Why Repair?
If you can fix it yourself, it's a lot cheaper than buying new! And maybe this is just me, but I get a great deal of satisfaction out of taking something broken apart and putting it back together in working order. Plus, if you use salvaged or refurbished replacement parts, you're saving even more stuff from the landfill! My van was recently sideswiped by a deer - I was pleased to learn that the body shop uses salvaged replacement parts, saving me money and doing a little bit to minimize the scrap heap.
How?
With the power of the world wide web, it's now easier than ever to find step by step repair instructions and sources of replacement parts for just about anything.
Professional Repairs
Though it's great that a lot of the appliances and electronics we use today are really inexpensive, that means it's usually cheaper to buy something new than to pay someone to fix the old one. If you can't fix something yourself, consider offering it for free on Craigslist. You just might find someone who can fix it, and that means you've kept it out of the landfill!
