Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Hard_Up_Hester

I've been reading along but haven't posted for ages.
I'm having a new cooker delivered tomorrow, when someone asked me why I was replacing my existing one, I quipped 'It needs cleaning', lol.
I have paid to have my cooker cleaned, but wouldn't pay to have my microwave done, I clean it the easy way by putting a bowl of water in it with a tablespoon of lemon juice, put it on high for a few minutes. Leave it for the steam to soak into the stains. It all wipes clean in a sec.
I also had a cleaner in for a few weeks when I came out of hospital as I wasn't well enough to do it my self.
I've turned 2 of the DGS's trousers into shorts (he'd torn the knees & they were getting a bit short on him).
Hester

silvasava

JackieO My mum always used to say the same - especially when looking at clothes in shops. Her other phrase was 'a blind man on a galloping horse would be glad to see that'

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

BTW welcome Vala! Great that you have read along and decided to delurk and provide us with another topic of discussion! :j

Funny isnt it - our attitudes to cleaning? My Mum hated it and whenever she could afford to pay someone to do it she did!!

I (now you folk ARE gonna think Im weird) :eek: on the other hand quite like it. So long as its quiet cleaning ergo I hate hoovering but I love dusting and polishing/cleaning kitchen floors/ovens/hobs/ moving stuff and wiping round. The Buddhists call it grounded meditation. So that the rhythm of the scrubbing becomes soothing - almost like being rocked as a child and your mind goes blank of worries - you are making something better, well etc. But my place is not immaculate - too much clutter - not enough time etc etc!! I can understand someone who cannot physically do the work paying for help (my mates and my son helped me out when I broke my leg last year - bless em! :A) but, like sewer works they get paid well because some folk are too lazy/think themselves too high up to do the work. :rotfl:

When I said 12 tops I meant that this number included strappy tops (which you cant wear when teaching as they show bra straps) + cap sleeves (suitable for teaching in) + my favourite 2 'hippy' tops.

Yesterday it was beautiful and I took the dog over to my ex's and spent the day with him and my/our son + son's girlfirend. The little woof walked miles along the glorious cliff tops near Newquay/Porth - so wonderful. also checked out my Mum's house (which is one of the ones I now rent out). The tenant there is keeping everything lovely - bless her! :j
Today it has been raining here and so cosyed down in my friend's comfy house and buried nose in books and made a crumble with fruit that needed eating up. dog slept most of the day - worn out!!! We just had a small 3/4 hr trot today between the rain showers!
So NSD + MM&M - no heating needed; eating up fruit; no petrol used - only thing I havent done is mend anything :rotfl:
Nite all

misstara

Morning all

Thanks for the link to the jam recipe silvasava - I shall try it next time I get some rhurbarb.

I'm working double shifts this weekend so won't have time to do anything except work and sleep. I've got a huge bag of food to take into work with me so there's no excuse for nipping to the shop and buying anything. This weekend should definitely be no spend weekend . Back into MMMing next week properly when I've got more time.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, hopefully with more exciting plans than me

GreyQueen

Lynp, I don't mind cleaning, either. And I have an unreasonable fondness for Astonish oven cleaner and used it on the inside of the glass on the oven door yesterday. Brilliant stuff.

I do consider it to be like a meditation, too, funnily enough. It's about acknowledging the reality of living in the world. That we make messes and we clear messes.

There's a Zen koan which goes Before Enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After Enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.

You might win 10 million on the lottery, but you'll still be brushing your teeth and wiping your rear, and those too disabled to do either for themselves would envy you the self-sufficiency.Will be busy helping a friend all day, mainly socialising but with some practical stuff thrown in. They're good company and I enjoy spending time with them, so it's all good. Will just sort out the dishes before I go so that I don't have to face them on my return.

It started raining here about 22 hours ago and is now getting darker with every passing moment, a bit woo........:rotfl:

camelot1001

When I bought my oven last year I paid and extra £30 to have it cleaned once a year for 3 years. I don't use the main oven that much as I use a halogen oven mostly but the lady did do a wonderful job, she was chatty too and had similar circumstances to JackieO's lady. I keep the cooking appliances as clean as possible but the little burned on bits sometimes escape the brillo!

I will try your lemon method in the micro HH, sounds so easy.

I remember my Mum having that Dairy cookbook, my favourite for baking is the little Bero one.

vhalla1478

Good Morning, Folks,

Just a quickie as I am going next door to DS's and looking after six of my grandchildren for two days whilst he and my DDil go to a wedding in Southampton. Wish me luck!

Just a quickie to say a warm welcome to the newbies and although I cannot say I love cleaning, I hate dirt, mess etc even more so do clean regularly and then it's not overwhelming.

Just a message, too, Lynn. I thought I had pm'd you the other week in response to yours, but can't trace it, so apologies if you didn't get it - and yes, August is a good idea, will speak when I've recovered from the weekend.

I wish the weather was better so that the grandchildren could run off some of that endless energy.:rotfl:

Have a great weekend, Folks.

Viv xx

sashanut

Hi all :j


Just a quickie to LYK I think there is another £5 off £40 spend in Liddly if anyone is stocking up....in the Daily Mail I believe. Will report back later when I've got the paper. The coupons usually valid date for 2 weekends HTH.

Bluegreen143

Hi all! Had a nice frugal day to start with yesterday - we had a big pack of mince in the fridge plus lots of sprouting potatoes and loads of milk. Very little else in, plus not much veg at all so I'm amazed I managed to bodge together:

- a 3 portion cottage pie for dinner tonight
- 6 portions of bolognaise sauce (not my finest work as I had no carrots, wine or bacon, but nice enough)
- a massive bag of gnocchi with the leftover mash, which I've frozen
- Mac and cheese with peas in for dinner last night. I like broccoli in mac and cheese but alas we had none

I did then go to tesco and spend a massive sum but mostly it was on a present/cake ingredients/lunch ingredients/wine for my stepdad's birthday, which is budgeted for. His birthday was earlier this week but him and my mum are visiting today so I'm just doing a few easy Mediterranean platters - caprese salad, nice hams, roasted veg, olives, baguettes etc. plus a lemon drizzle cake.

Going out to a friend's birthday night but I'm going to regift some prosecco I got as a housewarming gift. I'm not drinking as pregnant and my husband's not a fan of fizz so it'd just sit there for ages, plus it's what I'd buy her anyway. Apart from the taxi and a few beers for my husband shouldn't be too expensive a night, and there's a buffet too ��

Have a nice frugal weekend folks!

[Deleted User]

Well I am making do with the food I have in store at the moment in the hope of minimising some of the food mountain :):)

I am away on holiday in 20 days time so I'm hoping to stay as far away from shops as possible to increase the holiday saving a bit more.

DGS Ben and his G/F are coming to the IoW with us for our first week so there will be 9 of us to feed so every extra penny will help DD and her budget. Both him and his G/F are penniless students, so no help from them

Bless them, they went camping for a few days when they broke up from Uni, and we found out when they came home they had lived on a box of nutribars and apples that they had foraged. So they both need feeding up a bit

Still I have lots of tinned stuff in store to use up plus a bulging freezer so NSD's won't be a problem.
I have seem to have lots of tins of chick peas in the cupboard so need to think of ways to use them up Any ideas chums will be gratefully received

I also have some tins of mushy peas and I think somewhere on the forum was a recipe for mushy pea curry which will use them up I'll have to search a bit I think

Have a good weekend chums what ever you are doing Nice day today, but rain is forecast for the next three or four days so all the washing will get done today I think
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx