My Little Budget Victory!

[msquoted]

I turned on the ignition and ALL FIVE SPEEDS WORK!! I don't know exactly how much money I saved, but I know that the dealership would have cost me a lot more than $30 AND they would have needed my car for at least 2 hours. This took me all of about 15 minutes. I can't believe I did it all by myself, but I am glad I did. I almost feel as good as I did when I completed my 1/2 Marathon.

Love it! Doesn't it feel good?!? I replaced my passenger side mirror this summer and I know people thought I was crazy- but when it was done for only $18 I was most definitely not looking crazy then

"Mend it, fix it, make do, or do without.” and all that jazz

 

[3happydancers]

That's Awesome! Makes me want to tackle my dryer that's making unbearable squeaking problems!

 

[marthachick]

Our dryer quit last year. I ordered parts on Amazon & fixed it for less than $40. Then I thought we had a mouse in the dryer. I took it completely apart only to discover it was in the vent. DS helped me replace that. DH seems to always be at work....hmmm...

Anyway, way to go OP!!!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

That was a budget victory and a personal victory. I am so thankful for the number of DIY repair videos available on YouTube. I've saved a good bit of money learning to do them myself, and I'm teaching my kids too. Way to go!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Good for you Kristenrice! Looks like you saved yourself a few hundred dollars! And what in the world made you think about fixing it in the winter???? Oh well at least you will be set for summer. And watch it will be a mild summer and you won't need the A/C all because you got it fixed LOL



YouTube is a great tool for fixing things. Our home A/C went out two years ago the first day of a multiday heat wave. We did some research. Found a YouTube video and $25 later it was all fixed and has been running trouble free since then!

 

[kristenrice]

Good for you Kristenrice! Looks like you saved yourself a few hundred dollars! And what in the world made you think about fixing it in the winter???? Oh well at least you will be set for summer. And watch it will be a mild summer and you won't need the A/C all because you got it fixed LOL



YouTube is a great tool for fixing things. Our home A/C went out two years ago the first day of a multiday heat wave. We did some research. Found a YouTube video and $25 later it was all fixed and has been running trouble free since then!

Actually, it wasn't the A/C...it's the blower. It would ONLY blow on level 5 so when I would go to work in the morning, my truck would be freezing and I had to sit through about 10 minutes of the fan blowing COLD air on HIGH SPEED before the heat would kick in. Now, I can let the fan run on level 1-2 while it warms up. It was the same in the summer...HOT air, FULL BLAST until it cooled down.

 

[StephMK]

Way to go!!! It's the best feeling to do something on your own plus save some money!

Neither DH or I are particularly handy. When I went back to school a few years ago and the budget was tight, we learned to be a little more handy. Now I always try it first because it is so much fun and rewarding to DIY.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Congratulations!!! I love saving money too by doing a little research just like this.

A few years ago a switch went out in my Toyota Highlander. I couldn't change it from cold to warm or increase the speed. I called the Toyota dealership and they wanted like $1200. to put in a new control panel. I googled the problem and found that there was an issue with a TINY wire that was breaking causing this problem. After a little more research I found a step by step guide on how to fix it. It had to have a new wire and I had to find someone who could mend it back on with a torch thing. I finally found someone in a near by city and for less than $100. it was just like new.

I think its smart to try to do things on your own first.

 

[kirstenb1]

Good job!! Now take that work friend out for lunch sometime soon---he saved you $$ and time!!

 

[Sacha_L]

Way to go! I'm lucky to have a handy DH (and man does that save some cash) but even he has used YouTube a few times when he didn't know how to do something. Most recently he changed a fuel pump on our old truck we use to haul stuff. No way was I sending $$$ to have a mechanic fix it on a 1992 pick-up. He has been teaching both our sons plumbing, electrical, flooring, ect... When I hear it cost my neighbor thousands of dollars for something we do for parts it's an amazing feeling and it means more Disney trips lol.

 

[stasijane]

Good Job!! Its the small things in life that bring us the most pleasure