Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

excellenttotalsavings

It's easy to make a short, waisted apron. Gather a square of fabric slightly for the waist. Hem. Make ties and waistband by measuring out lengths of fabric - a little more than twice wide the width you want. Stitch them up on 3 sides and turn right side out. Attach to apron sides and another one to gathered apron top. You could add pockets too. Nice frilly 50's style short apron.

sistercas

Morning , wondering If I could join this thread , think it's just what I need. I seem to start with such good intentions , being frugal , declutterimg , growing veg and then it all goes pear shaped and I don't even know why :cool: what I need is motivation to keep going

I have a sewing machine and tend to sew in fits and starts , only simple stuff cushion covers etc. I have just bought a new book
called Tilly and the buttons , it's about demystifying sewing clothes and it has 5 patterns in it to start. Hopefully I can get going and at the very least it will help me mend old clothes or adjust them
I think this thread will just be the motivation I need :T

IrisViolet

Hi been reading this thread and love it. I'm also reading not buying it and posted a few times but it moves so fast over there that by the time I've read I've no time to post, this thread doesn't seem to be moving quite as fast so hopefully will contribute more!

Loving everything I have read so far. This year we are aiming to have all our debts paid off a the start of a safety net savings in the bank that we can build up more once debts are completely gone. We have three childre aged 6,4 and 1 and one due in August, our last, I always wanted a family of four children so its very exciting. I have always dreamed of being more oldstyle and lurked here years, I've learnt a lot but not enough, this year I'm so determined to live the life I want and will make me and my family happy. I really do associate happiness with calmness, a clean house, home cooked food and baking, crochet, sewing, handmade clothes, gardening etc. I am a housewife so I'm very lucky to be in a position where I can really get the life I want. My children are home educated so around a lot which is lovely, my four year old does do two days in a reggio Emilia kindergarten, and we have a few activities and play dates a week we get to, I'm usually pretty good at taking picnics etc but could be better!
I have overhauled our budget this week and think we can do miles better so feeling so positive. I have made do by making my daughter a snood instead of buying, I'm now in the process of making one for son plus gloves for both, had to order a little more wool but still miles cheaper than what I'd buy, plus there is just something about making things for the children, I love that they wear handmade.
I'm in the market to buy a sewing machine soon, just need to decide what to get. I'm hoping to make a lot of the kids clothes with it from now on along with household things.
Off to bake a cake now and some bread.
Will check in again later!

IrisViolet

Cake in the oven and bread rising. While in he kitchen I got thinking of my grandparents and had to come post again. My gran has always have an make do and mend, my dad says things were tough growing up as not much spare so I'm sure shed have liked to have more but she knitted lots clothes and blankets, crochet, sewing, cross stitch. She is an amazing cook and bakes the best cakes. Her house is so lovely and oldstyle, furniture she's had since the fifties or longer most likely. Back then I guess everyone was similar, making their wage last the week etc butchers and grocers for shopping and what not. I'm definitely going to try and shop more like that from now on. I have done it this week and only spent around twenty pounds for the whole week but do have a store cupboard.
Anyway my point is they lived like this and now in their seventies have been retired for ten years, mortgage gon e. Living comfortably. Holiday once a year abroad, nothing fancy but they love it. Running a car. Its a comfortable happy retirement. I fear people now don't like to this k about old age but its so important to plan properly or I worry what state we will be in by then. I know my parents are starting to worry as my dad has no private pension, they found themselves in their fifties suddenly having to face up to it and be frugal so they can get a good safety net of savings. They both work and mum has a private pension but she only went back to work ten years ago after being a housewife for twenty years. Luckily their house is die to be paid off soon but they have never been very make do and mend, I wonder if its because of the way they were brought up in frugal homes, makes me think definitely need to make room. For treats for children.
I'm rambling sorry, but I've really realised that we are lucky to be young enough to be in a position to make sure our retirement is a comfortable happy one.

cheerfulness4

I've so enjoyed reading all the posts today. I can relate very well to things you've all been saying.

sistercass - that first paragraph of yours is me all over and Irisviolet, I too associate happiness with all those things you list as well. Back in the day my life was pretty much how you describe yours, HomeEd mum. Beautiful memories although not all roses round the door, in our case. Money was always tight and DH's job presented problems in the end with the recession.


We wouldn't want to miss welcoming dipsydaisy to the boards! You'll be so glad you found your way to these boards. They can change your life for sure.

Now I've decided the dithering must stop this week. My next project is to do a menu plan. Not so exciting but essential to minimise grocery spending.
I'm being a pickle and eating the newly bought pies/pasties etc some days and conveniently ignoring the fish and meats down the bottom of the freezer.
Frankly its laziness. The shame of it! I keep putting off the stocks inventory, wittering about the kitchen being chilly. Its not and if it were I could pop a jumper on.
So the leather gloves are on standby and after my third coffee of the day :eek: (thank goodness its on offer!) I shall be writing up the freezer contents and checking the store cupboards.

Speaking of which, I decided to do that trick with the bicarbonate of soda in a cup after nearly keeling over when I opened my fridge. (the culprit is now in the bin awaiting putting out).
Its really very good, isn't it? Smell went very quickly.
So I used it in the microwave after I'd cooked a kipper. Again, not bad at all. I'm going to wipe out the microwave with lemon juices I've heated in there and some fresh bicarb.

All this waffle is because I found a lovely use for my little coffee cup bought in error instead of a tea cup to match a 5p saucer I got at a car boot. It looks so sweet in a corner of my fridge and makes me smile each time I look at it. Here it is before I popped it in.


I've decided what's for tea tonight and defrosted some YS beef that's been lingering in the freezer since August. It was posted by someone on these boards and I can't wait to try it. I shall pop it into the slow cooker for when DH gets in this evening.
Chinese style Braised Beef.
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/9646/chinesestyle-braised-beef-onepot

silvasava

Oohh Cheerfulness - I do like pretty china but have to steel myself NOT to buy any more. (get thee behind me Satan!)
Just a small tip for those of you who want to grow food - Raspberries & Gooseberries do not need to be in a sunny position to ripen. In fact DH built me a small raised bed in a shady north facing corner a couple of years ago & my raspberries have been excellent as they seem to ripen that much slower & stay nice & juicy. Only planted my gooseberry last year - it had some fruit but its early days. I bought it in Morrisons as it was cheap & googled the variety when I got home - turns out its a good cropper so fingers crossed.

thefrugalflirter

Playing catchup with this thread...
Cheerfulness that sausage dog is so cute! It would be great as presents for Christmas.
Enjoying reading all the ways everyone is 'making do' :j
I've managed to keep my motivation up so far this year, normally I'd start to fall by the wayside with New years resolutions at this point, so I'm feeling pretty positive!
Managed to buy only basics from the supermarket so far, and I've been trying a few new recipes so we don't get too bored of eating the same thing all of the time.
I'm also trying to use up all my toiletries, I have so many freebies I've received in the post that I'm determined to use up.

I'm trying to think of a use for a piece of white faux fur that's a little over 1 metre squared that I bought on a whim last year for a failed Halloween outfit idea (I blame Pinterest!). So far I've only come up with using it to put a white trim around our Christmas stockings, but does anyone have any more inspired ideas?

celtic_moon

Hoping to pick up a few tips here. Lurked around the boards for a while since losing my previous email addy but have re-signed today so I can follow this link. I lost my high paying job 18 months ago - just after getting married and as DH started his own business! I am now self employed too as well as helping DH and we have less than zero cash. I can honestly say that life has never been better though! Will share whatever tidbits I can too

silvasava

thefrugalflirter wrote: »

I'm trying to think of a use for a piece of white faux fur that's a little over 1 metre squared that I bought on a whim last year for a failed Halloween outfit idea (I blame Pinterest!). So far I've only come up with using it to put a white trim around our Christmas stockings, but does anyone have any more inspired ideas?

Just off the top of my head - would there be enough to make one of those little bolero jackets & line it with a really bright jewel colour??
Or trim a jacket, round the collar and down the front and trim the cuffs?

vhalla1478

Just have something to add to my lemon/orange barley idea. Try and get hold of a fruit zester; before you squeeze the lemons/oranges, take the zest off the skin and keep it until needed in an airtight container; it adds zing to both sweet and savoury recipes.

I just want to add how comforting it is to know other people are struggling - not that in an ideal world I would want anyone to struggle - but I do think that one's creative juices come into play when you're hard up! Best wishes to you all, from one who has gone from penury to riches and back again rather more times than I care to remember!