We built a fence in the back yard the other day. The kids are old enough now that we want them to be able to run around outside without us constantly monitoring them but they are not old enough to let run around the neighborhood yet.

The fence ended up costing us about $950 to put a 5 foot tall privacy fence along both sides of the back yard. The back side was already completed since the people behind us already had a fence.

Fortunately building a fence is something that my dad and I can do ourselves (with the help of 3 other people on the post hole digging day. Thanks guys).

We ended up saving at least $1700 in labor which leaves us money to go buy a little swing set for the kids in the next week or so.

The few people we called to dig the holes wanted about $700 for about 20 holes. Crazy. It really is amazing how much of the cost of projects is in the labor. Any of that you can do yourself will dramatically lower the cost.