Save money recycling your old jumpers

We all have jumpers we never wear but don't want to get rid of; at least, I have lots of them...and I'm tired of seeing them everytime I open my closet so I've decided to use them for a better purpose. Although there are thousands of different things you can do with them, what I really want is to have a pair of socks for my boots.

The first thing you have to do is cutting the sleeves:

 After cutting the sleeves, you have to sew them.

 And this is the final result:

 With the body of the pink jumper I've made a dress for my niece  (no need to say she loves pink above all...)

But, you can try other different things like a hat or mittens, a scarf, a purse, Christmas stockings...

 

 

 

 

Save time organising your weekly outfits

Do you remember those old days at school when you didn't have to think what you would wear the following day because you already knew?

I'm talking of those ugly school uniforms...yes, they were soooo ugly but sooooo practical!

 

I've been trying a new system I saw on pinterest from a mother who organises her children outfits every week (I don't remember your name but...thank you so much!). The moment I saw it I realised that organising my outfits once a week would save me a lot of time everyday not only in thinking but also in preparing my clothes for the next day.

 

 

 

I have five hooks I only use for this purpose; in each I hang everything (underwear, tights, shirt, skirt or jeans...whatever I'll wear the following day, except accessories.). I put them together in order (Monday, Tuesday...) although sometimes I don't follow it, but what really helps is that it's already prepared and you don't have to worry about it.

 

 

 

I've been doing it for a couple of months and, I promise, it works! I hope it'll be useful for you.

Recycle an old fabric into a short jacket

Have you ever bought a piece of fabric with the idea of making a great something?

Did you put it in your crafts shelf? Did you forget it? I did...and I found it last summer when I was decluttering my sewing closet. So I decided I couldn't leave it there and, as you already know, we're on our total financial makeover and I won't buy anything until Christmas, but I want new clothes so desperately...

This is what I've done with 1 metre (39 inches -I think -is the equivalence)of fabric: a supereasy short jacket. I made some mistakes (It's my second jacket...the first one...better not showing it) but with a scarf around it, no one can see them.

 

I took the instrucions from a Burda Magazine but I think that any other publication may include jackets like this.

Conclusion: you can be pretty ( or at least, try...) and save money on clothes using old fabrics.

Recycicle an old skirt into a door protector

I spoiled one of my favourite skirts a month ago.



That stain inside the circle is the "iron mark"

...And, although I felt really bad after burning my pretty skirt with the iron ( never put a heat source on delicate fabrics...that's what my mum always says), I immediately thought its colour was perfect for a door protector as it matches with the wood floor.

 

I live in a ground floor flat and, therefore, it's a cold house, which is good in the summer but awful in winter...I think these protectors will help keep it warmer.

 

It takes only three easy steps:

1. Measure the the length of your door and add 2 cm (if it's longer than the door, it'll cover its sides completely). Decide how high you want it (personally, I don't like a huge stuff at my door but I've seen quite big ones and they look beautiful, it all depends on your creativity and the size of your door...of course): measure, draw the rectangle or mark it with a chalk or pins, and cut the fabric.
2. Sew the rectangle, except one side.
3. Fill it with pillow filler or any other kind of filler and sew the side we left open before.

  

Recycling an old sweater into boot socks

Ver "DIY Tutorial: Boot Socks" en YouTube

I watched it a couple of days ago and I thought it was a really good idea.  I've always wanted to have some different beautiful pairs of socks for my boots, but being on my total money makeover I can't afford them...and I don't have time to knit them (which doesn't mean I won't do it in the near future; actually, I'm going to do it when I finish my door protectors...)

Anyway, why should I spend money on something I can do at home with a pair of scissors?

I hope you like it too!

Recycling old clothes

What to do with an old sweater and an old fashioned dress?

I haven´t gone shopping in three months...I can't believe it! economical crisis is changing all my family's life up to a point I wouldn't have imagined two years ago; however, all efforts are worthy and we both know we're walking along the right path: spending the least possible for the sake of a better future.

However, I can't live without new clothes (I get bored easily...) so I've decided I'll recycle as many clothes as possible... This is my first attempt: an old sweater and dress. I knoooow...it's not the prettiest dress (actually,I think next time I'll try with brighter colours), but it's a good idea to turn something old into a new item.

And this is the final result. With the right accessories and a beautiful coat I'll feel as if I use it for the first time.

 

 

Have you ever done something like this? If so, why don't you post a picture and share your ideas? I'm looking forward to hearing from you all!

Why homemade jam?

Firstly, because you save money.

Secondly, because you  save more money (again?) as you use that fruit nobody eats and you always buy promising yourself you'll take it this time, you'll make juice for the kids, a delicious pie...

Thirdly, because it's a natural product; you'll be sure of eating at least one thing without industrial additives.

Besides, because you decide if you want to eat tons of sugar or sweetener or nor;  I didn't do it and, trust me, they're delicious...and with less calories!

Finally, because it doesn't take too much time, especially if you have a kind machine like thermomix, which cooks it by itself. If you don't have it you only have to stir it from time to time.

Childhood remembrances

http://instagr.am/p/RRqMnxraSX/

When I was little my mum used to cook "picatostes" for Saturday breakfast.
I forgot to do the shopping yesterday and I only have bread... So I've made these and they are delicious. You only have to fry pieces of bread in hot oil.
The best part is that all my kitchen got a special scent from my childhood. Mum, I miss you a lot...especially when I don't know what to cook ...you have solutions for everything. X0 xo

10 minutes on non-essential organization

I saw this tip somewhere...so if you wrote it in your blog, please, say it! The moment I read it, I thought it was a great idea to keep my house organised little by little. I started last week with the linen closet (you can see the post in this blog) and I felt that I'd accomplished a lot in only ten minutes so I decided to include it in my daily cleaning routine.

 

Unfortunately, this week is being so stressing at school that I can hardly do anything at all...Anyway, this is my kitchen linen (I'm not proud of it, but it's what I have...and what I need):

And these are the steps I'm following:

1. Take all linen out of the drawer (done)
2. Fold it and classify it (done)
3. Put it in a pretty box ( I haven't bought it yet!)
4. Find a place in the kitchen for my pretty box. (...)

Linen Closet Done!

Finally, I finished with it! Everytime I looked at this I felt so bad... And although it seems the opposite, there was an organization pattern, really... (blankets together, sheets together, irons together, and some stuff I didn't know where to put together...). However, it was a mess. Why? because folding linen the right way is as important as gathering things together.

Soooo, I took everything out of the closet and started to think and search on the web for better ways of folding sheets and towels. And this has been my living room for a week (sorry for my husband; he didn't even complain. He's a saint!).

I eventually gave a chance to two new ways of folding things:



















This is the final result. I know it isn't perfect but it's better than before: it saves space and looks more organised (because it IS more organised).

I need some feedback! Probably you know other way of organising your linen: tell me or post a picture!.

 

 

See you next time!

Be organised and you'll be happy

¡Al final he terminado! Cada vez que abría el armario y miraba a esto, me sentía tan mal...y lo peor es que aunque no lo parezca, había un patrón  para ordenar (¿si?): las sábanas juntas, las toallas juntas, las plancahs juntas (es que tengo una de vapor para cuando hay mucho que planchar y otra para las emergencias... Regalos de boda). En fin, que era un desastre. ¿Porqué? pues yo creo que porque la forma en que se doblan las cosas es tan importante como colocar las cosas juntas.

 

Así que...primer paso: sacar todo del armario y empezar a pensar y buscar en la red formas mejores de doblar las sábanas y las toallas. He tenido el salón hecho un desastre durante una semana ( y mi marido que es un bendito, ni se ha quejado...), pero ha merecido la pena.

 

Sé que no es perfecto pero creo que ahora he ahorrado espacio (incluso he podido guardar las colchas, que antes no cabían ni a presión) y parece que está ordenado (bueno...¡es que está más ordenado!)

 

Necesito que me digáis lo que os parece. Si conoceis otra forma de organizar las sábanas y las toallas: ¡cuentamelo o sube una foto!

 

 

Nos vemos y recuerda: ¡organízate y se feliz!

 

 

 

 

Linen closet: my inspiration

This week I' m organising sheets and towels; this is my inspiration, a picture posted by A Bowl Full of Lemons

 

Although I'm definitely not going to buy any box to keep sheets or towels (maybe next month, but now my budget is trying to survive one more week..jejeje), this photo shows exactly the concept of order I want for my linen closet. Firstly, I want to gather in the same place all sheets, towels, blankets, etc. , which now are spread in all my house closets. And secondly, I'll try maximize space as much as possible.

 

As I'm spending only 10 or 15 minutes each day, it's taking me all the week to tidy it up; I think I'll have finished by Saturday and I'll be able to upload the pictures.

 

See you all!

 

 

 

Esta semana estoy organizando el armario de las sàbanas, toallas y demàs...mi inspiraciòn es esta foto de A Bowl Full of Lemons.

Aunque sea un poco raro, me la he bajado al mòvil para verlo a todas horas hasta que termine la tarea; asì no me de por vaguear y dejarlo a medias.

 

No voy a comprar cajas para guardar las cosillas (hay que aguantar hasta fin de mes...) pero me gusta la idea de orden que transmite la imagen y esto es lo que quiero conseguir para mi armario. Lo primero que quiero hacer es agrupar todas las sàbanas, toallas, mantas, etc., que ahora estàn desperdigadas por los armarios de la casa. Lo segundo que me parece importante es aprovechar al màximo el espacio.

 

Como sòlo dedico unos 10 o 15 minutos al dìa, voy a tardar una semana en arreglar el armario; creo que para el sàbado lo tendrè finiquitado y subirè las fotos para que lo veais y me decìs si os parece bien o se puede hacer de otra forma màs bonita o pràctica.

 

Nos vemos!



THE SEWING WARDROBE

All this sumer I've been trying to tidy up this part of the wardrobe but I didn't know how to; so I've decided to do it anyway hoping that ideas will come out (and they did! although I know I'll have to revise it in a month or two to do it better; at least now I can find what I need).

 

Here are some tips that helped me a lot:

 

1- Classify all the stuff into different categories: wools, fabrics (long, medium, small size), sewing tools, magazines, etc.

2- Put things horizontally; this way you'll see them just by opening each drawer.

3- Label all categories to put things back where they should be and find them at the right place.

 







Before




 

 

 



 

All sewing things out of the wardrobe!



 




 

 

 

 

 

 











 



Final result

 

                                                                    First Drawer
 

                                                                    Second Drawer

 



                                                                   Magazines'box

Todo este verano he estado pensando en organizar esta parte del armario "guardatodo" pero no sabía cómo...; así que he decidido hacerlo igualmente con la esperanza de que se me ilumine la bombilla. Lo sorprendente es que ¡se me ha iluminado! Aunque tendré que darle un repaso dentro de un mes o dos; pero por lo menos ahora sé que encontraré lo que necesito.

He seguido unas reglas básicas:

 

1- Separar por categorías: lanas, telas (tamaño grande, mediano, pequeño), utensilios de costura, revistas, etc.

2- Colocar horizontalmente todo lo que se pueda; así se ven las cosas nada más abrir el cajón.

3- Etiquetar las categorías para poner todo en su sitio y buscarlas donde le corresponde.

Ver "Four Steps To Pantry Envy" en YouTube

THURSDAY: IRON

Yeap! Thursday is de "iron day". Why? because it's one of the things I hate most and doing it at the beginning of the week seems soooooo hard, but doing it in the weekend is soooooo boring that I prefer doing it on Thursday; it's totally psychological, jejeje...

Just some tips to go faster: Firstly, iron once a week. Secondly, don't iron sheets, towels, underwear, sports t-shirt, tracksuits or jammies. Finally, it's also useful hanging clothes not by the middle but by the lower or top part; otherwise that awful wrinkle(impossible to iron...) appears on t-shirts and sweaters;at least, that's what I do and it helps me save a lot of time.

The sooner we start, the sooner we'll finish

Let's start now!

Sí sí: el jueves es el día de la plancha...¡¿Porqué?! pues porque odio planchar. Primero, que sólo dedico un día a esta tarea, y hacerlo a principio de semana se me hace durísimo; hacerlo el fin de semana ni te cuento... así que el jueves parece como un día entre medias, cerca del finde sin ser finde...en fin, que no tengo más motivo que el psicológico, jejeje...

Para ir un poco más rápido con la plancha: no se planchan la sábanas, toallas, ropa interior, camisetas que utilizamos para hacer deporte, chándales y pijamas. También ayuda colgar la ropa lo más estirada posible y evitar el centro de la prenda; es decir, colgarlas o por la parte de arriba o la de abajo ( si no, sale esa arruga imposible de quitar por más que apriete la plancha...).

En fin, que cuanto antes nos pongamos, antes terminaremos.

¡Al lío!

Wednesday: Establish Daily Routines

This week I'm working on my afternoon daily routines, especially from Monday to Friday; that's to say, I'm trying to set what I'll do when I come back home.

 

This month it's been kind of a mess because with the new course I have had to put all work matters in order and now that I've finished, I feel it's time for me...so today I've started my first winter sewing project: recycling a dress and an old sweater.

 

These are the things I want to do in the afternoons:

 

1. Relax and have a snack.
2. Daily 15-20 minutes cleaning (today I have to clean the kitchen baseboards and wipe down bathrooms; my husband will vacuum the floors)
3. Put all summer shoes back in their boxes 
4. Sewing project

 

Yesterday I had time for all, so today I hope I'll be able to accomplish everything I've planned

 



It would be soooo nice to do nothing at all!

 

 

Miércoles: Establecer las Rutinas Diarias

 

Esta semana me estoy centrando en establecer las rutinas diarias, especialmente los días de trabajo; es decir, crear unos hábitos a seguir al llegar a casa.

Los principios de curso suelen ser un poco alocados hasta que se pone en marcha toda la maquinaria y empieza a rodar a buen ritmo; creo que esta fase ya la he pasado, pero aún así - como hago siempre- dedicaré un par de días a la semana a preparar cosillas. En cualquier caso, ahora me dedico 100 % a mis temas; o sea, a empezar con mis labores. Este año comenzaré por reciclar un vestido y un jersey antiguos.

Estas son las cosas que quiero hacer por las tardes:

1. Descansar y merendar.
2. Limpiar 15-20 minutos (mañana me toca repasar las encimeras de la cocina y los baños; mi chico pasa la aspiradora...esta vez sí que lo sabe, jeje..)
3. Poner los zapatos de verano en las cajas
4. Labores!



 

Ayer me dio tiempo a hacer todo; a ver si hoy tengo la misma suerte!

 

Al lío!!!

Tuesday: Organising Clothes

After my 15 minutes cleaning, it's free time to organise winter clothes...but not all today!

 

I'll do it for half an hour every day until I finish. I'll start putting summer clothes in bags; I wish I had those huge boxes with wheels buuuuut we're in a stage of total saving, so I think plastic bags will be Ok.

I fold all clothes and roll them to have more space in each bag. The following pictures show a skirt but you can do this with t-shirts and trousers, shorts, sweater, etc.

MARTES: ORGANIZAR LA ROPA DE INVIERNO

Después de los 15 minutos de limpiza de mantenimiento diario, tengo un poco de tiempo libre para colocar la ropa de invierno ...pero hoy toda no!

 

 Yo calculo que con una media hora (sólo somos dos en casa) para el viernes ya lo tendré terminado. Empezaré poniendo la ropa de verano en bolsas para guardar la ropa (aunque lo que me gustaría de verdad es comprar una caja de esas de plástico con ruedas para ponerla en el trastero, peeeeeero estamos en fase de ahorro total, así que...me quedo con las bolsas! jejeje :(

Para ahorrar espacio la doblo al máximo y luego la enrollo. Parece que no pero al final supone una bolsa o dos menos y, como las guardo en el canapé (que es una de las razones por las que no utilizo cajas de cartón, como hace mi Mami) cuanto más espacio libre, mejor.

Este sistema para doblar sirve para cualquier prenda; aquí sale una falda pero se puede hacer con pantalones, camisetas, shorts, etc.

Monday Second Week: Time to enjoy October!

After the hard work of the first week of month (deep cleaning and cooking), I'll start to enjoy my afternoons knowing that the basic things have been done.

 

However, I'll try to maintain the house tidy and I'll do a little everyday. I'll spend 15-20 minutes in cleaning and de-cluttering, no more than that; when time's over, I'll do something else. This is what I'll do:

 

• fast vacuum floors (ok...I won't do this...my husband'll do it...although he doesn't know it yet...)
• fast dusting
• spot mirrors and windows
• wipe down bathrooms (I'll do this before going to bed; I use bathroom wipes and it takes three minutes!)

 

Once I've finished...I'll start a new sewing project!

 

Lunes, Segunda Semana: Hora de disfrutar del Mes!

Después de la dura primera semana que he pasado (limpiar a fondo y cocinar para todo el mes) ahora es cuando empiezo a disfrutar de las tardes sabiendo que lo importante está hecho, y cuando pienso que todo el esfuerzo a merecido la pena.

 

En cualquier caso, intentaré mantener la casa limpia y ordenada, y para ello dedicaré sólo unos 15-20 minutos; después de ese tiempo, a otra cosa...mariposa! Esto es lo que haré mañana:

 

• Pasar la aspiradora a toda pastilla (bueno, esto lo hará mi chico...aunque él todavía no lo sabe jiji...ya se lo imaginará, digo yo).
• Limpiar el polvo rápido.
• Quitar las manchas de los espejos y los cristales.
• Baños (esto lo hago antes de irme a dormir con unas toallitas para el baño y se tarda tres minutines)

 

Cuando haya terminado...a coser!

Changing clothes...

Or not...?

 

Changing clothes each season is one of the things that stresses me most. All summer clothes are still in the wardrobe and winter clothes are waiting... The thing is that I already need sweaters or socks but I'm still using t-shirts... I don't want to see this mess! mainly because it'll probably last a week (I must put all summer clothes in bags, iron and put winter clothes in the wardrobe...) so I've decided I won't get in this room.

Cambio de ropa...o no?

 

El cambio de armario es lo peor...sigo necesitando la ropa de verano pero ya hace fresco con lo que un jerseilillo y unos calcetines no vienen mal. El problema es que de esta situación surge el desorden que podeis ver en la foto y que probablemente va a durar un semana ( entre que saco la ropa del armario, plancho y coloco la de invierno); un estrés que pa'qué... vamos que no entro en la habitación por no verlo!

Yes to Organise your daily working outfits once a week!

Yes, because it saves time as you will only have to think of it once a week. You will have five more minutes to sit on the coach or read a book or watch tv or sleep.

I saw a picture on pinterest of a mum who used this method to organise her kids' clothes and I immediately thought it could be a good way to avoid thinking of it every night.

I started last Sunday and it's amazing; thinking of what wearing the following day

is one of the things I most hate, not because I don't like fashion but because it's the typical thing you do almost before going to bed when you're tired and you have to do no matter what happens if you want to save time the next morning.

I hanged them with everything (t-shirt, sweater, belt, tights, etc.), except shoes and the underwear (of course!); and it doesn't matter whether you put something on one day or the other; the thing is that it's already prepared to be worn.

Probably I could save more time if I did this after ironing, putting my working clothes back thinking of what I'd wear during the week; the rest would go where they used to be.

Save Money Planning your Meals in Advance

                                   MONTHLY MENU 

To save money on meals, experience has taught me (in the hardest possible way…)that it’s necessary to plan a menu in advance and buy only (O-N-L-Y) what you need.

Personally, I think planning meals once a month is one of the most difficult things in home organizing because it requires hours thinking of the best ways to save money without forgetting health, shopping, and cooking. On the other side, planning in advance helps me be free the rest of the month, and with practice it's becoming easier. This will be our menu:

MENU OCTOBER
Monday		Tuesday	Wednesday		Thursday		Friday	Saturday
Pasta with carbonara sauce+ pork fillet	Stewed lentils + meatballs			Stewed green beans and potatoes + grilled chicken breast	Cocido + roast chicken	Complete “cuban” rice		Riojan Stewed Potatoes + Salmón
Spinach with cream + French omlette	Baked Coliflower with potatoes + grilled trout			Potatoe puree+  “caldereta de pescado”	Beans with parma ham + prawns	Roast potatos with tinned  mackerel		Pizza
Pasta with tomato sauce + sausages with wine sauce	Stewed lentils + hamburguer fillets			Zucchini with tomato sauce + grilled chicken breast	Stewed pinto beans+ roast chicken	Complete “cuban” rice		Sea potatoes + fried anchovies
Espinach “Sacromonte” Fried egg	Broccoli + mussles with sauce			Boiled carrots + grilled trout	Cabbage puree +tuna with tomato sauce	Maicena + French omlette		Crêpes

As you can see, I only plan two weeks and I repeat it the following fortnight; we also eat a lot of vegetables, legumes, potatoes, fish and meat.

I don’t like cooking and basically that's why I do it once a month (I don't have to think of it in three weeks). I also have to admit that it has two problems; the first one is that it’s really exhausting cooking in three days what you’ll eat the whole month. The second is that there’s no possibility of saving money until the following month, which is quite despairing, especially when you’re trying to spend the less possible.

So I think that I’ll plan and cook for the whole month (as I don’t want to think of cooking until November) but I’ll do the shopping twice, and I’ll buy things depending on what’s left in the freezer. The first time I’ll buy things like house supplies (bathroom, kitchen, cleaning products…), pasta, legumes, milk, vegetables... And with respect to the meat, fish and fruits, I’ll only buy what I’ll need for the fortnight.

Sometimes we have lunch or dinner at our parents’ and what I cooked remains in the freezer, ready to be used for the next fortnight menu. So here I can save money this month instead of waiting for the next one to see the results.
 
 

It's time to start!

 

 

 

AHORRAR UN POCO CADA MES PLANIFICANDO EL MENÚ

Para ahorrar dinero en las comidas, la experiencia me ha enseñado (a base de estrellarme) que hay que hacer un menú y comprar solo (SOLO) lo que se necesita. De todas formas, organizar el menú es una de las cosas más complicadas porque requiere tiempo y tener en cuenta aspectos como la salud, el dinero del que se dispone, hacer la compra, etc. Sin embargo, hacerlo con anticipación permite estar libre el resto del mes (no pensar qué voy a cocinar para la cena, ¿tendré los ingredientes que necesito?...) y con práctica se hace cada vez más sencillo.

Sólo organizo dos semanas y lo repito las dos siguientes; comemos mucho a base de verduras, legumbres, patatas, pescado y carne (bueno, lo que se llama dieta mediterránea).

De todas formas, este sistema también tiene sus inconvenientes: el primero es que resulta suuuuupercansado cocinar en tres días para todo el mes. El segundo es que la única posibilidad de ahorrar dinero en la compra es a principio de mes, lo cual es desalentador si se está tratando de ahorrar todo lo que se pueda.

Este mes creo que voy a hacerlo de forma diferente y haré el menú pensando en todo el mes pero haré la compra cada quince días, según lo que me haya sobrado las dos primeras semanas. La primera será la “gran compra” (legumbres, pasta, leche, cosas de la casa, etc.; la carne y el pescado, al igual que la fruta y verdura para dos semanas) y la segunda lo que necesite de pescado y carne y repondré la fruta y la verdura.

 La cosa es que nosotros a veces comemos o cenamos en casa de nuestros padres y ese día la comida se queda en el congelador, lista para el siguiente mes. Aquí se puede ahorrar si se hace la compra cada dos semanas; quizá se ahorre lo mismo pero al menos los resultados son inmediatos y no hay que esperar al mes que viene…

A ver qué tal se da...