A collection of articles about ‘Make do and mend’, making your own DIY gifts, creative projects and much much more. There is something quite satisfactory about fixing something yourself or making something yourself, not only is it good for saving money and staying within your budget, it’s great for your self-esteem as well!
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- Homemade Skittles vodka recipeThis is a really easy recipe that will produce a delicious and colourful rainbow of homemade Skittles vodka. You could make a batch as home-made gifts. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round. Have a little stockpile of beautifully-made, special presents, ready to give ...
- Homemade raw bars – no bake recipe!Try making these delicious homemade raw bars, with no baking required. Buying raw bars, nutrition bars or energy bars can be very expensive, but if you buy the ingredients in bulk and make them at home, they are actually pretty cheap. Have a go at making this easy recipe to ensure that you have tasty, healthy snacks, ...
- 30 DIY gift ideasChristmas is coming, which can be an expensive time of year. Just because it is the season to spend, doesn’t mean you have to! Why not have a go at these thrifty, homemade, DIY gift ideas and save money whilst creating something beautiful. If the slideshow above is not displaying correctly for you, you can visit ...
- Natural home remedies – prevent a cold & boost your immune systemTry these natural home remedies this winter, they may help to boost your immune system, or help you to recover faster from colds and flu. Traditional over-the-counter treatments and medicine can be quite expensive. You can often achieve the same results for a fraction of the cost by making your own alternative natural remedies. Obviously, these ...
- How to make Homemade Toffee VodkaThis is a really easy recipe that will produce delicious homemade toffee vodka. You could make a batch as home-made gifts. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round. Have a little stockpile of beautifully-made, special presents, ready to give loved ones, family and friends. ...
- Make it: Caramelised red onion & chilli chutneyCaramelised red onion and chilli chutney is a great recipe to make this autumn. Once the chutney is sealed in the jars, it will have time to mature to be extra delicious just in time for Christmas. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round. ...
- Home Brew: Elderflower ChampagneMaking Elderflower Champagne is a fantastic way of turning free, foraged ingredients and low-cost store cupboard ingredients, into a few large bottles of actual alcohol. If you are new to making home brew, Elderflower Champagne is a great place to start. This drink is so cheap and easy to make. The result is a delicious, elegant ...
- What is a Repair Cafe? – Sustainable skillsWhat is a Repair Cafe? A repair cafe is a free meeting place, where people can bring along broken possessions to be fixed by a group of local volunteers. The volunteers have experience in repairing all kinds of items from furniture, clothes and bikes to electrical goods. Repair cafes encourage communities to reduce waste and save money ...
- How to make Dandelion JamDandelion Jam is a really unusual, but delicious treat. It is unlikely to be in your local supermarket or even your local farm shop. The fact that it is hard to get hold of makes this jam a brilliant home-made gift for friends. Try Dandelion Jam on toast or scones, pair it with cream cheese, use ...
- Upcycle, reuse & repurpose – Inspirational ideasUpcycle, reuse and repurpose unwanted items. Make the most of your rubbish and maybe even make something beautiful. Take a look at these weird and wonderful ideas. Hopefully they will inspire you and help you to look at your rubbish in a whole new light. Just click through each slide using the yellow boxes at the bottom ...
- Lemons – multi-talented, powerful… cheap!Lemons, often only chosen in the supermarket as a companion to gin & tonic or perhaps for squeezing over a piece of fish, but this cheeky little fruit has so much more to offer as you embrace a thrifty and sustainable lifestyle. Ahh, the humble lemon, look closer and you will discover, not only that it ...
- Make it for Christmas: Tomato & Apple ChutneyTomato & Apple Chutney is a great recipe to have a go at in October/early November as the fruits are in season and once the chutney is sealed in the jars, it will have time to mature to be extra-delicious just in time for Christmas. Getting into a thrifty mindset, it is a good idea to ...
- Make it: DIY Gift Ideas – 3D embellished glass jarsGetting into a thrifty mindset, it is a great idea to make and prepare DIY Gifts all year round so that you have a little stockpile of beautifully home-made, special presents – ready to give to your loved ones, family and friends. Making your own gifts can also save you a small fortune at Christmas. ...
- Make it: Sloe GinMaking Sloe Gin is one of the most rewarding pastimes in September/October. Scroll down for a delicious sloe gin recipe. If you are lucky, and there is an early crop of Sloes, you will have time to make lots of little gift-sized bottles of home-made sloe gin, to give away to friends and family at Christmas… ...
- Make it: Home made pizzaLet’s face it, pizza is the food of the Gods and you’re thinking… no way can I make a pizza that tastes as sublime as my usual take-away favourite. Well, not only can you make your own perfect, divine, exquisitely delicious pizza, but you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing that you’ve saved yourself a ...