Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2016

Secretstasher

Hi all.
Wow everyone has been doing so much. I keep reading the posts and they are keeping me going - all very inspirational to a fairly new MMM thank you :T
I have had a busy weekend - minimising the garage of Some of the boxes that have moved with us over the years but never get emptied at all. Pleased that I now have a small gangway to walk between the rest :rotfl:
As I am away from Wednesday for the rest of the week, I have not bought anything other than milk and bananas. Making do with what is in store cupboards and freezer and the last bits out of the fridge. My days away money is accounted for separately so as long as I don't get too relaxed won't go mad spending anymore.
I can't knit but reading about what a lot of you do with knitting and crocheting I am determined that I will learn how to and start using some of my daughters stash that she seems to have accumulated but forgotten about. I am not a patient person so will be interesting to see how I get along. Am also planning on trying out some of the cooking tips that I have read about too.
I have though started mending a jacket of my husbands that has a tear inside. It was going to cost £30 which I thought was a bit steep so resolved to do it myself
I have been to work today too very productive when I cleared a big pile of paperwork, can now see my desk so a result.
Have a lovely evening everyone and thanks again for your inspiration.

meritaten

I have been knitting for 50 years Secretstasher - but, even this old dog can learn new tricks in knitting and crochet - and I have done so via youtube! for example I never learned how to do that pretty picot edge and couldn't understand printed instructions in the pattern. just one view of a youtube tutorial and I 'got it'!
if you intend to learn this way could I suggest you use the UK videos? American 'terms' are very different. other wise you may get confused when you are ready to knit from a pattern.

CathA

nursemaggie wrote: »

CathA I lost a couple of kilos when I got weighed at the hospital on 31st December so it included Christmas. My nurse said it was probably the decorating, we decorated our new flat in December.

When I think back I think I have always lost weight when decorating perhaps we need to take it up professionally.

Congratulations on your award.

Thank you. We moved into this house nearly 2 years ago, everything in it was liveable with but it all needed ripping out and starting again (old people lived here). Apart from the electric (nephew is an electrician) gas (mate is a gas fitter) and building the extension (good builder we know who is happy with cash!) we have done all the work ourselves and certainly minimised that particular bill! About 2/3 finished so plenty more diy to help tone those muscles, but OMG there's still shedloads of woodchip to remove! Sigh.

CathA

meritaten wrote: »

I have been knitting for 50 years Secretstasher - but, even this old dog can learn new tricks in knitting and crochet - and I have done so via youtube! for example I never learned how to do that pretty picot edge and couldn't understand printed instructions in the pattern. just one view of a youtube tutorial and I 'got it'!
if you intend to learn this way could I suggest you use the UK videos? American 'terms' are very different. other wise you may get confused when you are ready to knit from a pattern.

If anyone wants to do a small knitted thing, rather than a big project, contact your local maternity hospital and ask if they want anything for the premature baby unit. I found a lovely pattern via Google, takes hardly any wool, easy pattern for beginners, type in V necked cardigan for premature babies, loads of them to choose from.

I did loads for our hospitals, then got grandchildren so started knitting for them. Unfortunately I've done something to my thumb so can't do anything now, wish it would hurry up and get better!

nursemaggie

Just done a switch on the MSE Cheap Energy Club. Our electricity only bill with British Gas will be 3 times what we were paying for both electricity and gas at our last house. I know it was low there even without any insulation.

This is horrendous at three times the price :eek: because we are not even warm except in bed. We went looking for shoes for DS today and I got colder after we got back not warmer.

The storage radiators are empty by about 5.30pm. I am not sure they are storing enough I will have to get an oil filled radiator for in the living room. I think it would be better if they will fix the doors that will not close. It is about six weeks now since I reported them and we have heard nothing. I will have to report them again.

DS is definitely having the same problem I have with very narrow heels. We will have to go to Manchester to see if we can get him some new shoes. We could not find any to fit.

Can someone tell me how I start a new thread? I need to ask what I can do to make the storage radiators stay warm longer. I need to cut my bills.

We are still waiting for the telephone line and we need to get a water meter to save money too. I can't see how we can use more water than at the last place when we don't do masses of washing can only wash up in a bowl and do not have a bath.

Siebrie

After looking and comparing for two months, we decided not to buy a new car DH now has a company car, we sold the Kangoo last summer, and now have the Clio Grandtour left. But it is a diesel and my work place is only 7km away, so not really suitable for a diesel commute. DH has now decided that he will take the Clio to work every Wednesday, so that it will drive a decent distance and burn the diesel residue in the engine and exhaust, otherwise it wil clog up the exhaust and kill the engine (or so I have been told....). Does anyone know exactly how long a diesel needs to drive at which speed and how often, for the engine to stay clean? People keep telling me 'regularly', 'long distance', and 'high speed', without quantifying, and it is driving me crazy!

meritaten

CathA wrote: »

If anyone wants to do a small knitted thing, rather than a big project, contact your local maternity hospital and ask if they want anything for the premature baby unit. I found a lovely pattern via Google, takes hardly any wool, easy pattern for beginners, type in V necked cardigan for premature babies, loads of them to choose from.

I did loads for our hospitals, then got grandchildren so started knitting for them. Unfortunately I've done something to my thumb so can't do anything now, wish it would hurry up and get better!

I used to do this for the special baby unit after my sisters twins were born nearly three months premature - they particularly wanted little 'hats', cot blankets and bootees and mittens. I did it for some years until the grandkids started arriving - I am on seventh grandchild now and am knitting her a simple jacket and hat. but using a startling lime green and white yarn I got from aldi called 'fluffy baby'. I had to work out the size to make from my tension square as it isn't 'double knit'. but I am pleased with the result!

Hope your thumb gets better soon!

CathA

Driving me insane, can't unscrew anything, squeeze toothpaste, do zips or buttons, and changing my grandsons bum is a challenge! My daughter is on a 10 week placement with her teaching degree so I'm full time grandma to a 2 year old-with a knackered thumb! Doesn't help that I'm ambidextrous, had to use my left hand for everything for 6 months when I was a kid as I slammed my right hand in a car door, never got out of the habit .

meritaten

Siebrie wrote: »

After looking and comparing for two months, we decided not to buy a new car DH now has a company car, we sold the Kangoo last summer, and now have the Clio Grandtour left. But it is a diesel and my work place is only 7km away, so not really suitable for a diesel commute. DH has now decided that he will take the Clio to work every Wednesday, so that it will drive a decent distance and burn the diesel residue in the engine and exhaust, otherwise it wil clog up the exhaust and kill the engine (or so I have been told....). Does anyone know exactly how long a diesel needs to drive at which speed and how often, for the engine to stay clean? People keep telling me 'regularly', 'long distance', and 'high speed', without quantifying, and it is driving me crazy!

our Kia is diesel and the salesman told my OH that a 'good run' of about 20 to 25 mins above 50MPH at least once a month and preferably once a fortnight would be enough.

HOWMUCH

Good evening everyone, I've had to mend DGS top he wore for nursery on Friday I think he may have snipped it with some scissors. But now it's ready of this week, I noticed it when ironing this afternoon.
I went bargain shopping getting some deals from Farmfoods and managed to use a £2.50 voucher too because I'd spent £25. I just went in got the cheap Nescafe,sugar,John West tuna and eggs.
Next was MrM's again just went in and got the special offers I'd listed all half price deals.
Then Sainsbobs I've got 4 X £8 off vouchers for the next 4 weeks so that's £32 worth of free food.
So minimised my spending by £10.50 this week and only bought things we use regular to get it.
I'm still burning my freebie scented candle too, and it's smells lovely.