Yes, I have had to replace the wax ring of a toilet a couple of times. Interestingly enough on rental properties we have. It is not as messy as it sounds (if you use gloves and sanitize well). But once you do it once, you are on the road to saving some money on plumber’s bills.

Plumbers in my area cost around $140 for the first hour, and $60 for every hour thereafter. (including travel time).

Two things that can be learned from your story:
1) Home improvement doesn’t have to be costly.
A good book, some cheap parts, and a lot of patience can do the trick.

2) People pay a lot for things that they do not want to do. That is why plumbers are so expensive.