Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2018

YorksLass

dND – So sorry to hear about the demise of your chickens but well done on using up your stocks of vegetable frying fat and chicken feed to make fat balls for the wild birds. In winter I replace my hanging baskets with hm fat balls suspended from the brackets and really enjoy watching the birds from my window. The magpies are a bit of a nuisance sometimes but they're real opportunists.

JackieO wrote: »

Today I am doing a few odd jobs around the house, mostly hanging a few pictures that I have had sitting around in their frames ready to be hung for awhile Procrastination could be my middle name :)JackieO xx

We might have to share that middle name! You're such a busy lady though, so you do have an excuse - still thinking what mine could be.

Starting to feel a bit better now so have been looking for things I can do without risking a set-back (again) and have dug out x6 100g balls of cream Aran wool from my stash and have chosen an easy slip stitch pattern for texture to make a throw for the sofa (easy TV knitting). If it ends up not quite big enough, there are some other oddments I could use for around the edges. So, that's a minimise of the yarn stash.

A couple of weeks ago DGD emailed me a lovely copy of her graduation photo that I'll print off and frame - that's once I can drag the printer out from its corner. Oh, and I need to change a cartridge too. Then go through the scan/print process first. I can see Procrastination rearing its head again.

Did a quick tidy of the kitchen kibble drawer and coralled a fair few loose small sandwich bags into a box as well as diverting an unused ice cube tray into the CS bag. Also cleaned out the first aid cabinet and checked contents were still in date. Just need to replenish the paracetamol on the next shopping trip.

Currently meal planning for the whole of February to use as much as I can of the freezer contents to help on the make-do front. It doesn't need defrosting (frost free model) but I know some stuff in there has been there for quite a while and it seems silly not to use it up. I've also dropped the weekly grocery budget by £5 pw and am saving that in a bulk buy fund for meat and/or fish.

Right, off for a cuppa and a slice of orange fruit loaf - and there might even be a nana nap in the offing too!

savingpennies

I spent part of the morning, successfully minimising my mobile phone contract. Next on my list is the Broadband/phone/tv, though that will take considerably more effort:D
I found a pork joint at the bottom of the freezer so that is roasting, along with some onions, apples and peppers and a couple of jacket potatoes.
I'm starting on the Christmas presents later on. I've decided to try and make all my presents this year. I'm knitting neck-warmers for a couple of friends using up some of my stash. I've also sourced a Doctor Who pattern for a scarf for my nephew.
Off to do some mending; just replacing buttons so nothing strenuous.
Have a good day everyone.

Floss

Yorkslass it may be worth looking at getting a commercial photo print rather than from your own printer - I have a lovely photo of my in-laws from our wedding in 2010 that I printed on our HP printer onto photo paper but has now faded very badly.

sinkorswim2018

In a bid to minimise I took photo's of 2 dresses to put on fleabay. Thought I'd try my luck on facebrag marketplace first to save on fees. One sold in 4 minutes! £12 up of she comes to collect tomorrow as arranged.

[Deleted User]

Making do - with minestrone soup made entirely from stores for supper tonight.

Mended - the Christmas Tree holder which we've had for the best part of 30 years by covering the bottom again, the felt had disintegrated and we've used an offcut of vinolay on it that we've had since we had the kitchen floor done.

Minimised - the ironing pile!!!

silvasava

MrsL - I'm waiting for DH to minimise the ironing pile - ironing board is up and iron plugged in but that's as far as it's got!!

misstara

silvasava - hope DH minimised that ironing

Still can't find my needle and thread so no mending has been done. OH last used it to sew a button on and swears he put it back so obviously it's moved somewhere else by itself :rotfl:

Recycling bins day tomorrow so I've been round the flat collecting all the bits to put out. We definitely recycle more now we've got the bin rather than having to cart it to the nearest communal one.

Thought I might have to minimise my tooth as I was having horrendous toothache but thankfully a course of antibiotics seems to have sorted it out so fingers crossed it stays ok.

Food wise - used up some rather squishy tomatoes for tonight's tea along with quiche from the freezer. Have taken out leftover beef stew for tomorrow.

Like everyone else, there's a giant ironing pile to minimise but that will be a job for tomorrow. Hope everyone is having a good week.

Floss

Am currently in the process of minimising a whole month's wages on my little car :mad: It is service & MOT time as it is his birtbday today which is always budgeted for, but I wasn't expecting a fail on exhaust emmissions (due to a hole, so a full pipe needed coz of the model); rear brakes pads & discs (no mention of any wear issues 5,500 miles ago so not sure about that...) and advisory on both rear tyres (which will need to be replaced). Am not a happy bunny at the total of almost £1k vanishing. On the up side, DH says the work & tyres has just tripled the cars value

silvasava

Ouch Floss - DH's car is due for its MOT in a couple of weeks. Not expecting anything nasty but you never know.
Make do - with fridge leftovers for tea last night, home fries, tomato, bacon & egg ( cholesterol night!)
Mend - DH's jeans and a pair of his overalls
Minimise - me! Have cut down massively on my carb consumption and it seems to be working on the spare tyre!!

Floss

Silvasava that's the sort of minimising I want to do...have you just increased your f&v, or dropped starches as well?