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

Moorviews

Making do with what we have in already rather than doing more grocery shopping. Leek and potato soup made with turkey stock, vegetable bakes including Stilton cheese, paella made with turkey, sun dried tomatoes and olives from open jars in the fridge. Thank goodness that jar of tomatoes is finally empty! A large pot of double cream was made into butter. This is all helping to minimise the food stocks and the grocery budget. 

Mended the log basket by lining it. DH so I can’t take the credit for this. 

Christmas cards made into bookmarks. I use a lot of these as I browse my recipe or craft books. The rest were recycled. 

Minimised some gift bags by passing them on. 

We made the switch to fabric and ribbon for Christmas gift wrapping this year so all this has been folded and put away. It’s much easier than big rolls of paper to store. I’ll make some fabric gift bags too at some point. I think everyone appreciated that there wasn’t the usual mountain of paper to deal with too. 

Making do with the wool I bought during lockdown to crochet some home accessories. No more wool buying unless it is for a specific garment this year. I think the easiest way of learning to crochet is one to one with someone sitting beside you. It can need some help with positioning the hands to hold the yarn and hook to begin with. 

YorksLass

More minimising .....

Today I've collected up bits of stationery that were scattered in various places around the house and it's all now in two small storage boxes in the sideboard.  I definitely do NOT need any more envelopes, writing paper/notepads, pens or pencils!     A few bits were binned (e.g. a glue stick that wasn't sticky at all, empty biros etc); the only thing I do need is a reel of sellotape at some point - not urgent but it's on the list.

I've also put on one side an old unused mobile phone and a spent battery that I'll take for recycling next time I'm passing the collection point and also a paperback to return to the Little Free Library.

flamingo747

Minimised: lots of stationery and art clutter
Made do: spray on my spray mop has died, but I can still use it to push along. Ds helpfully spryed some cleaner from a spray bottle for me to do it with
Mend: pocket in an oodie,  hole in a sock, hole in a vest stitched 

YorksLass

Make Do - Have made corned beef hash today, enough for 3 meals for 2 (might even stretch to 4 meals), one for tomorrow's dinner and 2 (or 3) for the freezer.  Used up half an opened tin of corned beef, lots of veg from the fridge & freezer and pearl barley to bulk it out.  Home made fishcakes, lightly sauteed sliced leftover potatoes and mushy peas tonight.

Minimise - Bag of soft plastics taken to Co-op's recycling bin and one paperback returned to the Little Free Library.  But I've borrowed another 3!     Not a disaster as they will be going back there, once read.     I no longer hoard books.

Minimise - The last 2 Xmas chocolates.  Since being diagnosed as Type 2 diabetic I very rarely eat chocolate but do treat myself  to a box at Xmas; now they're gone I'll not be buying any more until after Easter at the earliest.

suzeesu2000

Make Do - used a pack of pasta n sauce, expired 2021🤣 was fine.

Mend - nothing mended today

Minimise - bag of miscellaneous items plus 2 old stock pots and lids to charity shop

flamingo747

Mended yesterday,  my black leggings again (its a fight against time) and some underwear 

YorksLass

More Minimising ...

Freezer storage boxes sorted (again), one box and one lid didn't match anything so have been recycled.

Some paperwork shredded and junk mail recycled.

Four frozen wraps binned (freezer burn, they have been in there far too long); at least it wasn't something expensive!     

DS has been staying here for a wee while to give us lifts to and from hospital for DH's appointments.  He's gone back home now so I've washed, dried and folded the clothes he left here and they're in a bag ready for him to pick when he next visits.

Four unwanted jumpers in a carrier bag for donation to the SA clothing bank next time I pass there.

suzeesu2000

Made do - dinner 100% from freezer and pantry shelf.
mend - nothing
Minimise - finished a bag of cat litter, does that count 😅, put an old cardboard box in recycling.

will be downing some much needed kitchen decluttering soon as I have invested in a new set of saucepans. My old ones are dreadful but we’ve had them a very long time so it’s not an impulse buy. I got them for £40 off retail price plus another 15% discount. 

RHemmings

I have a number of sweaters where there are holes in the elbows. What can I do about these? I don't own an iron. 

Florafauna

@RHemmings I'd suggest darning them and doing a lovely visible mend. Google the method on YouTube. It looks great and keeps the jumper going! 😁