Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

Lynplatinum

Evening All

mrs-moneypenny - sorry I didnt realise that you didnt know - I ve moved back home to Cornwall - and yes, it is bliss! My tiny house is 3/4 hrs walk from the beach but the sea air is wonderful after years of being stuck in a hot city. :j

Sailor Sam - this is the culmination of 35 years of longing to be back home and working hard to achieve it. Never give up on your dreams but realise that you have to work to achieve them. (also wanted a degree and worked hard to get that too )

Also be prepared to give somethings up in order to achieve your dreams - I think it is a Jesuit phrase which is 'Take what you want and pay for it, sayeth the Lord.' ergo in order to be able to live here and not do one of my two businesses - I have chosen to live frugally.

So I am on £10 for food and cleaning products and £10 for Happy Stash per week. Then I 'Tilly Tidy' what ever is left in my purses at the end of the week gets put into various saving pots. This week I have £1.70 left over :j Very pleased with self!!

Still put 2 meals into the freezer and most of a loaf of bread (bought from a bakers at end of the day and cost 80p for a delicious seeded loaf). Have also one egg left and am building up stocks of store cupboard foods (should I not be able to get out) so last week I bought some museli and a tin of kidney beans for the cupboard.
Will get my next lot of money out tomorrow and buy stuff that is on offer from L!dil! Will let you know what bargains I get! I did see for those of you that like Cathed!ral C!ty cheese that it is on offer in the co-op here for £2 + rather than £4+
dND - thanks for the tips re moths but dont think they will fit - for years they have been stored with lavender which seems to be keeping the little *** at bay - having just moved my pots with lavenders in down here I notice they are due for a hair cut!
Nite all

mrs-moneypenny

Lyn it does sound worth cutting back for the trade if of more peace and quieter living must surely outweigh the stress and bustle of two jobs and city living.

Morning mmmers
All rubbish and recycling is being collected today so that will minimise a huge amount. Skip is coming next week so more can go into the space left in that.
Plan to make a cake today which will use up some eggs.
Will make do with sonething from the fridge and freezer for food today as nothing is planned yet.

misstara

Morning all

Me and OH minimised a lot of junk yesterday by taking it to the waste centre. While there, we managed to pick up a big TV, someone had obviously upgraded their TV and just dumped the old one which was in great condition. So minimising future spends as well - we had been thinking about buying a TV later on in the year to replace our ancient one.

Meal plan has been made for next week and we did the food shop yesterday. Not much else to report, hope everyone has a good day.

Allthatglitter

Morning everyone
Can I join in,I'm rubbish with my money I spend so much on beauty and snacks/meals on the go.
I'd really like to start saving for a house now as I've just finished uni and am living with my parents.
I love reading all your tips

mrs-moneypenny

Welcome allthatglitter, there are a few threads that may be of help to you. This one obviously, then there's a no buying toiletries thread but you need to be careful on that as some people post bargains they find and recommend things so try not to get tempted.
The monthly grocery challenge is another good one and it has a brilliant recipie section at the front, meal planning might help you to get out of the buying food and snacks on the go. Have a look round the boards most people are friendly and will over tips or advice.

Hope you get on ok.

Hard_Up_Hester

I haven't posted on this thread for ages but I have been busy minimising.

We are decorating for the next two weeks as hubby has holiday so I'm getting rid of as much stuff as possible whilst still leaving the house looking like it's lived in. I visited another charity and donated 12 fleeces and coats belonging to hubby.

A local charity came last Thursday and took 3 bookcases and an ottoman, they can have the rest of the furniture once the house is sold.

Yesterday I put out a set of garden chairs and a washing basket by my bin and it all got taken, today it's hair straighteners, more chairs and a bedside cabinet.

I'm making do by borrowing red kettle and other stuff from my DIL to dress the kitchen and borrowing wicker baskets from my DD to dress the bathroom.

I did buy a purple towel for the bathroom and 2 red tea towels for the kitchen, I spent less than £10.

Hubby has minimised the car loan of £3000 as he had a pension from years ago, it was going to pay out less than £7 a month so he took it as a lump sum, the rest is in a savings account.

hollysnan

I have been missing for awhile I got quite sick they think is was the medication I was on.
I am starting to feel better so I hope that was all it was.
Lyn your home and area sound lovely I hope you enjoy for many years to come.

I will restart what I started last week to get rid of the clothes I might fit into again.
Also some dust collectors from the bedroom, they and the clothes will go to the CS.

Also trying to knit a few little cardigans for my DD whos due her first baby in Oct.
Its very slow going as I have arthritis in my fingers and I only able to do a few rows at a time.

Hard_Up_Hester

Lovely to hear your news Lynn.
Holly's Nan I hope you getting better.
Today I cleared one of hubby's cupboards and minimised a binbag full of paperwork.

savingpennies

I can see everyone's been busy. I've been away visiting my friend in France. She has a place in lovely little rural village - half of which seems to be falling down. Life there seems to be much slower than where I live - much food for thought. One of the things we did every time we went out was take food with us: sandwiches, fruit and a bottle of water. It was lovely eating outside in the sunshine, though I have to say it got a bit too hot for me and OH on occasions.
Minimising: I made a food plan for the week before I went shopping on Thursday. I just now need to do this every week so that i can watch the budget. Yesterday was lovely here and I spent time minimising weeds and odd pots I had lying around in the garden.
Make do: with food from the freezer, and courgettes from the garden.
Mend: looking at me as I type. I bought some new needles for the sewing machine so now have no excuse.

cuddlymarm

Hi all
I hope you don't mind me joining in. OH has just taken early retirement so we are at the next bit of life's adventure.
We aim to travel and enjoy the sun as much as possible while managing on as little as possible.
The first step is to move back up north which we are doing in the autumn but as we have a lovely little villa in Florida aim to get as much use out of it until we can't afford or don't want to keep it, are going out in Sept to have a frugal holiday/ decorate. Then we have a week to pack up ready to move.
So I need to run things down and only buy what we really need.

So today is
Make - Roast turkey leg with potatoes, green beans and gravy. ( I'm using up what's floating round in the freezer rather than doing my usual weekly shop) also I plan on doing some little cakes at the same time.
Mend - not sure yet
Minimise - go through a cupboard, pack and get rid of stuff never going to be used again. Probably not much because OH got the urge to minimise a couple of weeks ago so loads went to the charity shop then.

This is quite a learning curve because although we have enough to live comfortably this will only be if we think before we spend. We can't just pop whatever we fancy on the credit card any more and the bank of mum and dad is definately closed. This has come a few years sooner than expected due to OHs ill health so is quite scary, but with your guys support I know we do ok.

Cuddles