Americans have lived in a culture built on convenience and disposability for decades. But a recent survey found 80% of adults in the United States want to take better care of what they own and even fix it themselves.
From appliances to electronics, fixing what we own is becoming the new normal. It’s reshaping how Americans think about value. Photo credit: Depositphotos.
For generations, when something broke, Americans’ default was to replace, not repair. In 2026, that reflex shifts to a fix-first mindset to offset the damages of that perspective and make up for higher prices and lower incomes.
Inflation continues to squeeze household budgets, landfills overflow and new right-to-repair laws expand nationwide. Now, more Americans embrace a fix-first mindset, choosing to mend, restore and extend the life of the things they already own.
The shift begins
The trend is part economic, part cultural and part practical. Replacement costs for appliances, electronics and even basic household goods continue to rise. Durability has declined across many product categories, and many consumers have grown frustrated with items that fail quickly or cannot be opened without special tools.
At the same time, laws in states such as California, New York and Minnesota now require manufacturers to provide access to parts, manuals and repair information, empowering more people than ever to attempt repairs on their own.
What to repair?
More everyday products become repair friendly as new laws take hold. In some states, those rules now cover appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, mixers and microwaves, giving consumers the option to replace a single component instead of the entire unit.
Power tools, lawn equipment and medical devices also begin to fall under right-to-repair rules. This change widens the range of items that can stay in use longer rather than ending up in a landfill.
Social DIY
Social media trends reflect the same shift in mindset. DIY repair tutorials on YouTube continue to surge, teaching everything from appliances to zippers and everything in between. If you want to fix a problem, you can probably find the answer you’re looking for there.
On TikTok, users share videos of fixing old sewing machines, reconditioning cast-iron pans or replacing worn-out bearings on decades-old washing machines. Not only will you find how-to-fix tutorials, but also how-things-work and how-to-repair-clothes videos. The breadth and width of ways to make do are astonishing.
Repair shops
Can’t find what you need online? No worries because you can find answers in real life, too. Repair cafes, where community volunteers help residents fix items for free, are happening around the country. If you can move it, chances are good that you can get hands-on help repairing it.
Tool libraries, once rare, now appear in neighborhoods from Alaska to Pennsylvania. Some are subscription based, where you pay a small fee to participate in borrowing, while some are completely free, community-based models that allow for free use of tools.
The money of it all
Economics drives much of this momentum. With prices on the rise for essentials such as food, rent and gas, replacement just isn’t feasible in many cases. Repairing an item, or at least trying to fix it before replacing it, is an option.
If you can repair it yourself or have someone help you, the money saved can be spent on replacing things that aren’t fixable. That can make the shell game of budgeting a little less intimidating. Less money spent on replacing things that should last longer than the bills means more money for things consumers want and need, like a roof over their head and food.
Reclaiming a sense of power
The fix-first mindset isn’t just about saving money; it’s also about reclaiming the sense of ownership and control in an era when things often feel locked down, disposable or intentionally difficult to mend. Advocates say repairing strengthens local economies, reduces waste and teaches skills that were once considered ordinary household knowledge.
At a time and in a country increasingly aware of overconsumption, hands-on upkeep offers something rare: a pause and a moment of agency. It’s a reminder that not everything has to be replaced.
As 2026 progresses, the fix-first mindset will become less of a trend and more of a norm. Americans aren’t just repairing their things; they are redefining what it means to own them. With people learning from new sources such as DIY social media and from old favorites like repairmen and our grandparents, the fix-first mindset is here to stay.
Laura Sampson is the writer behind Little Frugal Homestead. She and her husband, Jack, are two Gen-Xers living in a 90-year-old farmhouse in Alaska. They keep chickens and honeybees, and grow a garden and small orchard; their dream is to live well within their means on their little piece of land.
The post The fix-first mindset takes hold in 2026 appeared first on Food Drink Life.
