In a post on Reddit, one Redditor said they went to their grandfather's home to repair his television instead of replacing it — a fix that cost 30 euros, took about two hours, and gave the family time to work and learn together.
For anyone tired of throwaway culture, it's a reminder that sometimes the most affordable upgrade is keeping what already works.
Here's what to know
The job took about two hours, and the part cost much less than a new TV.
The benefits went beyond the savings.
"We repaired it with my SO and my father. It was such a good time; it made us spend time together," the original poster wrote.
One commenter congratulated, "Hell yeah! Good for you!"
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A successful repair can mean avoiding breaking the bank on a new product while also preventing another bulky electronic item from ending up in the trash.
More background
Part of the reason for fixing this particular TV was that the grandfather already preferred the one he had. As the OP explained, "We could have just bought a new one, but he's so used to this one, we thought it was worth repairing it."
They also added, "I used to repair and diagnose faults in electronics for a living." In that same follow-up comment, they encouraged people to consider do-it-yourself fixes when appropriate: "If you're DIYing the repair and it's not a broken panel, a lot of TV repairs can absolutely be worth doing if you're willing to learn."
That can be especially true when the problem involves a replaceable component. As the OP put it, "A $20–$100 board, backlight, fuse, capacitor, etc. can be considerably cheaper than buying another TV."
Repairs can also preserve products that people already know and like, while reducing the setup time, added expense, and waste that often come with replacing them.
What can be done?
Before assuming a broken TV is beyond saving, it may be worth checking whether the issue is tied to a replaceable part, such as a backlight or board.
If not, a local repair shop or a knowledgeable friend may still be able to make the repair worthwhile.
The OP argued that people should at least look into a fix before giving up on a broken set. "I'd even go as far as saying that in many cases, it's definitely worth trying to fix it yourself since it's usually just a question of figuring out which part doesn't work and replacing it with a new or used one."
"I love seeing this," another commenter said. "Work was tossing a 70" Sony TV because some backlights were bad. No one wanted it, so I took it home. $50 and three hours of mentoring my son, and we have it working perfectly again."
"Nice! I still got my Sony Bravia from 2015 that once was from my parents," yet another person wrote. "It is still going strong till this day."
For the family in the original post, the repair ended on a high note. "It wasn't easy, but it was very rewarding to repair it instead of buying a new one," the OP said. "My granddad was so happy when we turned the TV back on!"
Where can I learn more?
Keeping a television out of the trash is one example of an important habit: getting more use out of things that still have life left in them. From curbside finds to everyday low-waste habits, these articles show how a little extra effort can save money and keep useful items in circulation.
• In one local neighborhood, someone rescued a vinyl record collection before garbage day.
• For many households, saving money and time is reason enough to cut waste.
• Experienced thrifters know that turning bargains into clutter quickly wipes out the savings.
The more often people fix or reuse something before tossing it out, the more money they save and the longer those materials stay in use.
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