The idea of Making it in America today often just means saving money, however we can. And since Americans are notorious for buying and keeping tons of things they don't really need, most of us probably have something sitting around the house that doesn't work anymore. Maybe it's a lamp that won't turn on, or a toaster that seems to only burn the bread. Well, there's now a new alternative to just tossing those old electronics in the trash.

It's called a fix-it clinic. Think of it as an emergency room for your stuff.  A fix-it clinic is a place where you can take your electronics to give them new life -- and the best part is it's free. Three years ago, a former journalist and new mom in the Netherlands was fed up with Europe's throw-away culture. So she set up a place where people could bring things to get fixed for free, instead of tossing them in the trash.

That idea is now taking hold across this country. During a time when so many Americans are struggling to make ends meet, this new trend is saving people money and building communities at the same time.

So what is a fix-it clinic really like? We sent our own Chris Welch to a clinic in Minneapolis to find out!