Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2020

ailz95

Wrote down a list of everything in the freezers, need to do the same for the store cupboards. I've decided that I'm going to use up more in 2020 and buy less.

Elisheba

Hi,
My New Years resolution is to consume less and spend less. I'm very into make do and mend, although maybe less so minimising 😂.
So far this year I've chopped up my Xmas tree to use for firewood next year when it's dried out.
I've put some clothes up for sale on FB Marketplace (not that they've sold yet 🙄)
I have a large pile of mending I've not started yet.
I've bought some cheap insoles for old boots, so I can get longer out my nice new boots.
I've worked out that now my hair is short, I can condition it less often. This should mean less plastic and saving a few pounds 😁

calleyw

I forgot I got a wedge pillow it came rolled up in bag looks like the bags you get to put gift wrap in. I used it to put my tinsel in.


I already use a carrier bag holder from ikea to hold my gift wrap. So helped me down size from a massive paper carrier bag. No need to decide what to do with the paper bag.


Yours


Calley x

miss_empty_piggy

Elisheba wrote: »

Hi,

So far this year I've chopped up my Xmas tree to use for firewood next year when it's dried out.
😁

That's just reminded me - we chopped the branches off ours and sliced the stem up to make slices - we are planning on making a fire-surround insert to look like piled up logs as we can't afford a fire atm/nor need one (our house is boiling). Any we don't use we are going to have a go at pyrography after seeing it on Kirstie's HM Christmas. Really looking forward to both projects. Will let you know how they go.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Make Do & Minimise: Finish last night’s hm cottage pie & the last of the green beans from the freezer

Mend: Nothing - although the pile is getting bigger

PixieFace

Hello :wave: it's nice to meet you all.

I would like to join in please. I started 2019 with a list of things I wanted to do and managed a few, but most just rolled over to this year, so I plan to be more proactive now we are in 2020 and hopefully this group can help me keep on track a bit . I have already made hankies out of an old pair of pyjama bottoms - four complete and one to finish. I have also started work to mend a crochet quilt I made several years ago. The joins are coming undone where the colours change but I don't have enough of the original yarn. The blanket is striped cream, green and brown; I have unravelled the last two rows of cream and green ( I think I still have some brown left) and will use this for mending. Hopefully, there will be enough left to make myself a beanie hat

I have a pile of other mending, including jeans to patch using OH's old overalls and the remnants of the pyjama bottoms (I patched and strengthened the rubbed thighs on three other pairs last year, so shouldn't need any jeans for several years :rotfl:). A friend donated me her old embroidery silks so I might have a go at doing some customising too. I also want to have a go at darning some socks and have a few items that just need a simple fix like re-hemming.

Making do and minimising for me is mostly in the garden at the moment, I am making do with what I already have in terms of pots and equipment and using the veg I grow to try and minimise the shopping. I am pretty good at sticking to or being under budget, but would like to reduce my spend by growing more food and making use of what we already have in the freezer. I also want to reorganise the house a bit, going through the stuff and seeing if there is anything that can be repurposed or rehomed, to try and get a bit organised. I find I have a list of indoor jobs that gets longer and longer as I am out in the garden whenever the weather allows it, at least I'll never get bored on a rainy day :j

misstara

Got a reply from the council saying that a plumber would come round on Monday, unfortunately the time slot given clashes with work for me (meeting that would be hard to get out of) and a doctor's appointment for OH so have asked for an earlier time slot/a different day but hopefully by the end of next week, the toilet will be fixed.

Made cauliflower cheese for tea, usually there would be leftovers for another day but it was the world's smallest cauliflower and barely enough for the two of us. Added a couple of bacon rashers each and some garlic bread to make it a proper meal.

Will need to go shopping tomorrow as there's basically nothing left in the fridge apart from some cheese, butter, milk and various jars of chutney. Will give the fridge a good clean in the morning before filling it again.

Discovered a small hole in my pj bottoms so will need to dig out my sewing kit.

ailz95

DH has decided that pastry is making him ill. Though he ate lots of mince pies at Christmas He decided this after I'd defrosted a kilo of puff pastry. I've made lots of small 'lids' from the pastry, lightly cooked them and frozen them. I'll put one on meals for others.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

Make Do & Minimise: Food from freezer & stores

Make Do & Minimise: More wool - now knitting scarf no.22

Mend: Replaced one hook on DSis’s bra & darned 2 pairs of my socks.

Now have 2 pairs of motorcycle trousers to repair - which can wait until we are back from our holiday

Ellie79

Hello! I have been following for a while but decided to join. I am getting better and better (in comparison to being useless) at mending and making do.

My plan this year is to utilise all my Mum's sewing skills and get some of my own. She is a dressmaker and crafter and used to teach this for many years and as a result I never needed to learn really. Well now I do need to learn as ethically I cannot keep replacing stuff (also financial and I just begrudge it!). I already batch cook/freeze leftovers etc and like a good repurpose - recently turned an unloved dressing table into a new desk for my work. I also find this stresses me less and therefore am onto a winner.

So here we go - 2020 is the year I try very very hard to buy less, spend less and create less waste.