How I Save on Tools
I’m the type of guy who enjoys doing projects on the weekends. In fact, just last weekend we installed a new ceiling fan in our bedroom. The job should have been an easy one, but of course, they rarely are. There was no previous fan or light, so we had to run electrical cable and create a switch (required a few small holes in the wall). After cutting the hole in the ceiling to hang the fan, I discovered our condo has aluminum studs, which meant I couldn’t hang the heavy fan directly from the aluminum, unless I wanted our ceiling to fall through. So I then had to cut a hole in our ceiling the length of two studs and hang a 2×4 between the studs. From here I could hang the fan from the 2×4 so the weight of the fan went across two studs rather than one. Finally, I then had to cut sheetrock to cover my whole, tape, mud, and paint. The reason I tell you all of this is because what should have been a simple job requiring only a few tools, ended up being a entire weekend ordeal that took multiple job specific tools. Constantly running back and forth to the store to buy needed tools can be extremely costly. Fortunately, I have collected an assortment of tools over the years to do these random jobs, but I rarely buy them at the Lowes, Menards, or Home Depot. Why? Because they cost way too much!
If Sears or Lowes is the first and only place you go to pick up the right tool for the job, you are probably overspending close to 20-40%. Believe it or not, those tiny tools stores you see in strip malls are generally the cheapest places to get the essentials. The closest one to where I live is called Harbor Freight Tools; the store is jam packed with nearly everything you could need. When I say everything, I really mean it—automotive, plumbing, electrical, painting, and carpentry tools. All these tools sell for a fraction of the cost compared to the top headliner stores. I can already see some of you manly men wincing at my plug for generic tools. I hear you, that was once me, but once you enter these discount tool stores, you feel like a kid in a candy store.
Literally, you will find yourself picking up tools that you think you might need in the future (which you will I guarantee it) for just a few dollars. It’s rare to spend more than $20 on most everyday tools in places like these. You are probably thinking, “these are probably cheap because they will just end up breaking.” To be honest, most tools are pretty heavy duty and really require a beating to stop working. And for the most of use, our tools are used very infrequently. Granted, discount tools may not be the best option if you are constantly using tools on an everyday basis, but unless you are a mechanic, I doubt this happening.
The next time you find yourself browsing the isles at Lowes trying to convince yourself you need everything, try stopping in a discount store and just take a look. You just may find yourself still in the store hours later—I know I did. Where do you find discount tools?
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Comments
It also seems that some of the older tools that you buy second hand are better than the ones that they make today. I still have tools that my father used 50 years ago.
“Good tools aren’t cheap, and cheap tools aren’t good”
The difference is one of time, which was completely left out of this article. What is the intended time-frame of use for the tool? If it is something you will only ever use once, then by all means purchase the cheapest piece of crap you can lay your hands on.
If your intended time-frame of use is forever, then you had better not buy anything that doesn’t have a forever warranty on it. In other words, you better be shopping at Sears or Lowes.
The secret to accumulating wealth – overall – is getting the most value or utility for every dollar spent. Too many people focus on cost when they should be examining value for the money.
Unlike how being a “kid in a candy store” is teaching people about getting value for their money. Hint, hint.
Garage sales. Okay, not many, because people tend to hang onto their tools, but barn sales or estate sales sometimes have them. I picked up a great 6′ wood ladder that way and a whole bag full of concrete and tile tools. It’s not a surefire way to find something, but at every sale I am at, I always scope for deals on tools.