My magnetic strip is basically my workbench's life support system. Without it I'm pretty sure the screwdrivers would unionize and walk off the job by lunch.

Last summer in my old neighborhood, a guy asked me to build a deck for him after seeing my work. the_simon has a good point about explaining costs, but I've seen times where that doesn't change a thing. I listed out every cost, from pressure-treated wood to the rental fee for the nail gun, and he still thought it was too high. He went with a handyman who charged half, and the deck wobbled after a month. So in my view, some neighbors just see your skill as a way to save money, not as something worth paying for.

I mean, "way better" is a big call. The needle on an analog meter shows tiny, fast changes in a way a digital screen just can't keep up with. It's way easier to see a trend or a flicker, which is actually pretty handy for finding some faults.

Setting clear lines early saves so much drama later, right?