Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Snorkypants

I’m noticing that when I MMM I seem to circulate the same things around in different ways each time.

As an example, years ago I broke the beaded straps on a bag, I replaced them with wide ribbon which was a bit scruffy and uncomfortable. So, a couple of weeks ago I decide to make new fabric straps for the bag. When I got the bag out of the drawer it was right next to a drawstring bag intended to hold my leather bag when not in use. I’ve never used it for this purpose; it’s just been sat in the drawer. But, I noticed that it was the perfect colour to go with the broken bag so I chopped it up to make the straps and it worked perfectly.

I washed and kept the ribbons that had previously been used as straps. This weekend my Mum bought round an old duvet cover and I chopped it up and used half to make two huge drawstring bags to hold the spare duvets. And, for the drawstring part I used the ribbons that I had saved from my bag.

It kind of reminds me of the KonMari thing of not buying any new storage because you already have what you need. Every time I need something I find I already have it, in one form or another. Has anyone else found this?

I have a few spare pillow cases so I will be looking them over to check they are unmarked and not to see through and then turning them into dresses for this project:


http://sewscrumptious.blogspot.co.uk/p/pillowcase-dress-info.html

Hopefully I’ll do that this weekend.

cheerfulness4

Hi all,
I'm fine, Viv. I pulled my shoulder if anything but only left me a little sore for a day or two. I've been quietly reading along, just a bit preoccupied in the last few days.
A friend was in a serious RTA and news has been scanty but today I've heard things are beginning to look a little more positive for him so I'm very hopeful for his family now.


I've done absolutely no MM&Ming for days. In fact I've even been shopping twice for bits without bothering what it cost. I know I spent just under £10 each time but I'm not concerned about that at the moment.
We treated ourselves to a decent ham joint for salads and sandwiches and some nice ice cream and waffle cornets.
Someone said on here that if you don't allow yourself a treat or two when needed you'd probably derail from challenges and I decided that was indeed the case for us this week.
Its nearly the end of the month so I chose to have 2 days of relaxing the budget. It's probably cost us £20, in fact more because we had a takeaway, but its fine. We can afford it and I'm days away from May and my new budget.


I can't say I bought anything sensible to stock my freezer. Nopey, it was all treats. Good ham, lots of YS fruit without watching the pennies. I had such a hankering for grapes and bananas. Cheese was another thing. Tesco does a very nice Wensleydale with Mango and Ginger. I got £1's worth and DH had £1.60's worth of Wensleydale with Orange and Chocolate.


I must stop thinking of food. I'm supposed to be dropping some lbs for summer but I seem to be one that eats her troubles away. Think I best make myself a nice cup of tea and stop thinking about cheese.

nursemaggie

Certainly agree with you about the treats cheerfulness4. I think the same applies to losing weight being too strict just makes you give up.

I was happily losing about 2 k a month since November but I put 2 k on. Think I must have had too many treats.

misstara

Hope your friend is ok cheerfulness. Also agree regarding the treats, if you're super frugal all the time, it can get a bit boring - definitely need a treat now and again.

I have had a fairly relaxing day today. I went up to the doctors for blood test results, not coeliac thankfully but the tests did flag up low iron levels so I've to up my intake of red meat and green veg. OH is already dreaming of steak for tea most nights :rotfl: I have done a little bit of cleaning but mostly have just sat and read my book. OH is making currently making tea tonight so continuing to sit with my feet up.

vhalla1478

Evening All,

I've only just got in and going round to DS and DDil in a quarter of an hour or so to pick up my stash. I spent the afternoon with a friend in Louth after my dental appointment. So will try and post a recipe tonight but if not I promise I'll catch up tomorrow.

I've had a successful day round the shops. I bought a matching kingsize Dorma duvet cover, valanced sheet, pillow cases and cushions for £15 from one charity shop - a present for DDil as she has sold yet another of my dresses on eBay for £55 and I also found an Ehrman half-finished tapestry kit on a frame with the wool for £10 - I was umming and ahhing -do I want yet another project, meanwhile DDil was googling it and it cost £170 new - so I bought it. We then went to the local antiques centre and I found a nineteenth century hand sewn, framed Chinese silk embroidery, which should have cost around £100 plus which I got for £9. So I'm feeling that today was a good day and no consumer guilt!

Good for you, Cheerfulness, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed your treats, and may you have a lot more in the future. and welcome, mumto2boys, nice to have you along.

Right I'm off for coffee and to collect my stash!

Have a good evening, Folks,

Viv xx

vulpix

Evenin all.
The quilt is very MMM nothing new in it all ,scraps of fabric from clothes of mine and the kids,curtains iv'e made and even some of my Grandads shirt.I did buy the backing,a 70's looking duvet for £2.
I love making things but on the cheap.
My Mum gave me a little white mat that she crocheted years ago.I picked up a square frame from the charity shop for 99p it looks so effective.
We took a car full of broken pots and general rubbish to the tip.I bought a bag of compost from the tip and will repot Mums plants in the better pots when the weather is better.She did well as she doesn't like getting rid of stuff the original MMM but it does come in useful as she always has just what I am looking for.
Op been put back to late afternoon which is better for us.Mr V starts work very early so he will be able to take me now.
Take care Vx

nursemaggie

vulpix hope everything goes OK tomorrow.

Lynplatinum

Evening all

Cheerfulness - glad you are OK - its amazing how someone close to us can affect eating and self discipline in general isnt it ? When any thing happens to someone close to me or I am upset or dont want to do something - its always chocolate I turn to (which explains my overweight!). this doesnt help the budget at all as I dont like cheap choccy except for Kit Kats!! But we are all entitled to treats now and then and, we are all entitled to be upset as well! Without the downs we would not understand the ups and be able to count our blessings. Hope your friend gets better soon. Meanwhile spoil yourself with whatever you need - for me its a good movie or book or long bath! I am sure you ll be back on the MM&M bandwagon soon :-)

Welcome Mumof2boys - I also had two boys - so I totally get the lego and socks reference!! Lego is finally not on the floor and crippling me when I tread on it - but they left home about 7 years ago (that was after return visits/staying for a year or so! for various reasons) they are now 32 and 28. PS house no longer smells of socks - but lego still lurks in the attic!!!

All folks with teeth issues and ops - hope they go well!

MM&M report - well did my shopping a day late - £7.38 in L!dil - 2 bags full to carry home! And then went to A!di on my way to a student cos they have their Super 6 offer on and it included - sweet potatoes; butternut squash; and mushrooms which I love (46p each) Also bought some of their streaky bacon (cos it looked very lean - I hate fatty bacon) and decided to try some of their Red Leicester cheese as it was on offer (turns out v nice!) spent £4.99. So over £10 budget by £2.37 BUT this will be compensated for next week because I wont need any veg, bacon or cheese!

Bad news had to have central locking door motor on car replaced £75 :eek: Good news: had got enough + in my 'car account' This is a building society account into which I Direct Deb £30 a month for car expenses (not including insurance). Phew thank goodness that money is there is all I can say!!!

MM&M even then cos my friend who owns the garage found me a second hand motor :-) Bless him - someone told me it could have cost £200 + :eek:
Friends are wonderful :A
Nite all

GreyQueen

Lynplatinum, my Dad had one of those motors replaced earlier this month and it was £220 so you're friend has done you a real favour there!

The alarm clock has stayed glued together. It's a little digital alarm clock which had been sent flying off the beside shelf one time too many and the flap which holds the wee batteries inside wouldn't stay down. Even with tape, it wouldn't hold the batteries down well enough to keep them on the contacts. So I have glued the flap down and it's all good now.

Nipped into a couple of supermarkets on the way back from archery last night and got 2 pkts of nice seeded rolls at 13p each but otherwise drew a blank on YS bargains, but I was still pleased. I'm easily-pleased by simple things, I reckon.:rotfl:

Going to be working the day job again, as fast as we do it, it keeps on coming. Have a good day, folks.

vulpix

Since leaving work I miss the day to day chatter,so it's so nice for me to catch up with lovely people if only virtually.Be back tomorrow Vx