Dear Dr. Per Cap: Earlier this week I tried turning the air conditioning on for the first time this spring at my house. It wouldn’t blow cold and to make a long story short I had to call a repair company that charged about a month’s pay to fix it. I can’t get over how expensive it is to maintain my home. How can I keep from going broke?
Signed, Sweating in Seneca
Dear Sweating
There’s no doubt repair costs keep rising like hockey sticks in Minnesota. Heating and cooling contractors, plumbers, auto shops, you name it. Faulty HVAC systems, leaky roofs, and blown head gaskets are costly reminders that the world is an imperfect place and responsibilities that come with being a home or vehicle owner. Some repairs are worse than others but they all pretty much spell bad news. Like most tough decisions the key is to identify and maintain priorities.
First off recognize that we’re all looking for three things when something needs fixing. A simple rule that’s best summarized by the words: cheap, fast, quality. In other words we all want quality repairs done quickly at a low price. Unfortunately, you can’t usually have your frybread and chili beans and eat them too. You have to pick two and sacrifice one. Want that leaking faucet fixed fast and cheap? Say good bye to quality and say hello to a guy who shows up carrying a hammer and a roll of duct tape! How about a quality auto repair at a cheap price? Sure! We might be able to schedule you in time to make that pow wow on the 4th of July. And finally quality work, done in a jiff? You get the idea – money, money, money.
So which one you are willing to sacrifice: cheap, fast, or quality? If time isn’t a huge priority than consider fixing it yourself. Certainly there are situations when you need to call a pro but I’m a firm believer in the old saying “every profession is a conspiracy against the amateur”.
Here’s an example. Once upon a time I worked in an auto repair shop and while there were plenty of major repairs that required the expertise of a highly skilled technician. I also couldn’t get over how many vehicles rolled in with really simple problems. Loose battery cable, disconnected vacuum hose, even people willing to pay to put air in tires or replace a head lamp. Stuff any weekend warrior could fix with a basic set of hand tools and a YouTube video.
There are also a lot of situations in which you can tackle a big job yourself and take pride in performing your own quality work. I’m no Al Borland but over the years I’ve fixed broken water lines in my yard, climbed into my attic to replace bad HVAC circuit boards, and changed more brake pads than I can count. I’ll admit I’ve bitten off more than I cared to chew a few times but ultimately the do-it-yourself lifestyle has kept my vehicles on the road and our family home safe, warm, and dry. All while saving us thousands.
Next time something breaks try rolling up those sleeves, break out the tools, and have some patience. Self-sufficiency has always been our Native way!Ask Dr. Per Cap is a program funded by First Nations Development Institute with assistance from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org. To send a question to Dr. Per Cap, email askdrpercap@firstnations.org.