Most people over the age of 50, which makes up the majority of the ‘Air Raid’ or ‘Baby Boom’ generations, will remember the mantra “make do and mend”. This term, meaning “manage with whatever is available”, was first coined on a World War II propaganda slogan to try and encourage people to conserve materials by restoring items rather than replacing them.

We are obviously not going through such hardships now but this message is still as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. With predicated falls in inflation, interest rates being cut and the budgeted 2.5% drop in VAT, money is still tight and we need to think carefully about our spending habits.

Plumbs understand this mantra more than most as it’s what our business was built on. Going back 45 years or even just 20 years, disposable cheap furniture was practically unheard of. If you wanted to give your old sofa a new look or repair any damage, the cheapest alternative to buying new was to either re-cover or re-upholster your suite.

There has been a number of campaigners trying to educate people into changing their habits and come away from the throw away generation we have found ourselves becoming. One such campaigner, Barbara Warmsley, Oxfam’s Green Granny has started using the internet to try and spread the “make do and mend” message by producing a series of videos of tips and ideas for saving money and living better.

Here is the first one:

Remember “make do and mend”, don’t just throw away and buy new!