• Date Started: Jan 5, 2013
• Entries: 5
• Comments: 33
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What Have You Had to Fix On Your Own?

8 Responses to “What Have You Had to Fix On Your Own?”

1. LuckyRobin Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 12:41 am 1361925675
   1361925675
   We replaced the lid switch on our washing machine a few years back. One itty bitty little part that was preventing the machine from filling with water becausse it couldn't tell the lid was closed. It cost us $15 and five minutes as opposed to a service call (starting at $70 then just to come to the house), parts, and labor.

2. BoomerangBuck Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 12:48 am 1361926122
   1361926122
   That's great! It's amazing what we can do when we try. I'm hoping to change my natural reaction to "just go buy new" with seeing what we can do ourselves.
   
   Thanks for sharing your experience!!!

3. CB in the City Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 02:04 pm 1361973876
   1361973876
   My large tote I call my "train bag" had vinyl handles that were splitting open under the stress. I first tried duck tape -- not so good a fiz. Then I bought a purse at the Salvation Army for .69 that had sturdy clip-on leather handles. I used those to replace the handles on my bag. I figure I easily saved ~$60 (the cost of a new bag.)

4. BoomerangBuck Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 02:36 pm 1361975789
   1361975789
   Very creative CB. That's great! Thanks for sharing!

5. MonkeyMama Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 04:33 pm 1361982809
   1361982809
   We've been able to fix our own toilet problems, to date. They are usually pretty minor. (I believed we called someone else at some point, and he refused to charge us, because some knob had been turned or something simple. Duh). I would not say we are handy-inclined, but some things are pretty simple.
   
   We've actually had a bad run as we had a couple of repairs that were not very DIY. But that said, we still "fixed" rather than "replaced." {I consult my dad, who does not hire anyone for anything, and said he would not have done the repairs himself, either. He's mellowed a bit with age - like he actually hires people once in a blue moon}.
   
   Another thing we come up against a lot is just letting things fix themselves. We lived without an automatic ice maker for the longest time. I one time asked my dad to look at it. He may have fiddled with it a wee bit (I don't think he did more than literally look at it though) and he told me he had no idea what could be wrong with it. From that day it has worked. LOL. It might have just sat not working for a year or two or three. Apparently all it needed was a jiggle. Same with our garbage disposal. *I* was ready to replace it and my dh was being cheap. It's gone an additional 12 months with no issue. So, whatever then. Sometimes being a little lazy or cheap pays off.
   
   WE also did a service call for our fridge. It had stopped working, and needed cleaning (mostly just vacuuming behind and under). I have since read a lot of people throw away their fridges when that happens, as is a common problem. O.M.G.
   
   So, as a homeowner I have learned: clean and jiggle. LOL. Seriously, probably solves most problems. Youtube and google is also beyond helpful.

6. pretty cheap jewelry Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 06:00 pm 1361988058
   1361988058
   We love fixing and building things - and without reporting on the hundreds of things by my husband such as a bathroom remodel in progress right now, I can point to something I've done recently myself: glued back together the broken wood on my daughter's desk chair (nice second hand antique one she knocked over and cracked apart!). Just one of dozens little jobs you'd never notice around our place.

7. BoomerangBuck Says:
   February 27th, 2013 at 08:11 pm 1361995867
   1361995867
   @ MonkeyMama - Yes, Google and You Tube are exremely helpful! I don't know where we would be without them! Thanks for sharing your experiences!
   
   @ pretty cheap jewelry - That's great! Those little jobs add up to great savings!!! Thanks for sharing!

8. Jerry Says:
   March 8th, 2013 at 09:28 pm 1362778100
   1362778100
   I remember when my dad made me replace the starter in our old Chevy Impala, and for the amount of time that took it definitely did NOT lead to any major savings! I`d rather have the insurance of some things being done right, if they will take me more time than I have to devote to the task. That was one of them, although I think the second time would be a lot faster. Jerry

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