^^ That brings up a good point. I have noticed over the last 30 years that most people, at least where I live, now hire out their landscaping needs. Curious, I requested quotes from several local landscaping companies to see how much I am saving by doing it all myself. I was shocked at the results. These are average prices I was quoted for the listed services for lawns my size:
1. Lawn mowing only: $300 per month
2. Lawn mowing + leaf removal: $400 per month
3. Lawn mowing + leaf removal + flower bed / shrubbery upkeep: $600 per month
The "per month" charges are for Mar - Nov only, as everything here goes dormant Dec - Feb. I was told that most people select option 2. So they are paying $4,800 per year to not have to mow their own lawn once per week Mar - Sep, and to not have to pick up and dispose of their own leaves Oct - Nov. Over a 5-year period that is $24,000. I'm literally blown away that anyone considers that amount of money reasonable just so they don't have to spend an hour or two every week on these chores that are part of owning a house. My lawn isn't even large, only 7,500 square feet. I only bag when mowing during Oct/Nov to pick up leaves (lots of trees around me). When not bagging it only takes me 45 minutes to mow and weed whack, once per week. When bagging, 1.5 hours. Annual total time spent is around 40 hours. If I were paying a landscaping company to do the work it would come out to around $120 per hour. Where I live that's what doctors and lawyers charge! I have a Master's Degree in Computer Science and a great job, and I barely earn half that amount. I guess I should consider switching jobs!
Personally, I think people who are physically sound are crazy to pay these amounts. From the age of 10 to 14 I mowed lawns in summer, to save money to buy a car. I would mow 2-3 lawns per day, and only charged $10. That was the early 80's, sure, but $10 in 1984 is not $75 today, not even close.
If I weren't doing the work myself I would not be out earning money instead. I do the work when time allows. Sure, I might be able to do better spending that time researching stocks for investments, but's only a maybe, it's not a sure thing.
Am I crazy?