Make Do And Mend

I read a blog today by someone who had just fished out their favourite jumper – now the days are definitely getting colder and discovered holes in the elbows. There question was repair it or dump it. Now one benefit of the credit crunch is that people are trying to cut back and the old mantra of ‘make do and mend’ is coming back into vogue. We should now be reluctant to just chuck things out because they don’t’ work any more or are slightly worn.

During the war, there wasn’t the luxury of buying new and along with everything else, clothes were rationed, so it was necessary to make do and mend. I think people have forgotten how to use a needle and thread or a sewing machine these days and in the throw away society that we live in, we’d never consider repairing anything electrical. It’s cheaper to buy new and just stick it on credit … and pay more for it later. Actually a whole industry of repairmen could now arise out of the ashes of burning credit cards.

That other old adage – waste not want not will also come in to play. So talk to your grand- parents, get their best tips on making things go further. We’ll be a less wasteful, throw-away society. See there’s an upside to even the impending depression.