To pay for odd jobs when friends are offering?

[Calculuses]

I'm a widow and TBH am pretty pleased with the way I've learned to do a lot of the things DH used to do.

It's surprising how many things need two pairs of hands or more strength than I have though and I'm not going up a ladder for anything! So I pay a man to do odd jobs when necessary. He's very responsive and gives good advice when I don't know what needs doing. He charges not enough a very reasonable £20 per hour and works really quickly. No loitering.

I have a few male friends, who keep saying "I can do that, no need to pay Dave", but I prefer to keep it business like. I don't like the idea of "owing" these men.

Am I overthinking?

I'd stick to a handyman - if that's he's job it's probable he's a bit better at it than some random friend? I'd also prefer having someone paid to come rather than wait for a friend to turn up at their convenience!

Hey
maybe you are over thinking, but my mom, who is also a widow, would do the same.

My FIL who knows and gets on with my mom, is semi retired and very naturally handy, he can pretty much do any DIY task, but it’s not his ‘job’ and she doesn’t want to hinder anyone, it really wouldn’t be a hindrance but that’s what she thinks so prefers to pay someone else.

I also think with my mom, and this may not be the case for you so sorry if it’s not applicable, but I think she is more comfortable having a stranger who is very over qualified to do these little jobs, but who also happens to be completely separate from my late father.
I think, for her, having someone who she is fairly familiar with stings, because it’s not my dad, and despite being fiercely independent after all this time, there is still an element of Dave (not his real name) should be here and doing this job, and having a friend help out just makes it glaringly obvious her husband is not…not sure if that makes sense.

Carry on paying who you want to do whatever you want. Just don’t tell anyone you don’t want to have to justify it to.

I would carry on op. It's nice of them to offer but if anything goes wrong it will be awkward.