If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It

But do if it is.

We live in a disposable society. Consider the sheer amount of stuff we throw away daily. From our dishes to our toilet scrubber, we are used to having disposable conveniences. Constantly. It’s easier. It’s more sanitary. It’s faster.

But it’s also wasteful! And expensive!

By choosing to fix (or mend or alter) an item instead of tossing it for something new, you reduce your waste. For example, instead of throwing away some shoes, try getting them resoled. Instead of throwing away an old t-shirt, repurpose it as dusting rags. Or you can be classy like us and take someone else’s trash and fix it. A few months ago, I went running and saw a broken futon sitting on the curb of our neighbor’s house. Mike and I rescued it from the trash and hauled it up to our apartment (sans mattress…we ended up getting a fresh one via craigslist). Mike worked his magic and put it all together. Now we have a fantastic, nearly free futon in our living room. And we feel resourceful. Score!