10 Most Risky Things You Can Do on Your Own
Some things in life – like fixing your own car or DIY home repairs – can seem dangerous or risky, especially if you’ve never done it before or tend to err on the side of caution. They may also turn out to be more doable than they seem. Here are ten tricky things you can probably handle on your own.
10. Cut your hair yourself or someone else.
The risky things are the ones where we can screw up the most. It’s pretty hard to hide a bad haircut, which is why most of us don’t cut our own hair or try to mess with strangers. However, if you have a steady hand, you can definitely at least trim your own hair and extend your visit to the hairdresser or hairdresser, as shown in the video above . There are tons of videos on YouTube that will show you how to cut your hair, but stick to simpler styles first so you don’t shave all your hair, and as the New York Daily News advises, only do it when you are sober. Here’s a Buzzcut Guide to trimming your own hair with a clipper , how to trim long hair from Refinery29, and how to trim your child’s hair from a parent . Don’t worry, it grows back.
9. Products for deep-frying
If you’ve deep-fried food in the past, this may not seem like a particularly daring move. However, some of us are reasonably nervous about working with a vat of very hot, bubbling oil (possibly above 400 ° F). You can deep-fry fearlessly if you follow a few precautions. If you want to deep-fry your Thanksgiving turkey without burning your house, consider copying Alton Brown’s homemade turkey fryer .
8. DIY home repair.
Some home improvements should be left to the discretion of the professionals (for example, anything that involves touching the main electrical or gas mains), but many home improvement and renovation projects can be done on your own. When you do it yourself, you increase your ROI . You can fix jammed doors, patch up drywall and other home repairs , and repair a pothole in your driveway, replace outdoor lighting, and other outdoor repairs . Here are 10 renovation projects you won’t have to pay anyone else to complete. The Lifehacker’s Workshop blog is full of home improvement ideas and tips.
7. Complete your tax return.
Taxes can be tricky, especially when the rules and forms of filing change every year. However, not everyone needs to go to a tax professional to file their tax return. By doing this yourself, you can better control your finances . However, do not contact the IRS. If your tax situation is more complex, you should weigh your own taxes and hire a professional .
6. Invest in the stock market.
It is very easy to lose a lot of money in the stock market, just as you can make money from it. As with other things that involve risk, it’s important to do your research and know at least the basics before diving into them . If buying individual stocks is too daunting (or takes a long time) for you, use index funds, which are less risky and easier to understand. Here’s how to build an investment portfolio for beginners .
5. Travel alone
Traveling alone can be exhilarating and more exciting than waiting for friends and family . But there is also a safety issue when you are alone, especially if you are traveling to destinations that are known to be not the safest places. However, don’t let this hold you back. Here’s how to keep yourself safe when traveling alone . You can join a tour group or get a tour guide for some of the activities, while enjoying the flexibility of being an independent traveler in other parts of the trip.
4. Build your own computer from scratch.
There are fewer things that computer geeks take more pride in than building their own computer from scratch. It can be daunting the first time, as you have all the parts you need and make sure you put them together correctly. Check out our complete guide to building a PC and the best PC builds for $ 300, $ 600, and 1200 .
3. Fix your car
Another area that most of us prefer to leave to professionals: auto repair. Explore the regular preventative maintenance you need to know to keep your vehicle up and running. But besides replacing the wipers, you can also do a wide variety of repairs yourself . Once you have the tools and information, you can replace the drive belt, replace the battery, change the oil yourself, and more. You cannot or should not do all types of car repairs unless you are an expert, so take Jalopnik’s advice to determine which repairs to leave to the specialist .
2. Plumbing and electrical work.
There are times when you need a licensed plumber or electrician, but there are also a few plumbing and electrical projects that you can do on your own regardless of your experience. You can unclog just about any sewer ( including a toilet ), fix a leaking faucet, fix a working toilet, and other home plumbing projects . In terms of electricity, you can replace outlets, lights, and other fixtures in your home . Again, for more hazardous or risky work, see a professional. (And make sure the power is off before proceeding with electrical repairs.)
1. Start your own business
Perhaps the scariest item on this list is to act independently and work for yourself. What if the business fails and you lose all your money? Taking the first step towards starting your own company is the hardest part. With research and a realistic plan – and, of course, a business idea – you can fully do this. Plan for potential failure , but realize that hundreds of thousands of us are successfully self-employed or have built our own business from scratch. If we can, maybe you can.
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