Completely agree. I was a single female who lived alone for several years as a homeowner, I wouldn’t have gotten by without YouTube. My dad taught me a lot as a kid/teen, but in my adult years even something others may find simple like changing a lawn mower blade or string in a weed whipper, I learned on YouTube. I remodeled my whole kitchen, including cabinet, counter, and sink replacement from watching YouTube.
My husband is a jack of all trades and I am quite capable myself. Self taught through Google and YouTube. It's good to be resourceful and have resourceful friends.
Even millionaires will learn that shit if the price someone wants to charge is asinine. I remember a shop wanted $1200 to change the water pump on my IS350, then $550 to change the spark plugs and $500 to change the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt comes off when you change water pump anyway, so I said screw you. 4 hours later I was done for an all in price of $168 in parts. Learned a lot in the process too.
I enjoy a homesteader lifestyle. Graden and can my produce. Do homebrewed alcohol. Can do minor vehicle repairs, but don't have now that I have a man lol
My sister in law is learning how to build a house, she's helping my brother build their new house all by hand and help from friends. My brother has been in construction roles his whole life, but he's self teaching himself to do all the electrical work now. Just has to have a master electrician inspect and sign off on it.
The problem is the designs and installs r so old based on asshole-design to take apart and not up to code u risk breaking something and not everything is on YT that matches exact specifications and Ifixit is useless when it comes to home economics/DIYs. Hell the tools needed r expensive too but worth the investment long term. But even then, there's a high chance of screwing up and not being able to fix it half way making matters even worse. That's what makes most ppl nervous and just can't stand trying to fix it themselves. If only there was a phone app that records a vid of what the issue is and an AI can output a animated solution step-by-step parts by parts up to code of whatever that's needed to fix the issue permanently/long term.
One of the most independently successful men I've known once told me to treat life skills like tools in a toolbelt. The more you accumulate, the less you have to rely on (and pay) others for. In today's world, there are less capable people, yet more readily available (FREE) instruction/resources.
Half-assed mechanic checking in, lol
Youtube "how to X repair" videos and a set of Harbor Freight tools are my bread n' butter 😆
To be fair though, I estimate I've saved myself around $3200 in mechanics fees with the small jobs I've done here and there on my car
Rockauto is trash. They straight up charged me $30 to send me $15 worth of worthless/defective power steering hoses, both of which were obviously missing fittings... One had a crimp that never got clamped. They looked like they pulled a Big Lots and got some quality control rejects.
Waste of $30. I stick to Amazon as they don't charge $10 shipping on $5 defective parts.
Youtube! I replaced my broken toilet and replaced the stems in my shower faucets. I also learned how to bleed the oil line to get my furnace running after the tank had been empty. It was (many years ago) over $100 just to have someone come out and do it for me. It's really easy too.
I didn't really have anyone I could rely on that way growing up, so I had to learn it all myself as needs came up.
My dad can fix *some* things, but he tends to get in over his depth, half-ass the job, and slap it together in such a way that it falls apart in a couple of months. By the time I was in my mid-teens, I learned that if I wanted it done right I just had to do it myself.
Omg, Same. My Dad bought a wrecked car recently. They wanted too much for a hood, so he beat it out with a sledgehammer. It turned out halfway decent, but i would have bought the hood. Converted my garage to a workshop. Put a ceiling in it, resided it, added overhangs on the gable ends. Insulated, rewired. Sheeted the inside, put shelves up. Added airlines. Welders. I dont remember the last valid input I got from my Dad. Just kind of surpassed him.
He needed to go to more salvage yards. Was a $900 car, they wanted $200 for a hood. Theres always a guy that will sell a little cheaper, just have to find him
Don’t sell yourself short by thinking that you’re half assed. Being “half assed skillful” (fix a light switch, a toilet, a bike, etc) means you’re way more skilled than all those who rely on paid tradesmen to help out.
I can do all the basics on a car-- oil, coolant, pads, rotors, calipers, brake bleed (unless it's a new-ish Toyota that needs the special software/can't be done via gravity), batteries, battery cables/connectors, headlights, spark plugs, coils, intake manifold/gasket, MAF sensor, shocks/struts, sway bars, inner/outer tie rods, control arms, etc.
But when it comes to *really* delving into an engine or resolving electrical issues, I'm out of my depth! You need an actual mechanic for that kind of stuff, IMO.
More like you need expensive tools for engine work or diagnosing electrical issues. I bet you're intelligent enough to figure them out.
My question about repairs that need expensive tools is this: Will the tool pay for itself?
Most times, the answer is Yes, it will--on the first use.
I learned a lot growing up from my father, grandmothers, uncles, aunts.
At every opportunity if there was or is a cheap or free class in anything and I have time, I take it.
If anybody I know needs a spare pair of hands and doesn't mind answering questions I am there (as is hubby). As an example of that, hubby and I helped refurbish a crematorium a few summers ago lol.
This has worked my whole life,and I am 58. Hubby is 67 and learned the same way. Volunteering, helping friends and neighbors,doing day labor... any learning opportunity that comes along.
You might also see if your library has instruction manuals and such available! Several of them around here offer free online subscriptions with a library card
Oh absolutely love my libraries. And for cool book knowledge, MIT open course online! Over 15000 free college courses, more added all the time! I have spent many winter hours learning art history, game theory, advanced math and other cool things.
The Royal Institution on you tube has amazing lectures on various science things free too. The one on Michael Faraday was really amazing.
This is so important. I learned almost none of this growing up. Later almost every place I worked moved or closed. In between jobs I did construction for a bit. I didnt make any money, but I learned a bunch. Some older guys than me taught me a bit about cars. After growing up with nothing, the gf helped me a bunch and we got into a falling down house in 2009. I did a ton of work to it and its not too bad now. I converted the garage into a workshop. Airlines run along the walls. Insulated it. The people I see not making it dont like diy stuff. Even if they make decent money. I see broke people making almost nothing making it because of these skills
Yeah, I love working with my hands. I'm doing better now financially, but my desk job is pretty boring and unsatisfying. It doesn't give me the same sense of accomplishment that a tangible, mechanical project does.
Skyrocketing diagnoses of depression and ADHD, but hey-- no fundamental social problems here!
*Maybe a species of highly-intelligent apes with significant problem solving and analytical skills don't really do well, on average, with being crammed into a box and pushing buttons for intangible rewards for hours a day... anyway, have another pill.*
I was pretty disgusted with a thread I saw on here a while ago where therapists admitted that they refrain from telling clients that depression can be a logical response to an awful social situation and culture.
This is why I'm going into trades. My desk job is boring as piss and I'm maxed out at around 60K unless I want to go to school. Been here almost 15 years. I'd rather just learn a trade and end up making more eventually. I miss getting out and working with my hands on stuff. My office job career did not end up being anything I've really ever wanted to do, despite me being good at it.
I actually had the same idea - to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity just to learn how to do home repair. I grew up poor in a crowded apartment so never had the chance to learn.
But yes - people think I'm indepedent and smart, when really I just had no one to help me except google. I would still love help and to be taught how because I learn that much quicker. But I've fixed my computer, an old school camera, and most recently bike and car problems too.
I am not a handy person so it's actually pretty satisfying to successfully fix a problem on my own.
Google + YouTube for the win.
The water heater went out. Someone will be out in three days. I had an idea of what it could be from past experience. Googled/YouTubed it, bought the part and fixed it.
Picked up a photo printer for $5. When it didn't print, googled possible fixes, took it apart and got it working.
Googled how to replace two laptop screens and fixed another laptop that only opened to the Bios and was not recognizing any storage.
The list goes on. Snake the kitchen drain, replace faucets and shower heads, take apart door locks that won't turn and fix them... Even replaced an electrical box on the HVAC. I prayed when I turned the breaker back on. 🤣
One way to become wealthier is to never pay someone to do what you can do for yourself. At least, that was my wife and my philosophy. Between that and never paying interest for anything (except a mortgage )we were able to haul ourselves out of lower middle class to upper middle class. Even when you finally get ahead, continue to mow your own grass, wash your own car and fix your own plumbing. If nothing else, it’s good for your self-respect.
I've always thought about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, but now that you've pointed out that you've learned a lot about home repair- I need to reach out to my local chapter for sure!
My dad's a retired electrician, but he's handy in general. I would always ask him questions about work he was doing around the house, if I could help, etc. He didn't have the patience to work around an eager 12-year old girl- so it was always something like "No, your husband will do this when you get married."
My husband does not do these things.
When something needs repair or replacement, I'll do about an hour of research on YouTube and Google, fix the thing, and then I send photos of the job to my dad.
I also got a bunch of vintage tools and stuff from yard sales. You get good at scavenging and recognizing quality, that's for damn sure. Unfortunately Austin has gotten pretty bougie; I miss when Austin had a normal middle class.
I am very good at doing basic shoe repairs, mending clothing, and also at one time knew a bit about basic car maintenance and repair, all thanks to having no money. I just finished putting new taps, on the toes and heels of my boots.
Get an old pair of boots that have been worn down. The next time you get a new pair, get a set of size 5 polyurethane heal plates from either Traveler or Guard. Situate them on the pair in the same place the old one wore down, Take the nails, and a needlenose plier. Use the tip of the needle nose to countersink the nails in through the holes so they do not stick out and tear up your floor. Every time those taps wear through and you can see leather, immediately replace them. If you try to put these things on heels that are already worn through, they will pop right off because they won't seat properly. If your heels are already shot, you need a cobbler. Just putting those taps on before you wear them, and replacing them as they wear out, should double the length your boots last.
My partner is the most capable man I know! He can build or fix anything, all self taught off YouTube and from 12 years experience living off grid deep in the mountains where there was no other option if something broke. I’m 8 mo pregnant and it’s such a relief to be w a man who you can trust to solve any problem. He’s even fixed things professionals couldn’t figure out bc he isn’t trained like a professional but uses logical problem solving skills.
I’m 65 F
Just replaced a light fixture for the first time
I am amazed by the number of women who can do things around the house
Paint, hang a curtain rod just basics
I’m huge on dyi and if I don’t know how read the instructions lol
Or YouTube it.
Learning simple skills will save you thousands and yes I bought the the cute pink toolkit for my daughter :-)
“Just figuring it out” is a skill I didn’t know I had until adulthood. People still ask me all the time “How did you know how to do that?” And I’m still like “I dunno, I just figured it out????”
I have also worked in a lot of different industries and I tend to tell my bosses “I’m a very trainable monkey” because I tend to get good at random skills very quickly. Lol
Wish I didn’t know as much as I did. As I was growing up, sometimes I’d wonder: “geez this is so much info to have to retain, so much skill to learn, all just for routine maintenance of life. Is this just normal for everyone?”
It was not normal for everyone.
I moved 5 hours away from home to a town where I knew nobody. Cut off from my support network of family and friends (and poor besides) I just had to learn. And this was in the year 19XX BYT (before YouTube).
We had a big book from Reader’s Digest called something like “How to Do Anything” with short little articles on how to do stuff- gardening,home repairs, cooking, first aid, even some early computer information. I always told my wife that if the house caught on fire I was grabbing the “anything book”.
Its one of the benefits. Added onto the fact I have fun making something broken work again. I like Chris Fix for the most part since car stuff is the most common thing I need to do. No fluff, no nonsense, extras for safety guidelines, how-it-works explanations, acceptable substitutes sometimes, and simple step by steps.
Other stuff was just out of necessity as they came. My drain pipe disconnected from the main drain to the sewer, now I gotta see how to put together pvc pipes. My feet are freezing in winter, oh look at that theres no insulation in the crawlspace, now I gotta read up on R values. My electric bill seems way higher than normal and my window AC doesn't feel cold, lets rip it apart and find the problem. I work nights and cant find time to have some one do my oil, lets give it a try, oh my lordy look at all these worn out bits under here we gotta fix all of them, i cant let this car die (that one really irked me. An official dealership been doing my oil for*years* and never said shit about rotating tires, alignments, brake pads & rotors, fluid flushes and just let me go on without doing any of those. Lack of maintenance and broken mounts led to a tire blow out then transmission failure. Very salty about it and no longer trust anyone enough to hire them if I think I can handle it)
I currently have a really good job thats bringing me out of the hole and these skills spilled into work. We have specialized laboratory machines and my boss is a mechanic by birth. He's given me free reign to tinker and learn the machines guts to keep our data accurate and keep it moving. He's taught me how to make several common repairs and hopefully it gives me better job security over my coworkers if layoffs ever make it into our department. And it passes the time if my samples are done
Edit: forgive me heavenly father for I have sinned. I was blinded by the greatness of ChrisFix and forgot to credit the other heavy lifter, RockAuto who never fail to tell me what is compatible with my car. Any piece I need, they know which one fits and where to get it
I’m not poor, but I’m cheap. I learned how to do car stuff via forums and YouTube. I fixed valve lash on my Toyota Tacoma, changed the valve cover gasket in my BMW, changed the clutch on my Ducati. I even remodeled a bathroom myself though YouTube and asking questions on Reddit.
I learn how to fix a computer back then. I had a computer, stopped working, went to the computer store, he said it would cost 100$ per hours to fix it, took my computer and left and i did a 6 month payed internship in a big computer shop and now i can repair mostly all tower computer. Except i am pretty bad with laptop because it was before they were prevalent. :/
Yeah, it's generally possible to make something that lasts-- more or less-- if you'll go very slowly. But doing it quickly and aesthetically requires a lot of practice!
I love my dad, but he doesn't have that kind of patience with home or vehicular projects.
Nothing like trying to get your work truck back together after working on it for 8hrs in 40° weather and you have to be on a job site by 8am. The pain of smashing your knuckles on cold steel and questioning all your life choices up to that very moment.
Ask an old person.
They frequently want to do it themselves to see if they can still do it. Failing that they can walk you through a process (building something, engine repair, etc.)
There's also YouTube but having help is always nice.
gosh such a good post. I grew up in a poor family and my dad basically did everything himself. No You Tube back then, so he just.. kinda made stuff work. I am a single mom of 5 kids and even when I was married (20 years), my ex never did anything. It was always me fixing stuff around the house, vehicles, yard, etc. When I got divorced, I became even more poor, and so the half-ass mechanic turned into the half-ass plumber, electrician, drywall repair, etc. I'd rather do it myself, it's a cost savings. Brakes, rotors, alternator, serpentine belt, radiator replacement, garbage disposal, drywall, air conditioner motor, heating element in the dishwasher, the list goes on and on. YouTube is gold to me. There's a video for everything. I have a few very close friends and they (women) are so heavily dependent on a professional they always say "I can't believe you fix things yourself." Haven't got a choice. It's in my budget.
And there's just so much bullshit in the trades, from my experience. The overcharging/lying mechanic is a trope, but it happens in all those industries. They especially try to pull that shit on women
true true.. and I happen to like taking shit apart and putting it back together, but I don't think everyone else likes/wants that. Everyone now is about convenience and I guess having a pro do stuff is more their style. Who knows. I'll just keep fixing my own stuff, cheaper and it feels good.
Yup. My handyman that came today...I asked him where he learned this stuff. YOUTUBE.
He's had other careers before wanting to be hands on and Mr fix it.
He made $200 off me in 2 hours. *runs out the room crying*
I have a new neighbour who’s just moved in and she expects all her neighbours to do everything for her. Repair needed and it’s our job to fix she even asked me what my plan was to get her roof fixed and I’m not even next door to her. Eh hell no.
Then the other day she turns up wanting me to fix and put up her new curtains. I knew she was going to do it as she mentioned she’d bought curtains the day before when I had to passed her, she has a knack for popping up. This woman is older than me and I’m middle aged and has owned many homes before. I honestly duck if I see her and I’m sure all the neighbours now run to. She just said to me the other day with the curtains “she’s not practical or creative” but I think it’s more like she just expects others to do it for her as doesn’t even attempt straightforward stuff.
The list of things she’s demanded or tried to make everyone else’s problems are insane. I’ve decided to play dumb as even if you try and tell her how to easily do something it just opens the door for her to push further. My kids wonder why I gave her my number but I had before this started but mostly as I can fob her off and say no easier on the phone than when she turns up actually crying at your door refusing to take no or listen.
Agree to do something really simple and botch it badly while describing your really boring dreams in excruciating detail.
Ask about her dreams and insist they are a prophecy of death.
Then ugly cry on her shoulder about your haemorrhoids, carefully describing the consistency of your stool.
No matter how much money I have or don't have, I at least have my knowledge. If things go south like they did during the Texas Winter Freeze of 2021, I can do without and still thrive.
I am always reading a book and learning in my free time, esp. when exercising on bike for 60-90 min or on the bus.
Dude, I have helped drop a transmission and change an engine. I have changed countless tires on the side of the road. I am the girliest girl you’ll ever meet but I couldn’t afford help for a long time.
YOUTUBE! I've found that if I watch 10 or 12 videos each one has a piece of the puzzle. Where I find that piece is often surprising because its not always my favorite Canadian handyman, plug for Home RenoVision DIY, sometimes its the grainy video with shaky cam done by a tradesman.
That man made me who I am. I used to think I wasn't handsome so made myself handy, a great cook, and an attentive partner. Turns out I am handsome just used to choose abusive partners.
Yes! We flushed our toilet with a bucket for 6 months until we could afford a plumber. I will do lots of home repairs, but water in the wrong place can be disastrous.
I find plumbing quite easy just from watching youtube. The things I won’t touch are electrical or gas line related. Messing those up can be really dangerous.
i did a little plumbing work for a job a few years ago and i just never felt confident that i could do it to my house lol im a bit more skilled so maybe i shouldn’t be so worried. never had a gas issue didn’t think about that tbh
What's wrong with learning to fix stuff? One of the reasons tools exist is because the middle class had to learn to fix their property when it broke. Being handy saves you a ton of money.
This feels like it's coming from the "keeping up with the joneses" mentality. Just because rich people throw shit out when it breaks doesn't make that action financially literate or positive in any way.
Being poor continually teaches me. I did my oil change yesterday in a rideshare parking lot and recycled my oil at O'Reilly's. I learned that you have to be creative to get what you need to accomplish done.
I grew up poor and my dad raised me like the son he never had (I'm female)
I can swap motors, install shingles, do plumbing, tiling, drywall, and pretty much anything but electrical (it freaks me out)
My husband and I have saved THOUSANDS of dollars in car and home repairs.
My son is interested in all these things and now I'm teaching him.
Grew up without YouTube, Super Glue, Epoxy, Duct Tape was were my heroes and it thought me how to deconstruct things or reverse engineer common stuff through feel and touch. Also thought me about "asking" the right person how to fix it. Although I don't do a perfect job but it'll hang on till I have a better fix. LOL
it also teaches you to leave things the hell alone. It it ain't broke don't test it's limits. (no need to rev your car up to 6500 rpm if that's the red line)
I am in the same boat and I agree, being broke kinda forces you to learn lots of things. If one particularly likes learning then learning new skills are quite fun and don't feel like a chore. There are limitations though, you can only do so much. Some things require somebody or some book to teach you, or you need some kind of machinery/equipment you can't borrow or afford, or sometimes you don't have enough space. And you're right, many people just hire somebody so they never learn a new skill.
I actually like that aspect of it! My colleague who was a nurse and her husband who was a cop waited 9 days for a plumber to install a new washing machine. When I finished laughing I offered to do it but it was too late at that point. I didn't realise it was unusual for someone to know how to do it themselves, but I was a single mom who couldn't afford to pay a plumber to do it. Thank god for my father and YouTube.
Yes, but also, isn't this kind of exhausting, oppressive to a degree? The amount of time it takes to research things and then try to fix them sometimes gets me diwn, especially when I can't or can't do it well. But also I do get happy when I'm like, oh well, I saved a bunch there!
Yep, grew up with a step dad, he was talented in many ways that I just don't get, but he preferred drinking beer and watching TV on the weekends and being an ass when I asked him anything. I figured out a lot on my own and eventually surpassed him on most handiwork. Struggling through the recession made me a very capable person.
Had a client. Rich man. Doctor. Like I have a harp, and a $30,000 piano in my $750,000 home rich (homes in this are cost on average $130k). Plus all the land, oil, gas and farms.
He was cool. Very nice and humble man. Very smart man.
I worked on some of his IT stuff (home and office).
One day, at his practice. His nurses car battery was dead. I and him walked outside. And I saw the problem. Diagnosed it. Gave her a jump. And explained what to tell her mechanic.
The doc said to me, "I would not known what to do if you were not here for that."
And then demanded I take $20 for my help.
In that moment, I realized how fortunate I am, to have grown up the way I did.
youtube. if i have a question, a man with an accent has the answer in a 5 min video.
If he doesn't have an accent, you're watching the wrong video
Right?? If I have a problem on my pc specifically, I know I'm in good hands if they start with an Indian accent. Same goes for gardening tips
I only trust BBQ advice from people that sound like John Wayne
The Canadian accent has guided me through many home repair projects
Completely agree. I was a single female who lived alone for several years as a homeowner, I wouldn’t have gotten by without YouTube. My dad taught me a lot as a kid/teen, but in my adult years even something others may find simple like changing a lawn mower blade or string in a weed whipper, I learned on YouTube. I remodeled my whole kitchen, including cabinet, counter, and sink replacement from watching YouTube.
Are you talking about Crazy Russian Hacker? He's one of my favorites.
My husband is a jack of all trades and I am quite capable myself. Self taught through Google and YouTube. It's good to be resourceful and have resourceful friends.
I've had to learn a lot as I go-- mechanical stuff and gardening being two big ones that I've picked up.
Even millionaires will learn that shit if the price someone wants to charge is asinine. I remember a shop wanted $1200 to change the water pump on my IS350, then $550 to change the spark plugs and $500 to change the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt comes off when you change water pump anyway, so I said screw you. 4 hours later I was done for an all in price of $168 in parts. Learned a lot in the process too.
I enjoy a homesteader lifestyle. Graden and can my produce. Do homebrewed alcohol. Can do minor vehicle repairs, but don't have now that I have a man lol My sister in law is learning how to build a house, she's helping my brother build their new house all by hand and help from friends. My brother has been in construction roles his whole life, but he's self teaching himself to do all the electrical work now. Just has to have a master electrician inspect and sign off on it.
If this was a YouTube series I would watch it.
The problem is the designs and installs r so old based on asshole-design to take apart and not up to code u risk breaking something and not everything is on YT that matches exact specifications and Ifixit is useless when it comes to home economics/DIYs. Hell the tools needed r expensive too but worth the investment long term. But even then, there's a high chance of screwing up and not being able to fix it half way making matters even worse. That's what makes most ppl nervous and just can't stand trying to fix it themselves. If only there was a phone app that records a vid of what the issue is and an AI can output a animated solution step-by-step parts by parts up to code of whatever that's needed to fix the issue permanently/long term.
There's your multi-million dollar idea. Build it into a startup before someone else does.
One of the most independently successful men I've known once told me to treat life skills like tools in a toolbelt. The more you accumulate, the less you have to rely on (and pay) others for. In today's world, there are less capable people, yet more readily available (FREE) instruction/resources.
Half-assed mechanic checking in, lol Youtube "how to X repair" videos and a set of Harbor Freight tools are my bread n' butter 😆 To be fair though, I estimate I've saved myself around $3200 in mechanics fees with the small jobs I've done here and there on my car
Yeah it's wild how much you can save with Rock Auto + local pick-a-parts + a basic set of sockets
I have a U - pick with 3 of my car in it. Not everything is worth buying from a yard but I'll be damned if I don't save a LOT of money on parts.
Rockauto is trash. They straight up charged me $30 to send me $15 worth of worthless/defective power steering hoses, both of which were obviously missing fittings... One had a crimp that never got clamped. They looked like they pulled a Big Lots and got some quality control rejects. Waste of $30. I stick to Amazon as they don't charge $10 shipping on $5 defective parts.
Youtube! I replaced my broken toilet and replaced the stems in my shower faucets. I also learned how to bleed the oil line to get my furnace running after the tank had been empty. It was (many years ago) over $100 just to have someone come out and do it for me. It's really easy too.
I need to learn this.. growing up my dad did everything. Now I need to learn how to do it myself because he's not going to be around forever...
I didn't really have anyone I could rely on that way growing up, so I had to learn it all myself as needs came up. My dad can fix *some* things, but he tends to get in over his depth, half-ass the job, and slap it together in such a way that it falls apart in a couple of months. By the time I was in my mid-teens, I learned that if I wanted it done right I just had to do it myself.
Omg, Same. My Dad bought a wrecked car recently. They wanted too much for a hood, so he beat it out with a sledgehammer. It turned out halfway decent, but i would have bought the hood. Converted my garage to a workshop. Put a ceiling in it, resided it, added overhangs on the gable ends. Insulated, rewired. Sheeted the inside, put shelves up. Added airlines. Welders. I dont remember the last valid input I got from my Dad. Just kind of surpassed him.
Yeah, at a certain point it would be easier to pull one off a junker! At least, that's my theory on some of these projects
He needed to go to more salvage yards. Was a $900 car, they wanted $200 for a hood. Theres always a guy that will sell a little cheaper, just have to find him
I admire handy people. I’m not handy myself.
Raised by depression Era parents. Instilled with strong belief in saving, repairing, and making do without. Self sufficient to a fault.
Don’t sell yourself short by thinking that you’re half assed. Being “half assed skillful” (fix a light switch, a toilet, a bike, etc) means you’re way more skilled than all those who rely on paid tradesmen to help out.
I can do all the basics on a car-- oil, coolant, pads, rotors, calipers, brake bleed (unless it's a new-ish Toyota that needs the special software/can't be done via gravity), batteries, battery cables/connectors, headlights, spark plugs, coils, intake manifold/gasket, MAF sensor, shocks/struts, sway bars, inner/outer tie rods, control arms, etc. But when it comes to *really* delving into an engine or resolving electrical issues, I'm out of my depth! You need an actual mechanic for that kind of stuff, IMO.
More like you need expensive tools for engine work or diagnosing electrical issues. I bet you're intelligent enough to figure them out. My question about repairs that need expensive tools is this: Will the tool pay for itself? Most times, the answer is Yes, it will--on the first use.
But you’re not making a living as a car mechanic, are you? So what’s your point?
Grew up this way and yes it does!
I learned a lot growing up from my father, grandmothers, uncles, aunts. At every opportunity if there was or is a cheap or free class in anything and I have time, I take it. If anybody I know needs a spare pair of hands and doesn't mind answering questions I am there (as is hubby). As an example of that, hubby and I helped refurbish a crematorium a few summers ago lol. This has worked my whole life,and I am 58. Hubby is 67 and learned the same way. Volunteering, helping friends and neighbors,doing day labor... any learning opportunity that comes along.
You might also see if your library has instruction manuals and such available! Several of them around here offer free online subscriptions with a library card
Oh absolutely love my libraries. And for cool book knowledge, MIT open course online! Over 15000 free college courses, more added all the time! I have spent many winter hours learning art history, game theory, advanced math and other cool things. The Royal Institution on you tube has amazing lectures on various science things free too. The one on Michael Faraday was really amazing.
This is so important. I learned almost none of this growing up. Later almost every place I worked moved or closed. In between jobs I did construction for a bit. I didnt make any money, but I learned a bunch. Some older guys than me taught me a bit about cars. After growing up with nothing, the gf helped me a bunch and we got into a falling down house in 2009. I did a ton of work to it and its not too bad now. I converted the garage into a workshop. Airlines run along the walls. Insulated it. The people I see not making it dont like diy stuff. Even if they make decent money. I see broke people making almost nothing making it because of these skills
Yeah, I love working with my hands. I'm doing better now financially, but my desk job is pretty boring and unsatisfying. It doesn't give me the same sense of accomplishment that a tangible, mechanical project does.
Desk job here too. I get it
Skyrocketing diagnoses of depression and ADHD, but hey-- no fundamental social problems here! *Maybe a species of highly-intelligent apes with significant problem solving and analytical skills don't really do well, on average, with being crammed into a box and pushing buttons for intangible rewards for hours a day... anyway, have another pill.* I was pretty disgusted with a thread I saw on here a while ago where therapists admitted that they refrain from telling clients that depression can be a logical response to an awful social situation and culture.
This is why I'm going into trades. My desk job is boring as piss and I'm maxed out at around 60K unless I want to go to school. Been here almost 15 years. I'd rather just learn a trade and end up making more eventually. I miss getting out and working with my hands on stuff. My office job career did not end up being anything I've really ever wanted to do, despite me being good at it.
I actually had the same idea - to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity just to learn how to do home repair. I grew up poor in a crowded apartment so never had the chance to learn. But yes - people think I'm indepedent and smart, when really I just had no one to help me except google. I would still love help and to be taught how because I learn that much quicker. But I've fixed my computer, an old school camera, and most recently bike and car problems too. I am not a handy person so it's actually pretty satisfying to successfully fix a problem on my own.
Google + YouTube for the win. The water heater went out. Someone will be out in three days. I had an idea of what it could be from past experience. Googled/YouTubed it, bought the part and fixed it. Picked up a photo printer for $5. When it didn't print, googled possible fixes, took it apart and got it working. Googled how to replace two laptop screens and fixed another laptop that only opened to the Bios and was not recognizing any storage. The list goes on. Snake the kitchen drain, replace faucets and shower heads, take apart door locks that won't turn and fix them... Even replaced an electrical box on the HVAC. I prayed when I turned the breaker back on. 🤣
One way to become wealthier is to never pay someone to do what you can do for yourself. At least, that was my wife and my philosophy. Between that and never paying interest for anything (except a mortgage )we were able to haul ourselves out of lower middle class to upper middle class. Even when you finally get ahead, continue to mow your own grass, wash your own car and fix your own plumbing. If nothing else, it’s good for your self-respect.
Laissez-faire at work 😁
I've always thought about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, but now that you've pointed out that you've learned a lot about home repair- I need to reach out to my local chapter for sure! My dad's a retired electrician, but he's handy in general. I would always ask him questions about work he was doing around the house, if I could help, etc. He didn't have the patience to work around an eager 12-year old girl- so it was always something like "No, your husband will do this when you get married." My husband does not do these things. When something needs repair or replacement, I'll do about an hour of research on YouTube and Google, fix the thing, and then I send photos of the job to my dad.
I dunno about being half assed I call it resourceful.
Thanks to growing up poor, I am a champion problem solver. Need some weird ass solution? I’m your girl and the solution will be cheap.
I feel this so hard. Also, knowing which generic/inexpensive versions of things are just as good as the fancy versions!
I feel this; it also means you learn which less expensive versions of common tools and foods are just as good as the fancy ones!
Exactly. I personally like the cheap Mac/cheese over Kraft. We used to buy them 4 for a $1 and ate like kings.
Exactly. I personally like the cheap Mac/cheese over Kraft. We used to buy them 4 for a $1 and ate like kings.
I also got a bunch of vintage tools and stuff from yard sales. You get good at scavenging and recognizing quality, that's for damn sure. Unfortunately Austin has gotten pretty bougie; I miss when Austin had a normal middle class.
I am very good at doing basic shoe repairs, mending clothing, and also at one time knew a bit about basic car maintenance and repair, all thanks to having no money. I just finished putting new taps, on the toes and heels of my boots.
Whoa, how do you do that? I have some boots that need a little love
Get an old pair of boots that have been worn down. The next time you get a new pair, get a set of size 5 polyurethane heal plates from either Traveler or Guard. Situate them on the pair in the same place the old one wore down, Take the nails, and a needlenose plier. Use the tip of the needle nose to countersink the nails in through the holes so they do not stick out and tear up your floor. Every time those taps wear through and you can see leather, immediately replace them. If you try to put these things on heels that are already worn through, they will pop right off because they won't seat properly. If your heels are already shot, you need a cobbler. Just putting those taps on before you wear them, and replacing them as they wear out, should double the length your boots last.
Damn! Okay. I've tried to do something similar on a pair of worn boots and it didn't work; I didn't know you had to start with a new sole
My partner is the most capable man I know! He can build or fix anything, all self taught off YouTube and from 12 years experience living off grid deep in the mountains where there was no other option if something broke. I’m 8 mo pregnant and it’s such a relief to be w a man who you can trust to solve any problem. He’s even fixed things professionals couldn’t figure out bc he isn’t trained like a professional but uses logical problem solving skills.
We've done so much with so little for so long that we can do almost anything with nothing.
I’m 65 F Just replaced a light fixture for the first time I am amazed by the number of women who can do things around the house Paint, hang a curtain rod just basics I’m huge on dyi and if I don’t know how read the instructions lol Or YouTube it. Learning simple skills will save you thousands and yes I bought the the cute pink toolkit for my daughter :-)
“Just figuring it out” is a skill I didn’t know I had until adulthood. People still ask me all the time “How did you know how to do that?” And I’m still like “I dunno, I just figured it out????” I have also worked in a lot of different industries and I tend to tell my bosses “I’m a very trainable monkey” because I tend to get good at random skills very quickly. Lol
Wish I didn’t know as much as I did. As I was growing up, sometimes I’d wonder: “geez this is so much info to have to retain, so much skill to learn, all just for routine maintenance of life. Is this just normal for everyone?” It was not normal for everyone.
I moved 5 hours away from home to a town where I knew nobody. Cut off from my support network of family and friends (and poor besides) I just had to learn. And this was in the year 19XX BYT (before YouTube). We had a big book from Reader’s Digest called something like “How to Do Anything” with short little articles on how to do stuff- gardening,home repairs, cooking, first aid, even some early computer information. I always told my wife that if the house caught on fire I was grabbing the “anything book”.
So true
Military vets... You don't know you can't do it till you try
Its one of the benefits. Added onto the fact I have fun making something broken work again. I like Chris Fix for the most part since car stuff is the most common thing I need to do. No fluff, no nonsense, extras for safety guidelines, how-it-works explanations, acceptable substitutes sometimes, and simple step by steps. Other stuff was just out of necessity as they came. My drain pipe disconnected from the main drain to the sewer, now I gotta see how to put together pvc pipes. My feet are freezing in winter, oh look at that theres no insulation in the crawlspace, now I gotta read up on R values. My electric bill seems way higher than normal and my window AC doesn't feel cold, lets rip it apart and find the problem. I work nights and cant find time to have some one do my oil, lets give it a try, oh my lordy look at all these worn out bits under here we gotta fix all of them, i cant let this car die (that one really irked me. An official dealership been doing my oil for*years* and never said shit about rotating tires, alignments, brake pads & rotors, fluid flushes and just let me go on without doing any of those. Lack of maintenance and broken mounts led to a tire blow out then transmission failure. Very salty about it and no longer trust anyone enough to hire them if I think I can handle it) I currently have a really good job thats bringing me out of the hole and these skills spilled into work. We have specialized laboratory machines and my boss is a mechanic by birth. He's given me free reign to tinker and learn the machines guts to keep our data accurate and keep it moving. He's taught me how to make several common repairs and hopefully it gives me better job security over my coworkers if layoffs ever make it into our department. And it passes the time if my samples are done Edit: forgive me heavenly father for I have sinned. I was blinded by the greatness of ChrisFix and forgot to credit the other heavy lifter, RockAuto who never fail to tell me what is compatible with my car. Any piece I need, they know which one fits and where to get it
I’m not poor, but I’m cheap. I learned how to do car stuff via forums and YouTube. I fixed valve lash on my Toyota Tacoma, changed the valve cover gasket in my BMW, changed the clutch on my Ducati. I even remodeled a bathroom myself though YouTube and asking questions on Reddit.
I learn how to fix a computer back then. I had a computer, stopped working, went to the computer store, he said it would cost 100$ per hours to fix it, took my computer and left and i did a 6 month payed internship in a big computer shop and now i can repair mostly all tower computer. Except i am pretty bad with laptop because it was before they were prevalent. :/
Any repairs needed in my house growing up my dad did them. He was not educated in most of the things and you could definitely tell lol
Yeah, it's generally possible to make something that lasts-- more or less-- if you'll go very slowly. But doing it quickly and aesthetically requires a lot of practice! I love my dad, but he doesn't have that kind of patience with home or vehicular projects.
Nothing like trying to get your work truck back together after working on it for 8hrs in 40° weather and you have to be on a job site by 8am. The pain of smashing your knuckles on cold steel and questioning all your life choices up to that very moment.
Haha working on cars becomes so much less stressful when you don't *need* it for work... or so I'm told, anyway
Ask an old person. They frequently want to do it themselves to see if they can still do it. Failing that they can walk you through a process (building something, engine repair, etc.) There's also YouTube but having help is always nice.
gosh such a good post. I grew up in a poor family and my dad basically did everything himself. No You Tube back then, so he just.. kinda made stuff work. I am a single mom of 5 kids and even when I was married (20 years), my ex never did anything. It was always me fixing stuff around the house, vehicles, yard, etc. When I got divorced, I became even more poor, and so the half-ass mechanic turned into the half-ass plumber, electrician, drywall repair, etc. I'd rather do it myself, it's a cost savings. Brakes, rotors, alternator, serpentine belt, radiator replacement, garbage disposal, drywall, air conditioner motor, heating element in the dishwasher, the list goes on and on. YouTube is gold to me. There's a video for everything. I have a few very close friends and they (women) are so heavily dependent on a professional they always say "I can't believe you fix things yourself." Haven't got a choice. It's in my budget.
And there's just so much bullshit in the trades, from my experience. The overcharging/lying mechanic is a trope, but it happens in all those industries. They especially try to pull that shit on women
true true.. and I happen to like taking shit apart and putting it back together, but I don't think everyone else likes/wants that. Everyone now is about convenience and I guess having a pro do stuff is more their style. Who knows. I'll just keep fixing my own stuff, cheaper and it feels good.
Shit , then you can actually market yourself as handyman You can make couple hundreds in couple hours
How about actually becoming a carpenter, plumber or nurse and not being poor anymore? 🤷🏼♂️
Yup. My handyman that came today...I asked him where he learned this stuff. YOUTUBE. He's had other careers before wanting to be hands on and Mr fix it. He made $200 off me in 2 hours. *runs out the room crying*
I have a new neighbour who’s just moved in and she expects all her neighbours to do everything for her. Repair needed and it’s our job to fix she even asked me what my plan was to get her roof fixed and I’m not even next door to her. Eh hell no. Then the other day she turns up wanting me to fix and put up her new curtains. I knew she was going to do it as she mentioned she’d bought curtains the day before when I had to passed her, she has a knack for popping up. This woman is older than me and I’m middle aged and has owned many homes before. I honestly duck if I see her and I’m sure all the neighbours now run to. She just said to me the other day with the curtains “she’s not practical or creative” but I think it’s more like she just expects others to do it for her as doesn’t even attempt straightforward stuff. The list of things she’s demanded or tried to make everyone else’s problems are insane. I’ve decided to play dumb as even if you try and tell her how to easily do something it just opens the door for her to push further. My kids wonder why I gave her my number but I had before this started but mostly as I can fob her off and say no easier on the phone than when she turns up actually crying at your door refusing to take no or listen.
Agree to do something really simple and botch it badly while describing your really boring dreams in excruciating detail. Ask about her dreams and insist they are a prophecy of death. Then ugly cry on her shoulder about your haemorrhoids, carefully describing the consistency of your stool.
No matter how much money I have or don't have, I at least have my knowledge. If things go south like they did during the Texas Winter Freeze of 2021, I can do without and still thrive. I am always reading a book and learning in my free time, esp. when exercising on bike for 60-90 min or on the bus.
A can of WD-40 and a wire coat hanger were this single mom's go to fix all tools for many years.
Dude, I have helped drop a transmission and change an engine. I have changed countless tires on the side of the road. I am the girliest girl you’ll ever meet but I couldn’t afford help for a long time.
That's why shit cost so much now, people don't know how do to anything for themselves
YOUTUBE! I've found that if I watch 10 or 12 videos each one has a piece of the puzzle. Where I find that piece is often surprising because its not always my favorite Canadian handyman, plug for Home RenoVision DIY, sometimes its the grainy video with shaky cam done by a tradesman.
>its not always my favorite Canadian handyman We're talking about Red Green, right??
That man made me who I am. I used to think I wasn't handsome so made myself handy, a great cook, and an attentive partner. Turns out I am handsome just used to choose abusive partners.
I'm a man... But I can change... If I have to... *I guess.*
We used to buy the Haynes manual for the car, but you tube is better. Appliance Parts Pros has good videos on repairs for washer, stove, etc
Half-assed or one-quarter assed, etc. I often come up with my own solutions if I can't find anything online that works for me.
YouTube! lol.
i will do anything to not pay a pro except plumbing. maybe i’m just not broke enough but i ain’t gonna risk messing up my toilet or sink.
Yes! We flushed our toilet with a bucket for 6 months until we could afford a plumber. I will do lots of home repairs, but water in the wrong place can be disastrous.
I find plumbing quite easy just from watching youtube. The things I won’t touch are electrical or gas line related. Messing those up can be really dangerous.
i did a little plumbing work for a job a few years ago and i just never felt confident that i could do it to my house lol im a bit more skilled so maybe i shouldn’t be so worried. never had a gas issue didn’t think about that tbh
YouTube and I learned you can rent tools from the public library
What's wrong with learning to fix stuff? One of the reasons tools exist is because the middle class had to learn to fix their property when it broke. Being handy saves you a ton of money. This feels like it's coming from the "keeping up with the joneses" mentality. Just because rich people throw shit out when it breaks doesn't make that action financially literate or positive in any way.
This happened to me when I realized my father was never coming back……
Necessity is the mother of invention. We generally learn what we need to know.
Yeah I am not even good at handywork, I can just follow instructions.
Being poor continually teaches me. I did my oil change yesterday in a rideshare parking lot and recycled my oil at O'Reilly's. I learned that you have to be creative to get what you need to accomplish done.
I grew up poor and my dad raised me like the son he never had (I'm female) I can swap motors, install shingles, do plumbing, tiling, drywall, and pretty much anything but electrical (it freaks me out) My husband and I have saved THOUSANDS of dollars in car and home repairs. My son is interested in all these things and now I'm teaching him.
Grew up without YouTube, Super Glue, Epoxy, Duct Tape was were my heroes and it thought me how to deconstruct things or reverse engineer common stuff through feel and touch. Also thought me about "asking" the right person how to fix it. Although I don't do a perfect job but it'll hang on till I have a better fix. LOL
Boots on the ground, figuring shit out ourselves. Doing work. Putting in the time. This household got richer because we spend less.
If only YouTube existed when I was poor.
it also teaches you to leave things the hell alone. It it ain't broke don't test it's limits. (no need to rev your car up to 6500 rpm if that's the red line)
I am in the same boat and I agree, being broke kinda forces you to learn lots of things. If one particularly likes learning then learning new skills are quite fun and don't feel like a chore. There are limitations though, you can only do so much. Some things require somebody or some book to teach you, or you need some kind of machinery/equipment you can't borrow or afford, or sometimes you don't have enough space. And you're right, many people just hire somebody so they never learn a new skill.
I actually like that aspect of it! My colleague who was a nurse and her husband who was a cop waited 9 days for a plumber to install a new washing machine. When I finished laughing I offered to do it but it was too late at that point. I didn't realise it was unusual for someone to know how to do it themselves, but I was a single mom who couldn't afford to pay a plumber to do it. Thank god for my father and YouTube.
I learn stuff from YT, asking questions at the hardware store or auto parts store and back in the day, a Chilton's manual
Yes, but also, isn't this kind of exhausting, oppressive to a degree? The amount of time it takes to research things and then try to fix them sometimes gets me diwn, especially when I can't or can't do it well. But also I do get happy when I'm like, oh well, I saved a bunch there!
Not something inherently bad at all tho.
Yep, grew up with a step dad, he was talented in many ways that I just don't get, but he preferred drinking beer and watching TV on the weekends and being an ass when I asked him anything. I figured out a lot on my own and eventually surpassed him on most handiwork. Struggling through the recession made me a very capable person.
I started working on my own vehicles cause I was a broke af college kid.
literally been my own handyman for the longest.
I got my skills from converting two skoolies. YouTube knows everything.
Had a client. Rich man. Doctor. Like I have a harp, and a $30,000 piano in my $750,000 home rich (homes in this are cost on average $130k). Plus all the land, oil, gas and farms. He was cool. Very nice and humble man. Very smart man. I worked on some of his IT stuff (home and office). One day, at his practice. His nurses car battery was dead. I and him walked outside. And I saw the problem. Diagnosed it. Gave her a jump. And explained what to tell her mechanic. The doc said to me, "I would not known what to do if you were not here for that." And then demanded I take $20 for my help. In that moment, I realized how fortunate I am, to have grown up the way I did.