very happy that I'm able to build myself something that I need, and that it's something I can be proud of. Plus, it's saving me money in the long run.

What have you all done (or what do you do day to day) to save money by making/doing something yourself instead of buying it? I think one obvious answer is cooking at home rather than eating out, but I'm curious about what else everyone does.

I wouldn’t want to gloss over cooking more at home because at my income level that has made a big difference for us. I recently took a piece of hose from a swimming pool filter and cut a slot in the side about 1 ½” from the end and stuck that on my vacuumed cleaner hose. I then used it to cut my own hair by letting the vacuumed suck my hair into the hose and put the scissors into the slot and started snipping away while moving the hose around my head. It turned out pretty good.
This weekend I was able to fix my car and was very tempted to take it to a shop, because it had a short that was running down the battery. I kept talking about it to people and getting suggestions and Thursday I tried one of the subjections and it worked. I found what was draining the battery and disconnected it. I have let the car sit without driving it for three days starting it once each day and it has started no problem, before I couldn’t let it sit for more than 24 hours without having to jump-start it.

[GREENBACK]

I process my own meat both domestic and wild. I make steaks, burger sausages, roasts, etc.. This is a big saver over buying this stuff prepackaged. It also is a great teacher to kids about the web of life; That meat has an original source beyond the plasic/styroform package at Walmart. I try to do most of the mechanical work on my boats, cars, mowers and other tools around home as time allows. I have done a fair amount of woodwork but other than the obvious beauty and custom quality of doing it yourself it's hard to beat the wood veneer specials at your local "Mart".

If I have a good guide or instruction on how to do it, I'll try about anything once and sometimes only once...lol.

[SnoopyCool]

I have canned food: jams/jellies, vegetables, meat. I have made bread.

DH just made our grapevine trellis for our grapes. We've made a garden and grown some of our own food. We also have blueberries bushes, a lemon tree and wild blackberries. DH also made skateboard ramps from scrap lumber for himself and DS.

Most importantly... we have made kids to clean-up the house and do the lawn work

[SnoopyCool]

Oh, yeah... DH has done a good bit of plumbing work around here, including changing the service line from our house to the main line. He's my hero!

[GREENBACK]

I can everything possible from meats to fruit to vegetables. I guess growing it counts as well.

[scfr]

I recently got my hair cut short and decided I wanted to start using hair gel again ... So I went on-line and found a recipe for making my own (add 1/2 t plain gelatin to 1/2 c warm water and shake ... store in fridge for up to a week ... I keep mine in one of those plastic condiment squirters). It works just fine.

[cptacek]

Oh, I forgot gardening. I did that one summer, skipped last summer, but will be back to doing it again this summer!

[GrimJack]

Most importantly... we have made kids to clean-up the house and do the lawn work

I am sorry, I know what you meant to say but what came out is hilarious.

[GrimJack]

I can everything possible from meats to fruit to vegetables. I guess growing it counts as well.

DW was a Usenet goddess and started r.f.p. and ran the faq for years (sorry, DW is my brush with fame). There is a faq, actually I think it is up to like 8 or nine pieces, that talks about preserving/putting by. You sound pretty competent GB but there are things to be careful of for the beginner.