Showerthought: My kid asked why we even bother painting our own fence anymore.

Overheard a contractor at the lumber yard in Springfield tell a guy that a basic 6-foot cedar fence panel now costs $85, which made me realize the real DIY payoff isn't just the money saved, it's the quiet afternoon you get back with your family while you do it. Anyone else find the time spent on a project is worth more than the cash these days?

2 comments

2 Comments

joseph_roberts2d ago

Yeah, I used to just see the dollar amount saved. But last summer, my daughter actually wanted to help me stain the deck. That couple hours of her telling me about her week while we worked was better than any money I saved. It flipped a switch for me.

jamienguyen1d ago

Man, @joseph_roberts, I was all about the DIY savings too, but you're totally right about the time being the real win.