Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

Lynplatinum

Evening All

It is so interesting that many of you also have a passion for old derelict buildings and feel they are a precious, wasted resource!! Jackie O your young chippys; Sparks and Plumbers could come and help me convert the buildings and then maintain them - so we would be providing employment!!! Win win! :j

I also agree with Warren Buffet (one of America's richest men) who actively campaigns for paying more tax. He says that folk should regard it as a privilege to live in a free society in which people can be free to make money and that is an honour to pay tax to support the less fortunate (through dumb luck/lack of education/difficult background/ addiction issues) plus it leads to a peaceful society. apparently he still lives very simply but in a large mansion for security reasons! Very interesting person (dont agree with all he says!) So I would pay my tax! I do now!!

Other expenses - just had quote for d.glazing windows £10,000 for the lot! well, have got that tucked up me knicker leg of course!!! :rotfl:

Admiring those of you bringing the harvest home - brilliant - well done!! dont have my allotment @ bottom of garden since I moved and do miss sitting on the back step processing stuff! Still, with my galloping arthritis I would not be able to manage that now - am struggling with my small garden! :rotfl:

Anyway - been good today - curtains are up; windows washed; one pile of paper sorted/thrown!! SWorld food!! I am getting there! Thanks to your inspiration guys am making the food go a great long way :A Busy tomorrow - I'll let you know how the list of ten goes tomorrow! Nite All

Floss

Have just been out on our decking with DH,watching for shooting stars, to the accompaniment of the sea lions in the zoo (about 3/4 mile as the seagull flies) - only in Blackpool!

vulpix

!!!!! cat ,!!!!! cat where have you been,Iv'e been to London to see the queen.Epping Forrest actually,very,very nice house overlooking the forest and a lovely man.Love the door,it weighs a ton,Edwardian style blues and greens coloured glass in an oak frame.Waiting for my joiner to come and see if it can be fitted now.

Lyn,love the knicker leg expression,not heard that one before.Perhaps a clean and paint would suffice for your windows.I wouldn't spend too much if I was moving,just enough for the house to look nice and attractive.The pvc paint I bought has transformed the sittingroom,changed my mind about replacing the window now.

Well work is coming on slowly here.came back to fitted loft hatch and ladder in our bedroom.Note to say he will be back this morning to fit a floor where the spiral staircase was.He is also putting a partition in the loft with door to make a small studio for Mr V.Phoned the council to see if there were any grants for loft insulation,apparently not.

Having a day of rest yesterday has done my knee good.It must be arthritis,I have it everywhere else.It felt like a balloon had been inflated in my knee.Much easier today anyhow.

Today I want to do a bit more in the garden before it rains then I WILL tame some wires in the sitting room and paint them white.I am getting very close to putting some plants in the front garden:T

Everyone certainly is having a bumper harvest,so nice to be eating your own produce all winter.What i miss is hens.This garden is too small for any.Well i could confine them but I like to see them free range.I plan to have a small fruit and veg area outside the kitchen door,but that is a very long way off.

We were talking about what we would do if we had money on our road trip.Mr V would like a new car and I would like a cleaner,that's it.A few years ago I saw a programe on TV with Phil Spencer where he identified empty buildings in London and negotiated their purchase for a charity.They were renovated by workers on a scheme connected to the charity which gave them skills and qualifications.The flats they made were allocated to homeless people.What a good idea.Apparently good old Phil is passionate about doing this.

Onwards and upwards,Vx

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

Busy day yesterday. I managed to get the bedroom curtains down, washed, dried and ironed in between work tasks. We also stayed up a bit later than usual to see Perseid. I saw my first shooting star--quite a few small faint ones but one that was particularly spectacular. That was just from the back garden as my chances of convinced OH to actually go anywhere to see them are probably worse than winning the lottery.

OH is making HM pizza for tea tonight so I've another day off cooking duties. He will be away for part of the weekend so I'm contemplating doing a bit of freezer cooking. It needs to consist of things we already have in so I'm not sure what it will be yet. I seem to have a bit of a stash of YS chicken in the freezer so perhaps it will be that. I got some cheese and sausages on YS yesterday as well. At the very least I'll take the bits of stale bread out and make a big batch of bread crumbs and maybe to a sc pastry round or two to top pies off with.

It is work this morning, gym this afternoon and a bit of knitting here and there. I'll also finish off this week's washing, just in time for the rain to start this evening.

silvasava

No sight here of the meteor shower as cloudy will have to make do with the memory of the spectacular one we saw in Dorset a few years ago when with the 'van. We were the only people out watching it - clear warm night with no light pollution except for the flicker of televisions in other 'vans - wot!!!!
Aiming to clean upstairs today - get DH to sort some of his clothes for the Sally Army and do a spot of baking - Morrys had some nice large baking potatoes in so its what we'll be having for tea tonight as its DH's favourite (says a lot for my cooking skills doesn't it )
Have a good day all x

vhalla1478

Morning Everyone,

Not such a good day here either. I had planned to spend most of it in the garden, continuing tidying the flower beds but am not so sure now; you could call me a fair weather gardener and I'd have to agree!:p

I read a shocking piece of news today; did you know that the UK is the worst food waster in Europe and that on average, each household throws away 13lb of food per week? I know this doesn't apply to MMMers, but we all need to think of a way to spread the message of non wastage, especially as a large proportion of the world is going hungry.

I so agree with everyone who believes that we shouldn't let empty buildings stay unoccupied; how strange - I always thought that that is how I would spend some of my (hypothetical) lottery winnings. When I was 18, I was homeless for one night only and spent it on Kings Cross Station - it was a terrifying experience and one I've never forgotten. Every time I have given a talk on antiques I have always asked for my fee to be given to Shelter. How can anyone sort out any problems they have until they have a roof over their head? My DB has had problems in the aftermath of his late partner's death; but as he says, he can remember the days when he slept on the beach, so he has nothing to complain about.

Will now go and sort my freezer out so I don't join the wasters.

Have a productive and happy day, Everyone.

Viv xx

meritaten

yes - I feel sad at seeing perfectly good buildings standing derelict for years. why not house the 'homeless' in exchange for them improving/renovating the building? or even asylum seekers?
its my shopping day today and I was feeling a bit bored this afternoon so made a boiled fruit cake from odds and ends of packs of dried fruit I had used for chutneys. saved myself a couple of quid as OH usually sneaks a cake (or two) into the shopping trolley. and now I wont have to throw out the ounce or two left in packs of sultanas dates and raisins!

GreyQueen

Lynplatinum wrote: »

I also agree with Warren Buffet (one of America's richest men) who actively campaigns for paying more tax. He says that folk should regard it as a privilege to live in a free society in which people can be free to make money and that is an honour to pay tax to support the less fortunate (through dumb luck/lack of education/difficult background/ addiction issues) plus it leads to a peaceful society. apparently he still lives very simply but in a large mansion for security reasons! Very interesting person (dont agree with all he says!) So I would pay my tax! I do now!!

Warren Buffett isn't worthy of your good opinion, Lynp.

His Berkshire Hathaway fund controls 51% of the merged Kraft Heinz group with Brazilian private equity firm 3G and have just sacked 2,500 and he's little better than a slum landlord for what he's done to some of America's most vulnerable residents;http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/04/03/17024/warren-buffetts-mobile-home-empire-preys-poor

The so-called 'Sage of Omaha' was born rich and doesn't seem to give a damn who he tramples getting richer.

pinkparrott

I've been lurking for a few weeks , but inspired each day I read. Were going away next sat for 11 days and I get paid the day before and due to paying for the holiday I'm broke so I'm trying to eat out of the freezer /cupboards as much as possible until we go. This might mean I can do a much needed defrost of the freezer and might actually stick to the food budget I'm trying out for this month which will be a first.
Were hoping to move later this year early next year so I need to save , make do and minimise to declutter the house for sale (,not easy as my dh is a border) so going to be looking for inspiration over the coming months ��

Lynplatinum

Evening All

Well, had a busy and productive day! I ve wiped down a lot of paint work and moved stuff to discover whole swathes of dust (having broken my leg last year I didn't do any 'deep' cleaning where I actually move furniture!) I also applied for some Market Research Interviews - could net £60 if I am accepted! But I am new to this and I gather their uptake of people can be sporadic so while I am not relying on the monies I am thinking its a positive thing to do! :j

The media is an interesting thing - I was referring to Warren Buffet's record on philanthropy. He is a good business man but probably not involved in the decisions further down the line of his businesses. He is often called frugal - for example he has lived in the same house since 1958 and doesnt like flashy cars and gadgets. Some quotes I have found include:

'Buffett is about sharing the wealth. In 2006, he released pledge letters that stated he will donate 85 percent of his wealth to five foundations over time, reports CNN.' (from business insider.com)

He has pledged to give away 99% of his fortune. Forbes calculates that Buffett has donated at least $9.5 billion in shares of Berkshire Hathaway to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That sum does not include 2012's $3 billion pledge to his children's philanthropies.11 Feb 2013 (From Forbes website)

So different bits of the media report different aspects of the same person. I am not saying that his business is not run as ruthlessly as any other but he does seem to be trying to say that with wealth comes the need to be a philanthropist and frugal (at his level LOL). Very different to the spend and d*mn everyone else attitude of many millionaires (especially sports folk it would seem).

It would seem that the thing is to look at the background of those reporting things and seeing what agenda they have. So difficult to form== an informed decision these days - GQ I respect the information that you have found but I am just showing where my view of him came from.

Totally at the other end of the scale :rotfl: I have been emptying my purses. Yes, purses!!! I have taken a leaf out of Jackie O's book and find it works really well - thank you Jackie O! :A So you literally physically have two purses - one for food and cleaning and one for entertainment (Jackie calls it her 'Happy Stash!') Having it separate means I dont feel guilty when out spending the 'Happy Stash!' So from last week I had 20p left over from what I shall call 'Basics' shopping and 76p from my 'Entertainment' purse. Daft I know but I was able to up my pennies savings to 70p! not far to go until it gets to £1 and I can put it into the bank!! It is exciting!! Because - looking at it this way - I could buy milk and a potato to jacket or some bread rolls!!

Back to Dickens and McCawber!! Am more than half a penny under! :j
Frugally forward!