Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Floss

Lynplatinum, we always take a pack-up to beer festivals, we've seen lots of others do so to :beer: Also, where did you see the mighty Quo? We saw them in Sheffield 10 days ago, they were fab, if not quite as stripped-back as I'd hoped...they should have done an Unplugged, without the strings etc.

vhalla1478

OOH!!! I want those sparkly shoes, Cheerfulness - how pretty are they? I suggest we all buy a pair and meet up - wouldn't that be nice ? I've been in the naughty corner all my life - so nothing new there then:p. And congratulations to everyone for budgeting so successfully last month.

Viv xx

cheerfulness4

All my accounting is now up to date and I'm away with my new months spending. Yay!

Today we spent:

FRI 1ST MAY
DAY 1

Money Spent Today - £2.33 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £2.33 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £0.67 - Float left- £15/£15
Jan non-foods left- £15/£15

Not much was needed as we had some of our 'treats' things left over from last month. I have lots of my home cooked ham to last a couple of weeks at least.

We bought 1x YS bag of 5 pink grapefruits @ 29p, 2x YS big bags of mixed apples @ 19p each, 1x YS bag of 8 limes @ 19p, a loaf of white bread @ 59p and 1x milk @ 88p.

I cooked up the last three chicken breasts last night in the oven with a cheese, thyme & lemon crumb on them. They are now chilled in the fridge and will be the main part of lunch tomorrow with a rocket salad. (the wild rocket in the garden has finally arrived and is ready to eat. :T )

I've picked spring onions for tomorrows meal as well and I'm eyeing up the little beetroots which, while not massive, will probably be worth popping in the slow cooker next week and will last a few days.
The spinach is growing crazy fashion now so I must start making use of it.

Had a lovely time at the garden centre but what made it all the sweeter when we spotted two plants in there that were identical but much, much smaller than the ones gifted to us by a neighbour and a friend. The plants in the GC were £5.99 and £7.99. :eek:
It just goes to show how much we can save when we get together and share.
Both our neighbour and our friend told us they were dividing because the said plants multiplied like mad.



The bottom Arrum Lily I had already spent out for previously as a treat for DH. His friend was horrified when he found out and gave us a clump from his garden so we have more now.
The Solomon's Seal in the top picture (from next door) is nearly as big as the one in the pic and she also gave some to mum.

Both my neighbour and DH's friend are along in years and looked stricken at how much we would pay for 'divisions' at a GC. I really was surprised when the elderly gentleman with the Allum Lillies said he'd given away to neighbours around him but they'd never been seen in their gardens.
Aren't they just beautiful? Why would you not want those? We were very happy and he looked thrilled to do someone a good turn.

I'm glad you like my sparklers, Viv. My only grievance with them is why do they have to stitch the extra wide label right were everyone sees it?
Having been bought up to take my shoes off when I go into friends houses so there's no hiding it.
Still, once I've popped some nail polish in they will look lovely in the summer.
(Though why I would think painting my toe nails will turn my gruffalo feet into dainty little things I've no idea but somehow it does. )

I've just realised how inappropriate it is for me to be flaunting my new shoes on a make do, mend and minimise thread, and one I started, too. :o
Perhaps it enforces the idea of balance. Moving swiftly on. :whistle:

silvasava

Cheerful - lurve the shoes! I have sandal envy 'cos I can't do toe posts and there are so many pretty ones about. I think any size tootsies look pretty when they are well cared for.(as I'm tall I take a 7 1/2) Last year a friend had a lovely pedicure before going on holiday with diamante on her big toenails - they looked terrific.
Smashing photos of the Lillies - I've got two or three clumps in the garden - they're the only white flowers that I like - they always seem to look so elegant

cheerfulness4

DH does my toes these days. He's pretty good at it as he started doing them many moons ago when I was ill in hospital for 4 months when pregnant with our first son. He used to do them to cheer me up.
It always make me feel good when I have a lovely pedicure.

Those lillies are perfection, aren't they? Ours are pure white and really stand out in the garden. I have to own that the photos are stock ones and not my own.
I'll be gradually updating with mine as the garden develops. It really starting to take shape. One of the honeysuckles was planted up the archway today. :j
The other one was going to be planted later after collecting the Grandkiddies but unfortunately that didn't go quite to plan and I didn't feel much like gardening when we got home. (Naughty car playing up but only the exhaust. Still money though, isn't it? )

kittym

Evening peeps.

Welcome newbies and welcome back prinzessilein. Your hat and bag are gorgeous, I'm not a knitter but I love to crochet.

Cheerfulness your plants are lovely and what kind neighbours you have to share plants with. Your shoes are fab, it made me go and check out my summer wardrobe to see what was lurking at the back of the shoe cupboard. Although today I put the heating back on as it was freezing:eek: It felt more like winter when I had to scrape the car windscreen.

Vulpix I agree with everyone that you will make friends it's just going to take a little time. Good things come to those who wait, and in the mean time you can chin wagg with us all here. I too joined a quilters group as I didn't know anyone when I moved to my bungalow, and with the weather warming up, pottering in the garden has also opened up surprising friendships. It's true what Silvasava said in her post about friends turning up when you least expect them to.

This weekends jobs are to convert 2 maxi dresses into maxi skirts, with the help of tutorials on u tube. The dresses are lush but sadly steroid meds make you put on weight so top half is too tight, so I'm hoping with the help of some elastic and a little patience I can create a couple of master pieces :rotfl: or something like it.

Tea was left overs from the freezer and I have done a stock list and don't need anything till nxt wk :j so May's money can stay in purse a little while longer. :T

My DD did the nip and punch for the first of the month, she has a nack of catching me off guard, cheeky monkey. It's like when she plays yellow car on the way to school, no wonder my arms are covered in bruises.
Anyhow hope you all have a lovely bank holiday weekend and that the weather is good for you all. xx

cheerfulness4

kitty disappeared before I had a chance to ask what Yellow Car was all about.
In case others are in the dark too I googled it.

Note points 1a and 5. They had me creasing up.

Yellow Car Rules


Get yourself well versed in the rules, kitty, and play her at her own game. :rotfl:

janb5

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

All my accounting is now up to date and I'm away with my new months spending. Yay!

Today we spent:

FRI 1ST MAY
DAY 1

Money Spent Today - £2.33 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £2.33 Vouchers Spent in Total - £0
Money left in purse - £0.67 - Float left- £15/£15
Jan non-foods left- £15/£15

Not much was needed as we had some of our 'treats' things left over from last month. I have lots of my home cooked ham to last a couple of weeks at least.

We bought 1x YS bag of 5 pink grapefruits @ 29p, 2x YS big bags of mixed apples @ 19p each, 1x YS bag of 8 limes @ 19p, a loaf of white bread @ 59p and 1x milk @ 88p.

I cooked up the last three chicken breasts last night in the oven with a cheese, thyme & lemon crumb on them. They are now chilled in the fridge and will be the main part of lunch tomorrow with a rocket salad. (the wild rocket in the garden has finally arrived and is ready to eat. :T )

I've picked spring onions for tomorrows meal as well and I'm eyeing up the little beetroots which, while not massive, will probably be worth popping in the slow cooker next week and will last a few days.
The spinach is growing crazy fashion now so I must start making use of it.

Had a lovely time at the garden centre but what made it all the sweeter when we spotted two plants in there that were identical but much, much smaller than the ones gifted to us by a neighbour and a friend. The plants in the GC were £5.99 and £7.99. :eek:
It just goes to show how much we can save when we get together and share.
Both our neighbour and our friend told us they were dividing because the said plants multiplied like mad.



The bottom Arrum Lily I had already spent out for previously as a treat for DH. His friend was horrified when he found out and gave us a clump from his garden so we have more now.
The Solomon's Seal in the top picture (from next door) is nearly as big as the one in the pic and she also gave some to mum.

Both my neighbour and DH's friend are along in years and looked stricken at how much we would pay for 'divisions' at a GC. I really was surprised when the elderly gentleman with the Allum Lillies said he'd given away to neighbours around him but they'd never been seen in their gardens.
Aren't they just beautiful? Why would you not want those? We were very happy and he looked thrilled to do someone a good turn.

Hi Cheerfulness,

I have had my Arum lilies for over 30 years now and they seem to like a sheltered spot. I razor mine down after flowering and they reward me for my cruelty by reappearing every year.

I havent seen Solomon`s seal before- looks like a " Bleeding heart" doesnt it? ( Dicentra Spectabilis) xx

[Deleted User]

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

kitty disappeared before I had a chance to ask what Yellow Car was all about.
In case others are in the dark too I googled it.

Note points 1a and 5. They had me creasing up.

Yellow Car Rules


Get yourself well versed in the rules, kitty, and play her at her own game. :rotfl:

Must be something the kids like in primary school as my DGS all play 'punch buddy yellow car 'when they are in my car and I'm driving. I've even started doing it with them :):) and I'm far too old in the tooth to be behaving like a year six :):):) or perhaps not, as they think its a hoot that Gran joins in yelling, and fall about laughing

Solomons Seal is very pretty but it really does spread so you have to show it whose boss

Just off to bed for a read,blooming cold tonight I even had to stick the heating on and its May!!!:eek:
Roll on the summer and some warm days and nights.
My favourite flower in a pot near to the kitchen window is a night-scented stocks,looks like a bunch of weeds during the day but in the evening its just the most gorgeous scent in the world.Throw a packet of seeds into a tub,water and let it run wild and smell it in the warm evenings its just amazing
Good night God bless all here
JackieO xxx

Lynplatinum

Hiya

well, Ive not had a good day on a couple of fronts but you folk make me smile and then giggle - bless you all!

Viv - I am gonna nick your expression 'hair looks like an explosion in a mattress factory' wholesale - it did make me giggle!:rotfl:

Prinzess - very glad to see you back - sorry to hear you ve not been well - but look how you kept on MM&M! Knitting away! Amazing!;)

Floss (hope I ve got that correct!??) I saw the mighty Quo @ Apollo Hammersmith - awesome rock venue - I ve seen several bands there and its just got such a good vibe :-) If you go - eat/drink at the nearby Wethers!oons - really fast service - great condition Real Ales and clean as a new pin!!! :beer:

So what cheesed me off today? I arranged to meet an old friend - some 10 miles from where I live now, in her home town (where we met at college). So on my day off I organise myself, my workload for my other business etc, get there, find a
the coffee shop that I dont know and parking and she's a no show. I havent seen her for 10 years and was lookin forward to a good old catch up - took photos along and everything! She contacted me via e-mail but we did not exchange phone numbers. Well, Ive e-mailed her tonight to ask if she was OK and given her my number - ball now in her court!! Im annoyed due to waste of a) my time and b) my money (for a very mediocre coffee and tuna melt (cheapest stuff on menu that I would eat!) and petrol). Hope shes OK tho!???

Also someone else - who knows I dont formally work on a Friday makes assumptions that I will go and do something on behalf of the charity we both do stuff for (voluntarily) and promises someone my presence for an hour!!! GRRR Have made it clear that this should not be done again - cos I do prep/accounts/banking/filing plus chilling out (I work Saturdays too!) But could not let public face of charity down today!

Anyway - stopping griping/moaning now!!! Thanks for suggestions re money making - phone only costs me £12 per month! So cant save too much there - also accountant charges me 'mates rates' - so cant cut down there. Due to messing around today I havent done other stuff I was gonna - it will be Sun now before I get the time!

Must go to bed now!! Nite all