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| Not a pretty repair, but it works. |
A great way to economize and extend the life of things is to fix and repair them when they break down or wear out. It makes best use of resources, and lowers the cost per use of the item.
Cost per use is a good way to think about the things one buys. It helps in comparing the expense of individual things, and puts that expense into perspective.
The idea is to make things last, then fix or repair if they break, then make them last even longer.
The longer things last the more we can use them, and the less the cost per use will be.
One problem with wealth is that as humans get more of it they tend to fix and repair less and replace more. Things that could be fixed are tossed instead.
My trimming scissors are an example of the many repairs I have made to things around the house. As far as repairs go it is somewhat crude, but so far it has been working perfectly.
Very wabi-sabi.
New scissors: $25 - 80 dollars. True cost including externalities? Much more.
Materials for repair: One free rubber band I took off some produce and threw into my resource drawer in the kitchen.
Fixing and repairing is a fun, creative challenge, and taking the time to do so shows an appreciation for the gifts bestowed upon us by Nature.
Seen that way, each repair is a prayer of thanks to The Mother Of Us All.
How does a rubber band fix scissors? What was wrong with the scissors? I always fix things. Of course, some things are lost causes.
ReplyDeleteThe screw in the middle stripped out and no longer held the two scisses (?) together. What do you do with one sciss? Good for poking things, I guess, but I want to trim hair. The rubber band holds the screw in, and keeps the scisses together nice and tight. For now, anyways.
DeleteWith permission, from this point forward my ____ drawer shall be referred to as my "resource drawer" - brilliant!
ReplyDeleteMy kids come to visit and make fun of my repairs and ability to do without something, until I can afford it or feel I can afford it. They call it little house on the prairie. Smart asses they are. I don't know where they get it?
ReplyDelete