Five years ago, I moved into a carpeted apartment and found that the previous tenant had left her vacuum behind. I thought that it was brilliant of her to leave it, as I didn’t own one prior moving in.
I used the vacuum a few times, and then it stopped working. I was going to buy a new one, but my sister encouraged me to get the old one fixed instead of adding it in the landfill. Getting it fixed cost just a bit less than buying the new one, but I felt better keeping the vacuum out of the landfill. It worked until I moved out. I didn’t take it with me since, like the original tenant, I was moving to a hardwood-floor apartment next. Hopefully the tenants after me were able to use the vacuum.
A friend of mine uses a sewing machine that belonged to her mother. When it broke, she decided it was worth getting it repaired rather than buying a new one, for sentimental reason. Last summer it was used to make goody bags for a family wedding. As far as I know, it’s still being used.
I buy a new laptop every few years. Although I usually prefer to keep appliances for a longer time, repairing old computers can be problematic. Like most consumers, I want to take advantage of the latest technology.
Ultimately, repairing vs. upgrading is your call. Doing whatever you can to help keep things out of landfill is always a plus, but sometimes buying new is more responsible. For example, it is better to switch from an old fridge or air conditioning unit to an energy-efficient one, which saves money and helps the environment. Some things are worth fixing and others are better upgraded. If you have an item that is better off upgraded, remember to properly dispose of the old one through sale or donation if it still works or to a recycling-center when possible.
How do you determine when to upgrade or when to repair? Were there times when you chose to repair even when it was more expensive than buying new? Please share your story here.
I love reading about your ideas, and in particular this was a very thought-provoking post. My instinct is usually to get rid of things instead of going through the process of having them fixed. But! The landfill point was a good one, and we certainly want to conserve what is going into the trash. So, thanks for giving me something to think about!