In St. Paul, Minn., at least one continuing education program had to add another bicycle repair section after fuel prices spiked this summer. And, in California, the Baldwin Park adult and community education program has seen a 24 percent increase in enrollment in their sewing classes this year, causing them to tack on about four more afternoon sessions to the schedule.
"That class was actually started because our students wanted to make clothes for their family," senior director John Kerr said. "It was really an economics thing."
Of course, in the free-for-all world of do-it-yourself projects and repairs, cost savings can still prove elusive.
Dick Waters, a laboratory quality improvement specialist in Springfield, Ill., has spent the past 20 years patching up his 100-year-old house.
"Something seemingly simple like hanging up a picture can turn into replacing a wall, as, in fact, it has," Waters said.
During one repair job, Waters set out to fix a dripping faucet, but after shattering the porcelain sink, ended up completely replacing the faucet, sink and much of the bathroom plumbing.
"The hope is that it will be cheaper if you do it yourself," Waters said. "But I don't think it has ever panned out that way."
Patrick Colmer, a plumber in the Washington area, recently helped out a customer who attempted to repair the gasket between his toilet and the floor and instead ended up splitting the toilet bowl in half.
"My main advice would be that if you are not absolutely certain about what you are doing, call a professional," Colmer said.
At least some are following his advice. At a time of plummeting car sales, motor vehicle repairs are on the rise, according to recent figures from the Department of Commerce.
"Bad times are always good for us," said Robert Green, shop manager for Fairfax Auto Parts, who added that he has been working longer hours to keep up with the increased business. "People start fixing their cars instead of replacing them."
In the past three months, Green has seen a roughly 15 percent increase in sales, which has amounted to a six-year high for the same time period.
The trend toward self-sufficiency has extended beyond the obvious - fixing engines and re-patching clothes. Web sites offer advice on everything from the creative - brewing your own shampoos and baking your own bread - to the extreme: tips on how to make van dwelling work for you.
