“Make Do and Mend” Isn’t Just a Phrase—It’s a Mindset That Still Saves Money Today

There’s a phrase my grandmother kept tucked away in her vocabulary, right alongside “waste not, want not” and “a stitch in time saves nine.” It was the wartime mantra: “Make Do and Mend.” Born in the UK during World War II, it was part of a government campaign that encouraged families—especially women managing households with rationing coupons and shrinking resources—to repair, repurpose, and creatively extend the life of what they already owned.

On the surface, it was about conserving fabric when new clothes were nearly impossible to buy. But really, it was about mindset: resilience, resourcefulness, and a kind of stubborn creativity. And here’s the part that feels strikingly modern—this mindset isn’t just nostalgic. It still saves money, reduces waste, and encourages self-sufficiency in today’s fast-fashion, throwaway culture.

In other words, “Make Do and Mend” isn’t just an old phrase. It’s a financial and lifestyle strategy hiding in plain sight.

The Roots of “Make Do and Mend”

The campaign launched in 1943, when textile imports were slashed, and rationing was in full force. Families were encouraged to:

• Repair torn garments instead of discarding them.
• Repurpose men’s suits into children’s clothing.
• Knit sweaters from unravelled yarn salvaged from older knits.

It wasn’t romantic at the time—it was survival. But it produced a culture of ingenuity and a respect for materials that today’s overstuffed closets rarely reflect.

Why It Matters Now

Fast-forward 80 years, and our challenge isn’t scarcity but excess. We buy more clothing than ever before—the average American purchases 68 new pieces of clothing a year, according to the Roosevelt Institute. And yet, most of it sits unused. Meanwhile, household debt rises, budgets stretch thin, and sustainable living feels harder to reach.

Here’s where the wartime wisdom sneaks back in. “Make Do and Mend” helps in three very modern ways:

1. It saves money. A simple repair can extend a garment’s life by years.
2. It reduces waste. Americans throw away about 81 pounds of textiles per person each year.
3. It fosters self-sufficiency. Knowing how to patch, repurpose, or maintain belongings gives you options besides “buy new.”

So yes, it’s old-fashioned. But it’s also practical—and quietly radical in a culture built on disposability.

How to Practice the “Make Do and Mend” Mindset Today

This isn’t about darning socks by candlelight (unless you enjoy that sort of thing). It’s about building habits that stretch your resources intelligently. Here’s how the mindset translates into modern life:

1. Repair Before Replacing

Learn a few basics—sewing on a button, patching a seam, fixing a hem. A 10-minute repair often costs nothing but saves $50 in replacement costs. And today, YouTube is full of quick tutorials for every skill level.

2. Repurpose Creatively

Old sheets can become cleaning rags. A sweater that’s too worn for work can be cut into mittens. Even chipped mugs can serve as planters. It’s about seeing usefulness where others see “trash.”

3. Care for What You Own

Proper maintenance is half the battle. Rotating shoes so they last longer, storing coats properly during summer, or simply air-drying laundry can dramatically extend a wardrobe’s lifespan.

4. Embrace the “Capsule” Mentality

Instead of chasing trends, build a wardrobe (or household toolkit) of versatile essentials. It requires fewer purchases overall, which makes the pieces you do own worth maintaining.

5. Swap, Share, Borrow

Community-minded resourcefulness fits perfectly under this umbrella. Clothing swaps, tool libraries, or borrowing gear from friends before buying are modern spins on wartime ingenuity.

The Financial Side of “Mend”

This isn’t just philosophical—it’s math. Small acts of maintenance can add up to hundreds (even thousands) saved annually. For example:

• Extending the life of a winter coat by five years through proper storage and an occasional re-stitch saves the cost of multiple replacements.
• Polishing and re-soling leather shoes rather than buying new can cost $40 instead of $200.
• Mending denim instead of tossing it may extend its life by 2–3 years.

Add it up across your household—clothes, linens, furniture, appliances—and suddenly “Make Do and Mend” feels less like quaint nostalgia and more like budget strategy.

The Ripple Effect: Saving More Than Money

Making do and mending isn’t just a financial strategy—it’s emotional and environmental.

• Financial resilience: Repairs cost less than replacements, and the money saved can be directed to savings, debt repayment, or experiences that matter.
• Environmental relief: Every item mended is one less in a landfill.
• Emotional satisfaction: Studies show that tasks like sewing or repairing have calming, mindful benefits similar to meditation.

It’s less about frugality as punishment and more about reconnecting with a skill set that values care over convenience.

When to Mend and When to Move On

Of course, not everything can—or should—be mended. A broken appliance may be more expensive to repair than replace. A garment beyond saving becomes clutter if we cling to it for guilt’s sake.

The key is discernment:

• If the fix is low-cost and extends usability, repair it.
• If replacement is unavoidable, consider recycling, donating, or repurposing materials first.

This balance is what makes the philosophy practical rather than rigid.

Timeless Tips

• Keep a simple mending kit at home: needle, thread, scissors, and basic patches are often enough.
• Learn one new repair skill a year—zipper replacement, re-dyeing fabric, or sharpening kitchen tools.
• Before buying something new, ask: “Do I already own something that could serve this purpose with a small tweak?”
• Treat maintenance like routine care, not crisis management—oil your tools, polish shoes, wash sweaters properly.
• Celebrate visible mends: sometimes a patch adds character, not shame.

A Mindset Worth Keeping

The make do and mend mindset may have been born in a time of scarcity, but it thrives today in a world of abundance—and waste. Its value isn’t just in dollars saved, but in the independence, creativity, and resilience it fosters.

When we pause before replacing, when we patch instead of discard, we do more than save money. We honor the resources we already have. We reclaim a bit of the wisdom our grandmothers knew instinctively. And we remind ourselves that resilience isn’t old-fashioned—it’s timeless.

In the end, making do and mending isn’t just about clothing or household goods. It’s a philosophy that turns small, thoughtful actions into lasting value. And that’s a mindset worth stitching back into daily life.