Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

ginnyknit

I got a big bag full of china off my neighbour today, she must have known I was running short of plates - maybe she can hear them smash when I drop them Saved me a few quid and there are pretty cups and saucers for when I make candles next Christmas :j

maryb

I've got my grandmother's darning mushroom and when we were clearing out my FIL's flat after his death a couple of years ago we found his late wife's sewing basket with another darning mushroom. None of my sisters in law wanted the sewing kit but didn't want to throw it out for sentimental reasons. So I said I would take the mushroom because I have her treadle sewing machine as well, which I have had serviced. I like to keep these things, they give me a sense of connection and I think my daughter will keep them later as well.

misstara

I got the sewing machine out today and mended two cardigans, a pair of trousers and a jacket. Thanks to this thread for motivating me

I also snipped the top of an almost empty handcream and decanted the contents into a wee pot - amazing how much was actually left in it.

HOWMUCH

Good evening again everyone, repaired some trouser's for DD this evening. I'm going to make a start on some sear sucker dungaree's for DGS out of Grandpa's old shirts that are now too big after weightloss. So the sewing machine will be coming out this weekend.

nursemaggie

celtic_moon So nice to meet someone from Bolton I live in Bolton too.

cheerfulness4

How lovely to get a bag of china, ginnyknit. My house is full of mismatched china but everyone that comes comments on the prettiness of it.


All this repairing and reinventing of clothes is making my fingers itchy to get some more sewing done. Must stay focused though because its menu planning for me for the next day or so.
I might have a chance to research my next knitting project that I'm eager to get underway but much depends on the weight of the wools I'm unravelling.


Today was another NSD. :j:j

DAY 15

Money Spent Today - £0 Vouchers Spent - £0
Money Spent in Total - £36.17 Vouchers Spent in Total - £5
Money left in purse - £8.83 - Float left- £0/£15
Jan non-foods left- £6.63/£15


Tomorrow I'll be making Delias Irish Stew as I found 3 bags of lambs chops in the bottom of the freezer stocked from when Asda were selling them off @ £2 a bag. :T

Off to bed for a read in a mo. I requested the latest 'Shopaholic' book from the library by Sophie Kinsella. So funny!

IrisViolet

Good morning all.
Thanks for all the advice about the bread, I will give it another go this morning I think.
Lovely to read how everyone is making do and mending. Ive been granny squaring to use up odd bits of wool left from my granny stripe blanket. Will need to get more wool eventually to finish it but should get about 25 squares and its keeping me busy.
I'm a bit addicted to pinterest, and really want to make lots of improvements at home, I really like a country living look. I'm trying to do it very thriftily. Hence painting the old drawers from the garage and getting a free table of friend. Last night I used old maps to decoupage my sons IKEA side table, it looks great and he's pleased. We have a full time of white wall paint so hubby will be painting sons room today as he's off work and it really needs freshening up. I'm feeling so positive about all the improvements we can make to our lives without spending money or at least much money.
Today will be a relaxed day as kids are so tired after busy week, we may get a trip to local park in later depends cos it is so cold.

Gonna knock up some homemade pizzas and chips for kids tea tonight and mash and roast veggies and gravy for me and hubby, not bothered about meat the mash is the best bit. Baked spuds for lunch so no food spends, spent so much less in January so far and much less waste. I feel happy that we can spend a lot less on food going forward though may be slightly more than this month as I'm running down stores a lot. This is great though as I desperately want to get some savings in the and and get out of my overdraft.

Have a lovely day making to and mending

good_advice

Good morning everyone
Anyone watch Watchdog on BBC 1 last night?
Lots of tips and tricks on how to save your cash.
Food saving, how to haggle and get stuff for free with coupons.
I thought it was very MSE and thrifty.
The program is on iPlayer for anyone that missed it.

vhalla1478

I just love this thread; it's getting rather addictive! A few random ideas:- have a 'running' shopping list, adding to it as you run low on basics; it saves a lot of time and frustration, especially if, like me, you live in the middle of nowhere. Cherish the things you do have - family and friends before possessions. Look after your clothes - no wire hangers and look for shoe trees in charity shops. have a 'secret' list of the things you need for your wardrobe - maybe do swaps with friends? Even if they're not your size, they may have scarves etc that will lift your outfits. And I know I've promoted Jocasta Innes before (Paupers Cookbook), but she wrote brilliant books on saving money, decluttering etc Look out for 'Home Time' and 'The Thrifty Decorator' both by her - I promise you won't be disappointed.

R2B

Hello all! What a lovely thread, I've spent the past couple of days reading it from start to finish. Your ideas for make do, mend and minimise have motivated me to get moving with my plans for 2015. So much so I've added it to my signature for this year!

We moved last year and our house is requiring a lot of work to turn it into a home. My two big goals for this year is to learn to sew so I can make curtains and to set up a veg patch in our garden.

I have a sewing machine and I'm going to start as someone mentioned earlier, with paper and without thread to get to grips with the very basics of control.

Thanks to Cheerfulness for starting the thread, love the sausage dog by the way!