Why I DIY :

I like learning new skills - like sewing (after all, a sewing machine is just an indoor power tool).

If it breaks, I know how to fix it.

I have more choices and options to make it "just right".

I can combine features from different items to get the best of both.

My mistakes keep me humble.

It extends into other areas of my life - I can also do plumbing, minor electrical, tile, drywall, texture and painting etc. That saves me a LOT of money that I can spend on backpacking gear <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. Now, if I could learn to work on cars. And there's still that welding class I want to take.

Too much I want to do and not enough time.