Inflation
Let's look at what happens to investments during periods of high inflation. Because of inflation,
the purchasing power of a stock market investor's dividends and a bank investor's interest is substantially reduced.
But your woodworking investment return is NOT reduced by inflation. This is due the fact that
your investment in material goods will almost always appreciate….thus negating the effects of inflation.
The deck you built appreciates with your house at a slightly faster rate than inflation. And this computation doesn't even consider your deck's utilitarian value.

Energy savings
With energy costs soaring, we’re all looking for ways to conserve both energy and the money we have to pay for it. If you replace 10 thermally inefficient windows with 10 efficient windows for $400 each, those windows could easily increase the value of your home by $4,000 plus save you HUNDREDS each year in heating & air-conditioning costs. If it saves you just $600 a year (it could easily do this), you’ll realize a 15% return, the first year, alone !
When you consider the rapidly expanding field of conservation, the potential for energy savings can only continue to grow. And, with your own tools, you ‘re not at the mercy of the manufacturers!

The real sense of it
What’s the sense of all this? Well….it really depends on you and your outlook. If you don’t enjoy woodworking and producing your own goods, saving thousands of dollars probably won’t matter much to you. But…if you do enjoy woodworking and exercising your creativity
– or think you will -- these facts about saving money will probably be an
added boost to your morale.

The pleasure you'll get from doing-it-yourself will far surpass what you'd get from other hobbies. You could easily spend $75 or more in greens fees to play a round of golf plus hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars more on a set of the latest technology clubs and have practically nothing to show for your money. But that woodworking project you build could easily bring you (or someone else) a lifetime of pleasure…for a lot less money !
In the end, whether you're new to the hobby or a long-term custom woodworker, as long as you keep using your tools, you'll reap both the material rewards of your finished products and the grand satisfaction of making it yourself - a feeling that NO amount of money can buy !