Things Worth Fixing Instead of Throwing Away

In a world that’s constantly racing towards the next big thing, the art of fixing what is broken is slowly fading away. It’s not just a matter of nostalgia; it’s a reflection of values that seem to be drifting.

Growing up, I was blessed to witness the talent of my father, a master problem-solver. In another era, perhaps he would have been an inventor, but in ours, he was the go-to guy for fixing things. From engines and appliances to friendships and reputations, he seemed to possess a mysterious understanding of how things worked. It wasn’t magic, of course. His skill was deeply rooted in an unyielding curiosity and the patience to apply himself, even when a quick solution didn’t reveal itself.

If something in our home stopped working, be it our lawn mower or my trusty old bicycle, my father would invite me into the garage to watch and learn as he took it apart, diagnosed the issue, and gradually brought it back to life. It wasn’t just about the physical repair; it was a demonstration of craftsmanship. Whether a problem was mechanical or relational in nature, my dad seemed to have a knack for fixing what was broken. As I look back, I realize he was modeling a way of being in the world that I grew to admire, far more than just the ability to fix things.

My father’s influence didn’t end with me. Without even realizing it at the time, I became a disciple of his philosophy, passing on the lessons to my own children. My wife can attest to the countless occasions when one of the kids would come to me with a broken toy, and I would apply some creativity and elbow grease to get it working again. Those moments were gifts, an opportunity to shape my children’s imaginations, showing them that fixing things is an art in itself.

What are some things you can work to fix instead of jumping straight to replacement?

Here are a few I recommend.

Appliances

Thanks to the internet, there are a ton of free resources that make this a possibility for even those without a lot of mechanical skill. I’ve saved my family thousands of dollars and felt the pride that comes from doing something yourself by simply taking the time to learn how things work and how to repair them.

Furniture

Many types of furniture can be repaired with a few basic tools and some creativity. If non-structural parts are broken, consider gluing them back together with a good wood glue. If the wood is dented or scratched, you can often sand it down and apply a fresh finish. Use your imagine to find solutions.

Shoes and cloths

With the rising cost of clothing repairs, there are a lot of simple fixes you can make yourself if you have the right tools. Consider buying a nice sewing machine, heavy duty thread, and maybe even a leather punch. It’s a fun hobby and a great way to save money.

Yourself

Of course, many aspects of our bodies’ health is outside of our control. But that doesn’t mean we have no say at all. There are few things we can invest in with a higher return than our own health, and very few excuses for letting things decline without a fight. Take charge of your own health, and when you need help, seek out a professional.

Your home

I’ve lost track of all the things I’ve fixed around my home that would have cost me a small fortune to hire out. Everything from replacing faucets and light fixtures, to replacing broken boards on my deck. There are entire Youtube channels that will walk you step by step through this process, so consider giving it a shot next time something breaks around your home.

Your yard

I’ve seen a lot of neighbors decide to rip out their grass lawn completely in favor of having it replaced with sod. While this will certainly give you a quick and easy result, it costs thousands of dollars for the average size yard. Instead, consider taking the time to re-seed your own yard, and apply the necessary fertilizer and weed control so you can enjoy a beautiful yard on a budget.

Automobiles

I don’t claim to be a car guy or an expert in mechanical things, but I have figured out many ways to save my family money by fixing little things on our cars. These tasks include replacing filters, changing headlights, and replacing wiper blades. If you have more mechanical skill, you might even attempt to do routine oil changes yourself.

Your relationships

Repairing broken relationships is an art, not an exact science. And while I’m not an expert, I do have the experience of being married for 15 years and raising three kids together with my wife. That’s taught me a lot about the importance of learning how to keep relational peace. The most important lesson is simply to do it. It’s easy to let hurts and misunderstandings fester, hoping they’ll get better on their own. But the best advice is to bring these issues to light as soon as possible, while your love for each other is still greater than whatever thing is driving you nuts.

Your reputation

Your reputation precedes you in everything you do. It can open doors and earn you the benefit of the doubt and good opportunities. But once your reputation is damaged, it takes a long time to set things right. As soon as you realize this damage has been done, it’s best to own up to it and start the long process of building back trust. In today’s disposable culture, it’s all too common to simply walk away when things don’t go right, but that’s not an example worth passing on to future generations.

Your finances

When you’re in a financial hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging. Identify the areas where your spending is out of control, and start to make a plan to rein things in. Then, by consistently spending less than you make month after month, you can climb yourself out of debt and begin to enjoy the financial freedom that comes from hard work and not giving up. Don’t throw in the towel, simply because you’ve made a few bad decisions— go ahead and fix what’s broken.

Your routines

I don’t know many adults these days who don’t feel like they’re spread too thin, and trying to run just to keep up. The truth is that many of us have more control over this than we might feel. If you’re going from one obligation to another without enough time for rest, reflection, and renewal, then it might be time to reprioritize your life.

As you can see, there are many things that we can fix in our lives instead.