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Comment by sen | Hacker News Reader

This sounds more like (the very very common) "never do your hobby as a job". Nearly all of their points about DIY come back to them feeling like their hobby had turned into a pressure-inducing full-time job, and that's a personal issue, nothing to do with DIY itself.

I've been a DIYer/maker/whatever-its-called-this-year since as long as I can remember. It doesn't mean I'm going to feel pressured to spend weeks fix the family TV rather than just go buy a new one on the day, and it doesn't mean I need to fix/build every single thing in the house. It just means I enjoy making/fixing/building projects when inspiration strikes.

I keep it as a hobby by picking and choosing which projects I'll actually enjoy and/or which ones will benefit me in some way ($20 DIY fix on a $900 washing machine "benefits" me even if it's not as enjoyable).

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I'm definitely getting better at choosing my projects; I was raised in a family of do-everything-yourselfers with a bit of a complex about never getting new/nice things. Since buying a house of my own I've come to accept that I have neither the time nor expertise to handle every project by myself, and whenever a new project rears its ugly head I do some calculations of time vs money vs experience and fun.

I'm currently waiting on a dryer solenoid in the mail. It's a project that got slightly out of hand, over time but (as of yet) under budget, and I've learned a lot about what's going on inside my dryer which is the best reason to take on a project like this.

At the end of the project the greatest satisfaction comes from knowing how my home appliances function, and understanding them well enough to be sure they are operating safely and efficiently. That, and being able to tumble-dry clothes and towels.

"($20 DIY fix on a $900 washing machine "benefits" me even if it's not as enjoyable)"

I suspect this is why most people do it. I know saving momey is why I fix and build things.

I replaced my toilet by myself, after watching a few dozen youtube videos. I was so scared because I'm a germophobe but $250 was too much for me not to try.

The internal warmth from the glow of saving that money instead of hiring a plumber lasted at least 3 days.

> The internal warmth from the glow of saving that money instead of hiring a plumber lasted at least 3 days.

the ikea effect in action...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKEA_effect

Thanks for the link!

I don't think it applies in this case however. There is no explicit cognitive bias at play. There would be if he considered his job is as good or better than plumber's (although actually, unless he has a very particular toilet setup, doing a good job after meticulous research and preparation is not out of reach at all).

In any case, even doing an OK job which is definitely worse than a plumber's but holds (and will presumably hold) is still a win if you're short on money but can spare the time/motivation.

I never thought of assembling IKEA furniture as "do it yourself". Just part of the unpacking process.

Yeah, I've heard a lot of people say that putting together Ikea furniture is a PITA or strains their relationship or whatever, and I don't get it. I just read the instructions and put the pieces where they go like any other thing that comes in a box some assembly required.

Then again, I used to work in a retail position where I assembled so many things with far inferior construction and instructions. All in a day's work.

OTOH when people kitbash or modify Ikea furniture, I think that extends a bit into DIY. But putting it together out if the box doesn't count IMO.

I used to feel this way. Then I started dating someone who, while otherwise reasonably successful and intelligent, had a house filled with incorrectly-assembled Ikea furniture.

I think some people just have a mental block when it comes to this type of activity. Imagining how two parts will fit together in the physical world or perceiving an order of operations to assembly, even if laid out in an easily parsed instruction booklet, just causes their brain to disengage for some reason.

See I have the opposite feeling - I don't like to clean so I hire a cleaning lady, I don't want to spend hours on YouTube and risk my toilet leaking through to the apartment blow. My main issue is that even when I hire someone/buy something it's really hard to know if it will actually be what I expect. If I need to spend time informing myself to make a good decision then the equation changes, and a lot of things these days don't deliver satisfying results by default.

What makes you think anybody you hire will be competent and not cause it to leak? Do it yourself at least you can make sure it's done right.

Because you would hire a professional plumber with insurance and if it leaks you use your home insurance to cover and damage and then they go after the plumbers insurance to recoup their cost so your premiums don’t go up.

See but the damage is only a small part of that story, time, effort and stress is far worse for me.

You think you are better at installing toilets than the average professional plumber?

No but if I have to watch over the guy and investigate what he's supposed to be doing I might as well do it myself, then it's not worth the money.

Would you hire the Geek Squad to fix your PC?

That's exactly my point. I wish I could really on people being professional, but I've been bitten by this. Fortunately I also have reliable contacts at this point - people that did good work for me and delivered more than I expected - I pay these people more than they ask and go to them or ask for referrals

I think that's a call you make to maximize enjoyment. Take on what you're curious about, not what you dread.

Another part of the equation is - don't be afraid to ask for or hire help. Some people take on some projects because they don't want to or don't know they can ask for help.

I also enjoy DIY a lot more if I forgive myself.

With a job, "stop starting and start finishing" is an important mantra.

With DIY I think if you have too many projects, you give up on a project, or you just lose interest... It. is. OK!

Really, there's no reason to add to your many responsibilities at the cost of losing your enjoyment, your playfulnes, or your stress relief.

> This sounds more like (the very very common) "never do your hobby as a job”

“But yield who will their separation,

My object in living is to unite

My avocation and my vocation

As my two eyes make one in sight.

Only where love and need are one,

And the work is play for mortal stakes,

Is the deed ever really done

For Heaven and the future's sakes.”

― Robert Frost

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