Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2017

Not posted for ages. Everyone seems to be doing so well.

Still minimising the freezer. A couple of things I didn't fancy actually turned out much better than I expected. Still need to deal with a couple of trout that have been there longer than I care to remember. Not sure if they will even be edible.

Having to make a major effort to minimise the storage unit of doom. I've just realised how much it has cost me :eek:, the upshot being that I gave notice on it and need to have it emptied by next Wednesday. I work well under pressure, but this is some challenge . I'll post more on this at a less ungodly hour. It really has been an eye opener and lessons are being learned.

Keep MMMing onwards everyone.

Panda x

LizzieR wrote: »

Hope everyone is OK and no ill effects from Doris.

One of my 'slot in fence panels' got blown out and ended up smashed in my neighnours garden:eek:
Got a pal coming today to sort it out .. I hope!

Could have been worse I suppose. X

:hello:misstara – Hope it went well with the car hire today and that you got rid of lots of unwanted stuff at CS/tip. I bet when you unpack there’ll be lots of lovely things you’d forgotten about!

Well, Doris came and went yesterday but, tbh, where we are we didn’t really see much difference as it’s been wet and very windy all week – empty dustbins and UFOs flying up and down the road! But (((hugs))) to those of you who were affected. Today is bright and sunny but with a chilly wind.

Not much MMMing chez nous since Tues thanks to a dratted urinary infection. Woke on Tues am feeling fine, but by pm not fine. Little and often is sometimes a good adage, but not when it means so many visits to the loo for so little!

Drank lots of water but after 3 sleepless nights had to give in and at 8.30am today rang for a GP appointment. Didn’t expect to get one but was sat in front of GP (not mine, although by this stage I didn’t care who it was) at 10 am and 5 mins later came out clutching a script for 3 days of antibiotics. Collected from pharmacy (in Medical Centre), back home and had a quick bowl of cereal so I could take first dose. Then crashed on sofa with a pillow and throw and managed to get a couple of hours’ sleep (I’m not a happy bunny if I don’t get my quota). So, today and the weekend’s MMMing will mostly be minimising the pain and mending me.

More minimising of items out of freezer/fridge: dinner on Wed was fish pie + broccoli and Thurs was pork steak braised with onion, mushroom and apple + mash + cabbage. I normally use cod or haddock for fish pie but had bought coley to try as it was a bit cheaper. It was OK but I don’t think I will get that again as it was ... well, fishy but not in a good way. The sauce helped though as I added a teaspoon of English mustard so it had a bit of “bite”. Tonight is nice and easy – battered fish from fish shop + hm mushy peas.

I filled the vol-au-vents I baked the other day with a mixture of mayo, cream cheese and chopped hardboiled egg and we had those for lunch yesterday plus an apple each.

This weekend I will be setting up a new spreadsheet for 2017/2018 ready for when all the bills for the year ahead start to come in next month. We already know what our pension increase will be (got the letters yesterday) but somehow I don’t think there’ll be much left post-bills. So what’s new? Still, anything – even if just a little – is most welcome.

Have a good weekend all and successful MMMing to everyone. X :wave:

Evening All

Wow hasnt everyone been busy!

caronc and Lizzie - isnt it funny how satisfying shredding is. That great big fat bag to put out for the bin men!!! You just feel so virtuous!

Well done, whoever it was that lost 2 pounds - it is so hard to loose weight! I have lost half a stone since December - mostly due to being unable to drive and having to walk everywhere I think!

Well done Jackie O with your budgeting - I am doing quite well with mine - given the temptations of living with DS1 + his GF. Have got them to agree to go out only one day a week for a treat but they like to eat a meal when they are out which can be expensive (well for me £10ish is expensive!). Today we had to go out to Penzance but persuaded them to get a drink from the co-op supermarket rather than go to a coffee shop Looks as if I am going to make it with an underspend of about £20!!

So:
Mend: nowt much
Make do: - starting my new book of large stash which will then be sent to chazzer; we are sticking to meal plan that we made and have so far got 2 meals (i.e. 8 individual meals) out of one chicken and I still have stock which will become soup - not sure of what yet!!!
Minimise: bag of old blankets to local animal rescue ( a plus while we were there my son was able to pick up a form for working at the animal rescue in a paid role - it is only a mile away - whereas other jobs he has applied for are an hour away by bus). Also minimised stuff from mum's loft and have got more ready to ebay. Also went through my wardrobe and was even more ruthless and got rid of another 2 items of clothing which I hadnt worn for a year :eek: which I liked but had something slight about them which had stopped me wearing them (for example a short sleeved knitted jumper ??? Why ??? )

DS1 and GF and GDD are going to stay with my ex for the weekend - I love em but the peace and quiet will be nice (although I will still have the dogs - he lives in a flat - conveniently - can therefore not have both dogs (although one has visited before!!) Intend to put feet up and watch loads of TV I have recorded which GF doesnt like and tends to talk all the way through. I do intend tho to go through my Mum's written stuff (she got several sort stories published) and throw out copies of stuff - not an easy job - emotionally and in terms of space - need to be able to lay stuff out and not need to move it for a while. Also intend to soil myself in terms of food and not cook at lot! :rotfl:

anyway - well done all
Frugal onwards !:A

JackieO wrote: »

Good day today did some more of my charity blanket this morning and when I went to History club this afternoon, my friends husband gave me a big pot of tile grout/ adeshive so I haven't got to buy any as I only have two tiles to stick back in the bathroom Bless him I shall make him a cake next week as a thank you, I saw them at quiz night on Tuesday and he said don't buy any I have a big pot you can borrow So tomorrow morning I shall be sticking the tiles back on properly :):) another job sorted out of the way.

I think there is a lot of 'society' in your post Jackie, plus proof of the saying, "what goes round, comes round". The 'society' bit is going out and talking face-to-face with people plus I think if you are a giver type of person somehow it comes back and people give to you. And the best bit is it makes the world a much lovelier place.

Happy MMMing to all, I'm hoping to have the brain power and the enthusiasm to post an update before too long. Thankfully winter is more or less over and I am trying to get things moving here. :beer: