Should You DIY (do it yourself)?

Approximate reading time: 3 minutes

Has this ever happened to you?

You attend a craft show (or scroll Pinterest), something really cute catches your eye, it’s a little pricey for your budget and instead of simply making the purchase, you think to yourself, “I can do it myself!”

I am currently attempting to seriously declutter an upstairs bedroom.

In the process, I pulled out an entire tub of items that was purchased to make beautiful, artisan Christmas bulbs. After having spied them at a local shop, I just knew I could “do it myself” for far less money.

I spent a considerable amount of money purchasing the supplies. This Christmas will be the third Christmas that those bulbs have resided, unmade, cluttering up a lot of useful space in my closet. Actually, I let my grandkids use part of them for an art project!

If this was the first time, I had made the decision to DIY something, it would be understandable.

But no, there is a loooonggg line of these projects that either are laying around my house or have already been given or thrown away.

Consider these do it yourself fails

An expensive scrapbooking album from the time I was sure that I would document our lives with pictures and cute captions.

A bag of yarn from when I decided to crochet old fashioned doilies.

(Did I mention I hate doing crafts?)

And more.

But what about do it yourself cleaning solutions?

I bought and gave away everything necessary to make homemade laundry detergent.

I am a perfect example of someone who should never, ever consider doing anything “do it yourself”.

Because I won’t! I mean well. I have great intentions. But it simply isn’t going to happen.

Christmas is fast approaching. Do it yourself gifts can be a great budget saver.

Before you are even tempted to consider anything DIY, I challenge you to consider these points:

Know yourself.

Do you even like crafts or cooking or whatever it is you are planning to do yourself?

If you don’t even enjoy what you are planning to do it is going to be very difficult to be motivated to finish the project.

Do you really have the extra time?

You may love crafts and/or cooking but what does your schedule look like? Is it realistic to think there is time in your schedule to complete an intense DIY project

If you already have an endless to-do list, it may not be in your best interest to add anything optional.

Will the quality be what you want?

Would have my bulbs been the quality of someone who had years of practice? I will probably never know, but I am guessing not.

Consider the true expense

How much is it REALLY going to save? If you actually follow through and make the item, it may be well worth it.

If the materials sit in the closet gathering dust and the supplies end up being an art project or a donated item, you have simply wasted money.

A word on DIY cleaners

There really are a lot of good DIY cleaning ideas floating around. Apply the same thought processes before making the decision to DIY household cleaners.

Since I use surprisingly few cleaners, I typically prefer to buy a commercial product. (Bathtub cleaner is my one exception.)

Should you “do it yourself”?

That is an answer that only you can answer.

However, if you already have a multitude of unfinished DIY projects, it might be advisable to either purchase the item in question or skip it altogether.

If you proceed and it becomes an art project, well, the kids in your life will thank you!