Whenever I find myself with a little extra free time, I try to learn a new skill. From home repair to cooking, one easy way to save money is to do things yourself.
Now, sometimes I laugh at even the idea of “free-time” but in reality there are phases in my life (and probably yours too) where you have a little extra time.
When I used my extra time to learn something new it has always benefited me. I firmly believe that you are never too old to learn a new skill and that as long as you keep learning you will stay (and feel ) younger.
It is amazing how knowing how to do something can save you money and lots of headaches! While some skills (like installing baseboards) are probably not as practical as others (baking bread) I view all of them as a way to save money and become more self sufficient.
If you learn to bake your own bread you will not be tempted to purchase expensive loaves of fresh baked bread at the bakery.
When you know how to make simple home repairs you will not need to call someone every time something breaks in your home. If you learn basic sewing skills you will be able to prolong the life of clothing by mending, hemming, or patching.
Not only will you save money by knowing how to do things yourself, you might be making yourself more marketable in the workplace, depending on the skills you learn.
In today’s culture there are many skills that in previous years were known by many, but today are known by few. And those few charge a high price to help others.
I realize that everyone does not have the free time to become experts in every area of life, but learning simple basic skills is a real money saver.
How do you learn new skills?
It’s not as if we all have time to go back to college or trade school to learn something.
In fact just the other day I was telling a friend that I really wanted to learn how to use Excel. I even mentioned taking a course at a local college.
They suggested signing up for a $10 Udemy course which would save me time and money. For $10 and a few hours of my time I am able to learn a new skill that will help me in my business and in life. (I use spreadsheets for everything!)
Find an Expert
Often people tell me that they would love to sew but don’t know how. Years ago I said the exact same thing. I tried to sew in the past, but just couldn’t quite figure it out.
In fact, right after I was married I purchased a sewing machine from a catalog. (If that doesn’t make me old, I don’t know what does, lol!)
I attempted a few sewing projects but they were all disasters. Finally I put the sewing machine in a closet and it stayed there for nine years.
Then I met someone who was an accomplished seamstress and begged (I’m not kidding) for lessons. Many people who are experts in their fields will gladly give lessons in exchange for something else.
In my case, this woman was so happy someone wanted to learn she gave lessons for free. I now have basic sewing skills and am able to do things that in the past I would have paid someone to do for me. It was an investment of time on my part and in return more money stays in my pocket.
Not everyone is willing to teach you a new skill for free, so be prepared to barter. I’m sure there is something you have to offer to them as well.
Research & Practice
As for baking, I love fresh baked bread. I really didn’t know how to make bread, but over the years asked others why their bread tasted so good and learned as much as I could by asking questions.
I also watched cooking shows and checked out numerous library books on the subject of baking. I also baked many, many loaves of bread that were less than perfect, while I was learning the tricks to baking a great loaf of bread.
Watch & Learn
With regards to home repair, learn by watching others. The next time you have to call a plumber watch to see what they are doing. Ask questions and educate yourself while they are working in your home.
You are paying for their service, so use that money wisely and learn some home repair.
There isn’t a time when someone has come to repair something at my house that I haven’t asked them a bunch of questions. While I still rely on service people to make large repairs (especially things related to electric). I’ve found that many small repairs can be done without help.
Use the library
Another way to learn new skills is to check out several books from the library on home repair. Two of my favorite books are the and I have learned many new skills just from reading these two books. They are popular so will probably be available at your local library.
Use the internet to your advantage. You can do a google search for anything! Many times when I want to know how to do something I google it and find a great tutorial, usually with pictures to help me finish the job. YouTube is my go-to now for how to do just about anything. I watch video tutorials almost every day. From how to frost a birthday cake to how to fix a problem with iTunes, I’ve learned as much from youtube videos as I have from four years in college! I find that over the summer, when my kids are out of school and have less activities, I have more free time. Here are some of the skills you could learn in just a month. Finally, if you have a website and some talent take some time to add a few tutorials to your site. From making soup to changing a tire, people search for instructional posts on how to do everything. Share your knowledge with the world. If you don’t have a website, it’s almost free to start one. You canGoogle It
Skills you can learn in a month
The post Learn a New Skill appeared first on The Happy Housewife™ :: Frugal Living.
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