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Know Your Limits


When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run.

That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes.
Let’s discuss some of those…

  • Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products.
  • Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS.
  • I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a mess of it. Color can also be dangerous. Yes, hair grows back, but if you really mess up the color, it can cost a lot of money to fix it. I think the same would go for skin treatments and maybe even nails. It sure would in my case.
  • If you work from home (and who doesn’t right now?) and you have a large printing job to do, send it to a print shop. It saves quite a bit of money per copy.
  • If you are selling off some valuables for some extra cash, consult a professional to make sure you get what they’re actually worth.


There are lots of things you can do to save money, just recognize when a potential project is beyond your security clearance.

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