Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

FunBrum

Hi.....haven't you all been busy?!:T

I've minimised again on my shopping, and in fact haven't shopped for nearly 2weeks.:j

My hiking boots needed new laces but I made do with a pair of very long laces left over from a mixed size packet I had. My boots are black and they are orange, but I don't mind....it saved me some dosh!:D

I need to sew a button on my jacket but it's a bit late to be trying to thread a needle tonight!:rotfl:

IrisViolet

Hi all, I was on this thread last year but stopped posting along the line somewhere. Happy to see a 2016 one. This year I really must get into gear with old-style, I've been dabbling for years but never full embraced despite how happy it makes me. Whenever I feel I'm going to spend I've made a deal with myself to come on here first and have a read of these threads!! Which is exactly what I just did when I found myself filling a basket on la redouteeee.

I have been minimising quite well for a few years and sort have much clutter, trying to keep on top of it now helps. This week I have minimised my paperwork, sorted outgrown clothes. I want to make curtains toehide my drier and washing machine and also to hide the dip under my stairs where the boiler is and I hide my hoover and mop etc. Well I was going to buy fabric but I've gone through my sheets and fabric stash and found some stuff to use that otherwise would just be sat in a box. So will do that tomorrow.

Trying to use the not buying it thread to. Just almost bought my dd a new coat as I know shed live a parka and this one was 60%off. But it's still £25, and she has a lovely warm, waterproof and beautiful coat that I only bought 3 months ago. Not buying it!!!!!

Been taking extra care with my food stocks making sure there is no waste. I have been freezing fruit before it turns if I don't think it will be used. Works well for me as I drink a lot of smoothies. Also chopping and freezing veg etc. Today I made a basil pesto with some close to turn basil. I will have it tomorrow or freeze it if not. In the past it would have been chucked but not now. I used to be terrible with food. Also saved the potato skins from tonight's spuds. Think I will make cheesy skins tomorrow to have with BBq sauce.

Lynplatinum

Evening All

Im back in positive frame of mind now. :j

Thanks for advice Gran 3 and Vulpix and others. I have spoken to son and told him I will loan him some cash to get his rent almost up todate but on condition that a) the GF sits down with me and fills in all the benefit forms which I will then send off + he sits down at same time and does a Martin budget. Also he must go to work for a whole month before I will loan him (hopefully it will get him into habit) - I may turn up at work at anytime to check. If he/she doesnt like or welches on the deal then no loan! Simples!! So I help keep a roof over head but also help them to sort em selves out!!

Vulpix - have just got rid of all the plaster dust - I so know how you feel - I found myself going to me mates to get away from it all! It will be good once its all over.
Minimise - ate up some breaded haddock from stores today!
Make do - sat reading my Writers Group submissions wrapped in my faithful blankie in a patch of sunshine in the bay window of my house today - so cosy!! Reminded me of being a kid when I used to cuddle up to my mum underneath her large cardi while she read me stories. :A
Mend - nowt today!!
Had a brilliant Writers Group Meeting - they are just such talented and nice people!!! Fascinating to see how their work progresses! Am also learning to write constructive criticism at a deeper level than that which children need!:)
Hence late post
Goin to bed now - nite all

GreyQueen

IrisViolet, when I'm tempted to go buy something to start/ complete a project, I'm trying to pause and consider if I have something already which could fit the purpose.

Like imagining that there are no shops or that there is literally no money to buy anything, no matter how small an expense. It's astonishing to me how often you can get an easy workaround with nil expenditure. And I consider myself pretty hardcore at MMM and am still learning new tricks.

Got a day off today and am planning on treating myself to a daytime showing of the S t a r W a r s movie. We have several cinema chains in the city and I am about to cruise for the best price, rather than just fall through the door of the nearest one.

Have a good day, folks.

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

I had a very productive day yesterday, so hoping for the same today.
Yesterday I managed to minimize the last of a bag of spinach and top up the veg in my lunch, so also a making do. I don't think I mended anything.

OH has a parent's evening tonight so I'll be on my own for tea and for screen free evening. I've planned what to do with my evening--knitting, a radio drama and maybe some reading--but I need to figure out what to have for tea. Last night's tea didn't make a lunch for me today and I'll need one for tomorrow so I'll have a think about what I can make and eat for three portions. Hopefully it won't require buying much (if anything!). That will be my making do.

Today is a gym day, and I need to pick up a couple of things for my parents as I'm mailing them a box, but otherwise I'll be working from home. Although I rarely think about it anymore, that minimizes my transport costs.

Lyn, glad you're feeling more positive today!

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Won't really have time to mend anything today but am still working through the freezer, Dh is having what's left of last nights lasagne for lunch and I'm doing a pie of some kind for tea using what in. Afters will be the last of dhs birthday cake from the weekend.

Have a good day all

GreyQueen

FPK, maybe you could post what foodstuffs you have to use up and we could offer some suggestions?

Just been checking out the cinema's websites and the prices are all to within about 30p of each other (funny how often that lack of competion occurs in a nominally-capitalistic market, isn't it?!) so have decided to go to the one whose timing suits me best.

By checking out the start, finish and running time, I've worked out that SW is preceded by 20 mins of trailers. Grrrrr! I really hate watching trailers for movies aimed at US teens and adverts for things I never buy, particularly if it means I spend the last part of the proper movie with crossed legs needing a bathroom break.:rotfl:

So, I know what time I'll be going into that particular showing, and that will be with only 5 mins of the adverts left. I am also not going to be buying any food to take in there with me, but may have a small bottle of water from home, in case I get a tickly cough.

FairyPrincessk

That is a good suggestion GQ, although I don't have anything that needs using immediately. The two things going bendy--parsnips and celery--are earmarked for something early next week or perhaps this weekend. All of the perishables in the fridge are spoken for since I've done away with the spinach, bar a few spring onions, chillis, ginger, 1/4 cabbage and two carrotts--all of which will easily roll into next week if not used.

Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Pasta
Rice
Cous Cous
Pesto
Artichokes
Tuna (but eating some with jacket spuds tomorrow night so will probably avoid)
Tinned Toms
Nuts
Dates
Most kinds of flour/Sugar/leavening/baking ingredients
Eggs
Cheddar
Parmesan
Most of the herbs and spices known to humans and probably some that aren't but currently out of chives, parsley and cumin seeds (but plenty of ground cumin).
Green and Red lentils
Pearl barley
Bulgar Wheat
Quinoa (not such a fan)
Various condiments

Freezer has emergency oven chips, frozen fruit in various forms and pre-cooked things that are reserved for future meals.

I have plenty to work with, my main challenge is keeping it healthy, filling and interesting. I could do a pot of tomato soup and cheese toasties for protein/carbs which would cover two meals, and use the spring onions and chillis with some eggs on toast and a cabbage and ginger salad for another meal. Given today is a gym day I'll try to think of something a bit more filling, I'll also try to work in another green veg. If I can find some broccoli I might do a broccoli cheese pasta bake with a cabbage and ginger salad. I'll probably cruise the YS sections when I go out for the stuff for mum and dad.

Sometimes I plan what I'll have when I'm on my own, but other times I think I enjoy a bit of a free-style challenge!

silvasava

Just popping in to share a small LBM - DH's little treat is. unsalted cashew nuts from liddly and they come in a nice resealable foil pouch. I am keeping it to store my half cucumbers in as its far more robust than tin foil

MrsCD

Hughesfamily wrote: »

We did this last year with 8 of ours and offered them on freecycle, someone collected some for a craft project she had and the rest went to the local dogs home for bedding.

The old cushion pads are going to the nursery where DD works to be converted into various items. At the moment some of the children are pretending to be animals so they will be 'bedding' for them! Good idea about the dogs home. x