A guy in my local hardware store said something that still bugs me

I was in the electrical aisle looking for some 22-gauge wire, and this older guy next to me was holding a busted toaster. He said to his friend, 'Why would anyone fix this? It's just a ten dollar part and an hour of your time.' I told him that hour teaches you more than any new toaster ever could. He just shrugged and walked off. Does anyone else get that kind of reaction when you tell people what you do?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivanross7d ago

But that hour is also an hour you could spend earning way more than a new toaster costs.

the_william7d ago

My hourly rate is basically a pack of gum and some loose change. I'm not exactly trading hours for toasters over here.

jennifer2046d ago

The real cost is the mental load, not just the time. I used to do freelance gigs for basically nothing, and the constant low-stakes stress wore me out more than a regular job. You end up spending all your energy on tasks that don't build any real security or skills. It makes it harder to even look for better work because you're always tired from the grind. That pack of gum rate can trap you in a cycle where you never have the bandwidth to aim higher.