You forgot something.
Posted on 08/27/2010 3:53:37 AM PDT by Daisyjane69
More than half of young people lack the skills they need to maintain their homes, with many relying on their parents to carry out basic tasks, a survey suggested today. Around 50 per cent of people aged under 35 admitted they did not know how to rewire a plug, while 54 per cent did not know how to bleed a radiator and 63 per cent said they would not attempt to put up wallpaper, according to Halifax Home Insurance. Other basic jobs, such as putting up shelves, were beyond 45 per cent of those questioned, while 36 per cent said they would not even attempt to do gardening themselves.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I believe this is the direct result of the two income household. The bommer generation and the next spent so much time “working” that they often hired someone else to handle things around the house. They neither had time or were willing to make time to “fix it.” The disposable income they had ...they could hire someone.
This resulted in many folks my age, unable to handle basic home fixer up. Parents who were too busy to do it, lead to kids who never learned how to do it.
I can most of it, except “bleed a radiator.”
There was something to be said for hanging out with my blue collar Dad. Not only learning the skills needed, but also the bonding of Father and daughter.
Man we have several whole generations so screwed up. Even most of my friends think getting your hands dirty in the garden is for the hired help.
What was that fairytale about who will help bake the bread?
Two things I don’t do...
Electrical and Masonary.
It would be interesting to know how many of those interviewed own a car or a home. A high percentage of working class Brits use only public transportation and live in public housing; both of which would limit the need or the freedom to DIY.
Indeed that is a requirement in the future husband I’m seeking too. Your wife is very, very lucky to have you.
As the ultimate procrastinator, I’m growing my own lumber.
Amen.
This has happened to us and my wife asks why I'm so ticked off about it. "I'm mad because I paid them to do a better job than I can do. If I wanted a half-assed paint (electrical, plumbing, etc) job I could have just done it myself."
Exactly. I don’t doubt I can set wallpaper, it’s just that it’d be boring to no end. Someone experienced would finish in 1/10th of the time anyway.
That’s a good one.
That’s a good starter kit, but you might want to add cable ties and maybe some pvc. You can build anything with pvc. I built a rabbit hutch with cable ties, pvc and chicken wire. My wife built A-Shaped tomatoe cages the same way. My next-door neighbor built a bike rack just with pvc.
“If the women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.”
PVC is awesome. Cut it to size, glue in some threaded ends, and you have a wide variety of containers as well as a cheap and versatile grown up version of those kids’ construction kits.
I can paint, drywall, tile, minor electrical and plumbing, landscape and fix alot of stuff. I’m looking for a hubby who loves to cook, can sew a little and fix my car...and of course, has a job. Given a choice between a gift certificate to Home Depot or Sax Fifth Ave I’ll pick Home Depot any day. I’m lucky to have a brother and dad that taught me alot of DIY stuff. I’ve saved myself a lot of $$$ over the years working on my house.
All you left out was a hammer (to give malfunctioning things a whack and show them who’s boss!).
You forgot something.
Compared to that era, DIY was allot less complicated with all the Federal, State and local codes today. Can't even put up an above ground pool without a building permit and codes inspection.
Me too, plus I love to cook and meal plan.
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