When it comes to tasks such as lawn care, car maintenance, and household repairs, are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you pay to have things done?

That’s my floor jack in the picture, along with a box of tools for changing oil filters. I’ve had the floor jack since I was in high school. The sticker on the side says it came from Kmart. Who knew something from Kmart could last 40 years?

Last weekend I used it to rotate the tires on my wife’s car and change the oil and filter. Lying on my back in the garage, I stared up at the car’s underbelly and wondered how I would fare if it fell on me. One thing is for sure, the funeral would be closed-casket. 

The floor jack was backed up by a jack stand. In theory, the jack stand would catch the car if the floor jack failed for any reason.

In theory. It occurred to me that I have never actually tested that theory. Granted, the jack stand was positioned right beside the floor jack so it would catch the car, but what if it didn’t? What if the car hit the jack stand at a weird angle and the stand shot out and went skittering across the floor? 

EGGSTACK RETIREMENT PLANNER

Those are the thoughts that run through your mind when lying beneath 3,000 pounds of motor vehicle. Fortunately, the task was completed without incident just like countless times before.

Why do I maintain my own cars? As a young man, I had more time than money. It’s cheaper to do it yourself. I got in the habit of doing it and I haven’t given it much thought since. That is, until my wife questioned it. Other than the fact that it saves a little money, I really didn’t have a good answer. We can afford to take our cars someplace to have them maintained.

The Long Downhill Slide

The maintenance I described used to take me about an hour – 30 minutes on a good day. Now that I am a little older it can take up to two hours. When I am finished, my clothes are soaked with sweat and I am dirty and something somewhere hurts. Lately I’ve noticed that picking myself up off the garage floor is accompanied by a groan. When did that start?

I exercise and try to watch what I eat. Over the past few years I’ve painted the house and built a deck out back. I am capable, maybe just slowing down a bit. It’s a waypoint on the journey of life; the long downhill slide we find ourselves in. We began this life in diapers, kicking and screaming and babbling nonsense, and for most of us that’s how we'll go out.

Anyway, the point of the story is to say that after discussing the matter with my wife, we agreed that from this point forward all car maintenance will be outsourced.

I tossed the oil tools in the trash and I must admit, it felt pretty good. Almost decadent. Is this how it feels to buy first-class plane tickets?

DIY vs. Outsourcing

When it comes to DIY vs. outsourcing, how do we make the right choices? Does it come down to cost? 

There are several factors, cost is only one. We need to consider our ability, availability, willingness, and safety. Let’s look at each individually.

Safety: Safety always comes first. For those of us in good health, it’s important to remind ourselves periodically just how fortunate we are. Read an article on accident statistics or volunteer at a hospital or visit a sick friend. A serious injury can ruin your ability to enjoy life, and in many cases the effects are permanent.

Never undertake a task that is too risky. If you have bones as brittle as dry tinder, don’t climb a ladder. If a storm uproots a tree in your yard, don’t lasso it with a rope and try to right it with your truck. Before embarking on any DIY project, consider the risks and ask yourself if it’s worth it.

Ability: This is a big one. If you don’t know a ratchet from a Sawzall, or an allen wrench from a pipe wrench, you should probably pay to have everything done for you. You will do more harm than good if you try to do it yourself. Whatever you think you will save by doing it yourself, double it and that’s a down payment on what it will cost to fix all the damage you'll cause.

Cost: When weighing your options, consider the cost of the tools required to do the job. If you already own the tools, this is not an issue for you. Otherwise, if the cost of the materials plus tools is anywhere near the cost to outsource the work, pay to have it done. Especially if it is a one-off that you will never face again. By hiring experts, you eliminate your risk and life becomes a lot easier.

Willingness: If you don’t want to do it yourself, don’t. It’s as simple as that.

Availability: Last but not least: availability. Estimate how long it will take you to complete the task, then double it. That is at least how long it will take. If you can’t spare the time or if doing it will take you away from something more profitable, don’t do it. Hire someone to do it for you.

The Last Word

Doing it yourself can be a rewarding experience. When you are finished, you have a sense of accomplishment. You know that it was done right, and you saved money doing it.

On the other hand, if you lack the time, tools, or ability to do the job right, you will regret trying to do it yourself. Your life will become less-than-ideal as you and your family suffer the consequences of your poor judgment. There is nothing worse than pouring your time and energy into a potential solution only to find that you’ve made matters worse.

Life is too short to learn everything the hard way. Do a little research and learn from other people’s mistakes. There really is no excuse today with the internet. Make an informed decision that will benefit you and those around you. Do the things that you should do yourself and outsource the rest.

Photo credit: Mike Ballew Eggstack News will never post an article influenced by an outside company or advertiser. Our mission is to help you overcome uncertainty about retirement planning and inspire confidence in your financial future.