Both. There's only so much time in a day. With work taking up most of the day everyday it takes quite a balancing act to make time for family & the kids activities, things that need doing around the house, absolutely necessary errands & all those phone calls, visits to family & stop & chats. I appreciate something made for me but also take pride in doing somethings for myself. I'll make a pizza or a pasta salad every once in awhile- homemade food is good. I mow the lawn myself. I've got a nice tractor that makes it a speedy pass. I find the time to do the things I am OK with doing. I leave the complicated stuff to the experts.

Time is valuable & there is not enough of it in my day for the stuff I enjoy. I'm not a get your hands dirty, crafty kinda' gal. So I'd buy it.

I used to do stained glass windows & put in too much time & money & not get paid. Unfortunately with mass manufacturing that's the way it goes. 

I am not a do-it-yourselfer.

I like making stuff too, but what is my best use of time.  What truly brings me happiness 

What is the value you assign to personal pleasure and relaxation? It must exceed the cost difference! It is up to you.

Most of the time I buy the things I need/want. I do enjoy making things and I do lots of things many pay to have done. Like I really enjoy washing my own car and doing my own yard work. However,  I have not made a piece of furniture in a long time unless setting up a round of wood to sit on around a camp fire counts - I buy most of the "things" I need/want.

Hahaha! I service my own evaporative cooler twice a season. I can pay someone to do it.

But dammit, my ego blossoms like a flower every time I can tame that infernal machine. That delightful machine. It's like a marriage! LOL

And although French vanilla is totally my favorite, I'd rather allocate my calories to a Bacon Bloody Maria extra spicy with marinated asparagus, pepperoncinis and extra Rim salt!

TGIF, tall glass in the air in T minus 8!

Time is money when it comes to business - I spend it wisely!

When it comes to personal time, there are a couple of DIY things that I enjoy - I do make my own body scrub! 

I like to cook, I don't like to do anything else that can be outsourced.

I'm very cost and time conscious Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041 . If I can purchase it for less then it would cost to make it (and I do figure my time into the cost equation) then I buy it.

You lost me here ?

I am not a DIY person.

I enjoy using my creative side to make something when my talent is well spent. Yosemite Sam was a favorite costume that I made one afternoon while sitting outside enjoying the fall weather. I will buy when lack of time presents itself. Good question Annette!

Time is more valuable than money. 

How do you want to "spend" it?

Depends on the item.  For the most part, I'll buy it.  Because of the flipping business, I can get some things at a fraction of the cost that HD sells them for.  My thermostat was $140 on Amazon, HD Supply had it for $75 and I got a $75 rebate from the power company!  FREE!!!!

On the company I'm launching soon, I built most of it but got stuck on a point and hired it out.  I ended up getting so busy (and the work was done so well) that I hired the developer to finish the rest of it.

For food, people love my cooking and baking and I love doing that for them.  But last Christmas, zero time, so I "phoned it in" and bought food at the local BBQ joint.

I enjoy making stuff... I make all my own fresh pasta, fresh sauce, home made bread from scrach... fresh pizza with fresh ingredients... and seldom used pre-prepared food.

Many years ago a lot of friends of mine were into making homemade pizza.  It was almost universally awful.  I would constantly remind them that there are professionals who's sole existence is selling pizza in restaurants, in fact about a dozen within 3 blocks from where they lived.

So I say buy it from the people who make it for a living.  It's ok to have a hobby, but honestly I rather sit on patio furniture from Walmart than something I made in my garage.

It all comes down to, how much is your time worth and can if you can use that time to generate more leads. 

Since in your case it keeps you centered and grounded why not. That essentially translates to you being more effective, motivated and focused on the field. 

Every decision like this is decided individually, most research we do on our own, most mfrd goods we buy.

I do whatever brings me joy. 

I think you should do what makes you happy.

It depends. There are somethings I know I can make at higher quality, but somethings are just too cheap to try. I built my own computers for about 15 years. Today, to get the same high-performance system, I can't even buy the materials for less than an off the shelf system.

Annette,

It depends on what it is. I like to putter in the garden.  I am happy to pay someone to save time..  Not into ice cream at all.  More into long walks on the beach, in a park or in a city I love to wander in.  A

A friend insisted to repair her backyard storage with a design modification. I told her go to HD for $1200 for a prefabricated barn. She spent over 3K on fixing old storage. Looks like crap not painted yet.

That being said, I got a lawn dining table and 6 chairs from someone not wanting anymore. They look just fine on our deck. 

The most important variable for me is Sandy standing behind me yelling that I should have bought it already made. Thank GOD for earplugs!

There is no denying that buying store-bought ready to go is cheaper however I like my food a certain way and I like making it too plus natural ingredients

Time is money someone said to me once