Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2017

117pauline

Hope this makes you smile......

Couldn't work out why the body wash wasn't making any lather in the shower this morning. Got out of the shower and found I was actually using up body cream from my "use up" stash.

I have finished up a couple of little bottles already which has pleased me. However I managed to book a couple of Village Hotel rooms for £25 each so I guess I will be returning with a few new bottles.

We are still sticking to the meal plan. I have found it is working for me to have a list of 7 meals for the week without actually specifying the day so I can choose if I need an easy meal.

Also we haven't bought any extras (also known as treats) so even better. Now on 5 NSDs for the month.

[Deleted User]

I partly used up some of the freebie honey from my DGS hotel stay at the Shard at Christmas I mixed it with some natural greek yogurt and a few grapes and it was delicious.He brought me four little pots of stuff one strawberry one cherry and two manuka honey .I shall use them as mixes in with a rice pud or yogurt to flavour them No different than those expensive Mueller corner things only cheaper :)
I also have just done my budget spread sheet for January and its looking pretty good at the moment

mrs-moneypenny

Morning mmmers, hope everyone is well.

I'll catch. Up later as busy day today

LilySue

Hi, it was really nice to read this thread last night and see all my fellow lurkers coming out of the woodwork! Made me feel brave enough to join in this morning

I have been in a few o/s threads over the years but l always read more than l post, this year l want to try and address the balance! It is also going to be a year of frugality and minimisation for me so this thread is a good place to start my new online participation:)

2016 was a busy tough year, my husband got made redundant, followed that with a heart attack ( from which he is now recovered:T) and our two oldest sons moved back in with us - so five adults in a three bedroom terraced house, totally doable but l have to stay on top of the "stuff."

So far l have:

Minimised

LIsted seven items on eBay last night - aiming to get both my and dh clothes in one wardrobe-freeing up the other one for two oldest' work clothes that need hanging as opposed to folding.
Went through old toiletries - chucked out anything old or never used- can fit everything in one small plastic drawer now

Make do - ongoing using up food in cupboards and freeze- done nothing special the last few days as dh has cooked and his cooking style is less frugal than mine!

Mend - repaired old corduroy skirt with tear in it, went to wear it and realised it was too big! At least the person who gets it next ( it's in my charity shop bag) will get a neatly mended item:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Welcome LilySue, what a kind person you are to think of the CS buyer well done ,now that's recycling :) Glad your OH has recovered,It would be nice to be in work but health is un-buyable so having your OH is worth its weight in gold I think.
You seem to have got the right idea and well done on cracking on with things. I have to spend a day going through my wardrobe I think and being quite strict as I have far too much in there and lots haven't seen the light of day.I have decided that if I haven't worn it in 6 months then chances are I will never wear it so I am going to make the effort to CS a lot of unwanted and unworn stuff.
Onwards and upwards fellow frugallers

JackieO xx

bargainhunterss

osbornbiscuit wrote: »

Saw this idea on facebook and have decided to give it a go. I have far too many clothes. The idea is that you turn the hangers in your wardrobe round and then when you have worn the item turn the hanger round the other way. You should start to get a good idea of what you do actually wear and at the end of the year you still have hangers that haven't been turned round then off to the charity shop with them!
Managed to make it to aquacise so hopefully that can count as minimise.
Made the dinner from scratch for a change.
Nothing to mend so far so I take that as a positive (well it is in our house!)

osbornbiscuit, this is a great idea! I did that last year and I was amazed at the amount of things that were still 'the wrong way round' :j Recommend it to everyone!

ETA: I realise this is replying to a message from nearly a week ago, but I've been powering through to catch up on the thread! So here goes! Happy New Year to all and I hope we all had a lovely Christmas! Aiming for some serious MM&M this year as getting hitched in the Autumn and aiming for full-speed on the house decorating afterwards. Need to declutter and save some cash whilst we're doing it!

VJsmum

vodkawitch1 wrote: »

Making do from fridge/freezer which is fine as lots in. Great not to have to spend anything.

Nothing to mend and will be minimizing some paperwork later. Going for a long walk with my son and his dog soon. It gives us a chance to catch up and its free so what`s not to like.

I`m struggling a little with low moods as lost my lovely daughter to mouth cancer she was only 33. It`s very hard but one day at a time as my brother keeps telling me. Thankfully I have two sons and a large family which helps.

Have a lovely day everyone

I am so sorry for your loss.

cafelady

Hello. I'd like to join in please. I posted a couple of times last year but mainly lurked, so hope to be a bit more visible this year.

So far this year...

Mend - mended a pair of tights, two cardis, a jumper. Also defuzzed OH's jumper he was going to get rid of.

Minimise - minimised contents of two drawers in hallway and the shoe cupboard. OH has sorted through his wardrobe and between us we've 2 bin bags for the charity shop.

Make do - I've been really careful to have used up or frozen all xmas leftovers. Kids had pigs in blankets for Sunday breakfast instead of sausages, turkey curry is in freezer, ham in freezer, cream used up in dauphinois potatoes...

I'm looking forward to hanging out with you all

vodkawitch1, I'm really sorry for your loss too.

villagelife

Vodkawitch1 - sorry for your loss.

Mended a jumper and sorted out a hole in a skirt. Will keep them going for a while longer.

Minimised some trees in the garden! Sorted out the branches into piles for shredding for wood chips, pea sticks and thicker pieces for the fire pit. Need to do more but it's started.
Also mended the water but.

Caterina

Hello,

Vodkawitch1 I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Well, no mending but lots of making do, shopping from cupboards, fridge and allotment, then lots of minimising.

I have started tackling my bedroom, it is true that some of the stuff is being displaced to the Room of Doom but that one is a project in its own right that I do not have the energy for atm.

However the bedroom is a priority because I want to stop breathing dust and starting breathing clean air at night. It is coming along but it is a big room and it contains far too many things to be tackled in one day.

Thank you for this thread, it will keep me focused.