Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

cheerfulness4

When do you next go out on the boat, Silva?

I'll take a piccie of my sandals and show you when the lights good. I'm never going to shut up about them, am I?
It'll be like me harping on about my knickers all the time at the beginning of this thread.
Which reminds me, the tumble dryer been at it again and a couple of pairs need attention.

Hoipolloi

I'm in the fortunate position of having no debt, but as I am trying to save an emergency fund and have considerable monetary outgoings that I am committed to for the next two years, I am inclined to make-do and mend where possible, as for the minimising, well I give lots away and have a lot more to give away, when I get through sorting it all. The sorting takes time and effort though, and i come up short in the effort department, partly through lack of inclination, but for the most part, through circumstances.

Yesterday I sorted a part of my wardrobe and have minimised some of my clothing, alas, not by label size, but at least in giving some more clothing to charity. Have put items aside to donate when next able to.

Lynplatinum

Evening All

Welcome new folks such a friendly bunch on here!!! Plus Viv's truely wonderful recipes!! The latest biscuits sound tooooo wonderful - they must surely be illegal!! They certainly are on my trying to loose weight campaign!! I will save the recipe - for future visitors of course!! (OK which of you said 'yeah - right!!???) :rotfl:

Well spending food wise is still going well - it is amazing how much you can find to eat for so little!!! However entertainment budget is not doing so well!!! Last weekend it was Status Quo (£20 for food + booze + travel £14 BUT then £25 for t-shirt in moment of madness!!! I ve got loads of t-shirts - did not need one more and at that an expensive one! GRRR). This weekend am going on a beer tasting trip and will need to buy food out - so at least another £20!! Plus meeting up with an old friend for coffee!!! (minimum £5) Plus normal 'curry nite' (which was tonight £7.50).. Oh dear!! (Total for month = £121.50 :eek: ) May is also booked with expensive things such as another trip out + my other son's birthday!!! Madness! Yet I dont want to miss out! This might not seem a lot to most people but it is for me. Suggestions folks??

Must get off my arras and sell some of the carp on E--b@y! Martins e-mail this week about selling on there should inspire me! Also I have surveys I could do to fund this 'wild' rock n roll lifestyle. Also have just had the e-mail from the energy saving MSE team to say that I could save more than £10 per month by energy swapping !!!! (Just that alone, by the end of the year would pay back the April madness )

Right! I know what I am up to tomorrow! thanks for bearing with my rambling on folks - any more money making ideas folks? (remembering that @ the moment I am time poor)

All suggestions appreciated

vulpix

Hello everybody,I'm back!Everything is fine,over with at last.

We sold the house.I am having a lazy day today,writing lists.Just need some grown up children and partners to do my bidding,mwahahaha.The plan is to sell 2 of the bedrooms furniture then empty the contents of the loft into there.I think 99% belongs to the kids and MrV.There are some things of mine that will have to move to the next loft,a baby chair that my Grandad made for my Mum and a cradle that my Mum made for my kids.
There is a cot that Grandad made for me in Mums's loft but that can stay there.To be honest I am not completely sure what is up there but I am up for getting rid of a lot of my stuff.The house is pretty sparse really but the shed and garage yikes,again not my stuff is packed to the roof.I have been getting rid of stuff since I gave up work a year ago but there does not seem to be any more room.We had 2 trucks to move us here,I am hoping we only have 1 to move out.Any tips?I have been saving bubble wrap since we put the house up for sale last year,I can send Mr V to the supermarket for banana boxes on his way home from work.I have marker pens.Could you all come round and help me? We have drinks cabinet that needs drinking as we get it as gifts all the time and we don't drink.I gave someone a sack of plant pots on freecycle a couple of days ago and they brought beer that their husband makes at a local micro brewery.

Spending money.Time with friends and family is precious and cutting back elsewhere is worth it in my opinion.If it takes a little longer to pay off debts,so what.When my children were small I think I was too frugal to the detriment of friendships.I was so scared of the debt my husband left me with that I went overboard with being tight.I never went out and turned down invitations.Now I no longer go to work I find that I have a lot of aquaintances but no close friends.I have tried inviting people round but never get an invite back and I have started voluntary work and joined a patchwork group but so far have only made more aquantances.there is one lady at patchwork who I think could become a friend.:)
It is so important to have new clothes sometimes and a treat out.Vx

villagelife

It is hard to make friends and generally takes time. A really good friend of mine was for about 2 or3 years just an acquaintance and then we became really good friends.

I've been ploughing through paperwork for a couple of days and shredding everything I can. The stuff left is now sorted and tidy in file boxes.
The seeds are gowing and if all the tomatoes continue then thats all we'll eat later in the year!

vhalla1478

Morning folks,

Welcome, Bubblemum. Just a quickie this morning (who am I kidding) as DS is taking me to see my poorly friend after the school run.

I totally agree with vulpix that time with friends and family is more precious than finances - and yes, vulpix, I'll volunteer to help you - I'm a whizz at packing having moved umpteen times in my life and packing and unpacking precious items for antiques fairs.

Lynn, I've been thinking about your remarks whilst getting ready this morning. I believe you are self-employed? If you do your own books, great, if you can't or don't have time, never employ an accountant - they only pass it on to one of their minions - if you must have someone do your books, find a book keeper - cheaper and they will tell you all the little secrets you need to know to keep the tax man at bay. If you need any further help pm me - always happy to help another MMMer!

Also, scrutinise, when you have time, your direct debits with an extra beady eye - make sure there's nothing that shouldn't be there. And your mobile phone - are you paying more than you should or can afford? I've had a mobile since they first came out and were the size of a house brick and always had a contract - I shudder to think how much I've spent over the years. I'm now with giffgaff and pay £10 per month, for unlimited texts, 400 odd minutes - but I think some of mine is carried over and bits for email, internet etc - there are all sorts of packages with them. My phone works just as well as it did when I was paying £40 plus per month. I think your strength is that you are aware of your spending and that will keep it under control. I love treats and going out, but with a limited income I have to say what do I want most -I don't need umpteen cups of coffee and I've calculated that cutting down will save me around £150 a year - mad, isn't it?

Cheerfulness - dying to see a picture of your sparklies - must fly, haven't got my heels on yet and my hair looks like an explosion in a mattress factory. Have a good day, All. Speak later.

Viv xx

good_advice

Good morning Moneysavers
Pinch punch first day of the month and white elephants said 3 times:rotfl:

It is bank holiday weekend and the going out attractions are being shoved in our faces.
Our local Radio station is promoting Legoland every few songs.
I looked on the web. A large cost of over £100 EK!
To take the grandbabies.
The local animal farm is £50 +
Then there is the gift shop and cafe to walk past.

Not on your nelly are they getting our cash.
I have organised a famly walk to feed the ducks/swings and home for a family BQ. Games in the garden.
These grandbabies need shelter, food and clothes before any profit making attractions. Family life is about spending time together.

A DD has already been round with the family's wet washing for our outside line. Open front door, dump wet washing and off to work. The same at the end of the day with dry washing.
Helping family is important to us.

Yesterday, I had a lazy, happy afternoon sunbathing on our sofa in the conservatory. It got to 100C.
It is a big change to the long cold winter, trying to keep warm.

This morning, is choir time. Dance with Dyson, clean bathroom, washing and washing Breakfast dishes.
Always tidying.
I did the ironing yesterday.:A
Dog to walk.

Dream up new money saving idea's.:j

Need to tend our plants. Our Christmas ponsetta is growing new leaves. The old Amrilas bulbs are growing x2 flowers. First time I have had a 2nd flowering from these large bulbs.
Money plant is getting quite large. Still has some flowers on from last year.

Oh well! enough sitting down.:p
Have a thrifty day :A

silvasava

Vulpix - congratulations with the house sale. Just take it slowly, you will make new friends - usually when you ar'n't looking for them (I got a nice friend through free cycle) I must admit though I don't have the sort of friend that I share close personal things with but that doesn't really bother me - perhaps I'm strange!
Cheerful - there's another overnight rally later this month that I've signed up for. This time it will be just me & DH sailing but in a sort of 'convoy' -I'm still a bit nervous but not so much as last time!
Lyn - I tend to use Gumtree or Preloved at times for items that I can sell for a fixed price (and no fee!) Mind you sometimes they can take a little while to go
Small shop this morning - return a pair of trousers I bought for DH that didn't do him any favours lol & then back to do some baking as the weather here is grey & windy.
Have a good Friday everyone x

cheerfulness4

Villagelife, I reckon a few of us will be sharing tomato recipes this summer as it looks like a few of us will be overun with the little blighters. (Opps, don't mention b*#"ght!)

A piccie of my much loved sandals will definitely go up later, as will a pic of my baby tomato plants. I can't stop boasting about them. Its not like I haven't been growing seeds for years but the excitement never leaves me, I actually think it gets greater.

Must fly round the house dusting where the sunlight catches before I go for my jaunt to the garden centre. The meal will NOT be coming out of my grocery budget.
I'm so happy its the first of May, too. I can get back to my budgets and it means summers here! Don't tell me its not yet. I'm not listening. (Fingers in ears...la, la, la)

Skintoap

Good morning. Thank you all for the welcome. Took dogs out at 5.30 this morning as usual ( don't ever get an ex-racing greyhound straight from kennels if you don't do mornings). Beautiful but frosty on the fields. Started sorting the summer clothes so that I can add a few at a time to a normal wash. One shirt was "saved" from my daughter's charity bag contribution. It's grey and off white light brushed cotton but had bright pink buttons. I managed to find enough grey buttons in my box, so have just swapped them all. Off to Lidl to do bulk of the week's shopping in a minute. I so appreciate my bus pass and the wheeled shopping basket I was given for Xmas. Will take knitting with me as it's 20 minutes on the bus each way. At least socks are handbag sized. Hope you all have a good day.