Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

vhalla1478

Good Afternoon, everyone,

I've been looking after the tribe so haven't had time to read all your posts yet; So just a quickie - the first day of the new month, larder, fridge, freezer and toiletries all stocked up. My challenge this month to see if I can go all month without spending anything at all; except maybe on the garden.

Just going to have a late lunch; DS knows better than to offer me MacDonalds, which is what they are having. Will post a couple of 'Easter' recipes later.

Viv xx

good_advice

Afternoon moneysavers

This morning after the daily washing on the line Oh and I went out.
Does anyone else say - put the washing on the line first, before we go out? I often say it.

We went in the car to the next town to take the Temper challenge.
FREE Tempur travel pillow.
Called in at Dreams and Furniture village. Tested the Temper beds and got the leaflet with valuable code on.
The code is a one time only you can use online.
The travel pillow will arrive in 10/15 days time.

BRILLIANT! I have had one of these pillows in a previous Temper challenge. Taken it on many holidays. Nothing like your own small pillow.

This afternoon I have some computer things to do.
Then HM Lasagne for dinner.
Knitting too!

vhalla1478

Oops! Forgot to say that my 'top up' in all departments yesterday, not just food but glass bottles for cordials, pyrex jug, light bulbs toiletries came to £45.40.

Viv x

frizz2

Hi Money savers! I made some apple chutney three jars with left over apples. Also, am giving away on freegle a snooker (small) table so will have my under stairs cupboard less crowded and doing someone a good turn! Also unpicked a handknit aran jumper that I will use the wool to knit an aran throw. Also making a rag rug with scraps of fabric and a hessian sack.
I am determined to use up what I have and appreciate what I have got.
Best wishes
Frizz2

cheerfulness4

You had snow kitty? :eek: I think we must have had the tornado. Everyone was putting their gardens back together again yesterday morning.

Wow Frizz, you're putting me to shame. Industrious or what! I've been lagging behind, idling away the hours pouring over gardening plans and dream up my perfect garden. I must start getting a move on.

Restocked a few essentials that I'll list later. Plan to give far more thought to my meals this month. I've loved the soups, cauli chheses and jackets because they are so inexpensive but we're craving some lighter meals now.
I made Thai Style Chicken Cakes which we had with HM wedges and salad recently and it just tasted like summer.
with all those YS lemons we got I plan some wonderful garlic, lemon and thyme flavoured meals, chicken being number one. :drool:

My new dress is now all hemmed. Got DH to assist before he went to bed.
About to make a light tea of chicken salad sandwich with some of my YS cold meat that I pulled from the freezer last night.

I'm still looking in wonder at my bag of YS peppers I got yesterday. I've never bought a black pepper before. Orange, yellow, red and green but never black. That will be different.

silvasava

Hi All.
Did a mahoosive Aldee shop yesterday. Freezer stocked for the month ( hopefully) Cheerful - very jealous of all your lovely YS bargains - I don't think I shop late enough to spot the good ones! Finally finished all the boat cushions & put them back on Monday. Hung the little curtains. & she's looking much smarter now Just hoping the wind drops to get her back in the water on Saturday. I've now got to get back into my 'routine' cos the house & garden need some urgent attention as in 'You can write in the dust but please don't date it!'
I've got sprouted potatoes in need of planting, 3 tomato plants that need to go in tubs plus all the other odds & sods that need doing.
Goodadvice Just said that to DH this morning before I pegged the jeans out!
DH & I treated ourselves to lunch at the local garden centre - we had a beautiful tasty corned beef hash done in a little pot & topped with cheese so that's something I will be doing to put in the freezer for a quick meal -I haven't had one for quite a few years!
Off to read my metres & see how much its cost us this month

cheerfulness4

Should have read our meters this morning. We do it weekly to keep an eye on what we're using.

We also say pop washing on the line before we go out. Everyone round here seems to do the same. I love seeing washing blowing on the line snd the smell of it when you bring it in is pure childhood memories of fresh sheets on the bed.
I stopped using softener a while ago because the smell was irritating my nose but I no longer miss it. Love the outdoor smell.

Well thats several cookery books fettled down. I can actually place all my books on the shelf now instead of stacking them horizontally on the tops of the others.

The kitchen now beckons for a quick sweep up and tidy then back to watching more Wartime Kitchen.
I just watched obe where she was boiling up a pigs head for brawn. Didn't make me squimish as dad was always doing this during my childhood but as I watched it boiling I noticed the bubbles rising out of its nose like a snotty toddler. Eewwww.

BTW silva, I only discovered in the last couple of months that my Morrisons reduces their fruit and veg to its lowest mid-morning. Rarely do I get a good bargain now at teatime.
Tescos is another matter. You practically have to go in your pjs to get the real bargains there as they are best after half 8.

vhalla1478

Evening All,

Not feeling 100% tonight as I think I did too much this afternoon - made two lots of soup, two lots of cordials (I had to play with my new bottles, didn't I?) and two lots of main courses .... and then there was all the washing up and I sorted out the pantry and decanted all the new dry goods into my glass jars etc.

I have had a bit of a light bulb moment though and am going to write down in my diary when I open a new pack of butter, a bottle of shampoo etc so that I can get a handle on how long these things are lasting me.

Here's a nice, light salad now that Spring is on the way - although it's still perishing here in spite of the sunshine.

Chicken and Blueberry Salad serves 4

2 chicken breast fillets, tbsp. groundnut oil, tsp dried oregano, 70grams blanched almonds, 100 grams mixed salad leaves, 150 grams blueberries, 150 grams feta cheese, crumbled.

For the Dressing

1 orange, juice and zest only, tsp wholegrain mustard, 2 tbsp. groundnut oil.

Heat the oven to 200 degrees/gas 6. Brush the chicken with oil and sprinkle with oregano, then roast for 20 minutes until cooked through. Add the almonds for the last 5 minutes. Toss the mixed leaves with the blueberries, cooked almonds and feta and pile onto plates. Cut the chicken into thin diagonal slices and scatter over the leaves. Whisk the dressing ingredients together and drizzle over the salad. Serve at once.


I'm dripping all over my computer ; in the middle of typing this out my DB has just phoned from the Czech Republic - the signal is lousy here and I had to stand just outside the lobby in the pouring rain to hear him - anyway, things are hopefully progressing to some sort of conclusion at least, so will just have to be a little patient; this is a testing time.

I'll post another recipe in the morning when I should feel a bit better.

Howmuch, I do hope your DH is progressing ok.

Right, an early night for me.

Viv xxx

misstara

We had snow here today, it snowed on and off for most of the day but has all disappeared now. It's bitterly cold and I can't wait to get home and into my pjs. Just finished a 14hr shift so not much to report. My colleague brought in needles and wool for me so I had another wee go at knitting.

Living_proof

vhalla1478 wrote: »

Evening All,



I have had a bit of a light bulb moment though and am going to write down in my diary when I open a new pack of butter, a bottle of shampoo etc so that I can get a handle on how long these things are lasting me.

Well done vh, I have been doing this with toiletries and toothpaste, etc. for a while now. I am amazed just how long some things last so I wonder where some of my money really goes. I thought I was getting a bit over zealous in my MSE things, but it seems really sensible to see one's consumption (but not maybe the red wine!). We are nearly neighbours as well, as I live on the edge of that really Sunny place in your location!