Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

nursemaggie wrote: »

My freezer does that too why is it that I take frozen veg for two out of three bags and I can't get any of the bags back in again. It is nearly two weeks since I had the big shop in the market. I know I still had some frozen chips when I did that shop. We have eaten them since but I can't buy any more chips there is no room.

What ever we have eaten since I went to market came out of the freezer so why can I not get anything else in yet?

I am so glad it's not just me, was thinking that I was uniquely unable to manage a 50 litre tabletop freezer. I put less in than I take out and it still seems to be rammed.

I do know from experience that I will reach a tipping point and it will suddenly start to show fresh air inside.

Actually, now I am thinking of it, I reckon I should have the contents out and defrost the beggar. There's at least one block of frozen cheddar in there and I'm out of cheddar, plus I need to familiarise myself with some of the contents again. I may even make a list.:rotfl:

If I'm not back within the hour, can someone send a hunky mountain rescue type. Personal preferences are; at least 6 ft 2, wavy dark hair and blue eyes...........

ETA; well, freezer all defrosted, it's a fast job with such a small freezer. I have taken out one block of cheddar and a pie and there was still a problem getting it all back inside. I'm still good for HG runner beans and a few broad beans and quite a lot of the blackcurrant crop, even though I eat them several times a week. I think the allotment pixies must be secretly restocking the freezer from the Narnia-side entrance.

I now have a list which is mainly comprised of HG veg, HG fishcakes, breaded pollock (got a pollocking good offer on it a coupla months ago) plus another block of cheddar. Not to mention the blackcurrants, which are lush frozen and an excellent pick-me-up if feeling a bit jaded.

And breathe. I am now a woman at peace with her domestic duties. Or at least I would be if every pan and pot wasn't in need of dishwashing. I could just throw a grenade in there, it might be the easier way out............so many crime thrillers to read and so little time and inclination for kitchen duties, sigh.

meritaten wrote: »

in my case - the 'freezer always full' problem is because

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I WILL put leftovers into bags to freeze them 'just in case'. every now and then I have a 'cull' and throw them all out. its hard, and it breaks my heart to dump that ladleful of good beef gravy - or that chicken wing.......or the lamb bone that's been in there for a good few years waiting to be turned into stock.but it has to be done! it just feels like I am cutting my safety net up!

From one of Don Aslett's decluttering books, I took away his idea that we tend to use storage spaces like lofts, garages and sheds as 'seasoning cellars' for our debatable Stuff. You know, the Stuff we can't quite decide what to do with, so we stash it whilst we think about it. And mostly forget about it.

I reckon your freezer is serving the same function for your leftover stash, to alleviate the guilt of Wastefulness. Only you end up having a periodic clean sweep and then experience all the pent-up Wastefulness at once, which is bound to make anyone feel a bit pants.

Don't exactly know the answer to this one, but we did have a family custom when I was growing up of the 'scratch meal' which was when we didn't have enough of anything for all four of us to have the same dish, so we'd finish up 2-3 things in the one meal. Maybe you could instigate a weekly scratch supper and aim to do something creative with the gleanings?

Good morning everyone, I too seem to have a bottomless freezer.I have now stopped buying anything frozen at all until at least Easter in the hope I may see some gaps appear in the blessed drawers.

As I have been shopping from my cupboards as well I am very slowly working my way through 4 double cupboards of tinned foods and packages. This will be ongoing I think until mid summer as I do seem to have far too much stuff in there.

I realised that when I get my Aldee £5.00 off voucher at the end of the month I have been using it once I finished getting what I needed by getting stuff for the store cupboards ,hence to stockpile of stuff in the cupboards of long-dated tins and packacge.So this month although my neighbour very kindly gives me the voucher I shall pass it on to someone else as I will only be piling up more stuff in the stores.
I have a stash of 12 tins of baked beans for goodness sake and I may only use one -two a month !!!!So this month its definites no extra stuff and only essential (help I have run out of it )stuff I am going to buy and see if I can bring the cupboards down that way.

Looking at it I was wondering yesterday how much in cash is actually sitting there doing nothin and I am buying even more to just sit in the cupboards.So now I am firmly NOT BUYING ANYTHING I don't need this month. If I have one in the cupboard then thats all I need. My friend is always amazed that the cupboards are still attached to the walls they are so crammed full.

My freezer top drawer can just about open and as for the bottom one well who knows what is lurking in there .So for the next month at least virtually all my shopping apart from anything I have run out Fresh fruit and veg) of will be coming from my kitchen. I think I will have some interesting meals on the menu.
I will be making do and minimising my food store and mending my ways from squirreling stuff away in case of an intending apocalypse :):)

Morning all!


It is bright but cold here....but almost warm enough that I might consider sorting through some clothes this weekend. I have been losing weight - and really need to look at some of my tee-shirts for summer...I think I should be able to wear most of them, it doesn't really matter if they are somewhat 'baggy' (I'm still 'obese' and loose always looks better than clingy on me...and my HFA means I don't like clothes too tight - my skin is hypersensitive)


I only have a 'small' freezer...two drawers and an icebox. It DOES fill up rather quickly! I like to think I am quite good at keeping track of what is in there and using it up fairly quickly.....One of the main issues is that I bake my own bread, slice it (well, Mum slices it for me!) and freeze it in small portions..one loaf can mean half a freezer drawer of bread!


I have recently done a check of my food cupboards (I have 2 small cupboards)...and made sure that I have all tins with date codes ending soon near the front, so they will be used up.


I need to spend a little time making Mum's card and finishing off her knitted daffs/narcissi. Hope that will be done this afternoon...deadline will be tomorrow!


Off now to wash up and get ready to go across to Mum's for coffee. A friend of hers brought her a packet of Nairns Ginger Oatcakes as a gift yesterday...I think it is my daughterly duty to go and help her sample them!

:wave:Good morning

I am getting ichy fingers to turn the CH off, it is still cold in the evenings though.

Make do = I have cut out the card activities from thr "Little Dish" meals for when my small (5yrs) visitor comes around.

Minimize = Using x2 diffrent colour DK wool to knit a stripy cardi for a grand baby. Saves going to the shops to splash the cash on wool of the one colour for an Easter cardi.
Knitting in yellow and white stripes.

Baking a cake later when the oven is on for dinner = filling oven space :A.

Very chuffed to use £9.50 in cupons @ Tesco this week.
All helps with the food bill.

Used voucher codes for photo mugs, cards and flowers (gifts)

Right! off to hang the washing on the line...

Onwards....