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Disclaimer: My opinion on the OP's question is a generalization. Meaning, this will apply to a sizable portion of the US population. However, there are always exceptions or extenuating circumstances so what I'm stating below may not apply to you. So please do not be offended and think that what I'm stating below is directed at anyone in particular.
Modern day USA (post 1975) is a culture of instant gratification, comfort, convenience and laziness. All of those things do not equate to people putting priority on minimizing the amount of money they spent on anything. Those cultural needs always trumps money and DIY. Even among the majority who live paycheck to paycheck and complain about "how there are no good paying jobs" or "all services are a rip off/overpriced" they fail to realize that much of the blame rests squarely on their shoulders. Much of it has to do with poor math skills related to everyday expenses. Meaning people don't even comprehend how much of their money they are wasting overall when they decide to source out all these services.
The other part is related to the culture I described above. This culture creates a "helpless" attitude in most peoples mind. Where they consider something as trivial as "changing your car battery" as a technical skill that they cannot learn. As more and more people fall into this mindset regarding activities; the more they outsource the activity and pay someone else to do it. And as we all know, the more the demand goes up the more prices go up. Thus, we have a culture in the US where the price of services is high because people are too inept to learn to do it themselves.
On a personal level I can attest to the fact that if you do not fall into the typical culture mentioned above, you can save a significant amount of money. This is even if your are way below average in learning skills (like myself) when you first start. Here is a brief background. I'm a male in my 30's. Back when I was 21 I was so naive, unskilled and uneducated about everything that I didn't even know the purpose of a tire rotation or what "sod" was. Also, over the years I have learned that I'm not naturally "handy." Meaning it takes me longer then the average man to learn to a new skill. Yet, even with all that I had the will and drive to teach myself things so I could save a significant amount of money. Here are a few examples:
1. How to food shop intelligently. I spend only $120/mo on groceries. Yet, I eat a lot of healthy non-GMO and organic foods. Also, I'm a avid bodybuilder. So I ingest a TON of protein and everyone knows protein is expensive. Especially healthy protein. I typically take in 130 g+ protein a day. A typical American would spend $250/mo to eat the same way I do. Over my lifetime I will have saved almost $100K from this habit alone (if I live to 85).
2. I taught myself so much about cars that my mechanic doesn't even ask me "what do you want us to check out?" if my car has a problem. Instead he says "I know you already figured out what is wrong with your car so just let us know what work you want done on it."
3. Taught myself roof upkeep and repair. My roof is 23 years old. Many of my neighbors with roofs that are only 18-22 years old have already had to replace them (cost $21-30K). Mine is still going strong. Also, when I do have to replace mine I can save about 35% because I found where to get the tiles for cheap. If you buy it though the roofing contractor they mark it up tremendously in S. FL. This is just standard practice (in this area anyway) but most people getting their roof done don't know it.
4. Needed hurricane shutters for my house. After getting multiple quotes from 8-10 reputable companies in the area the cheapest would cost me $55K for impacts and $28K for accordions. The cost was this high because I have a large house with a lot of big windows/doors. I didn't want to pay this much so I did research and taught myself how to do the install work. I got shutters installed myself for only $7.7K. It would have been even lower but there were 5 windows that were so difficult to access that I paid a company to put accordions on there.
There are countless smaller examples of DYI things I have done to save a significant amount of money. Honestly, none of it was that difficult nor did it put a strain on my time. For example, that shutter install is a huge project that take a tremendous amount of physical effort, logistics, measurements and has a huge learning curve. The first smallish window took me 4-6 hours to install. However, after that one was done, my average time went down to 2-3.5 hours depending on the size of the window/door. On average I installed one shutter every two weeks so I didn't even feel it when it was all said and done.
When I factor in the investment returns on all the money I will save/invest by DIY; I think I will easily have amassed an extra $550-750K over my lifetime. Considering that the median net worth of the age group group with the highest median net worth in the US is around $250K; that's nothing to sneeze at. So I guess that was my really really long way of saying: "Yes life is more expensive in the US because not enough people DYI"
Last edited by griffon652; 06-09-2019 at 02:16 AM..
Some. Most though have done the math and believe it costs LESS to hire the help.
Even those who really do have the skills required would rather do something else
with that time off from work or are working and earning MORE than the help will.
Correct. My time is more valuable than anything. I don't want to waste it running around to get tools, then learning how to do jobs like install ceiling fans, for example, and then actually installing the ceiling fan, I'll pay someone who has the knowledge and the tools to do it. I also no longer cut my own grass, it's just much easier to pay $20 every other week (small yard) to have the guys who are already mowing other lawns in the neighborhood, take care of it.
Last edited by BeerGeek40; 06-09-2019 at 03:50 AM..
I used to do a lot of DIY stuff (oil changes, painting, plumbing). Don't do much anymore. Don't want to be bothered with it usually. I just hire someone, I can afford to.
I have a feeling that the cost of many services and merchandise in America would be much lower if people here were a little more DIY minded. But it seems that most don't want to be bothered - until they see the bill.
As an example, I was in the car dealership waiting for a part when I overheard a customer complaining about a $500 service charge for having a bulb changed. "I didn't expect it would cost this much!"
The more people are willing to have services "done" for them, the more service providers will increase prices. IMO, the cure for many price increases is to force service people to complete with "almost free" labor.
What is the last project or task around your house that you normally would have called a service company for, or an item that you could have purchased for a high price - that you actually ended up doing or making yourself?
How DIY are you?
Lots of people don’t have a DIY bone in their body. And there is nothing wrong with that.
I changed both of the rear bulbs in my own Ford Escape, but they were super easy to do. My neighbor however has a Saturn, and it took them (he and his son - both VERY competent!) damn near all day long just to get the head light changed. It was unbelievable what you had to go through to get to that bulb.
I do far more DIY than most. Probably the last thing I did was to dig up and remove a large stump out of my yard. As a 63-year-old woman, I probably should have paid someone to do it Because I hurt my left upper arm… But it’s better every day so keeping my fingers crossed.
Many of us are working long hours just to stay afloat and we are time starved. Time has a value too.
I pay someone to do our yard work because I am not going to spend my weekend after working all week, doing something I hate to do, even though I do have a lawn mower and could do it myself.
I retired early downsized and bought a 100 year old home. I've been busy with DIY projects. Since I am not working full-time the DYI route has saved me thousands over the cost of hiring someone to do the job. When I do have to hire someone to do the job I now have the time to carefully research the options and ensure that I am getting the best person for the job on budget.
I recently needed to have a new exhaust put on. Doing it myself was not an option since installation requires a lift and specialized tools. The only parts available were OEM and most repair shops would not do the repair. The dealer wanted $1200 to do job. Per recommendation of an excellent mechanic I use for major repairs I was directed to an exhaust specialist. He did the job, including the same OEM parts from the dealer who quoted $1200, for $540. The research took me a few hours to make phone calls and drive to the specialist for an inspection of the work to be done well worth the $660 savings.
For many people they do not have the time, knowledge, or interest in DIY projects. Others blindly believe their hourly rate is much more valuable than it actually is. Age also definitely plays a factor. As stated earlier, certain projects require strength, agility and balance that few people feel the same comfort at 80 that they did at 30.
Lots of people don’t have a DIY bone in their body. And there is nothing wrong with that.
I changed both of the rear bulbs in my own Ford Escape, but they were super easy to do. My neighbor however has a Saturn, and it took them (he and his son - both VERY competent!) damn near all day long just to get the head light changed. It was unbelievable what you had to go through to get to that bulb.
I do far more DIY than most. Probably the last thing I did was to dig up and remove a large stump out of my yard. As a 63-year-old woman, I probably should have paid someone to do it Because I hurt my left upper arm… But it’s better every day so keeping my fingers crossed.
Yes, car repairs are a big challenge to me. Used to be cars were simple to work on, such as changing the spark plugs, wires and rotor. Every something like 25k miles.
Now they are more complicated to me, though theres no wires or rotor anymore. BUT i have a 6 cylinder sideways front wheel drive minivan, and the back plugs take a lot of time and effort by an EXPERIENCED mechanic ( they call them "technicians" now) to get back in there to take the old plugs out and install the new ones, AFTER they disassemble half the top gizmos and gadgetry on the engine, THEN have to put it all back together piece by piece.with my bad back bending over and into the engine compartment would cause me great pain, let alone tge time it would take me (4 or 5 times as long as someone who does this regularly). Its easier to take it in and spend the 2.5 hours waiting for it to be done, and it can wait til at least 100k ( needs to be done now, have to work it into tge budget).
Changing the front driver's side headpight is a pain, starting with removing the air filter assembly, then taking out the battery then other parts to get at the bulb, would take me all day to do it, then can have me in and out in less than half an hour. So i leave that to the professionals.
I used to do my brakes because my brother ( mechanically inclined and a genius carpenter and takes after my father) taught me how, with simple tools. One problem is its hard to bleed the brakes by yourself if you goof and need to bleed them, and that was before all this tire pressure monitoring system and ABS stuff was added in there, now i dont dare touch them.my best friend routinely does his own brakes, but had told me many times of the problems doing it and getting the TPMS and ABS to work right afterwards, so no, i wont touch my disc brakes, its only $175 per set to havethem do it, so i think its well worth it to me.
No, since im not mechanically inclined, illleave it to professionals. They get it done and make sure everything works right afterwards.
My dad was always very DIY. When I look back, it's crazy to think of all of the things he did and I know nothing. But now he's older and can barely move with all of his medical issues yet he still tells me, "I have to do this to the house, I have to do that." I am sure it killed him to get AAA because he was a mechanic and he wants to change his own tires but he physically can't do it anymore.
I am definitely not mechanically inclined. But I hope one day I can play around more (when I actually have space and I am not in a tiny apartment) and learn some new things.
Correct. My time is more valuable than anything. I don't want to waste it running around to get tools, then learning how to do jobs like install ceiling fans, for example, and then actually installing the ceiling fan, I'll pay someone who has the knowledge and the tools to do it. I also no longer cut my own grass, it's just much easier to pay $20 every other week (small yard) to have the guys who are already mowing other lawns in the neighborhood, take care of it.
Things vary on why we do them. I, too, have someone come out to cut my grass....but it comes down to more of building relationships, being known to the family companies in the area, of this small city. That, and probably that they know more of the dangers of cutting high country grass than I do.
On the other hand, I collect tools as I can get them for when something breaks, odds are there will be hours before someone can get out here.
It is a constantly running equation.
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