Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

EmberJ

Ooh thank you, only a few things I dont have then, I already cook from scratch most of the time, thank you. Just the tins of beans, and sundried tomatoes, have a large collection of dried herbs and spices, will have to get living ones. Do you suggest the live ones from supermarkets? I kept killing off my mint ones, but think that's because my kitchen windowsill is very shady, will try on my dining room one.

Mrs_Smith_72

Hi everyone, hope you've had a good day. Just listed a few more things on eeeaabayyy! Think I'm done for a few weeks now! :j
Just hoping things sell! The best of it is, the house is still so full of stuff you wouldn't even be able to tell that things have gone/ are going lol.
Feeling a lot better today, so that helps

Love hearing what you're all up to and gaining inspiration! Think I'm going to sit & do some knitting now
I've already made my lunches tonight for the rest of the week so happy about that

vhalla1478

Hi again, Ember,

The supermarket ones are ok - you will just need to repot them, because they crowd too many in a weeny plant pot. Spread them out a bit and they will multiply.

Viv xx

EmberJ

Thank you. I had planted peas, carrots and spinach, but my pup dug them up. Working on gating the patio off so I can recue the lawn from its holes and use the raised bed for veg as it is quite a large one. Will look at live herbs tomorrow, and get a few. Been eyeing up a pepper tree thingy too

silvasava

Welcome Ember - we' re a very mixed bunch here so lots of lovely different ideas that you can 'tweak' to suit yourself.
As vhalla says supermarket herbs are fine but they do need repotting. Mint will do better outside as its a native herb. Basil likes a warm sunny windowsill with PLENTY of water!
Your raised bed sounds perfect for veg and you can still plant some things for winter pickings.

RicardaRacoon

Evening everyone

I start to get quite confused as everyone from the Not buying it tread seems to be on here too nowdays, so might soon lose track and post twice in the same tread.... :-)

Finished the bday card for my Mum just in time - bday tomorrow - and made a cake to take with me tomorrow when I go over to her place. It is a lemon posset cake, although I used single cream and milk instead of double cream to reduce calories...

Found a lovely picture of a stitched camper van which I will do for my sister as a birthday present as she is turning a van into a camper. Actually wanted to make her buntings for the van, but then decided to give her a logbook, so will make a cross stitches cover for a notebook. We already have so many plans for when the camper finally is ready... I will create my own pattern and have treads and fabric in stock, so only need a notebook. And will hurry up with stitching as it is only 6 weeks till her bday, minus a week of holdiays... So will know what I will be up to...
The van by the way is a lot of Make do and mend as well, curtains are the ones from our nursery 20 years ago and a lot of the things in the van are recycled from somewhere else too.

Ember, welcome to the tread! I'm almost ten years older than you are and when I think back on when I was 19... I couldn't sew nor crochet nor any of the things you mentioned (well, I could cook but it took me another two, three years until I started cooking from scratch) and was fairly careless with my money, so I think you already reached quite a good stage of MM&M!
I think it isn't too late yet for the garden, maybe someone a bit more experienced than I am could give you some tips on what to plant now - salad maybe?
Have you tried keeping your herbs outside during summer? Mine (mint, basil, chives...) grow very well on the balcony - but sometimes get eaten by my cats who ignore the cat grass and rather go for my herbs...

Will now go for a walk and then off to bed, been tired all day.

Have a nice evening everyone!

EmberJ

Thank you both. I've been living with my partner since a few months before my 18th, and before that in hostels since 16 so have had to be careful with money for a while. I was raised by my nan mostly so she taught me alot of the make do and mend, and have been helping cook since a little girl. I'll have a look at the backs of packets, and see what I can plant then get some of the stuff I will use. I remember my mum had a lovely mint border on her lawn, I was forever picking the leaves and chewing them. This is the first time I've had a garden since being Independant, so no, but I will get more and try it. Thank you all so much for the tips, off to eat hm chicken soup/broth type thing as still recovering from a tummy bug.
Em x

misstara

Evening all and welcome ember

After the couple of mentions of cauliflower and broccoli bake, I decided to make it for tea tonight and it was so yummy. Plenty leftovers for me to have for lunch tomorrow and OH to have for tea while I'm at work. While the oven was on, I made some croutons to go with my salad tomorrow (to take in for tea).

I made chicken stock from the bones of the roast and then made soup. Love hm chicken soup. Have put in the freezer for lunch at a later date.

Viv - that curry looks amazing, will definitely be giving it a go.

Bluegreen143

Welcome to the thread Ember you sound very frugal for 19 already. I'm not too much older, 26, but bring frugal and making do and mending weren't on my radar at all at that point!

Not much to report except the scan went well yesterday, all seems well with the baby, and we found out we're expecting a little boy!

Lynplatinum

Hi All

Welcome Ember - i am in the opposite boat because i am trying to reduce the amount of stuff that just sits in my cupboard - rarely getting used. Im keeping pasta shapes, sticky rice, basmati, wholemeal and white and bread flour, cus cus. tins of: tomatoes, butter beans, mixed bean salad, kidney beans, sardines in plain oil, anchovies. Herbs etc: oregano,,,mixed herbs garam masala;5 spice. Bottles of soy, Wichestershire sauce, Tabasco, mirrin, fish sauce, walnut oil, seasame oil, sunflower oil. Still makes a big list tho - and I dont think I ve got it all on here.

Minimising today - in my turning out found a load of dog treats - donated to local dog (owners not wealthy!) Also made lunch of potatoes/beetroot/boiled egg/mayo. So some making do as well! :)Done washing and dried half outside and half on airer!!!

Tired today so nite all!