More life experience from my youthful single parent years and now my widow years!

• If it unscrews, it can be taken apart and put back together again. Just unscrew it, examine it (but unplug it first!)

 

• If it does not require a specific tool, learned trade, or extra physical strength, any person can do it.

 

• Don’t mess with electricity – carpentry and plumbing yes.

 

• If you don’t know, ask. Someone is always willing to help.

 

• Bring along with you the original item that needs repairing or replacing. Someone will always ask you a question or give you a choice if items that do not even look close to what you thought you wanted.

 

• No matter how well organized you are, you will always have to make at least one extra trip back to the hardware store.

 

• Copying what has been done before is not cheating – be sure to keep the original part until the project is completed.

 

• Keep a list of all your repairs you have done so you can see your accomplishments in black and white.

 

• Remember: You can do anything you set your mind to do.   

 

Advantages to doing it yourself:

• Save Money

 

• Women: there are men in hardware stores (great scenery and eye candy)

 

• Men: there are women in hardware stores looking for help or perhaps there to give you advice (eye candy, once again)

 

• It’s a good family project or a way to get to know your neighbors.

 

• A tremendous feeling of accomplishment, confidence, and self-satisfaction