Essential mustachian skills to have...

[sunnyca]

I was looking around my house today and getting ready to fill and repaint my door (the dog scratches the door when she gets excited) and I was just thinking that even a year ago, I would just have paid someone to do it.

This got me thinking, what life skills does everyone think a good mustachian should have?

Curious to hear the responses!

[Greg]

I was discussing this with a friend just the other day.  When my parents were young and before that, homeowners seemed to be able to do all manner of household repair and maintenance.  Cars too.  These days it's usually call a pro.

I was lamenting that some of this is a lack of gumption and a fear of failure.  And unreasonable standards; a desire for everything to be "perfect".

Anyway painting is a great skill to have.  Woodworking is also good, and can apply to picture frames as easily as door frames.  Household electricity is important to know how to handle, if not for repairs then just for safety.  Basic wiring of small appliances like lamps and toasters also good to know.  Basic homeowner skills should include other things like plumbing and roofing.  The tools needed for these things can fit in a few large toolboxes, so space is not really an issue.

Ultimately a lot of skills are created after you try to figure out how something works and then how you might be able to fix it.  YouTube is helpful these days, and online parts shopping helps when you can't find what you need locally.  Oh, and this forum.

[nereo]

What Greg said, plus...
tiling.  It's so easy and yet so handy from everything from countertops to entire floors.

also - the basic understanding of how to invest for retirement, including understanding what a 401(k), IRA, and ROTH are.
Being able to do your own taxes and knowing what deductions there are (I'm still working on this.)  I think this is important not only because filing your taxes is something almost everyone is required to do anyway, but also because that tax code (with it's deductions and credits) is an important reflection on what our society values (if you are an optimist) or what industries have the best lobbying (if you are a cynic).

and cooking.  Everyone over the age of 12 should be able to cook a meal for their family.

[Eric]

If you can do math and can use the internet, I think you're pretty much covered.  Everything else is conditional based on your personal situation.  The key is willingness to learn.

[TrMama]

Very basic clothing repair. Yes, I'm probably biased because sewing is my hobby, but everyone should be able to hem their own pants and sew a button back on.

Cooking is another one. You should be able to feed yourself, without requiring intervention from someone else.

[sunnyca]

If you can do math and can use the internet, I think you're pretty much covered.  Everything else is conditional based on your personal situation.  The key is willingness to learn.

I would agree with this, but at the same time, I think that there are some skills that are universal to learn.  Budgeting, for example.  I know several people that are 40+ that don't know how to put together a basic budget, or even balance their checkbook!

I freely admit that in my pre-MMM days, home repair was something I didn't really pay attention to.  Of course, I lived with my boyfriend at the time, and he was great at fixing things.  Now that it's just me, I'm finding out how many basic home repair skills I have yet to learn that I never even thought about in the past.

Part of the reason why I posted this question was because I'd like to preemptively learn how to do certain things *before* it becomes an emergency (e.g., learning how to shut off the water in the case of a leak). 

[elaine amj]

:( this is wher I get very "un-Mustachian". Hubby and I know our way around a computer - but are hopelessly inept at household and mechanical stuff. We call in outside help for a lot of this stuff. On the other hand, hubby sometimes fixes computers on the side and gets paid for it. It's got to balance somewhere, right?

[Rural]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

[rocksinmyhead]

Rural, I love your quote! Man, I have some learnin' to do :)

Cooking is one for sure. Basic car maintenance... I really need to learn how to change my oil! Also basic mending of clothing/fabric goods. I would like to learn how to darn socks, I have some nice old SmartWool ones that are getting hole-y in the heels. I have a faulty LED bulb that is just waiting to be my darning egg (it was sad to see $8 go down the drain like that, but at least it will get a second life!)

[CommonCents]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

I've not done 9.  Apparently I have a bit to go, but I'll take my time on the last!   (Although if a toe counts, I've set a bone and I'm down to 8.)

[ketchup]

Car maintenance and repair skills are extremely useful.  Can save thousands.  Also makes you more willing to try to fix other mechanical things.  Hypermiling too.

Cooking is another good one.  If you've got good food at home, far less of a reason to ever eat out.  It's rare that we go out to eat and get something better than we could make at home.

Grooming, pet and human.  This one my GF has in spades.  She grooms our dogs, and cuts my hair (since I'm kind of like a dog).

Basic problem solving goes a long way.

Vegetable gardening, a skill that we're hoping to develop soon.

"Smart" "shopping", for lack of a better term.  Thrift store raiding, craigslist searching, etc.  Being "that guy" at the grocery store with 35 cans of tomatoes when the big ones go on super-sale.

[sunnyca]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

LOL- is this from the Lazarus Long series?  If I lived as many centuries as he had, I may be able to complete everything in the list above :)

[Thegoblinchief]

Patience, at least mediocre intelligence, and willingness to learn. Everything else is details.

[Zikoris]

Thinking logically, and knowing how to do thorough research. This covers almost every area in Mustachian life, from figuring out what to invest in, to getting the best deals on everything, to making or fixing almost anything.

[galliver]

No one has mentioned cleaning, or cutting hair (each other's...at least men's!). I'm shocked that "balancing a checkbook" is a skill. I don't do it because I track spending online, but...there are people who literally don't know how? I second cooking, basic (or intermediate!) sewing, basic carpentry or crafts in general, which lets you fix the most unexpected things.

I have qualms about attempting any repair that could cause death/injury/major property damage if done incorrectly based on YouTube videos and Instructables. I mean, if I felt I truly understood the system and my effect on it, or if it was smaller/cheaper, sure--I've disassembled my vacuum cleaner. But cars, HVAC, appliances, etc can be complex and have dangerous components (like large capacitors) that I don't want to mess with without knowing what I'm doing. I would see if I could hang around the mechanic/handyman/repairman and ask questions, though. Or find a friend/family member who knows how to do/fix it.

[Rube]

Change a tire.

I used to think changing oil was essential but I can almost always find a deal someplace. I still do mine because its on my schedule but it costs me about $20 plus tax and going to to the store and disposing of oil and filters.

[Emg03063]

If you can do math and can use the internet, I think you're pretty much covered.  Everything else is conditional based on your personal situation.  The key is willingness to learn.

^this + the ability to communicate.

[Scandium]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

I broke my leg when I was 5 but didn't set it myself. Missed opportunity! Would probably have let me cross off the die gallantly one too.

[Rural]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

I broke my leg when I was 5 but didn't set it myself. Missed opportunity! Would probably have let me cross off the die gallantly one too.

Probably the only one that should apply to five-year-old humans is 'take orders.' Though they are fond of giving orders, come to think of it.

[RMD]

I'm going to quickly pipe up with know how to find information and research *without* the internet.  I have found recently that I rely too much on technology and I'm not using my brain the way I used to. 

Learn to network and build community in your neighborhood...good neighbors and decent relationships with them is a great thing.

[rocksinmyhead]

I'm going to quickly pipe up with know how to find information and research *without* the internet.  I have found recently that I rely too much on technology and I'm not using my brain the way I used to. 

Learn to network and build community in your neighborhood...good neighbors and decent relationships with them is a great thing.

Amen!

[quilter]

Knowing what disasters are likely in your area (hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding etc. ) and how to prepare yourself for same.   I don't know about you but if a disaster hits my area I want to have plans how to deal with it as much as possible without relying on the government.

Cooking everything from scratch, at least knowing how to do it even if you like store bought bread for example.  In my case knowing how to cook it in my solar cooker.

Knowing what causes babies to be made and preventing unwanted pregnancies. Deliberate mindful conception could solve many of our worlds problems.  Not to say you can't have children, just plan them.

Learning how to be content with what you have. There will always be a new car, new computer, new pair of shoes etc. out there, but learning to be content and not always wanting more has been our biggest ally in the road to early FI.

[CommonCents]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

I broke my leg when I was 5 but didn't set it myself. Missed opportunity! Would probably have let me cross off the die gallantly one too.

Probably the only one that should apply to five-year-old humans is 'take orders.' Though they are fond of giving orders, come to think of it.

I dunno, kids are pretty good at building things like walls. 

[RMD]

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
That's from Heinlein, and I'm happy to report I've done all but four (your guess which four, but I'm not dead yet, so there's one).

I broke my leg when I was 5 but didn't set it myself. Missed opportunity! Would probably have let me cross off the die gallantly one too.

Probably the only one that should apply to five-year-old humans is 'take orders.' Though they are fond of giving orders, come to think of it.

I dunno, kids are pretty good at building things like walls.

DS is good at invading our bed at 2am...under cover of darkness.  I'm pretty sure a good portion of his plan is to make sure I am so tired and incoherant that I don't have the ability to march him back to his own room.

[Cwadda]

Being willing to DIY just about anything.