Learning the Art of Making Do

Amid this coronavirus pandemic, people start learning about upcycling, repurposing, and mastering the art of making do. In these times, people must be resourceful and deal with what is available around the corner. They started upcycling and repurposing different items to create new products that they need.

Learning the art of making do is essential, especially when the items and the means are limited. Practicing the art of making do could also benefit a lot of people. It would help you save time, help you avoid spending a lot of money, and also help you save resources. Besides that, you can practice your creativity and learn new skills while practicing sustainability and zero waste management.

wooden divider, black shoes, black pants

Learning how to make do could be life-changing and very beneficial to one’s life. Now would be a great time to start practicing how to make do. If you are new to these things, do not worry because we got you! Below are some ideas to help you master the art of making do.

HOW TO LEARN THE ART OF MAKING DO

Let us start with the basics. It is our habit to keep leftover food inside the fridge. However, we often forget that we still have some leftover foods inside the refrigerator. So, they remain there until they get spoiled. We could practice the art of making do with the leftover foods. Leftover roasted chicken or pork partnered with some vegetables inside your fridge could make a great soup. You could also make a nice and healthy vegetarian soup or a salad with the leftover veggies you have. You could also make Korean wrap foods with your leftover rice, some meat or salmon, and your leafy greens if you want to try something new. Now, you can save on your groceries plus your gas money too!

For your clothing, you could try mending them first before asking a seamstress to repair it or even throw it away or donate it. If you have a sewing kit or a sewing machine, mending clothes will never be a problem. You can easily search on YouTube or search for blogs and tutorials about sewing if you have access to the internet. If not, you will never go wrong with asking your mom or your grandmother’s help.

When you have issues with your household appliances, you could repair them by yourself before replacing them. Become a handyman and see how good are you at fixing things. Check out some tutorials on how to repair different appliances, or you could also ask help from your father or the people next door. You would not need to throw away things if you only know how to mend them.

There is no need to get rid of all the unused and unnecessary household items. You can always try repurposing them. Old and unutilized furniture like dividers could be made into a table. You could also rearrange and repaint the furniture and decorations inside your house if you are bored with them. There is no need to buy new things if you want a breath of fresh air. You could always resort to repurposing items and moving around things wherever you want.

Buy multi-purpose things. When you do, you will be gathering less stuff, and it would also save you more space and money. Always focus on the item’s function, not on its aesthetic. However, with the never-ending choices in the market, you could always find multi-purpose products that would also match your home’s aesthetic.

Trading and borrowing items are also a good way of making do. If you only need tools, equipment, or items that you won’t always use, you can try to borrow from your friends, family, or neighbors. Look for someone who can let you borrow or trade things before purchasing them. If you have the opportunity to avoid spending money on things that are not that necessary and frequently used, then grab it.

Look for the alternatives. If you have a tight budget, you could settle with the cheaper options for the expensive products in the market. They can be the right choice as long as they are as good as the product you like. Be contented even with cheaper items because aside from helping you save your money and resources, they can also be as functional as the costly items in the stores.

When you try practicing the art of making do, you must remember three questions. First is, “Do I have something that could supply my need?” The next question is, “Can I upcycle and repurpose the items that I have into what I need?” Lastly, “Do I have an alternative as functional as the item that I need?”