My "free" shed remodel added up to $340 before I saw any return

I thought I was being clever reusing old pallet wood for a backyard shed shelf project. Between the new screws, sandpaper, stain, and a replacement drill battery from burning out the old one, I spent $340 total before I even finished. That's more than a pre-made metal shelf unit would have cost from Lowe's. Has anyone else poured money into a "free" project that ended up costing more than just buying it?

2 comments

2 Comments

alice_reed4711d agoMost Upvoted

The whole point of doing it yourself is learning something and building exactly what you want, not just saving a few bucks. That $340 bought you skills and a custom piece that no store shelf could match, plus the satisfaction of making it with your own hands. Cheap store shelves fall apart in a year anyway, so you're probably ahead in the long run.

johns1811d ago

Built a bookshelf last spring that cost me around $200 in materials and three weekends of my life. My wife says it looks "charming" which I think is code for "wonky but we're keeping it." The store bought one probably would've been cheaper and straight, but you're right, it wouldn't have that personal touch of being slightly uneven and smelling like sawdust and regret. At least this one won't fall apart because I used enough wood glue to withstand a hurricane. Nothing like spending hours on a project just to realize you made something that looks like it was built by a blind squirrel.