Make Do, Mend & Minimise in 2025 (and 2024)

Green_hopeful

The purple string was a treat. It’s proper garden twine but in a nice purple. Our gardener thought I had taken to tying things up with wool, including our large wisteria. Anyways what does it say when purple string sparks joy. 

Cherryfudge

Green_hopeful said:

Anyways what does it say when purple string sparks joy. 

I'd imagine it says 'this person has excellent taste'.

Today's make do: the jeans I repaired yesterday, and which were originally a charity shop find when I went away leaving my luggage at home, were worn today and the repair has so far proved strong enough.

Mend: nothing.

Minimise: gave some seeds and rooted cuttings to a family member (and received a beautiful big chive plant in exchange).

suzeesu2000

Make do - finished a few bits out the freezer which has made a little space. Used half a bag of blueberries and half a bag of raspberries in my overnight oats, bags in bin and remaining fruit in smaller containers with lids. 

Mend - nothing

Minimise - got rid of a carrier bag of plastic recycling into recycling bin, decluttered a box of wallpapers that I intended to use but know I won’t, now in recycling along with several cardboard boxes torn up to fit the bins. Also packed a box with DVDs that I won’t be watching for a good year, boxed ready for the loft, out of the way.

newroadahead

Morning All 
Just a quick message as Jackie O has asked me to let you know that they have arrived safely and their Internet is going in on Friday so she will be back soon


NRA  xx

annieb64

That's good news, thank you. I miss her posts.

YorksLass

Thanks NRA, I'm looking forward to hearing all her news.  

suzeesu2000

Make do - freezer dinner

Mend - nothing

Minimise - some bralets to CS bag and sorted all craft pens, threw the dried up ones away, put all I a know I won’t use in CS bag and sorted the remainder and have found some space!!

Cherryfudge

Make do - finished up a curry for dinner and left over roast chicken for tea.
Mend - nothing today.
Minimise - I thought the container of heavy-duty hand cream felt a bit heavy but no more was coming out so I cut into the container and found a centimetre still in there which the pump couldn't reach. I've added this to a newer hand cream and the container is waiting to be recycled. I also cut open a nearly-finished tube of toothpaste to use it up, and the tube has gone to the makeup recycling bin in the supermarket. Food-wise, I found there was left over chicken still in the fridge that smelled lovely and tasted good... I hope it hadn't been there too long, as I had some for tea and put the rest of the meat in the freezer, then made the carcase into stock.

Nelliegrace

I have made do with my Woolworths Aluminium water bottle, bought in the closing down sale in 2009. Sadly I have learned that the inner coating is not a healthy plastic, it looks a little worn too. It has gone to recycling and I have bought a new one in plain stainless steel from Tkmaxx. It was red-stickered to £10 from the original £32. I shall recoup that soon, by not purchasing bottled water. I take a cup, a small flask of coffee, an old table napkin which was bought for pennies, a picnic or an apple and a few nuts, in my old shopping bag. A few minutes preparation, and there is no temptation to buy fast food, and no need to hurry to get home. 

wumph

Have always tried to "invent" ways to re-use stuff. Many years ago I made from plastic milk bottle a little card thing to fit under my freezer plug with a bit at the side which covered the on/off switch. This was because it was in the same socket as the vac. plug and folks had habit of switching it off by mistake - worked a treat. Am older now and have trouble unplugging electric plugs - soup maker in summer,  blender now and then. I could buy plugs with plug fitted in but decided to try the milk bottle idea. Searched online,  saw some I could buy - £9 odd for 10 which I bought,  have used 5 so far but can see how easy it would be to make  as previous.  Not tried yet - difficult to use scissors these days but thought would be good idea for others.