Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

SillyLily

That is GENIUS!! Thank you for posting this (even though it wasn't meant for me!)!!! I was given several pairs of capris that I wanted to turn into shorts, but I didn't feel skilled enough to fix them on my own. This looks like something I can handle! You have just saved me money and added to my wardrobe! I could just hug you!! :-)

Rolandtheroadie

In the past couple of weeks, I've replaced the ceramic hob as a second ring went (£100) and the extractor that has been broke for a while (£100).
Those were needed, but apart from that, I've repaired the washing machine that broke a couple of years ago (I don't throw much away). That was needed to replace the replacement as the bearing has failed (repair costs around £20) and the double oven element went (£18 for a new element) The oven was originally a £25 ebay purchase a couple of years ago, repaired with a £20 part.
Not repaired recently, but our dishwasher was a 99p spares or repairs purchase a couple of years ago. Just cleaned some of the internals, no cost for the repair.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All
Sorry I ve not been on for a couple of day RL of changing address on everything taking up much time at moment!!

So missed giving you, Jackie O (sorry) my sweet potato curry recipie - but for another time:
For 4 people:

large sweet potato (about 500g worth when peeled)
Large onion
2 cloves garlic
1 LEVEL desertspoon Patack's curry paste (preferably Garam massala one)
tablespoon mango chutney
tablespoon saltanas (optional)
!/2 block of coconut or one tin of coconut milk

Method
1) dice onion; dice sweet potato into chunks about 1 inch square ish and saute slowly until all are starting to turn brown.
2) add diced garlic and curry paste - ensure that the paste has a bit of a fry for a few moments till you can smell the spices
3) add chutney, saltanas and enough water to cover. bubble gently for 15-20 mins - test to see if potatoes are cooked with point of a knife
4) add coconut block - stir frequently till dissolved - you need to keep an eye on it here as the block is the thickening agent! If using coconut milk bubble until it thickens - again keep an eye on it

Why use coconut block?? Well, if you reduce the recipie for one or two (as I do) you dont then have half a tin of coconut milk hanging around. The block will keep for 3 months OK once opened - if covered and in fridge
Why use Patack curry paste? I used to park my car round the back of 4 Indian resturants - they all used it !!! :rotfl: I could see the big cans of it through their back doors!! Though sometimes, if I want a more subtle flavour I use my own mix of spices.

My NBI regime is going well - have bought a pint of milk and Loo roll today but still have a few coins left - amazing what you can do if you try! Thanks for the inspiration folks :A
Nite all

Siebrie

Thank you, Charlies Aunt, it seems do-able. Even if it does not work out perfectly, the trousers were free, and I am mainly behind my desk, which hides my legs

milasavesmoney

Minimized a packet of Jello (jelly) that had been in my pantry for ? years and made a cake. Since I have begun to use things up and not buy more, I can see progress in cutting down my food hoard. We raised six children and I was conditioned to buying vast quantities of food items. It's been a work in progress not to do this....youngest has been gone 10 years. Now, I try to really be cognisent of what I'm buying and not just throw stuff in my basket. Shopping with a list has helped. Of course, if something we use is on sale for a good price >>>>all bets are off!

elona

mila

I was used to cooking for six of us and more and even now I am on my own my daughters tease me about shopping and cooking so much. They do this a lot less now that I package up and freeze the excess which means I have home cooked food but also that they can take frozen meals home when they are extra busy at work.

DD reminded me last night it was a "taster night" at the slimming club and could I cook an extra dish for her to take. I ended up making a fish pate with cucumber and green pepper sticks and a large quiche with rice and veg.

Most of the building work has been done and I have special blinds on the velux windows upstairs so family can sleep better when they stay over. My bedroom is a tip just now but will get sorted out tomorrow when my new slimmer and higher chest of drawers
arrives. A lot of things have already been given away and my china cabinet now looks so much better and uncluttered that even dds have noticed it.

The builder came round and brought the antique rocking chair of DHs which now looks lovely and I was really touched when he said he and his wife wanted to treat me to the work done as a gesture .

Once the big bedroom is sorted I need to look at the integral garage and get things like toiletries, cleaners and laundry liquids
put away out of sight but still easily found.

One of the best things I did recently was get an under sink set of plastic shelves which meant I could easily find and reach laundry capsules, dish washer tablets, spray cleansers etc.

Hard_Up_Hester

Today I advertised a basin on Freegle, hopefully it will be collected this evening, and a growlight on FB, hopefully someone will want that too.

cuddlymarm

Hi everyone
I've done well over the last couple of days. The outdoor storage is now empty and three of the four sold. The outside decking is sold and the man is starting dismantling Monday .
Also I've told OH that I'm not buying any more food between now and the holiday so be ready for odd combination meals so that the freezer can be turned off ready to move.
So that's the minimising and the make do.
The mending was rescuing the dogs toy by giving it a trim and removing the stuffing and squeak before he ate them so he can still play with it. He's a lovely little pup I'll miss him when he goes home to his family on Saturday.
I'm making the most of the lovely weather today. The housework will still be there when it's raining.
All this talk of sweet potatoes is making me hungry but I'm determined not to buy anything else till my food mountain has gone.
Anyway I'd better go.
Cuddles.

Treasurequeen

I haven't been on here for a while my health has taken a turn for the worst and I have been taken off my meds onto a new drug and have been feeling pretty bad. Went into sainsbobs on Thursday and got my kenco coffee YS as the lid was damaged. Also got a few other bits YS so saved a bit of money this week on my regular shop. I've managed to make a batch of red pepper and butternut squash soup and freezed some which will do me 3 lunches. Minimised the last of the spinach for tea and put it in a cheese and garlic sauce with things from the freezer. I am determined to use up what's in the freezer before I do my next freezer shop. I have sorted out my filing box by buying some suspension files from wilko as I wasn't prepared to pay £9.00:eek: managed to get them for £1.50 in wilko so very happy.

Nothing mended but did make my Christmas decorations today does that count. I have A pile of dog toys to fix tomorrow. They all need life saving surgery :rotfl:

RicardaRacoon

Evening all

Can I join? Normally post in the NBI tread but lurk around here for quite a while now.

Sorry to read that so many aren't well. Hope it will brighten up for you!

Have "spring" cleaned my whole flat which had taken me about 8 hours spread over the last two evenings and this morning but all spick and span now, only need to clean the oven tomorrow and there is no excuse for not doing it as I've already sprayed it with cleaner and I will need it tomorrow to bake muffins and sterilize jam jars, so will have to clean it if I feel like it or not. And somewhen next week I will finally have to clean the kitchen window, cleaned all other windows a while ago and somehow forgot about that one...

Besides I've been to town, bought a bday pressie for my sister which turned out to be half price and then treated myself to a tea and a piece of cake. Have taken my knitting with me so spent a lovely hour drinking tea and knitting in a very quite cafe where everyone was busy reading or doing crosswords.

Make do: does it count that I put jam glasses on my shopping list and then realized that I could just as well ask my parents if they have any to spare? They have and so I will get some from there

Mend: nothing. But at least finally located all the tights with holes and added them to the mending pile ready to be dealt with tomorrow

Minimised; filled a big rubbish bag over the last two days plus a smaller bag with some clothes to donate and a big pile of stuff to bring to recycling

Really need to list two dresses and a pair of shoes on €bay soon as they were quite expensive and I wore them only two or three times, so I don't want to just put them into the donation bag...

Have a nice evening everyone