Day 63: Fixing Instead of Buying
What: Fixing the broken instead of buying new
Why: In a consumer-driven society, while living in the first world, when something breaks, we just buy new.We shouldn’t be surprised that it is often cheaper to get something fixed instead of buying new. Think of your grandparents or even parents – were they as quick to buy new? Although, clothing for example, is often cheaper to buy than make. Stores are a whole lot closer than they used to be. Yet there is joy to be had in learning to fix something – it may even require learning a new skill. How do you know when to fix something versus buying new?
How:
1. A good rule of thumb is if the cost of fixing it is less than 50% of what you paid for it, fix it.
2. Some examples of when to fix vs. buying new:
-
Shoes – check into getting them resoled. This may seem cheap, but if you spent over $100 on the pair and they still have “life” in them, it may be worth it. Check with the company you bought them from and see what repairs they may do for free, with their “guarantee” policies.
-
Clothes – clothes are often cheaper to buy than to make yourself. This may not always be the case if the piece of clothing needs repair. A sewing machine or a needle and thread can go a long way! Instead of buying new clothes every time you shop, think about shopping at a thrift store. No matter where you buy your clothes, they often do not fit PERFECTLY. Have you ever thought about altering them to fit exactly how you would like them to? This may involve learning a new hobby, but it could save big bucks in the end, instead of buying new every time something does not fit just right.
-
Cars – unfortunately used cars are not near as cheap as they used to be. Fixing them may be the route to go. Having a trusted mechanic can be helpful – someone who can be straightforward with you, explaining what the best choice is.
-
Luggage – airports do not care what your luggage may look like going into the plane or coming out. No matter what your suitcase may be made out of, it seems it is inevitable that damage can happen. Rips, tears, broken zippers, broken handles, you name it. Have you ever seen a suitcase roll onto the baggage claim and wonder what in the world happened to it? Sometimes though, it may be just as cost effective to tape the rip, screw the handle back in, or attach a new zipper, than buy new. If you buy new, it is likely that damage will happen to your new one too.
Confession of the Day: I have learned to appreciate thrift store shopping more and more. I recently spent a day thrift shopping with a few friends, finding some good deals on a few shirts. While trying them on, I knew they did not fit perfectly, but that is the story of any piece of clothing, right? The more I looked at the shirt, the more I knew I could fix it myself (picture above). When I got home, I spent 15 minutes altering my “new” button-up, which now fits perfectly. Another example is when my husband had a new piece of luggage when on the first trip he used it, the handle broke. His handyman mind thought “I can fix this” and as he looked at it, all he had to do was use a nut and screw, to hold the handle in place. Living with less may mean fixing what is broken. Fixing something may seem like it takes more time, but think about the time and money it takes to buy new? Don’t be so quick to buy – try fixing it first.
What are you more apt to fix instead of buying new?
Thank you! Sometimes it is hard to take the time to see IF something is fixable – that is why it is inspiring to read about the things you took the time to fix! That is amazing and to think about the money saved as well! Thank you for sharing 🙂