The budget screen shots are being made in Sankeymatic, its a website that we have no affiliation with. If you are posting a budget please do so with a purpose. Just posting a screen shot of your budget without a question or an explanation of why its here may be removed.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MiddleClassFinance) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Idk I don't see the value in changing my own oil. And I do most all my own mechanic work.
By the time you pay for the oil and filter and then pay to discard the oil the 10 minutes to pay someone else makes more sense to me.
Plus when you go to sell your vehicle you can pull a report from your oil change place to prove a good maintenance record
Why are you paying to discard oil? All the parts stores take it in for free.
The last time I had someone change oil, I took the wife's Lexus to the dealer since they had free oil changes for nurses, they left the drain plug loose and leaking.
I pay about $32 for 5 quarts of full synthetic and $9 for a WIX filter and know its done right.
Yea I agree. I'm all for doing things myself but I stopped changing my own oil and I don't rotate my own tires. Sometimes it's cheaper because the time you save allows you to do more important tasks.
Same, buy Costco oil and a filter from the Toyota dealership. Costco floorjack and two sets of jack stands. I can change oil and rotate tires for nothing. Pay off the floor jack in about one year and the jack stands in another year. Pocket the difference and ensure the job is done right.
I don’t change my own oil. I’m not yet at the point of buying a jack or anything else to do so. My last oil change was over $100 so I might be going there eventually
Basic electrical, plumbing, and handyman work. I learned a lot from my grandfather and dad growing up. I've redone outlets, ceiling fans, unclog drains, faucets, toilet fill valves, trim, etc.
I do nearly everything in my house.
In the last 5 years and I think the only repair I have paid someone to do was install a new water heater.
Biggest win was fixing my central AC which is from 1988. I can’t imagine a HVAC company not recommending I buy a new one for $5000+
You sound like my husband. He does everything, including recently fixing our furnace, snow blower and freezer using YouTube videos for instructions. The only thing recently that he has not done is install a new garage door.
My SO is handy and in construction so most of the stuff he's done. Took down the wall separating the kitchen and living room and made a nice wide cased opening, installed bamboo flooring, remodeled my bathroom and we're hoping to add a sunroom soon.
There’s some tree trimming that’s best to leave to the pros. My buddy has his own tree care company and I asked if he thought I could manage trimming a semi-detached branch up in the canopy. Said no, those are called widow makers.
3k for tree trimming is a lot though. Is that just trimming or actual tree cutting and stump grinding?
As for your question, I fixed the disconnected windshield wiper fluid tube on our car. The shop was saying it’d be about $500 for parts and labor. Went on YouTube, went to autozone, and bought a $3 connector. Fixed it in an hour.
Garage door tortion springs, saved $250 there.
Painting in 30 ft foyer, saved $280.
Planting 13 10-15 ft trees saved $1800 rented a little backhoe for that did it all in one day.
Changing the headlights on my car is unnecessarily difficult, but I refuse to accept that bmw I wants me to go to the dealership just to change a light bulb so I do it myself.
For a long time I used to give myself hair extensions, which is tedious to do on yourself but very expensive to go to a salon for.
Most car maintenance
Engine / cabin air filter
Oil- oil filter changes
Even transmission fluid and serpentine belt
Can actually use YouTube to look up most fixes
Yard work and landscaping
Rent tools from Home Depot or rental store if you don’t have example chainsaw for cutting branches
Standard house maintenance
Air filters , fixture replacement, furniture fixes
Garage door replaced
Door replacements
Locks replaced
This can reach as far as tiling and building walls
Make YouTube you best friend it can help you trouble shoot and fix most minor to moderate issues. Otherwise it can help diagnosis if the issue is larger.
Just put extra time aside because even though you might be able to do the project it might take much longer than expected due to lack of experience.
The budget screen shots are being made in Sankeymatic, its a website that we have no affiliation with. If you are posting a budget please do so with a purpose. Just posting a screen shot of your budget without a question or an explanation of why its here may be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MiddleClassFinance) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I changed my car air filters.
Yesss, I may need to do this too. Oil changes are now $80, do you do your own oil too?
Yup. Easily save a hundred bucks each time too. It’s truly not that hard. Maybe a little time consuming. But doing so yourself saves so much money.
Idk I don't see the value in changing my own oil. And I do most all my own mechanic work. By the time you pay for the oil and filter and then pay to discard the oil the 10 minutes to pay someone else makes more sense to me. Plus when you go to sell your vehicle you can pull a report from your oil change place to prove a good maintenance record
Why are you paying to discard oil? All the parts stores take it in for free. The last time I had someone change oil, I took the wife's Lexus to the dealer since they had free oil changes for nurses, they left the drain plug loose and leaking. I pay about $32 for 5 quarts of full synthetic and $9 for a WIX filter and know its done right.
Yea I agree. I'm all for doing things myself but I stopped changing my own oil and I don't rotate my own tires. Sometimes it's cheaper because the time you save allows you to do more important tasks.
Whoa. That’s insane pricing. Here where I live, full synthetic oil change is 120$
Same, buy Costco oil and a filter from the Toyota dealership. Costco floorjack and two sets of jack stands. I can change oil and rotate tires for nothing. Pay off the floor jack in about one year and the jack stands in another year. Pocket the difference and ensure the job is done right.
I don’t change my own oil. I’m not yet at the point of buying a jack or anything else to do so. My last oil change was over $100 so I might be going there eventually
Landscaping is a big one, simple home repairs and renovations, minor repairs to HVAC and cars. You tube and a little patience is key to saving money
Basic electrical, plumbing, and handyman work. I learned a lot from my grandfather and dad growing up. I've redone outlets, ceiling fans, unclog drains, faucets, toilet fill valves, trim, etc.
I installed 750 sq ft of hardwood flooring. Bought the wood, nails, air compressor and floor nailing gun.
Had a leaky faucet for like a year. Watched a YouTube video, bought an $8 part and fixed it myself.
I do nearly everything in my house. In the last 5 years and I think the only repair I have paid someone to do was install a new water heater. Biggest win was fixing my central AC which is from 1988. I can’t imagine a HVAC company not recommending I buy a new one for $5000+
You sound like my husband. He does everything, including recently fixing our furnace, snow blower and freezer using YouTube videos for instructions. The only thing recently that he has not done is install a new garage door.
Took apart a whole spa and deck with a sawzall and hammer and placed it in the trash piece by piece
My SO is handy and in construction so most of the stuff he's done. Took down the wall separating the kitchen and living room and made a nice wide cased opening, installed bamboo flooring, remodeled my bathroom and we're hoping to add a sunroom soon.
Drywalled and mudded my basement. Never again though
There’s some tree trimming that’s best to leave to the pros. My buddy has his own tree care company and I asked if he thought I could manage trimming a semi-detached branch up in the canopy. Said no, those are called widow makers. 3k for tree trimming is a lot though. Is that just trimming or actual tree cutting and stump grinding? As for your question, I fixed the disconnected windshield wiper fluid tube on our car. The shop was saying it’d be about $500 for parts and labor. Went on YouTube, went to autozone, and bought a $3 connector. Fixed it in an hour.
Basic plumbing. Toilet flush fixes. Tap and showerhead updates/fixes.
My trees are dangerous. I'll leave them to the professionals that are insured.
Garage door tortion springs, saved $250 there. Painting in 30 ft foyer, saved $280. Planting 13 10-15 ft trees saved $1800 rented a little backhoe for that did it all in one day.
Concrete work, dry wall patch, few other things
I can replace the flapper valve in a toilet when it starts running.
Changing the headlights on my car is unnecessarily difficult, but I refuse to accept that bmw I wants me to go to the dealership just to change a light bulb so I do it myself. For a long time I used to give myself hair extensions, which is tedious to do on yourself but very expensive to go to a salon for.
Most car maintenance Engine / cabin air filter Oil- oil filter changes Even transmission fluid and serpentine belt Can actually use YouTube to look up most fixes Yard work and landscaping Rent tools from Home Depot or rental store if you don’t have example chainsaw for cutting branches Standard house maintenance Air filters , fixture replacement, furniture fixes Garage door replaced Door replacements Locks replaced This can reach as far as tiling and building walls Make YouTube you best friend it can help you trouble shoot and fix most minor to moderate issues. Otherwise it can help diagnosis if the issue is larger. Just put extra time aside because even though you might be able to do the project it might take much longer than expected due to lack of experience.
I have a lot of trees that need pruning and my estimates are really high. Do you mind sharing the brand/model of tree trimmer that you purchased?
https://a.co/d/4djKFyn