I have a friend who does a lot of odd jobs - as a result of a workplace injury about 15 years ago he was disabled for a long time, still gets some disability insurance medical, but can do any number of tasks well (alas, it seems impossible to get a "regular" job after you've been chronically unemployed). A few years ago he told me he was looking for more odd jobs, so I referred him to a few people, and now I think every single person on my block and the next has him on their speed dial. My across-the-street neighbor also worked on making those referrals. The two of us have the wonderful benefit of his help pretty promptly when we need it - but we also ask him what he will charge and pay the asking price.

He's going to help me with a simple plumbing job in a month or two - with the understanding that if it is too much for the two of us, I'll call a regular plumber. (Replacing a commode.)

Friends like that are priceless.