Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

pinkypig

Managed a thrifty day .
Last night's meal plan had to be adapted as the kids both had friends over unexpectedly and what I had wouldn't stretch (to few sausages) so I made HM pizza, salad and wedges instead.
Made do - used what ever toppings I could find which was a bit of chorizo, cheese, onions and some YS herbs from the freezer. Also used slightly soft potatoes for wedges.
Minimised - lots of fridge odds and ends for pizza toppings and some left hm over dough balls from the freezer.
No mending.
Took left over pizza and salad to work for lunch and the kids took some in their packed lunches so no waste at all :money:

MrsCD

Themadvix, how do you make your wraps, please?

At the weekend ,I took what I thought was a chunk of brisket from the freezer to defrost, but when I opened the bag, it turned out to be a shoulder of lamb! It was cooked in the slow cooker overnight on Saturday, and has done 4 Sunday dinners and sandwiches for DH and me for the last two days. I was slightly dubious about using it as it had been in the freezer for a couple of years, but it was absolutely fine. Mind you I haven't told anyone but you, my mmm friends, because I don't think they would understand!;)

No mending at the moment, but I have finished the baby blanket. Lucy from attic 24's easy ripple pattern, but all in white.

Monnagran, I keep forgetting to say how pleased I was to hear about your lovely family buying you a new sewing machine. They are a credit to you.:T

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all.
Hope everyone is well.
Cape got made and taken into school yesterday, and Dh helped me fold the market stall cover neatly, that is being returned to its owner tomorrow.

Doing a days gardening at work today so lots of plants are going out of the kitchen window that have been growing there plus some garden canes and a few other bits I can use there. Minimises a few things and gives me a bit of the windowsill back.

Food will be from the fridge/ freezer tonight, I'm thinking quorn and leek pie as I have all the ingredients in for that.

Have a good day all.

themadvix

Hi All,

Definitely trying to be back on the wagon this week. DH away tonight, so making do with Quorn meatballs freezer meal - I froze it a couple of weeks ago, feeling very smug with myself - especially as normally we'd have polished off the lot in one go.

DH really enjoyed wraps for lunch yesterday, and has requested we have them more often. They don't last brilliantly, so I'll have to make a big batch and freeze, but at least they're quicker than bread to actually make. MrsCD I use Dan Lepard's recipe - I don't think I'm allowed to post it on here but it's in his Short and Sweet book, which I know they have copies of in our local library. They're very quick to make and delicious - it's rare that the whole pile make it to lunches and I don't eat one straight out of the pan. I sometimes turn them into tortilla 'chips' if we're having guest around (the whole no-plastic thing means I don't buy crisps). They go down very well - just cut up, brushed with oil and baked for about 7 mins.

Have 8 things listed on eBay, so hoping to do some more minimising this week! Will also be minimising the sympathy card I keep in stock, as discovered that our elderly neighbour passed away last week. We didn't know him well, but it's sad nonetheless.

No mending to speak of.

HOWMUCH

Good evening all you fellow MMMer's, it's been a beautiful day here I ironed what I'd washed yesterday at DD this morning. I also put her another load in and pegged it out. I went and collected DGS from nursery at 12 I'd dropped him off at 9 we jumped on the bus and came to see Grandpa and had lunch with him I pegged my washing out. Went back to DD fetched the washing in and ironed it too, so it's all been put away. Called at co-op near DD's managed to get 4 Warburtons wholemeal loaves YS to 29p each a round flat lettuce YS to 19p and a whole cucumber YS to 29p.

Hugs to all those who need one x

pinkypig

Hi everyone, I must say that checking in on here is very therapeutic not to mention effective as feeling accountable is keeping me focused.
I did have a small spend today on cheesecake ingredients to cheer up a distraught, exam weary DS and it was worth every penny. I got all the ingredients from Aldi and they came in at £1.66 plus some butter which I had at home and it made a huge cheesecake which will be an end of exam treat and half will go in the freezer for another time so maybe not such an extravagance after all.
So my day was not a completely thrifty success but I did manage to;
Minimise - my ironing pile, its gone for the first time in two weeks:j
Make do. - made tea from freezer stuff, toad in the hole, roast veg, red wine gravy (using left over red wine frozen in ice use trays which is a great tip I got from on here). We were going to have this on Monday but I had unexpected visitors so it got shunted down the meal plan.
Mend - nothing apart from maybe DS's sense of well being (I hope).
Hope you've all had a good day. X

mrs-moneypenny

Morning mmmers
Hope everyone is well.
Market stall cover h been turned to its owner this morning so that's freed up a chair again in the lounge.
Minimising my grey roots and split ends this afternoon and hope to clear the ironing pile this morning.
I may do some knitting this evening.
Had a screen free evening last night as we were childless for the evening - lads were at a less than make concert.

pinkypig

Hi everyone.
Today has been lovely, sunny and warm. It doesn't half lift your spirits and your energy levels. Our area was devastated by the floods - it feels like its been a long and miserable winter. Thank goodness it seems to be over although this time last week we had snow:eek:
I did my first big shop of May for £40.20 including pet food and a few toiletries so I was pleased with that. I did a meal plan and made a list and stuck to it. My only deviation was a pasta jar and utensil set which I've had my eye on for a while. The first reduction was to £6.99 but today they were 3.49 so I got one for myself and one for my present cupboard but that's a different budget.
Today's efforts included;
Minimise - left overs in the fridge. I had a lone portion of soup and found a granary roll in the freezer for lunch and used up some left over wedges with tea.
Made do - I'm quite proud of this one:). Having made fish pie for tomorrow's tea plus two for the freezer I had a large pile of potato peelings so I gave the potato peelings soup recipe a go. I was a bit sceptical and I did pimp it up a bit by grating in the dried up end of a piece of parmesan and a dollop of double cream left over from making my cheesecake but it was delicious. Adding a stock cube, 500ml of milk from my YS glut, an onion, a bay leaf some chives from the freezer made enough for about 8 lunches from something that I would normally have just chucked in the bin :money:
Mending - none (again - I'm a bit rubbish at this one so i'll try and think of things for the weekend).

vhalla1478

Hi Everyone,

Just to say I'm back from my wonderful 3 week holiday in Italy, with some new recipes and a sense of awe as to how some of my friend's neighbours make and grow practically everything! Her next door neighbour, for example, keeps sheep, goats, a cow, grows most of her veg, makes cheese, passata, salami etc and has a fabulous garden as well! Will catch up later, have to dao a supermarket shop and come down to earth with a bump. Hope all is well with everyone.

Viv xx

HOWMUCH

Hello all you MMMer's ,
Welcome back Viv, sounds like you've had a fab time.

Mending : spiral toy seam.
Make do : food from the freezer and cupboard.
Minimising : washing at DD today I've washed 3 dressing gowns, taking advantage of the good weather.
I've booked another 4 night break for next month, we gave breaks booked for May, June and July now plus our 11 night break in October we've already been on one in March the week before Easter. Being a mmmer has enabled this to happen and they are mmmer breaks too mostly costing £15 per night self catering, giving us freedom to do as we please.
Hugs to all those who need one x