Friday 25-02-2022 - 10:00

‘Make do and mend/lend/borrow’ top tips

‘Repair, don't replace’ is key to sustainability. We can be quick to call something 'broken' and replace it with something new with little thought as to whether it can be repaired.

 

Check out iFixit which publishes free repair guides for electronics and gadgets:

www.ifixit.com/

 

Check out this Guardian article on how to handle the ‘repair or replace’ dilemma when it comes to common household items:

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/apr/27/repair-or-replace-an-expert-guide-to-fixing-or-ditching-eight-essential-household-items

 

Check out the Which? guide to getting a refund, repair or replacement on a faulty item:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-do-i-do-if-i-have-a-faulty-product-aTTEK2g0YuEy

 

Better understand how warranties and guarantees work:

www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/when-can-i-use-a-manufacturer-s-warranty-or-guarantee-apyZm8F75DFU

 

Check out maintenance tips for home appliances that will ensure they work well for longer:

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/house-and-home/household-advice/a679737/the-secret-to-a-more-efficient-appliance/

 

Upcycling has really taken off during the pandemic with many of us turning our hands to craft projects of our own and giving items a new lease of life. Check out www.upcyclethat.com, Pinterest and ideas from Good Housekeeping.

Rental/Borrowing Services - over the past few years the popularity of tool lending libraries has increased, where you can borrow what you need for a project without buying or using large tool hire companies. Ethical Consumer has a great list of some of these organisations across the UK, as well as loads of advice on being ... a more ‘ethical consumer’!:

www.ethicalconsumer.org/

 

Charity shops - Don't forget your high street charity shops! Since the start of the pandemic they have been overwhelmed with donations (lots of people with lots of time at home and lots of time to sort and chuck out stuff 😉) so do them a favour and help them clear their stock and see your money do good in the world!

Remember you may not need to buy new - there are plenty of reputable sites that sell refurbished phones, IT equipment etc that are really worth considering. Do a little bit of research yourself – for example, check out these articles:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/buying-refurbished-phones/

www.wired.co.uk/article/how-to-buy-refurbished-tech

www.expertreviews.co.uk/laptops/1407470/refurbished-laptops-where-to-buy

 

Familiarise yourself with what the different ’condition grades’ mean, and carefully check out if the item comes with a warranty – and if so, what the terms and conditions are.

 

 

 

The Money & Housing Advice Team

moneyandhousingadvice@law.ac.uk