Things you thought would be frugal but arent

[Silverwood]

Is there a post already on this?

[marty998]

There have been more than 400,000 posts on this board.

What do you think lol.

[Silverwood]

Wow you're hilarious. Thanks for being so helpful. Might as well just remove this then

[Gone Fishing]

Homebrewing 

I ran the math and couldn't see where I could save much money when you can buy good micro-brews for about $1 each if you watch the sales.

Hybrid Cars (hold the face punches please)

I ran the math back in 2010 and could not make it work for ME at the time.  Things may be different now.

Rain Barrels

With our relatively low water costs it is not worth it if you buy a fancy premade barrel.  I was able to repurpose a 275 gallon tote that probably saves me $1 a month or so (based on my usage) in the summer.

[skunkfunk]

Buying a house.

Buying a car.

I probably don't save money on homebrewing, but that's because I give away beer and drink more than I would if I didn't homebrew - also, the relentless "oh I just need one more equipment" thing. I do save money when I clone an expensive but cheap to make beer such as any Sam Smith brew. You aren't gonna save any money on an IPA, too much hops.

I got a DirecTV package at a great introductory rate! Yeah, that was my idea of frugal at this time one year ago. Also at that time bought a fancy zero turn lawn mower on sale on credit because I determined it would cost less than lawn service.

[RunningWithScissors]

Growing my own veggies...

Honestly, I can't grow the basics like cabbage, onions or potatoes cheaper than buying from a bulk/warehouse store.  However, it's worth it for the more expensive things like tomatoes, kale, pumpkins, squash, beets, arugula and herbs etc.

Sewing my own clothes...

With the flood of cheap clothes from overseas sweatshops, it just doesn't make sense to sew your own at least for the more trendy items.  The cost of fabrics and notions have skyrocketed, perhaps because sewing has fallen out of fashion.  Now, I use my sewing machine to customize pre-made items like IKEA drapes, do my own pant hemming, and mend my good quality clothes.

[clarkm04]

Home Brewing: Started brewing pre-MMM and I definitely treat it as a hobby so there isn't any money saving qualities to it.

Hybrid car: Won't work because we live too close and drive too little.

Couponing.  My wife got into this for a bit, but even with a regional website from a coupon queen on what to buy and when with what coupon, it's a shitload of work for not much savings and a bunch of crap.

Making some food items from scratch: Just so time consuming.  We're fans of the Make the Bread, Buy the Butter book.

[AJ]

A small house.

Our old house was <800sf, and we loved it and it was a very reasonable price. BUT - our new place is larger and in a nicer area, so we can rent out the other bedrooms. Now my roommates pay most of my mortgage (even after paying taxes on their rent), plus we split utilities, plus it is in a more walk/bike friendly area so I don't have to drive to/from work. Though the house itself cost almost twice as much as the small one, it saves us loads of money every month.

[forummm]

Buying a cheap foreclosure, fixing it up, renting it out, and selling it when the market returns. The repairs cost more than I expected. And the time required was so much bigger than I thought it would be. I ended up just selling it (broke even, except for the hundreds of hours of time and stress) and moving on with life. I'm doing well enough that a second job just wasn't worth it.

[swallowtail]

Moving in with my boyfriend.  We realized that it was pointless living separately and flushing thousands of dollars away each month in rent.  His lease was ending and mine wasn't, but he has a markedly nicer (and pricier) apartment than I did.  So we decided that we would move in his larger, nicer apartment to take some stress out of moving in together (we would have had to downsize a lot more and faster) and find a new lessor for my space. 

Except it is Now approaching October (non-rental season), and my apartment is a little less of a steal / more of a dump than I realized.  I am praying that it will be rented out by the start of 2015, but in the meantime, we are still just paying two rents, one of which is one an empty apartment.  Boo.  Any amount of lease taken over will be an improvement on what we would have had, but man; if we had just sucked it up and moved into the smaller space, it would have saved a lot, even in a few short months.  I am not letting myself do the math.

[swallowtail]

Buying a cheap foreclosure, fixing it up, renting it out, and selling it when the market returns. The repairs cost more than I expected. And the time required was so much bigger than I thought it would be. I ended up just selling it (broke even, except for the hundreds of hours of time and stress) and moving on with life. I'm doing well enough that a second job just wasn't worth it.

This is my nightmare.

Good learning / skill building experience at least?

[Bob W]

Two of my favorites are homemade pizza and homemade tacos.   I find it impossible to make a pizza for less than $2.50 (cost of on sale frozen).   

Don't get me started on tacos!   I can buy 6 tacos at TB for 6 bucks.   Just try buying,  shells, cheese,  hamburger,  lettuce , seasoning for that much.  I'm sure some brilliant person here can but I guarantee that 30% of the taco shells will be broken.  The TB tacos are made fresh by professionals and have never, ever had a better homemade taco.   

On the other hand I'm pretty happy with bean/burger burritos.  (never break the shells)

Cell phones are probably the least frugal item ever invented.  "Hey,  this phone is free!"  sure it is,  with a 24 month $1200 agreement!

[AllChoptUp]

Buying a quarter cow.  In this area the only way to get a reasonable price per pound on organic grassfed beef is buying quarter or half cows.  I found only one vendor (we are in a remote-ish location) and since his individual steaks and other meats were wonderful, I figured it would be good quality.  Sadly all the premium steaks in the lot are tougher than nails.  I am afraid to even try the stew and kabob meats. 

The hamburger, roasts, organ meats and flank steaks are pretty good.  But the fancy cuts are terrible.  wah.

[solon]

Buying a quarter cow.  In this area the only way to get a reasonable price per pound on organic grassfed beef is buying quarter or half cows.  I found only one vendor (we are in a remote-ish location) and since his individual steaks and other meats were wonderful, I figured it would be good quality.  Sadly all the premium steaks in the lot are tougher than nails.  I am afraid to even try the stew and kabob meats. 

The hamburger, roasts, organ meats and flank steaks are pretty good.  But the fancy cuts are terrible.  wah.

That's because it was grass fed. If you want really good beef, you have to get corn fed.

[NumberCruncher]

knitting/crocheting

This is similar to sewing, like RunningWithScissors mentioned. The cost of materials is greater than the cost of buying an industry-made [sweater, sock, hat, scarf, etc]. That said, it is relaxing, and it is a way to make something really custom and awesome.

You can also have free materials if you make your own plarn (plastic yarn -- from plastic bags). Limited uses for that, though.

[TurtleMarkets]

Buying a cheap foreclosure, fixing it up, renting it out, and selling it when the market returns. The repairs cost more than I expected. And the time required was so much bigger than I thought it would be. I ended up just selling it (broke even, except for the hundreds of hours of time and stress) and moving on with life. I'm doing well enough that a second job just wasn't worth it.

I know a lot of people preach to do this or some version of it to become FI, but I agree it is very hard. Friend tried several times and only ended up losing time and about breaking even after a lawsuit with a squatter.

[eil]

Cell phones are probably the least frugal item ever invented.  "Hey,  this phone is free!"  sure it is,  with a 24 month $1200 agreement!

Ah, but there's a frugal way to do almost anything. Cell phone contracts are for consumerist suckas.

They don't have to be... my current smart phone, which I've had for a year was purchased on eBay for around $120 and my monthly bills average under $14 a month. Actually, I haven't had to pay a bill in months due to stocking up on referral credits.

This is a way better situation than 10 years ago, when I paid $45/month for a land line that I couldn't even take with me or play Tetris on.

[Cpa Cat]

Buying a quarter cow...

That's because it was grass fed. If you want really good beef, you have to get corn fed.

Both true. Grass fed had a gamier taste and was tougher. AND TO CAP IT OFF - We became Vegetarians (possibly turned off meat forever by our grass fed beef). We ended up giving away more than half of the meat that we bought.

We never needed that much beef.

[rocksinmyhead]

Don't get me started on tacos!   I can buy 6 tacos at TB for 6 bucks.   Just try buying,  shells, cheese,  hamburger,  lettuce , seasoning for that much.  I'm sure some brilliant person here can but I guarantee that 30% of the taco shells will be broken.  The TB tacos are made fresh by professionals and have never, ever had a better homemade taco.   

OMG no way!!! I guess it depends on the kind of tacos you're eating. for example, I really really hate ground beef AND hard-shell tacos so I would never buy that kind at TB anyway. but I can get pork butt for $1.88-1.99/lb on sale (and not much of that is bone) and make killer shredded pork in the crockpot. tortillas are not that expensive, you can get cheese for $3/lb or less at Sams Club (and you don't need that much per taco anyway), add black beans that you also made from dried in the crockpot (super easy and hands-off), and whatever veggie was on sale that would work in a taco (spinach, tomatoes, whatever). I know this isn't really the type of taco you were describing, but IMO it's soooooo much tastier and I just don't want someone to read this and not want to make their own tacos! LOL... homemade tacos are my jam!

Making some food items from scratch: Just so time consuming.  We're fans of the Make the Bread, Buy the Butter book.

I LOVED this book! so informative and hilarious. I wanted to be best friends with that woman after reading it.

also, that's really interesting to hear about the quarter cow.

[Ybserp]

What is your recipe for that killer shredded pork?

[deborah]

Two of my favorites are homemade pizza and homemade tacos.   I find it impossible to make a pizza for less than $2.50 (cost of on sale frozen).   

These can be really cheap if you make them yourself - but you need to either make the bases (not hard), or use a substitute - for instance pita bread makes a good pizza base.

[marty998]

Wow you're hilarious. Thanks for being so helpful. Might as well just remove this then

I'm sorry Silverwood, have some fun, all in jest. See this sort of thread every month or so. Was going to reply with a serious response but the site kept dropping out.

My unfrugal thing public transport. Costs me less in $ to take the train to work as opposed to fuel for driving, however the savings are lost on the inordinate amount of time.

[Cromacster]

Buying a quarter cow.  In this area the only way to get a reasonable price per pound on organic grassfed beef is buying quarter or half cows.  I found only one vendor (we are in a remote-ish location) and since his individual steaks and other meats were wonderful, I figured it would be good quality.  Sadly all the premium steaks in the lot are tougher than nails.  I am afraid to even try the stew and kabob meats. 

The hamburger, roasts, organ meats and flank steaks are pretty good.  But the fancy cuts are terrible.  wah.

That's because it was grass fed. If you want really good beef, you have to get corn fed.

I disagree.  Grassfed>>corn fed.  But yes you will pay a premium for grassfed.  One other thing to consider about buying quarter/half cows is the freezer needed to store it.  Chest freezers are typically one of the larger energy sucks in a house.

[deborah]

Buying a quarter cow.  In this area the only way to get a reasonable price per pound on organic grassfed beef is buying quarter or half cows.  I found only one vendor (we are in a remote-ish location) and since his individual steaks and other meats were wonderful, I figured it would be good quality.  Sadly all the premium steaks in the lot are tougher than nails.  I am afraid to even try the stew and kabob meats. 

The hamburger, roasts, organ meats and flank steaks are pretty good.  But the fancy cuts are terrible.  wah.

That's because it was grass fed. If you want really good beef, you have to get corn fed.

I disagree.  Grassfed>>corn fed.  But yes you will pay a premium for grassfed.  One other thing to consider about buying quarter/half cows is the freezer needed to store it.  Chest freezers are typically one of the larger energy sucks in a house.

Agree that grass fed is better than corn fed - it sounds like the carcass wasn't hung (meat tastes better after its been hung, and tough if it hasn't).

[Dicey]

Chest freezers are typically one of the larger energy sucks in a house.

I have always heard they were rather more efficient than uprights. Can you explain or cite references, please?

[deborah]

Chest freezers are typically one of the larger energy sucks in a house.

I have always heard they were rather more efficient than uprights. Can you explain or cite references, please?

Yes, chests are rather more efficient than uprights (all things being equal). However, freezers and refrigerators take up quite a bit of household energy usage (?30%?) and it is better if you can do without them. Freezers use more energy than refrigerators (despite the fact that freezers are better insulated) as they are maintaining a bigger temperature differential.

[forummm]

Buying a cheap foreclosure, fixing it up, renting it out, and selling it when the market returns. The repairs cost more than I expected. And the time required was so much bigger than I thought it would be. I ended up just selling it (broke even, except for the hundreds of hours of time and stress) and moving on with life. I'm doing well enough that a second job just wasn't worth it.

This is my nightmare.

Good learning / skill building experience at least?

I learned a ton. Since I did a lot of the work myself, I now have those skills to use on my own house. It did increase my confidence about a lot of things and will decrease my future expenses. One of the things I learned is that it's lots easier and less risky to just spend less and keep working my reliable day job for longer. I'll still get to FIRE quickly (and have highly liquid, non-geographically-tied assets).

[totoro]

Who would have thought there would be three of us, but I'll add my half cow in too. 

Organic, free range and grass fed - and quite tasty BUT waaay toooo muuuch. 

We had to buy a second (used) freezer.  Plus lots of expensive cuts that we don't eat that much (or really care about).  Sold some at cost to family and friends, but it is still a lot. 

[gt7152b]

Don't get me started on tacos!   I can buy 6 tacos at TB for 6 bucks.   Just try buying,  shells, cheese,  hamburger,  lettuce , seasoning for that much.  I'm sure some brilliant person here can but I guarantee that 30% of the taco shells will be broken.  The TB tacos are made fresh by professionals and have never, ever had a better homemade taco.   

OMG no way!!! I guess it depends on the kind of tacos you're eating. for example, I really really hate ground beef AND hard-shell tacos so I would never buy that kind at TB anyway. but I can get pork butt for $1.88-1.99/lb on sale (and not much of that is bone) and make killer shredded pork in the crockpot. tortillas are not that expensive, you can get cheese for $3/lb or less at Sams Club (and you don't need that much per taco anyway), add black beans that you also made from dried in the crockpot (super easy and hands-off), and whatever veggie was on sale that would work in a taco (spinach, tomatoes, whatever). I know this isn't really the type of taco you were describing, but IMO it's soooooo much tastier and I just don't want someone to read this and not want to make their own tacos! LOL... homemade tacos are my jam!

Got to agree. Homemade tacos are a family favorite at my house and pulled pork is one of the best meats to use for them. Another is salmon. In fact, we usually make tacos out of any leftover meat because it stretches it much further than trying to make just one more meal as the entree. I almost feel wasteful eating so much meat from the initial meal. When we have some fresh home grown veggies they are better than any tacos I've ever had.

[rocksinmyhead]

What is your recipe for that killer shredded pork?

I got the original recipe here: http://cindykitchel.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/shaking-up-friday-night-pizza-night-slow-cooker-pork-tacos/

2-3 pound boneless pork roast
3 Tbsp. kosher salt
1 Tbsp. black pepper
1 Tbsp. granulated garlic
1 Tbsp. onion powder
1 Tbsp. cumin (or more)
The zest of 2 limes
2 or so tablespoons olive oil
1 – 2 cups orange juice
Taco shells of your choice — or collard leaves!

Combine the dry ingredients and zest to make a rub. Rub this on the pork roast; you might not use all the rub. Sear the pork roast in a saute pan lightly covered in olive oil; brown all sides. Once the meat is browned, put it in the slow cooker and pour on the orange juice and any remaining rub. Add enough water to cover the roast completely. Cook on high for about six hours in the slow cooker; the meat will tear apart easily with two forks when it’s ready.

additional notes:
- Boston butt (boneless or not) is absolutely the best roast to use for this
- I have a 6 quart crockpot and usually do a 4-5lb roast, using ~1.5x the amount of spices shown here
- last time I was too lazy to zest limes and it was still delicious

[AllChoptUp]

Buying a quarter cow.  In this area the only way to get a reasonable price per pound on organic grassfed beef is buying quarter or half cows.  I found only one vendor (we are in a remote-ish location) and since his individual steaks and other meats were wonderful, I figured it would be good quality.  Sadly all the premium steaks in the lot are tougher than nails.  I am afraid to even try the stew and kabob meats. 

The hamburger, roasts, organ meats and flank steaks are pretty good.  But the fancy cuts are terrible.  wah.

That's because it was grass fed. If you want really good beef, you have to get corn fed.

Untrue.  We just moved from central pennsylvania where we bought grassfed organic beef from a rancher that had been raising angus cattle for 30 years.  It was delicious and tender.  Damn we miss you Bob.

[Cromacster]

Chest freezers are typically one of the larger energy sucks in a house.

I have always heard they were rather more efficient than uprights. Can you explain or cite references, please?

Yes, chests are rather more efficient than uprights (all things being equal). However, freezers and refrigerators take up quite a bit of household energy usage (?30%?) and it is better if you can do without them. Freezers use more energy than refrigerators (despite the fact that freezers are better insulated) as they are maintaining a bigger temperature differential.

Yes, what Deborah said.

From a quick search from the internets A fridge, depending on type and age uses between 492-1620 kwh/yr.  A Chest freezer will use between 432-900 kwh/yr.

https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/For-My-Home/ways-to-save-and-rebates/Appliances/Refrigerators/General-Info/Electric-Usage-Chart

Though a chest freezer turned into a refrigerator blows regular fridges out of the water.  I think I remember reading 60-100kwh/yr.  I don't have to time to find that source right now.

[Heart of Tin]

Homemade corn tortillas are delicious, and mine cost about $.025 per tortilla.

[acroy]

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

[rocksinmyhead]

Homemade corn tortillas are delicious, and mine cost about $.025 per tortilla.

I need to try this!

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

hmm, I still don't think this is a good generalization. I mean, yes, DIY is not necessarily always the cheapest, but it isn't always NOT the cheapest (which it sounded like you were saying). a single individual doesn't have the economy of scale of a specialized industry, but he or she also doesn't have to turn a profit.

[acroy]

hmm, I still don't think this is a good generalization. I mean, yes, DIY is not necessarily always the cheapest, but it isn't always NOT the cheapest (which it sounded like you were saying). a single individual doesn't have the economy of scale of a specialized industry, but he or she also doesn't have to turn a profit.

I qualified the statement via the words 'almost' 'usually' 'not necessarily'. we're on the same page. DIY-ers just have to be honest with themselves about true costs: not just materials, but time, tools, electricity, travel etc required for the DIY project.

I betcha those $.025 corn tortillas cost more than that ;)

[Mwstas]

Homemade corn tortillas are delicious, and mine cost about $.025 per tortilla.

I need to try this!

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

hmm, I still don't think this is a good generalization. I mean, yes, DIY is not necessarily always the cheapest, but it isn't always NOT the cheapest (which it sounded like you were saying). a single individual doesn't have the economy of scale of a specialized industry, but he or she also doesn't have to turn a profit.

It also depends how you value the experience of doing these things yourself. Yes, you may lose money growing potatoes or fixing up a house yourself as compared to specialists producing something but, if you value the experience you had, skills you obtained and enjoyment you gained from growing those spuds, perhaps the equation tips in your favour*. And, as forummm said, you may end up saving money in the long run by learning skills that allow you avoid hiring/paying specialists.

*Depending on the value you can or do attribute to experience, skills, etc.

[skunkfunk]

Time spent doing something you enjoy or learn from is free. If I didn't plan on making money during that time, what's it cost? The time I would have spent watching a football game or poking around the MMM forums?

[2ndTimer]

Making my own corn tortillas.  Masa and tortillas cost about the same per lb. where I live. Flour tortillas and assorted flour based flatbreads are way cheaper to make at home so I concentrate on those.  My version the Make the Bread Buy the Butter book would be titled "Make the Pita, Buy the Corn Tortillas."

[boarder42]

home made tacos definitely cheaper.. homemade pizza when i can get a palermos thin sicilian for 2 bucks on sale and just bake it.  there is no way you're saving money making your own pizza i just dont believe it

[deborah]

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

These are generally things that are currently outsourced to people in poor countries whose wages are a pittance.

[Scandium]

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

These are generally things that are currently outsourced to people in poor countries whose wages are a pittance.

ehh, all except grow food, renovate houses and brew? All those things are done in the US. So is some furniture production (We've bought custom amish furniture a couple times. Probably about the same price as DIYing). Houses by not outsourced for obvious reasons, and I mostly by domestic craft beers.

Clothing I'll give you, that is done by slave children in asia 99% of the time

[OSUBearCub]

Couponing.  My wife got into this for a bit, but even with a regional website from a coupon queen on what to buy and when with what coupon, it's a shitload of work for not much savings and a bunch of crap.

Full Disclosure, I'm an ardent couponing defender.  When most people get bit by the bug, the tendency is to go balls-out and snap up every deal.  After a time, if you stick with it, you start to incorporate some of the advice that's given all along : tracking the seasonal rotation of sales, keeping a price book, only buying the items that you actually consume, never buying an untested item in any sort of quantity, rotating your stockpile, etc.

I spend a maximum of 2 hours a week on couponing and my food budget is 80-100 per month.  It can work but the novelty and excitement can wear off before some people put all these pieces together.

[Snow White]

I agree with the posters who mentioned sewing your own clothes from scratch and knitting/crocheting.  Jewelry making is a huge money sucking hobby too as is quilting.  All of which I have done or am currently doing!

I don't make clothes from scratch but I do alter or refashion thrift stores clothes.  Sewing skills are definitely helpful in that way.  I also do quilting and crocheting for Project Linus (donating blankets & quilts) but they receive a lot of donated fabric and yarn so I do much of that using their materials and my skills.

[deborah]

ehh, all except grow food, renovate houses and brew? All those things are done in the US. So is some furniture production (We've bought custom amish furniture a couple times. Probably about the same price as DIYing). Houses by not outsourced for obvious reasons, and I mostly by domestic craft beers.

Clothing I'll give you, that is done by slave children in asia 99% of the time

Just check to see how much of your food is grown by poor people (even for food grown in the US, where I thought poor South Americans without visas do the majority of the fruit picking etc.). Not sure about whether this holds for other things on the list.

[rocksinmyhead]

I don't make clothes from scratch but I do alter or refashion thrift stores clothes. Sewing skills are definitely helpful in that way.  I also do quilting and crocheting for Project Linus (donating blankets & quilts) but they receive a lot of donated fabric and yarn so I do much of that using their materials and my skills.

yeah I think if you're going to do anything along the lines of "sew your own clothes" this is definitely the way to do it. an awesome skill I would like to develop!

hmm, I still don't think this is a good generalization. I mean, yes, DIY is not necessarily always the cheapest, but it isn't always NOT the cheapest (which it sounded like you were saying). a single individual doesn't have the economy of scale of a specialized industry, but he or she also doesn't have to turn a profit.

I qualified the statement via the words 'almost' 'usually' 'not necessarily'. we're on the same page. DIY-ers just have to be honest with themselves about true costs: not just materials, but time, tools, electricity, travel etc required for the DIY project.

okay, I gotcha. and I agree, it's definitely easy to get caught up the excitement of DIY/possibility of saving $$ and forget to factor all those things in!

[DarinC]

"Things you thought would be frugal but arent "

almost ANYTHING an industry specializes in, that you try to do yourself.
-grow food
-renovate houses
-build furniture
-homebrew
-make clothing

a single individual just cannot compete with the massive economy of scale; even if they skim 30% profit margin, Idaho can still grow potatoes cheaper than you can. Usually ;)

Part of the fun of Mustashianism is to find the most truly frugal way to do something; not necessarily doing it yourself!

I think anything where a high amount of automation is present would qualify, but I don't think renovating homes is one of those things. The same probably goes for most repairs, etc... I can change the oil on my car faster than I drive drive to/from the quicky-lube.

[CU Tiger]

With the flood of cheap clothes from overseas sweatshops, it just doesn't make sense to sew your own at least for the more trendy items.  The cost of fabrics and notions have skyrocketed, perhaps because sewing has fallen out of fashion.  Now, I use my sewing machine to customize pre-made items like IKEA drapes, do my own pant hemming, and mend my good quality clothes.

A few years ago, cotton fabric went WAY up, from an average of $7 per yard, to $9-11 per yard. At the time I heard it was because drought in some areas cut down on the production of cotton in some farming areas, so the price went up...

And you know how it is, once the price of something (cotton fabric) goes up, it hardly ever comes down, even if the price of the commodity (cotton) comes down.

I still love to quilt to use and to gift, even though I know I could go to Walmart and buy blankets cheaper.

[DarinC]

Commodities can and do go down in price in the long run, but it's generally in the real (inflation adjusted) sense. In the short run, there are barriers (high cost of entry, potentially volatile earnings) to more competition and the way the tax code is structured can lend itself to higher prices over the short term. For instance in some coastal CA regions, I've noticed home prices approaching/exceeding pre-bubble levels.

On one hand, there's a lot of wealth from the stock market and inventory is geographically contained, which are both normal drivers of home appreciation. But that doesn't account for all of the price increases given the median wages in these areas. What I realized is that someone who makes a decent amount can just buy another house (Or even house swap with someone in a similar situation), rent the one they took a bath on, and then write the loss in value off on their taxes. This elevates home prices in the short term. In the long run I think real home prices will still need to track better with income.

[deborah]

A few years ago, cotton fabric went WAY up, from an average of $7 per yard, to $9-11 per yard.

And in Australia the same fabric went up to $30 a metre (just over a yard) - no wonder so many Australians buy direct from US!