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The Case Against Buying New: Millenials should think twice before throwing old things out
Pajamas Media ^ | 12/30/2014 | SUSAN L.M. GOLDBERG

Posted on 12/30/2014 7:43:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Michael Walsh linked to an excellent article on the inability of many millennials to fix the simplest of household devices. Walsh was joined by many of my Boomer/Gen-X friends in his comment that it’s usually cheaper to throw out and buy new, but speaking as one of those Gen-X/millennial crossovers, going shopping isn’t always the cheapest thing to do. Especially when you’re caught up in a lousy economy.

Here’s where I praise my incredibly handy husband who grew up learning fractions via wrench set before he ever encountered them in school. When he lost his job shortly after the recession hit, we newlyweds risked becoming a statistic, joining the millions of college graduates like us who were out of work at a time when no jobs could be found. Thankfully, along with raising us with a fabulously humble work ethic, our parents also trained us to make the most out of nothing. My husband saved us thousands of dollars by repairing cars, plumbing, even our household heater himself when times were lean.

Fixing things doesn’t always mean owning crap, either. How did my husband manage to drive a Mercedes in college? He found a wreck in a salvage yard and spent one summer fixing it up with his dad after work. That car lasted him over 10 years and remained a great investment because he took the time to learn how to maintain and repair it when necessary.

His Mr. Fix-It habit is far from over now that he’s back in the work force. Do you know how much it costs the average young homeowner to re-do a bathroom in their first fixer-upper? Enough to make them not bother, or mortgage more for a home that’s already been upgraded. Every project we’ve done in our home we’ve done ourselves with little to no outside help. Yes, it takes longer. Yes, it’s hard work. But when you’re young and newly married in a depression marketed as a recession, knowing how to be handy around the house is a lifesaver for your budget and your marriage.

Speaking as the former office manager of a mom and pop TV repair shop, do I think the average TV owner is going to buy a $500 circuit board to fix their flat screen? Nope. However, I do think they’d be wise to salvage those old speakers from grandma’s stereo to build their own surround sound setup before spending anywhere from $500 to $20,000 to have it done for them. In this economy, millennials especially ought to think twice about throwing out and buying new. There’s a lot to be said for being able to do things yourself. It’s a thrilling kind of independence to not have to crack open your checkbook every time something breaks. Perhaps learning how to be handy would help the new generation to save a few more bucks, get out of the house, and even get married before they’re old enough to be considered disposable themselves.

And for the record, Michael, without that oh-so-antiquated sounding radio frequency engineering you’d be hard-pressed to access your Wi-Fi.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: buying; consumer; fixing
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To: NY.SS-Bar9

Yes, very true. But sometimes there are varying opinions as to the fix. :)


21 posted on 12/30/2014 9:07:00 AM PST by Codeflier (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - 4 democrat presidents in a row and counting...)
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To: NY.SS-Bar9

Yes, very true. But sometimes there are varying opinions as to the fix. :)


22 posted on 12/30/2014 9:07:35 AM PST by Codeflier (Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama - 4 democrat presidents in a row and counting...)
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To: P.O.E.

<Amazing what’s out there on YouTube

I don’t do a lot of my own repairs, but I do find the YT demos useful in getting an idea of what is wrong, if it’s a big problem or a little one, and if I really need a repair person.

As a widow, I am fortunate to belong to a church where the men help out, so I feel more confident getting one of them to fix some things but knowing when I need to call a pro.


23 posted on 12/30/2014 9:13:16 AM PST by radiohead
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To: Codeflier

Not just that. We used to do everything ourselves. Heck I have even done plumbing. Now if we get down under the sink we probably can’t get back up. We hire everything done now just so we can still walk the next day. lol


24 posted on 12/30/2014 9:14:20 AM PST by sheana
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To: SeekAndFind

I have reached the point in my career where it makes more financial sense to work more at my job and pay people to do my car/home/appliance repairs. I still prefer to do things myself, possibly to my detriment, because I like to know that if my income dries up I can still maintain my house and car.

I think I would feel much less secure if I lived as the article describes millennials.


25 posted on 12/30/2014 9:16:45 AM PST by RightOnTheBorder
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To: NY.SS-Bar9

Thank goodness for videos! We’ve had a very bad year for nearly every home appliance breaking - water heater, tv, phones, cell phones, washer, freezer, refrigerator, ice maker, microwave, coffee maker, paper shredder, hvac, etc. And a tree destroyed the roof and a shed. Some we now live without. Some were replaced with new (though downgraded due to tight budget). Some we learned to repair ourselves. appliancepartspros.com/ is now our go to site. Fast delivery and videos saved many an argument and the budget.


26 posted on 12/30/2014 10:05:33 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: SeekAndFind

My grandson thinks I’m magically endowed when it comes to repairs. If he breaks a toy he instantly announces that I can fix it.

Much of my talent comes from my own grandparents, who lived through the Great Depression. They survived on the “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without” New England ethos.

The rest of my skill comes from 15 kinds of glue plus the right tools. A set of miniature screwdrivers is crucial to toy and electronic repair.


27 posted on 12/30/2014 10:10:53 AM PST by DNME (Quietly carry concealed, at all times and places.)
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To: sheana

Sometimes, not being able to walk the next week is a have to due to budget restraints.


28 posted on 12/30/2014 10:14:30 AM PST by bgill (CDC site, "we still do not know exactly how people are infected with Ebola")
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To: YouGoTexasGirl
Of course, each new venture means new tools, haa!

I got a hammer drill and a brad nailer/compressor and some other stuff out of our last disaster. Of course, I'd rather have kept the things that had to be pitched. :^(

29 posted on 12/30/2014 5:20:09 PM PST by pa_dweller
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To: SeekAndFind

It will be worse for Generation Snowflake and here’s why:

1. Generation Snowflake (25 and under) have largely been brought up with a “single mom” who may have actively discouraged biodad’s influence on the children (Google: Dr. Craig Childress) If dad knows how to turn a wrench then mom saw to it that kids would never learn from terrible, eeevvviiiill, “harsh” dad.

2. For the past 30 years or so, trade schools have been dwindling as all the children were pushed toward colleges and universities; which in turn are run by liberal elites who never do any manual work for themselves. Such work is looked at as “demeaning.” (an attitude borrowed from the European Socialists)


30 posted on 11/17/2016 8:17:55 AM PST by AbolishCSEU (Amount of CS paid is inversely proportionate to Mother's actual parenting of children)
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To: RightOnTheBorder

In addition, there is no attention to detail anymore. We went to three different mechanics because my husband simply didn’t have the time to do the repairs. Each time the mechanics failed to notice significant issues, cobbed stuff and in once case, a mechanic actually BROKE a part that resulted in engine failure.

“If you want something done right, do it yourself.”


31 posted on 11/17/2016 8:20:25 AM PST by AbolishCSEU (Amount of CS paid is inversely proportionate to Mother's actual parenting of children)
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