Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

carolbee

I saw a tip to grow lettuce in guttering, I've got the seeds and the guttering, so am going to set some seeds. I've already got inch high lettuce in pots in the greenhouse,so these can be the next batch, can only try!

mrs-moneypenny

I've seen that done as well carolebee, I think I've seen strawbs grown that way as well.
The park near my mum has a garden area and they have pallets standing upright with 2litre plastic milk bottles fixed on, via the handles with holes cut in the tops like jugs that have tumbling cherry toms and strawbs growing in. minimal space and maximum crops it looks really good.

carolbee

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

I've seen that done as well carolebee, I think I've seen strawbs grown that way as well.
The park near my mum has a garden area and they have pallets standing upright with 2litre plastic milk bottles fixed on, via the handles with holes cut in the tops like jugs that have tumbling cherry toms and strawbs growing in. minimal space and maximum crops it looks really good.

What a great idea, we're off pallet hunting tomorrow, will bear in mind. Already have one repurposed pallet on wall for herbs

savingpennies

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

I've seen that done as well carolebee, I think I've seen strawbs grown that way as well.
The park near my mum has a garden area and they have pallets standing upright with 2litre plastic milk bottles fixed on, via the handles with holes cut in the tops like jugs that have tumbling cherry toms and strawbs growing in. minimal space and maximum crops it looks really good.

I like the sound of this. I've got an old pallet in the garage that could easily be painted and used for this. There are some iinteresting ideas for using old pallets on Pinterest.
I went through my seed packets back in January and threw a lot out because of the old dates on them. I always thought it wasteful to throw any out but last year, using some of the old seed packets, I didn't have a good germination rate and what did grow was very weedy looking.
Minimising: My college is not offering any pay rises this year, I was hoping it would give a little bit to help boost my pension when I start to get it later in the year. Then I read Martin's weekly email: Sky raising prices, postage stamps going up, NHS dental treatments to also increase. In this morning's post I received my council tax bill - up by 4%. So I'm looking at some serious minimising to the budget.
So far on list: get rid of Sky, it's only basic package and most of what I watch I think is on freeview; been out and bought a few books of stamps before the price rise; I recently moved to a NHS dentist and cancelled my private dental insurance so I will now save that money in a savings account to cover costs: with the council tax I'm going to ask to pay over 12 months and hopefully make a bit more interest on my money whilst it sits in my account.
Make do: I used up some leftover vegetables to make some soup which should give us two days of lunches.
Mending: DD2 was about to throw out a pair of ankle boots because they were full of mud:eek: I cleaned all the mud off, made sure they were dry and polished them up with some scuff magic I had. They now look like new. She looked at them as if I had performed magic.

mrs-moneypenny

We minimised sky a few years ago and haven't missed it, you get to keep the sky box and it still works as a freeview. Obviously you don't get the main channels but Dh is happy with sky news and there's nothing really we miss enough to pay again.

Making a list of Easter jobs mostly garden stuff, so will hopefully get that done while the schools are on their two week shut down.

silvasava

Savingpennies - our council let you pay over 10 months so I always save the Feb & March payments for a little treat! I do find it much easier to manage our budget by paying utilities monthly.
DS1 has an old sofa on his decking that he wanted covering with an old sail. It was really tatty & I had seen a 'click bed' with a very sturdy metal frame in our local Barnardo's shop. I'd told him about it & when I was with him today he asked if we would go & look. Upshot was - he bought it - reduced by 20pct as DH will help him collect it and I don't have to try to make covers for it from a sail!!! DH will also help him take the old one to the tip as its gross after being outside for about 2 years!

meritaten

carolbee wrote: »

I saw a tip to grow lettuce in guttering, I've got the seeds and the guttering, so am going to set some seeds. I've already got inch high lettuce in pots in the greenhouse,so these can be the next batch, can only try!

I am so sorry carolbee - this made me laugh as I was envisaging you scampering up and down a long ladder to tend your plants! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

carolbee

meritaten wrote: »

I am so sorry carolbee - this made me laugh as I was envisaging you scampering up and down a long ladder to tend your plants! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Ha ha.
New fitness dvd coming out soon, keep fit with lettuce!

Siebrie

I am not sure whether I posted it on this thread, but dh has now taken the Thermos container with the wide neck to work five times with a hot lunch in, so we have our breakeven point and any time after this will be a profit.

Treasurequeen

I have found some rocket seeds in the back of the garage this morning so I will be sowing these in my troughs when the weather improves. My herb trough is looking ok and I have noticed some new green shoots coming up. I have already got established: Rosemary, parsley, oregano, chives, thyme, sage and mint. This year they will be dried and stored in glass jars for cooking. I will also be growing the rocket, tomatoes, raspberries and peppers. I usually make chilli tomato chutney as I have loads of tomatoes left over.

I buy my other herbs and spices in bulk from health food shops or world food shops as it works out cheaper and you get more for your money. I also half the packets with my mum so it works out even cheaper.

I have cut up loads of old greetings cards and made some pretty gift tags and the rest was cut up as notelets for shopping lists.