https://www.reddit.com/r/minimalism/comments/1i9t2si/mental_health_and_diy_projects/
created by Different-Housing544 on 25/01/2025 at 18:12 UTC
0 upvotes, 3 top-level comments (showing 3)
I'm having some issues in my life that I believe are attributed to owning things.
Things that require time and energy. Maintaining vehicles is probably the worst offender. I am mechanically inclined enough to do all my own work on vehicles. I save so much money doing work myself, but the amount of time, energy, and tools it requires is getting to my mental health.
What I struggle with is the value of service. For example, I priced out a differential fluid change on my vehicle. The dealer wanted $1699 to do the work, which includes a bunch of other jazz. So that was obviously way too much, so I reached out to an independent mechanic. They wanted $500 with labour to do a boiled down amount of work on the car.
I went to the store and priced out everything I need to do the work. $160. Literally 1/10th the cost of the dealership.
How in the world do you guys balance this trade off? I can't seem to ever get past this so I buy tools and equipment to diy stuff myself.
Comment by Apocalyric at 25/01/2025 at 18:24 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You should actually feel more mentally healthy in knowing that repairs are less likely to financially break you. I wish i was in your position. I have a simple diy project that can remove clutter, but no means to complete it... and some looming car issues as well.
Realize that being able to just get on with a task is likely way less of a hassle than having to coordinate that work, and shelling out the cash for it.
I can understand not wanting to keep a set of tools for eventualities that really shouldn't have to come up that often, but it would probably do well for your mental health to view it for what it is: a set of tools that keep your life in working order.
Comment by MysticalNettle at 25/01/2025 at 18:43 UTC*
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I feel you. I'm extremely handy, and do things myself cause it's way cheaper and done exactly how I need it ; I build furniture, Sew stuff , things that require a lot of tools, time and energy. My goal is to live with the bare minimum and I'm struggling with my tools. I cannot bring myself to donate them yet, but it bugs me to think I have 6 boxes of furniture and tools chained to me.
Edit. I should have used the past tense cause I did not do a single diy since I've decided it was time to stop having useless stuff. Anyway, still don't want to separate from my tools...yet.
Comment by bikeiam at 25/01/2025 at 20:22 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I know it's silly but have you tried storing and labeling them correctly, like coming up with a pull out drawer solution for the garage or something so you can't see them all at once and only open when you need it?
I would kill to be able to fix my own cars because I pick awful ones