To Save a Few Bucks

In my 20s and well into my 30s, I followed a certain practice. It was a practice instilled in me from a young age and affirmed at every step through adulthood. The practice? DIY projects. Trouble with a toilet....figure it out. A landscape project needs to be installed.....figure it out. A large and complex piece of furniture needs to be assembled.....figure it out. If we can save money by figuring it out ourselves, that's a win! After all, that's what men do!!!!!!

Then, in my mid-30s, I finally broke. Sarah and I moved into our new house, and I needed to mount a TV above the fireplace. I bought the parts, collected the tools, and watched the appropriate YouTube videos to teach me everything I needed to know about mounting a TV above a fireplace. Six hours later, I had a damaged TV, a damaged house, and still no TV mounted on the wall. I tried to save a few bucks, and all it got me was a boatload of stress, a wasted Saturday, and a higher financial cost from the damage I caused than it would have cost me to just have a pro quickly knock it out for me. That's what happens when pride gets in the way. Pride and, well, irrational frugality. I was acting too cheap to make wise choices, and we paid the price for it.

Fast forward into the back half of my 30s and now well into my 40s, and I've turned over a new leaf. I will always opt to invest money in a pro to help me out. Sure, it costs some money. However, it saves time, stress, and the risk that I'll do far more harm than good. That, in my book, is a wise investment!

We can save a few bucks if we want. That option is certainly on the table. However, it's not the only option. Never be afraid to hire out tasks that will save your stress, your time, and ultimately, even more money than it costs. We should never overlook the value of our time and our sanity. Money may have a nominal dollar value tied to it, but our precious time and mental health are priceless.

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