Anyone lay their own concrete?

In our county, if you do all the work yourself, you don't have to pull chit for permits.
Agreed. Where I live they like to collect.....and collect.....and coll......well you get the picture. AND ..lets say my **** fails after you came and 'inspected' it? Is the 'inspector' on the hook?...hell naw! but lets not digress into that. Stay on target.

50K doesnt sound horrible. Granted costs have doubled over the last 15 years, but they will double again. Cost of living, and I am slightly of the ilk that getting it done quickly has a benefit of getting your cars under cover and start the tinkering.