Items that Might Not be Broken but Should be Replaced

True, if something’s not broken, there’s not really a need to fix it, but at the same time, that doesn’t mean we should forget about maintenance. From cars to roofing, here are a few things to keep an eye on that just might be financially smarter to replace. 

Car

In the case of a car, if you’re spending more on repairs than your car is currently worth, don’t wait until it completely breaks down before purchasing a new car. We understand dropping a couple thousand overnight isn’t possible for everyone, but taking into account the current value of an aging car plus repairs, it might be better to opt for a new car. When shopping around for a new car, consider one with better fuel efficiency to increase savings down the road. Dave Ramsey’s blog has a post dedicated to deciding whether it’s better to repair or replace your car, and even includes tips and suggestions for both routes of repairing or replacing.

Mattress

It’s a common mistake to overlook the importance of sleep and with that, the importance of our mattresses. The average person spends about one third of their life sleeping which means the mattresses we use are our more immediate home for a third of our lives and they need maintenance. The Sleep Help Institute offers seven signs for tossing your old mattress and investing in a new one. As for what to do with your old mattress, Earth911 offers four options, but you can also see if there’s a mattress recycling facility near you, such as Bye Bye Mattress.

Roof

For the homeowners out there, heads up, your roof might need repairs. The roof may not always be top of mind, so here’s a reminder to check up on that protective cover overhead. Beth Kaufman from Good Housekeeping created a list of eight signs to look out for, including curling shingles, missing shingles, shingles with algae, and the worst one yet, a sagging roof. Shingling an entire roof will certainly be costly, but compared to the potentially damage (leaks, caving, etc), it would be a smart investment to keep your roof in good condition and replace when necessary. 

Appliances

While appliances may not take us places like cars do, they’re also due for maintenance from time to time. Once they extend past their life expectancy, though, it might be time to start looking into a new appliance. Susan Johnson Taylor breaks down the suggested thresholds for repairing or replacing appliances in this U.S. News article. (The article also contains information for cars and clothing.) In this Washington Post article by Elisabeth Leamy, you can find the average lifespan of common household appliances as well as a few signs it’s time to replace rather than repair.

Light bulbs and smoke detectors

The next time a lightbulb goes out, consider trying an LED or “Energy Star” rated bulbs instead of conventional bulbs. This not only saves money, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but also helps the environment. As for smoke detectors, Safe Clinics suggests replacing them every ten years or, at the very least, run regular tests on your smoke alarms for fairly obvious safety reasons. Emergencies and accidents can strike anytime, anywhere, and maintaining the tools that help alert us of emergencies is an extremely smart investment.

Toothbrush

It might seem like a ploy of consumerism to change your toothbrush every three months, but there are health benefits to regular dental hygiene. From frayed bristles that don’t do the job well anymore to potential fecal matter on your toothbrush if in a communal bathroom (as explained by Joanie Faletto in this article on Curiosity), changing your toothbrush early and often will help the overall health of your teeth and gums.

From costly replacements to smaller replacements such as toothbrushes, we hope the suggestions shared here can help you make smart financial decisions regarding repairing or replacing items around your home.