Jill-user’s problem with the high cost of labor in decorating her home with holiday lights stems from the early 50s’ housing boom. Many theretofore city-dwellers suddenly became homeowners and met up with repair and maintenance they never had experienced. Since most were ordinary Joes and Jills they catalyzed the do-it-yourself industry—another enormous boom.

Of course, not all were handy or could even muddle through tasks and had to take part-time jobs to offset the cost of tradesmen to repair and improve their homes. These all thumbs guys and gals were all too few and far between for a tradesman to make a decent living and wound up doing their trade on the side for the thumb people. The more substantive tradespeople and contractors relied primarily on the wealthy who could afford a professional to fix the washing machine, the TV, leaks in the roof and adding a room or a finished off basement. It was an unwritten rule to soak the rich to the extent that a $50 charge to repair an appliance would be but $25 in an average community.

Now in the case of Jill-user, though I admire her for her holiday spirit, is nonetheless, involved in a frivolous enterprise and because of this the laborer will indeed take advantage of the situation. In presuming something as unnecessary as decorating a home with lights, the laborer—deft with the ladder— is going to capitalize on Jill’s vulnerability.


My suggestion is that she hire neighboring teenagers to decorate for her, provided she is amply insured.