Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

Lynplatinum

Oooh dont mention earrings to me!! Gave away/ took to charity shops about 20 pairs before I moved (none valuable so not worth trying to sell!) I darent go and count what I have left - think I would hang my head so low in shame it would hit the floor!!

I do love me decorations - me mum used to say that I had more than a Christmas tree!! he he he

Cant claim any making do - food from stores and laptop + blanket keeping me warm so as not to waste friend's electricity
Can't claim any mending - as Im not at home!
Cant claim much minimising - a rather stressful situation has arisen with my tenant to the point where its getting all legalised! Hate it! I like to et on with folks - not be confrontational. Ergo been eating what shouldnt :-( Any tips on minimising anger folks?)
Nite all - back to frugaling week after next - all this living like ordinary folk gives me the jitters!!

iamsalt

Oh dear Lyn, all I can recommend for anger is long dog walks and a cleaning frenzy. They soon use up all my bad vibes although I don't forget. I may be making my first foray into renting out a flat I inherited, but I have been nervous about doing it, so I hope you resolve things soon.

Unexpected (well only agreed late yesterday) day off work today so just off to feed a friend's cat, then tidy the house and pop to the butcher to stock up for a couple of months. We make it a fun trip out as there is a cafe and orchards there to sit in/walk round.

Will be MMMing later!
S x

[Deleted User]

Good Morning chums had a great day yesterday with a mini-meet in Faversham.Macknades Farm shop is gorgeous, and the afternoon was spent nattering our way through coffee. Had a mooch round before I came home and treated myself to a few bits from my Happy Cash Stash.Some gorgeous cheese, and a jar red onion chutney, spices and some really lovely grapes. Lovely afternoon with two very nice ladies from this site Thank you Carolbee and NRA (Bev) you were great fun and I was lucky that my son-in-law came home early from work, so I didn't have to rush off too quickly for my DGS.

Today I shall be minimising some more of my freezer instead of food shopping I know I have some casserole lamb in there so I want to get that out and defrost and make a large SC pot of stew.I also have a bag of Y/S veg in there to use up as well. This will be cooked overnight tonight into a hot-pot which will be portioned up for ready meals for next week as I have some busy days coming up. So in effect I will be both minimising and making do :)
No mending at the moment but some more knitting to do with some squares for my charity blankets.
This should keep me busy and away from the temptations of food shopping over the weekend so minimising my spending as well Tomorrow I will make some melting moments biscuits for DGS as they were asking for some earlier in the week. I have put granulated sugar down on my food shopping list, as I want to get some in and whizz it up in the food mixer to make caster sugar for Christmas baking.No point spending extra on caster sugar when I can make it myself
Hope you all have a good weekend, only 10 weeks this Sunday until Christmas !!!

Cheers chums

JackieO xx

iamsalt

How funny JackieO, I was there yesterday, having popped into Brogdale too! I like to pop in every one to two months ( stops me buying more by going infrequently!), and the caf!s at both are nice and very different

Yesterday afternoon was spent sorting through papers which have piled up so folders have been juggled and brought into use, and a big pile of shredding has been created for oh to do. It felt good to minimise it.

Made do with leftover hm curry last night, having dropped a portion up to mum (our own version of meals on wheels ) so I know she is eating properly. I eked our our share with extra veg and it was lovely. Made a bolognase to be portioned for future meals using packs of read chopped veg previously bought for 5p and frozen!

Mend - not my triumph, but oh's. I had dropped my rechargeable radio outside and it hadn't been working unless plugged into the mains all the time. OH set at it with a screwdriver and 20 mins later it was working again. What joy to have it back working and able to take it down the garden when I am working there. He fixed his computer last week which saved loads of money. He is very clumsy usually but electronic things he seems to have an affinity with!
Library books due today, so that is being combined with getting tickets for a local event, then, back to tidying up and a wine and wisdom tonight so I will make some hm nibbles for that.
S x

carolbee

Didn't realise you were close to us Iamsalt, shall we let you know when we meet again, perhaps you could PM me your location?

[Deleted User]

carolebee looks like we may have another taker for our mini-meet Good Idea about another one before Christmas as I can stock up on some Christmas goodies to spoil the family with
The caramelised red chutney is gorgeous by the way, also the roquefort cheese ,I have saved some for my Saturday night treat tonight :):)

iamsalt

Had a lovely free day out picking grapes for a localish small vineyard. A happy day outside meeting new people. The owner provided breakfast, lunch and cake, and we took home a bottle of wine and a sense of achievement.

Busy week ahead but I have prepared some meals already, so I hope to minimise the freezer a bit, as well as making sure we are eating well.

Mending - I have a much loved pair of trousers that are too threadbare to wear in public, but I had started unpicking the seams so I could create a pattern. I never finished that job, so I WILL do that this week. It's a small but achievable goal.

We made do with leftovers from the wine and wisdom last night for supper this evening as we were too tired to cook.

S x

Floss

I've been keeping busy over the last few days... I picked up a too-small fair isle jumper in a charity shop last week for £4. While watching the tennis yesterday I unpicked the seams to make cushions for Christmas presents. I also sewed some velvet ribbon onto the scratchy inner neckline of a new cardi, and secured an escaping bra-wire.

We had chicken pie made with Thursdays l/o roast chicken and home grown veg, it made double portion of filling for a 2-meal pie for both of us so there's a pie kit in the freezer.

I made a big pan of soup with Lidl's 29p parsnips on Saturday which did two days lunches, with 2 more in the freezer.

Oh, and I fully minimised the ironing pile whilst watching rugby on Saturday, and minimising the hours of recorded TV yesterday!

[Deleted User]

Made another three squares for my charity blanket
Made do with a couple of crackers a bit of cheese and two apples for lunch

No mending as such but I did find a couple of brackets and some screws for a shelf that was in the cupboard under the stairs as DGS Mikey wants a shelf putting up in his bedroom. Screws found in a jam-jar at the back of said below stairs cupboard. So there is the materials for his shelf and its cost nothing. I forgot I had so much stuff in there :):)

savingpennies

Cold, wet and windy in my neck of the woods today. Driving back from my aqua-aerobics class, I noticed how all the trees near me seem to have suddenly turned yellow and the wind was blowing clouds of leaves across the road. Yes, the colder weather is certainly here and I have to admit it is one of my favourite times of year. There is something rather satisfying about hunkering down and making everything cosy.

Making do: I ferretted out all the hot water bottles yesterday and found the fluffy under-blankets for DDs' beds. I also charged all the rechargeable batteries for the torches/mouse/radio.
On Sunday I went collecting crab apples with one of my brothers and we came back with two carrier bags full - I'm not even sure we like crab apple jelly but will give it a try. He also gave me some chillis and I have used them to make chilli oil. One or two bottles might make good Christmas presents for a couple of friends.
Minimising: Tonight home made soup from the freezer with some nice organic bread from Booths - an occasional treat. I've used some left over chicken and made it into a pie with some mushrooms, so that is tomorrow's tea sorted.
Have a nice evening everyone.