Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

iamsalt

Oh how exciting JackieO that will be an added celebration of new beginnings for your family.

RL has been interfering with my MMM, but despite being horrendously busy with work and family only one non home made meal has been eaten in 3 weeks. In the past it would have been many more, but we have made do with things from the freezer, omlettes, and sandwiches and soup- tinned or frozen hm. This has made me feel content that I can cope with things life throws at us, and batch cooking when calmer days happen is really worth the investment of time, both for the money not spent and also our health. A definite making do, and minimising of the freezer.

I had to re-sow seeds which my cat had helpfully dug up. I have had to cover the bed to give the seedlings a chance of survival. Mending there!

We have decided to remodel the house as I find it really awkward to live in, and so any savings we make will go towards that, as well as some savings I had already. So taking inspiration from others here, I will focus on what I can save from outgoings to keep the savings topped up while I spend on the work, looking out for bargains along the way. By doing the work I would stAy in the house long term, rather than constantly hankering to move so I think it's worth the effort to rein in spending elsewhere.
S x

savingpennies

Hi All,
Thank you Lynplatinum for the tip about taps and washers. I'll have a look tomorrow to see I can do anything before I call anyone out.
I've been away with the family (mum, OH, DDs and youngest's boyfriend) for a week to Center Parcs. We go once a year and really enjoy it. We MMM whilst we are there. Mum brought a big hotpot, DD2 and her boyfriend (an Italian chef) brought a lasagne, ragu for bolognaise and then made a lovely cream and pepper pasta later in the week. I take the slow cooker and made chilli one night and chicken casserole another. I also took lots of tinned fish, cheese and fruit, if anyone felt peckish during the day plus stuff for breakfast.
We save all our loose change and £2 coins to pay for activities and try to keep it cheap as much as possible - swimming, badminton, squash, walking, crazy golf, etc.
Make do: Now back home, OH suggested he went out to get fish and chips for tea - I stopped him and got some cottage pies I had made out of the freezer, which are defrosting as I speak and I've frozen broccoli and sprouts to serve with them.
Minimising: I'm starting on knitting some hot water bottle covers tonight as I 'minimise' all my favourite TV programmes recorded whilst I've been away.
Mending: I've a bit of sewing to do - repairing a seam in a jacket pocket, lining a knitted hat I made with some fleece to make it warmer (the wind seemed to whistle through it) and stitching some buttons back on DD1's coat.

Lynplatinum

Hiya All

Wow Jackie - what a great incentive to keep on minimising the weight - you have done so well already I am sure you can keep going! What a nice thing to look forward to!

Today spent over at a friend's - i took my other friend's doggie that I am dog sitting over with me and we had a fantastic long walkies along the beach. My friend cooked a large roast and so have come home to the house I am house sitting with another 2 days worth of food - bless em. So that will be a saving for me!! So a free day out; free exercise; free laughs watching the lovely little dog gamboling in the waves and chasing sticks; free food; free heating!! Wow!

So minimising - both me and rubbish stuff on laptop as have had time to de gunk it!
Make do - my friend whom I am house sitting far apologised for have a low stock of food! Still made my self lunch - boiled egg; lettuce (growing out side in a trough); tomatoes and cucmber (bought from my place); ryvita. Evening meal - jacket potatoes and cheese and pickle and some brocoli steamed! She did ask me to eat up any fresh veg etc BTW. :rotfl:
Mend - nowt!

Will go shopping tomorrow for some fresh veg to go with the beef........ hang on a mo ........ there is a butternut squash and some peas in the freezer and still some baby potatoes to go plus eggs that she asked me to finish - and flour - think American pancakes are calling for breakfast veg problem solved and have fruit I bought with me + another egg salad for lunch!!! Maybe I wont have to go shopping just yet !!:)

Hummm we'll see!
Nite all!

kangamama

Where did yesterday go? It was rather busy!


Make do - tea was pasta from the freezer (homemade ready meals!)
Mend - I replaced a battery in the living room wall clock, does that count? I was busy crocheting a mermaid tail for a friend so no free time (she asked me to make one yesterday and needs it for tomorrow to post off as a gift!)
Minimise - I listed a load of stuff on local Facebook pages to sell and have interest in a couple of things


Today I would love to say it would be less hectic but I'm working until 4 then my eldest has band practice tonight so I'll be taxiing. Nothing left in my mending pile of clothes as I got those done last Friday, I need to glue some fabric back in place on my bedside lampshade. Hopefully I'll remember to do that!

mrs-moneypenny

Morning mmmers
Hope everyone is as well as can be.
I've spent most of the morning round mils, her heatings not working, rang boiler company and they talked me though various things, topping up boiler, bleeding rads, resyncing thermostat with boiler, and rebooting boiler. I was impressed with myself but made mil as nervous as heck! Nothing seemed to work so going to send someone out in the week to look at it for her. Hopefully they can fix it. After work I plan on reading the fences to some wood stain, Dh helped me put plastic unr the panels last night so I don't drip on the concrete bases. He's on a course today so won't be back till late. I'm hoping to get it all done as it will be a job off the half term list if I can.
Meals today will be make do and tonight I'll knit or read.

[Deleted User]

Made do with some porridge from the container in the kitchen instead of using up the eggs for breakfast (they will be used in my baking )
It was really nice to have a bowl of filling warming porridge as well,another sign of colder mornings I make mine the way my little Scots Mum taught me to with water and a sprinkle of salt and a bit of milk round the outside once dished up

Mending : well not so much mending as a bit more knitting,I did another square for my charity blanket.I knit for The Linus Trust and try to do around 3-4 squares a day if I can

Minimising : hopefully my waistline with the filling porridge :):)

Happy_One

Made do with some left over bread for toast,we never start a new loaf till all the old one has gone. Minimised,my weight I hope, by going out for a three mile walk with the walking group,did'nt cost me a penny either
Mended the pocket in my OHs jacket,his loose change won't fall into the lining now
Got some reduced very nice fresh cod fillets from the supermarket so that's our evening meal sorted.Will spend the evening knitting so I will have something to take to knit and natter group tomorrow,can't take my main project but love to make little hats for the prem babies at our local neonatal unit,easy to natter while knitting these!

Lynplatinum

Evening all friends,

So am viewing being at my friend's as being on holiday!! But since it is in a village in the middle of nowhere it is good as there is only the local shop to buy stuff in (which is good but a bit pricy).

My other friend I went to visit yesterday gave me several slices of roast beef left over from yesterday! Bless him! So went to Asd! this morning to buy veg to go with it. (feel it would be very cheeky to eat all of my friend's veg up. So tried those frozen 'pouches' of veg. very nice actually but expensive (but dont want to buy loads and over stuff her freezer). Have also bought some soups for lunch along with some rye low cal crackers. Am going from the sublime to the ridiculous - have got their middle range tinned, their top of the range tinned and one chilled one - well it was spiced butternut squash!

Am hoping this healthy shop will minimise me!! (no cake shops/bakeries/ supermarkets fresh baking/ice cream parlour within walking distance to tempt me!)

So: Make do - left over gifted beef!!! :A Also blanket on lap to save friend's heating bills and the planet!
Minimising - effort needed to prep food as a holiday treat but also minimising me as it is almost instant and yet healthy!
Mend - nowt as am not home!
Hope all had a good day
Nite all

kangamama

Today is another day! I never did glue that lampshade and it won't happen tonight as we won't be in until 7 (parent's evening then manning the book fair at school after work) then a friend is popping round at 8 so it'll be hectic!


I did, sensibly, cook tea last night though so when my mum picks the kids up from school she can quickly feed them for me or they can bring it with them. That's minimising the chance of us buying a takeaway lol


Off work until Monday after today though so hopefully I'll have more time to sort myself out!

kkffoo

Make Do:

I cut the tops off some pairs of socks with too tight elastic, and ran a couple of machine zig-zag stitches round the tops to stop the worst of the fraying. Wearing these up under trousers.
Threaded some elastic through a nice warm bobble hat which was a little loose in the brim.

Mend:

Practising my darning and hole mending techniques. Decided I actually like hand-sewing when I have the time and inclination, and am enjoying the satisfaction and challenge of recycling. My first attempts a few months ago (hubby's jumper elbows) were somewhat hopeless, but I am improving.
One of a cheapy knicker pack had what looked like a packing / machine cut in one side and I stabilised the slash with a jersey patch behind the cut. This will be a good trial for technique should something more expensive, or visible need attention.


Minimise:

After finding links to project 333 on this forum I tackled my winter wardrobe, and found the tips very handy.

I have been using "Wendy Mak's 1000 outfits from 30 pieces" which was great for making a start and tackling the anxiety of letting go. I'm finding project 333's rules are easier to remember and implement for my style!

Decided to move several items into the 'lounge wear' category, and I'm now wearing up lesser worn best items for housework.
Minimising my earrings into to the two items I have remaining from the 33 might be beyond me though!