Is DIY always cheaper?

 

I've always love DIY, mainly because it gives me a sense of satisfaction and allow me to customise the size/designs. I don't always succeed but you'll always get something out from the process of making.

However, a friend of mine asked me if I think it's worth it making DIY packaging instead of buying one from gift shops?

Honestly, I've never thought about it. I just DIY when I feel like it or when I need something more customised.

For example, the cake box below, I used about 2 pieces of A4 size kraft paper and one piece of transparency.

A packet of 50 piece of A4 kraft paper (230gsm) is about $16. A packet of 50 sheets of transparency is about $12.

So the total of making the box is:

Kraft paper: $0.32 (per piece) x 2

Transparency: $0.24

Total: $$0.88

I did a search online and found that on Shopee, you can get a bundle of 10 cakeboxes (similar size) for $12 (plus $1.49 shipping), so it's $1.20 each. If you buy just a single box, it will usually cost more.

So for this case, yes, it's slightly cheaper. Moreover, the leftover materials can be use to make other things.

I recently made some custom size display boxes for my "legos".

I used 2x30cm wood sticks, 1 A4 PVC sheet (for the 'glass') and 8x8cm wood plank for the base.

I bought 10 wood sticks for $7.30 and 5 piece of 10x10cm wood plank for $5.30. 20 piece of A4 PVC sheet for $14.00.

So 1 display box cost $0.73x2 + $1.06 + $0.70 = $$3.22. (If you make a taller or bigger box, you'll need more materials)

However, you can get a plastic display box from Daiso for $2.14. But of course, if you've better skill, you can cut all the needed materials from a single board and save some money. 

DIY doesn't always mean cheaper, especially if you include the time taken to make just 1 box. I did a rough estimation, the display case took about 2 hours and the packaging box, about 30 minutes.

However, it can be a really fun experience that help you gain some satisfactions. So whether to DIY or not, depends on what you wish to achieve.

Maybe you shouldn't buy a 2nd hand iPhone and wish it last ...

 

I must say I'm no expert on this topic, I just have been an iOS user for years now. I've also used Android for a year or so. So I kinda have experience with both side.

I am still using my iPhone 7 Plus from 4,5 years ago. Well, before you start raving about how lasting an iPhone is, I will tell you, I'm still using it but as a spare phone. 

The phone is working all fine when it connected to Wi-fi but once you're out and switched to cellular (I'm on 4G btw), it will have problem. It'll keep showing "No connection/No internet" randomly. So, I've a phone which cannot use cellular at all ... or whenever it doesn't feels like connecting.

The only solution is, well, reset your phone or use hotspot from someone else. (of course if you can get free wi-fi that will work too!) And this particular reset might last you a few days or a few hours. It's hard to tell. 

I thought I'm the only victim until my father's and sister's iPhone 6 and 6S plus starts to fall victim to this problem too. It gets frustrating when you're in a hurry to contact someone and it goes "No internet connection" or when your YouTube videos paused with a circle turning and turning.

And no, I'm not writing this to compare iOS and Android nor am I saying which one is better. What I am saying is, I've heard from many people who thinks it's cheaper to get a 2nd hand iPhone which you can use for another 5-8 years than a mid-range Android phone.

Obviously, newer phones have newer technology which you can tap on, mid-range phone may not have regular firmware/security updates but they can definitely run more apps and programs. While Apple keeps releasing updates to try and keep up, there is a limit to what your older device can run. Another thing to note is that even if your older phone can run a newer version of an app, it'll struggle more than a newer phone with better specs (and technology). It might end up being laggy or draining much more battery!

And obviously, your hardware may not be able to last as long as you wished it to be. I've changed my iPhone's battery for at least 4-5 times during this 5 years of usage. It started as $60-70 to now, about $30-40 per battery (plus workmanship). That's easily another few hundred dollars!

But imagine if I was to repair the phone to solve the connection issue? I think it'll cost about half the price of a mid-range phone, possibly more. And that mid-range phone will come with a year worth of warranty while for the old phone, I have to pay for every single repair.

Finally, I wish to say, getting a 2nd hand phone and hoping it will last another 5 years is kinda... hmm ... it depends a lot on your luck.

Rant: A viscous cycle. Shopping is fast remedy but solve nothing!!

 

I actually don't see his as a 'rant' but more of a confession.

Well, I realised that I'm getting into this viscous cycle that is draining me and making me going in and out of very negative/depressive emotions.

I think I've mentioned plenty of times that I'm a "mild online shopaholic" or whatever you call it. I guess the more accurate way of putting it is "I WAS".

I was able to get satisfactions and joy out of buying small items from online, just like I used to find happiness in buying a new stationery as a kid and young adult.

But now, things seems to become "bigger". Like ... I am not satisfied by 'small things'. Or rather, I got an interest in 'bigger things'.

I am always into electronics and gadgets, which can get expensive. Also, my hobbies - crafting requires some tools which can get expensive.

But these are not the main point. The main point is, I'm getting into this cycle that I'm extremely unhappy with my job (working 'full-time' Grab now as a walker) and I feel I need to reward myself - yes, by buying things!

And the problem comes when I realised that I can easily overspend because I am not making a lot of money. Then I feel stressed and unhappy that even after walking like mad, till my knees are complaining (pain), I still cannot afford to shop as much as I want.

And by 'shop as much as I want', I mean 'not able to buy what I really wanted'. I do not buy luxurious items. 

I really wanted a mini table saw for my upcoming project but I need to think twice. Well, it's not solely because of my knee problem and 'low wage', but because I am suffering the 'side effects' of Covid.

Covid doesn't just go when you recover, it have 'side effects' like coughing and lesser lungs capacity. For my first week after recovering, I was struggling to keep up with my pace as I'll become breathless much faster than pre-Covid me. And I am also coughing quite a lot weeks after recovery. I've to walk slower which in the end affected my 'hourly pay'.

Anyways, I'm in this cycle now that I couldn't get any satisfaction in life and when I tried to find some satisfaction, I felt super stressed and bad. I tried doing what I love (making animations and crafts) but they didn't help much. They even becomes another source of 'unhappiness'.

I need to break this cycle.