I cut my parents grass as a kid (middle / high school) and didn't like it then but, hey. it was the only way i got real cash so i did it and it was only like 1/3 of an acre so it didn't take long. Then didn't do it for about 12 years (college, apartments, condos with no yards) but then sold our condo and moved to the burbs at 30 with about 3/4 acre of grass. I did the push mower for about 2 years but it took up way too much of my weekend, then if it rained one weekend my yard quickly started looking like a jungle so with kid #2 on the way I caved and started paying someone like the rest of the neighborhood. I doubt I'll ever go back since it frees up so much time....they do the entire neighborhood (6 houses) in the time it took me to do just my own....worth every penny