Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

Make Do: Learning to make home made vegetable stock, having been inspired by this forum. I am resisting buying a large stock pot. Or at least resisting buying, until I know whether stock will become a stock recipe for me Will try making smaller quantities first, which will fit in pans I already own.....but new pan is so shiny....aargh.

Mend: Lovely fine wool cardi, now consigned to the 'house only' pile due to age, took it out after summer to discover the aftermath of a carpet beetle's stroll, leaving nibble holes down one sleeve. Darned but only wearing until the 2017 clothes budget kicks in. Buttons are lovely though so will keep those.

Minimise: Working through our already owned book pile, rather than buying more, and donating any which don't grab me in the first few pages. Many of these came free from a 'please take any you want' clear out when our community centre was being redecorated.

Hi everyone
I read this thread a lot but never post, but today is the day! I have been doing a lot of minimising over the past couple of years; I moved back home to live with my parents after having to leave uni for health reasons. I had to bag up my entire life in London and stick it in the attic or under my bed.

I have gradually been getting rid of all my surplus things and have recently had the mother of all clear-outs! I have decided to move to Austria to be with my partner, and want to leave nothing behind at my parents' house as I don't think this is fair.

So, my boyfriend helped me get all my things out of the attic and we went through every single thing that I own. I decided to be very selective about what I'm keeping as the flat in Austria is tiny and he already has most things we need in terms of kitchen equipment; I did keep a few bits and bobs that I want over there (he's not really into cooking so lacks of a few of the items I use regularly).

I couldn't believe how much stuff there was, but it actually didn't take to long to sort through and now our porch is full to bursting with things for the charity shop (after my sister has had a look through of course!).

The reason I had so much stuff in the first place is that I worked in a CS when I was in London - worst job for a hoarder ever! The other problem I had was that I had brought back a lot of 'specialist' food that just didn't get used once I had boxed it up. I tried to give it away on Freecycle/Streetbank or put it in the food bank bins at the supermarket, but anything that was open had to just be binned. I felt so guilty that I ended up just ignoring it and most things just went stale/rancid and I had to bin it anyway. I managed to feed quite a lot of bits to our chickens, and the rest went of the compost heap so luckily not in the bin.

I also got rid of a lot of paperwork, scanning everything that was important and recycling the rest. It's amazing how easy it is to hoard bits of paper, and how much you can accumulate in a short space of time...

I feel brilliant now , knowing that I have cleared out about 95% of all of my things and that someone else will be able to use them. The thought of making a 'fresh start' in Austria is amazing too - we are going to redecorate and really make it fee like a new flat

Sorry for the essay, I just really wanted to share my achievement with someone and this seemed like the perfect place! So thanks

Austria or Australia ?? Where ever you go ,don't be a stranger we are all only a click away on your computer

Enjoy your new life and let us know how you are getting on
Good Luck


JackieO xx

Homerdog, I enjoyed reading about your day.

Made do with Slow cooker and microwave as my cooktop has been torn out in the remodel. I discovered that cornbread can be cooked in the microwave.
Minimized stuff in fridge when I made soup in the SC. Very good flavor.
No mending done.

It seems ages since I have posted so today's the day....

Mend
Pair of trousers needed a repaired hem

Make Do
I have discovered a recipe for Chinese Chicken and Mushroom which my OH rates as better than the local takeaway (does that count?)

Planting out all my violas that have self-seeded themselves throughout my garden

Back to emptying the freezer following my first Muscle Food order

Minimise
Three small containers finished in the bathroom this morning. I am determined to reduce all those little shampoos and body wash that return from hotels along with the freebie testers too

Weeds!!!

A beautiful Fairy Book/Jigsaw to one of the trolley lads at ASDA. Various other bits to another one of them.

Pond, various plants and bits to someone who is making a wildflower garden for a lady in her 90s

My garden is still looking very good although I have noticed a couple days when there was almost a frost in the mornings.

I need to pack my greenhouse to preserve as many of my plants as I can.

Have a lovely weekend MMM-ers
Pauline