I don't understand how ppl my age or any other age get away without knowing basic skills like sewing, basic handyman stuff or simple automotive things. I don't have extra money to dish out by not knowing these things. For example just last week two of my pairs of work pants ripped at the seem, one day after the other. I know how to hand sew and machine sew, so I simply sewed the seem back together but if I hadn't known how to sew I'd have to buy two more pairs of work pants and be out $50-$80 that I wouldn't have been able to afford. I've learned how to change my oil in my car, change a tire, replace spark plugs and just recharged my air-conditioning in my car the other day. Those things would have cost me a lot of money over time. But others seem to think it's odd that I would rather pick up a skill then just pay to have it done. I don't tend to think of myself as an overly penny pinching kind of person. What do all of you think? Do it yourself or would you rather dish out the money?