Repair, Don’t Replace
These days, things are not built to last.
It’s sad, but true.
Cars are a prime example. Find a car built years ago, and chances are nowadays they will still run fine if they have been looked after – and worth some serious cash! Cars made these days get written off if a heavy cat jumps on top.
Houses are another great example. Find a house made 100 years ago or more. They are solid. These days, most houses have paper thin walls, postage stamp gardens, and I’d be surprised if they outlive their owners without collapsing.
Many products these days are mass produced, with cheap materials and odd fitting parts. Machines, clothes, cars, tools, furniture – whatever the product is.
Auctions and house clearances are popular for this reason. Vintage items will usually sell for much more than their modern equivalent; because they are made well, and with a bit of TLC will continue to last.
Antique furniture is almost bomb proof. They may need recovering, and some foam or padding upgrading, but the frame and the integrity of the piece is solid as a rock, and chances they are will last long after we are gone.
Ask your parents, or grandparents, or even remember back to when you were a child. Chances are they use to darn their socks, repair woodwork, and fix old cars. Things seldom broke, and when they did, their mantra was to repair, not replace. It was a cheaper way of living, with less waste, and more appreciation for their items – no matter what they were.
Live Within Your Means
Another great way to save some money, is to live within your means. This means, quite simply, don’t spend what you don’t have. A simple enough concept, but one that very few people live by.
With it becoming easier and easier to gain access to loans, credit cards, and catalogues, it is too easy to spend money you simply don’t have. Have a sofa you pay off monthly? What about a holiday you’ve booked, but not paid for yet? Car finance, or a credit card?
All of these things are living above your means, and can be fairly bad habits to get into. No matter what happens, at the end of every month you will have to pay it back.
If you can’t afford to pay it back, you will either default – meaning more interest and fees, or get a loan, again with interest and fees, and you will then have to pay that back. You will go round and round in circles, ultimately either paying your debt off or getting into financial difficulty.
As disheartening as it may be, if you live within your means, at least you would not have the sleepless nights worrying about how you will afford to pay things back. It also doesn’t mean you have to go without. Instead of going for an all singing, all dancing, 5* two-week holiday with upgraded flights and suites, you could slum it in economy and have a standard room.
As long as you budget, save, and even add a little DIY in places, you can still have and experience new things, just in moderation.
