Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2021

nannygladys

Hi everyone, not been on the boards recently, lost in my own world but still mmming and frugalling along.
SP 2' thanks for the offer of wellies, I have only just seen it but I did manage to get some in a sale, they may be pink but they were really cheap - don't know why?!?!
Haven't done any sewing and not much knitting lately but have started seed sowing so feeling positive about that but that's about it lately. 
Anyway off to check banking and then to bed, oh trying to minimise my spending this month by not buying anything unless absolutely necessary that goes for food, bits and Bob's etc so hoping that goes well!
Nannyg

2Scratters

Hi Peeps,
Minimise - for me is on  my bank account for a new washing machine. My fabulous Miel machine not missed a beat in 17 years. Threw its drum off kilter and became beyond economical repair Cost me £84 for engineer to tell me that and when I visit the shop no discount for a new purchase I did spend half of what I was intending to do so I will take that as a win.

Make do - spotted this just a moment ago as I use lip conditioner from a lady called Elizabeth, not the cheapest item but are always bought by DH when needed. I really am at the end of this product with the help of a lip brush as I empty BOTH sides of the holder so there is really NOTHING in it when finished
No mending still happening the sewing machine has been tidied away for now until I get my act together.
Off to fragrance the neighbourhood with some more creosoting and I'm at work this weekend
Stay safe
2Scratters

CraftyLittleLisa

Just before things started opening up again I was getting really desperate for things to do so had one last thorough declutter where I was really really ruthless.  I have managed to get rid of loads of stuff by offering it for free on Facebook and I have also donated stuff to charity shops.  It has made me feel very good thinking I have made someone's day by letting them have stuff for free and making sure my unwanted belongings get a second lease of life.
As to make do and mending I can't think of anything specific to tell  you about.  Since joining this forum though and getting ideas and encouragement making do has become such a habit now I do it all the time without being aware of it.  

Sallyp2

Tightpants24 said:

I don't know if this is make do or mend but it is definitely minimise...DH just gave me a lockdown haircut.  I asked for about an inch off but he clearly didn't learn his measurements.  Approximately 3 inches shorter now.  At least I got my money's worth 🤣

Lol - ask any man to measure an inch and they’ll misjudge it. Men always triple and think things are bigger than they are 😉

Sallyp2

2Scratters said:

Morning Peeps,
 Bit of minimising gone on yesterday as I moved the contents of socks and trollies(underwear) drawers to their new location in the new wardrobe (ex showroom display) posh drawers. (bedroom been redecorated and fitted out by DH) There were some findings of strange things that went into the bin. Was pleased that my current drawer storage folding boxes did fit into the new location.

Make do - Just pondering what to do with the pair of empty drawers?? May use them in the loft and stack them together securely to repurpose them for my "craft den" that seems to be developing up there. Keeps the rest of the house tidy as only a 2 bed.
Mending - not much happening here at the moment.
Enjoy the sunshine we seem to be getting too.

What did you do with your old empty drawers? Next allotment to me has used 3 old drawers as raised beds, looks very thrifty!

2Scratters

Hi Peeps,
@Sallyp2 my drawers are still in the wardrobe, I've not moved them anywhere yet.
Make do - we are busy doing plenty of that at the moment which includes food stuff. Re sorting clothes into another purpose and busy working our way through the freezer stock. 
Mend - DH fixing a petrol lawn mower he's done good so far until he has possibly messed up the engine by having it on it's back
Minimise - Working steady on items to throw away. Many small bits are being filtered out, nothing of any great size yet still is leaving the house and making small areas more tidy.
Stay safe
2Scratters

thriftwizard

Well, I'm a bit chuffed with yesterday's efforts, and plan to continue this afternoon now that my major cooking effort of the week - Sunday Lunch, from which all "leftovers" meals spring! - is done. First I made OH some garters from salvaged elastic for his running socks; not exactly rocket science, but it seems I've finally got them just about right. You wouldn't believe the number of times this has been attempted but they're always too loose, too tight, too thick, too thin, not big enough, too big... and needless to say, different with every pair of socks. Or trainers... Then I mended DD2's pyjama bottoms; cheap & cheerful Christmas pressie PJs, soft & comfortable, but sadly a little flimsy round the derrière! Now patched, hillbilly-style, with similarly soft fabric, but twill-woven (salvaged from a more expensive but older & worn-out pair) so hopefully slightly tougher. Then I patched my own favourite duvet cover, which tore along the top edge when I had a raggedly fingernail I hadn't spotted. The End is clearly Nigh as it's nearly see-through after many years of constant service; I think we bought it from 1kea when DD1 was about 8 and she's 28 now! But it'll do a few more weeks & the less-worn areas will be saved from the ragbag for patchwork. In the meantime I've found a similar one secondhand on Ebay & invested a little in that; I'm a creature of habit! (But was startled to see the prices people were charging for secondhand 1kea cotton duvet covers on Ebay... I think we may originally have paid less! I've never looked on bedding as an investment.)

So that's some making-do & mending; as for minimising, I've just been through my jam-jar hoard & put all the ones without lids, or whose lids have got punctured or gone rusty, into the recycling. I still have enough to fill to provision a small army for a number of years, but at least the "collection" is now neatly contained on a couple of shelves, not spilling out all over the floor. You can have enough jam-jars...

halfamo

Had to mend our shoppng trolley this last week. It had developed a little hole rather like a knife stab in the bottom so I made a new bottom layer and then sewed it on , ontop of the old one using a sewing awl and waxed cotton. Then sewed on a new strap to hold it to its frame as the old one broke midway back from the shopping trip last week and OH cobbled together a rope out of plastic from the bin to get it home. 
During the week, covered some DIY storage boxes in sticky plastic so they look like one piece of furniture.
Reduce wise, OH stuck a sign on a couple of things from the shed and left them out the front where they were whisked up by passsers by .

bargainhunterss

Morning all
Haven’t posted on here for a while, and the MMM’ing seems to have fallen my the wayside. Now that things have opened up a bit more, I should be able to start dropping things off at the chazza a bit more regularly.

Make do - using some of my homegrown lettuce and spinach for a salad with tea last night. Only the second thing I’ve ever grown successfully from seed to eat! Planning on having a BBQ today, so will be freezer-diving for appropriate meats today. Also baked some muffins from odds and ends found on the baking shelf in the cupboard.

Mending - superglue bought to fix a broken magnet that fell off the fridge yesterday. It is a Manchester Bee one we bought a few years ago, and I really like it so don’t want to part with it. It will be rescued!

Minimise - added a few new items to ebags selling list. Hopefully will be sold and gone next week.

Hope everyone is having a good BH weekend!

[Deleted User]

Morning all, walked yesterday and found the Hedgehog Rescue charity stall is open again so I can take them all the odds and ends I need to re-home and declutter us a little more, just a case of pop it in a box and leave it at the stall.  Nice to have the charity shops accessible again too so books will go to them, not quite as convenient as Hedgehog rescue as we need to book an appointment to deliver the donation rather than just being able to turn up and hand it over but at least it can all find a new home and I can be tidier!