Fix it or replace it? A simple rule for everyday stuff

Tod’s rule of thumb for deciding whether a repair is worth it, from phones to fridges.

Mom’s rule at the tailor counter was simple: measure twice, ask once. Here’s the version for everything else.

The half-price rule

Fix it if the repair costs less than half of a comparable new one, and the thing has a few good years left. Otherwise, replace it, and give the old one somewhere to go.

Questions to ask before you decide

• How old is it? A three-year-old laptop with a dead battery is a quick fix. A ten-year-old fridge with a failed compressor usually isn’t.
• Is the problem a part or the heart? Batteries, screens, zippers, soles, belts and seals are parts. Compressors, motherboards and cracked TV panels are the heart.
• Will it still do what you need? Old phones and computers can stop getting security updates. That’s a reason to replace even if the repair is cheap.
• Do you love it? Good boots, a favourite jacket, a solid wood chair: some things are worth more than their price.

Get two quotes

Ask each shop what’s wrong, what it costs, and what warranty comes with the work. A good shop will tell you honestly when it isn’t worth it.

If you replace it

Don’t let it hit the curb. Donate it if it works, sell it for parts, or take it to a proper recycling drop-off. Ask Tod where.