If you have a job where you can slot in overtime anywhere and rather than be home you'd like to work, then sure pay somebody to prepare food or fix stuff for you, but otherwise there is no extra income and paying $25 for a meal out that costs $2 at home is just a waste in my opinion.

We had a car repair this week, dealer wanted $300 for parts and $220 per hour to fix. So minimum $520. I bought parts and did it myself saving the labour. I guess I could have watched a movie or read a book, but by the "paying your own labour" logic I'd be looking at a $220 movie cost if dealer fixed my car.

I understand about your dad, more so the gas driving between places. But I will go to two stores on same route and purposely get the cheaper one to drive pricing down. The stores here have same soymilk one store is $3.99 on plays with pricing and was as high as $8.99. I won't pay $9 because then they know that's what they can charge, I drive to next block and pay $4