There’s an ethic that we’ve missed these last few decades. Years ago, when my grandparents and even my parents were growing up, there was an ethic that could be summed up as “making do”. It wasn’t necessarily an ethic that people wanted to adopt after World War Two, when consumerism became the new ideal to strive for. However, when you’re trying to build a home that is thrifty and avoids debt, making do is a good way to be.
What is this concept? Well, these days if we don’t have enough money to buy something, that doesn’t always feel like a problem. After all, there are credit cards. There are store credit cards. There are delayed payment plans. It’s easy enough to buy things that you’ll pay for later, although when later comes you might wish that you hadn’t done so.
There are also sales and deals galore, and who wants to miss a deal, really? When that item you sort of wanted goes on sale, that’s a good reason to buy it, isn’t it? Maybe, but maybe not. If you really need it, then a sale is a great opportunity. However, sales can also be a chance to just spend a lot more money than we ever really needed to spend.
Making do is about using what you have. If you feel like you need something and you realize that you can’t afford it, you question that need. It’s also a good opportunity to hone and develop your skills. So you need a new desk? Make it or find it for free. You can do it, you’ll be in less debt, you’ll have more skills, and it’s actually often more fun that going to the store.
Using and enjoying what you have used to be in fashion, and it’s a good attitude to cultivate. So is the creativity that comes when you really do need something and can’t afford it.