Make Do, Mend & Minimise

Floss

Ooh let us know what they say @Cherryfudge

PipneyJane

Thanks for the feedback everyone. TBH, having read the scheme rules, B00t’s recycling scheme sounds like more hassle than it’s worth. You only get the points if you spend a certain amount of money on top of depositing x number of blister packs and you have to do both within 24 hours.

Last time I was in B00ts, I just dumped my empty blister packs into their container. I think I’ll continue to do so.

• Pip

Esmeralda2662

@PipneyJane I do exactly the same at Bo*ts with my pill packets. Last time a lovely assistant lifted the lid off the box so I could tip them all in in one go.

Make do: Found a rather forlorn looking veggie pie in the freezer and cooked it for dinner with some fresh veg. Not the nicest but at least it's gone and the soggy box is in recycling.

Mend: Went back to mum's before Bank Holiday and the vac was broken and the boiler had packed up. Managed to mend the vac, it was just a case of clipping the bottom back onto the dust chamber. Unfortunately despite trying everything I couldn't fix the boiler so plumber is coming round ASAP. Back to using pans/kettles of hot water to get washed as shower is also broken. It's a bit like being a kid again! However, new broadband is now mended.

Saw the physio for my damaged shoulder ligaments today and ibhad a thorough assessment and some new exercises so hopefully I'll be mended soon too!

Minimise: Large bag of mags given to my friend along with 2 baby quilts, sheets, pillowcase and bumper that I've had since my son was born 37 years ago. Somehow it was easier letting them go this way. X

Cherryfudge

I'm back after a month away from this thread, and realise I'd forgotten where I was up to with telling B00ts that their system is too complicated…

A few things to report:

Make do: I got permission to take surplus food home from a work buffet on a day when there wasn't time to get a proper meal between activities. As a result I had plenty of sandwiches, fruit juice and there are still cakes to finish. Saved me buying at a rather expensive venue, and saved some food from landfill.

I also gathered up the nails and lead our builders had dumped - then DH was going to buy a long nail to fix a gutter and I had the perfect one to hand.

I'm raking out lots of moss from the lawn and letting it dry with a view to saving some for making wreaths at Christmas.

Mend: not strictly a mend but the sewing machine shop have got my machine working again (it didn't like cheap thread). There are a few repair jobs waiting to help me get my hand in. On a much bigger scale, we've replaced our 90 year old roof… and our less-than-90-year-old carpet shampooer. Mends would have been a lot cheaper but sometimes replacement is the best or only option!

DH has fixed some garage guttering and used the builders' scaffolding to clean out the house gutters - DIY is (sometimes) MS.

Minimise: a few items sold on Vinted or donated. Freezer stocks used for most meals recently.