We live in a wasteful world. When something breaks, people throw it away and replace it with a shiny new upgrade. They dispose of perfectly edible food, buy things they never use, and let their possessions fall into disrepair due to improper care.
Now more than ever, we need to take care of our natural environment and use our limited resources wisely. Being less wasteful is not only going to help you save money; it can also go a long way towards saving the planet.
Not everything is made to last, but with the right tricks and techniques, you can stretch out their use for as long as possible. Here are some handy tips to help you extend the life of your belongings.
Don’t waste food
With so much hunger in the world, it’s tragic to see people throwing away uneaten food. You can prevent food waste in your household in two ways: only buying what you need, and always eating what you buy. Avoid overbuying during your weekly shop by planning out your meals and sticking to a rigid shopping list. All food expires in the end, but there are things you can do to make it last longer. Check the temperature of your fridge is cold enough and keep dry food in airtight containers. Separating fruit and vegetables will reduce the chances of mould appearing, and try pickling any veg that is approaching the end of its life. Don’t put too much emphasis on best-before dates either, as these are usually just a rough guideline.
Repair, don’t replace
When something gets damaged or stops working, it’s tempting just to pack it in and upgrade it, but more often than not, the problem is fixable. If you have a hole in a sock, it’ll take you five minutes to sew it back up. If your laptop freezes on you, don’t be so quick to buy a new one. Take it to a local repair store such as Nerd2Go local laptop repairs, and there’s a good chance they can fix it for you. YouTube is an excellent resource for instructions on how to fix almost anything, so check to see if you can solve the problem before needlessly spending any money.
Make your clothes last longer
As mentioned already, it’s easy enough to sew up any small holes in clothes, but there are also habits you should follow to make them last longer in general. By washing all your clothes in cold water, you’ll not only extend their lifespan, but you’ll also be saving a ton of money on your energy bills. Don’t wash too frequently, either. If you’ve worn it once and it’s still clean, there’s nothing wrong with putting it on again the next day.
Get more from your appliances
Home appliances such as your fridge, hoover, and washing machine are all incredibly expensive to replace. They should ideally last you several years, but if you don’t care for them properly, you’ll be reaching into your savings a lot more frequently than you’d like. Ensure you take care to look after and maintain your appliances to keep them working for longer.
