Buying vs DIYing

Posted by E

A friend recently asked me why I don't just buy pre-made things instead of creating my own.  It's a good question and I suppose there are several answers.  First I thought of the financial reasons.  Generally creating your own version costs less than buying it.  Then I thought about style.  In the age of the internet, you can usually find what suits you, but colors or sizes may not be what you need.  Then I thought about the sweat equity.  I love when people come over and compliment something I have created.  That pride and sense of accomplishment doesn't go away.  Plus I'm a single gal with no kids, so I've got the time to put into projects.  So with all the reasons above, I usually opt to create instead of buy.

However, there are times where buying instead of DIYing might be a better option...and of course for me it usually is because of money.  Let me give you an example.  I have been wanting a 2 drawer, legal file cabinet in light gray for my craft room/office.  Web research told me I'd be spending $230.  Not gonna happen, even though she is a sleek organizing gem.

Our state government sells surplus furniture and equipment, so I tried my luck there.  Lo and behold, I did find a 2 drawer, legal file cabinet for $20.  However, it was putty, not gray.  (I forgot to get a picture, so imagine this one plus 20 years of wear and tear and tape residue and filled with used rubber bands).

So I stopped by Walmart and picked up 2 cans of spray paint for about $3.80 a piece.  So in this case, I could have spent minimum $230 to buy exactly what I wanted but with a little DIY, it'll cost me $28 instead.  So yes, DIY won over buy.  And when I get to this project, I'll share the result!

Another project might not have the same result.  I've been looking at ottomans online for about 6 months.  I do like several, but I don't want to pay over $60 a piece for them, since I'm considering buying two. I love the look of this guy from Target for $54, but I'm not 100% on the plaid pattern.

 

I considered making my own ottoman from a fabric I do like.  I think foam rounds wrapped with batting on top of a wooden base with legs would emulate this look.  So I did some research for reasonable pricing and added it up.

1 1/2 yards of fabric: $15

Cotton Piping: $5

4 Wooden legs: $12

18" wooden base: $11

18" Foam Rounds: $36

Batting: Have

So this gives me a total of $79 (without shipping and taxes).  If I got the legs I really wanted, it'd be $15 more.  So in this case, buying is more reasonable than DIYing.  I could opt for another style of ottoman and that might be a better DIY option...but I'm still loving this style the most. 

The moral of the story (yes, I'm finally getting to it) is consider the cost of each part of your project and what you're willing to spend when it is all said and done.  Don't forget to account for the time and effort it may also cost you.  Remember, you determine the worth of any project.  So if you decide to create a similar ottoman like above and want to ship it to me for free, why that's just fine!