Reducing food waste at Chez Wright isn’t all about the Friday routine.
It’s about keeping your eye on the prize.
Watching out for waste that may sneak up on you.
Take these bananas, for example…
Just 4 days old, and not in the best shape.
Looking much more appetising as a no added sugar or fat Banana and Ginger Loaf, me thinks!
I may actually be partaking in a slice, with a cup of tea, as I type ;-).
That’s the save. How about the sale?
Cast your mind back. Spring 2012.
Simply Being Mum’s Spring Sale. My mission; To generate £600 by selling items no longer required.
Why £600? Well, I’d read that the average UK home contains approx. £600 (resale value) of redundant items. Loving an experiment, I wanted to see whether it was true. Even in a relatively uncluttered home.
Totals to date (rounded up and down):
eBay 1 = £52
Car Boot 1 = £82
eBay 2 = £32
Clothing Recycler = £14
eBay 3 = £96
Car Boot 2 = £60
Total £276 – nearly half way there!
****Correction (9pm I had a sudden thought, that doesn’t add up what I wrote on blog earlier – I’d missed last car boot total – duh!)
£336 OVER halfway there!*****
We did a car boot Sunday. I say we…. I had a helper.
My enthusiastic helper’s money was quickly put toward a new Monster High doll.
I’ve only just finished the first box! I’ve another to rustle up now! Good job I’ve invested in some glitter spray paint. Oh yes, it was only a matter of time.
And so the sale continues. I’m quite determined to reach my £600 target.
***Have you been generating cash from your clutter, or has it been a case of giving it away to get it out the door?***
Any inspiring tips, to give the Simply Being Mum Sale a final push?
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Joanna @ I Won't Be a Hoarder Too says
I love banana bread! I’ve been making banana smoothies lately. Frozen bananas plus soymilk and soy butter whirled in the blender is so tasty. So many ways to use extra bananas.
simplybeingmum says
Hi Joanna – I love soya milk smo0thies… my faves are with summer fruits such as blueberries and raspberries… with some why protein!
Joanna @ I Won't Be a Hoarder Too says
I love banana bread! I’ve been making banana smoothies lately. Frozen bananas plus soymilk and soy butter whirled in the blender is so tasty. So many ways to use extra bananas.
simplybeingmum says
Hi Joanna – I love soya milk smo0thies… my faves are with summer fruits such as blueberries and raspberries… with some why protein!
bessiecat says
banana & oatmeal muffins – these freeze really well – if you get them out of the freezer in the evening they are perfect for breakfast on the run the next day!
simplybeingmum says
Yummy – they’re on the list!
bessiecat says
banana & oatmeal muffins – these freeze really well – if you get them out of the freezer in the evening they are perfect for breakfast on the run the next day!
simplybeingmum says
Yummy – they’re on the list!
Angela P. says
I was inspired by your banana save and, as I had a couple of spotty bananas sitting in my kitchen, decided to do the same. I found a recipe for Banana and Ginger Loaf here: http://www.nellyscupcakes.co.uk/2012/01/ginger-and-banana-loaf.html
Most of my family is gluten-intolerant, so I made the appropriate flour substitution and I used ginger root rather than ginger stem. The result was *heavenly*! It is, by far, the best banana bread I have ever had. So thank you for sharing your save and inspiring mine!
simplybeingmum says
Hi Angela – I’ll be checking it out. very likely I’ll be posting my no added fat/sugar banana loaf very soon… Thanks for that! Jo
Angela P. says
I was inspired by your banana save and, as I had a couple of spotty bananas sitting in my kitchen, decided to do the same. I found a recipe for Banana and Ginger Loaf here: http://www.nellyscupcakes.co.uk/2012/01/ginger-and-banana-loaf.html
Most of my family is gluten-intolerant, so I made the appropriate flour substitution and I used ginger root rather than ginger stem. The result was *heavenly*! It is, by far, the best banana bread I have ever had. So thank you for sharing your save and inspiring mine!
simplybeingmum says
Hi Angela – I’ll be checking it out. very likely I’ll be posting my no added fat/sugar banana loaf very soon… Thanks for that! Jo
SarahN says
I worked on MAKING old bananas for smoothies (with peanut butter) but then I OD’d – there’s one lurking in the freezer still but that’s OK. I don’t sell much of my ‘clutter’ – I give away heaps! Like an IKEA Expedit. Did sell a wardrobe (about $400 I think), but genreally I can’t be bothered. Late last year in pre-move stage, I sold pens on ebay (nice boxed ones), old phones etc etc worked well pre christmas, just suffering the post office wasn’t so nice (OK cause I do it in work time :p). Giving away feels good, and gets it gone faster! Might try the wine rack on ebay now, seeing it didn’t work on another site
simplybeingmum says
Hi Sarah… Yeah banana smoothies are okay in moderation. I add one to milk and choc whey protein for my ‘after run’ drink. I prefer summer fruits and vanilla though. Not a massive banana fan, but in the loaf it’s quite mild.
As for selling stuff, it takes a lot of effort I agree. When I did my car-boot last week I also gave stuff away. My objective is always to return home with next to nothing. I don’t store it for the next car-boot sale. I took about 5 or 6 of my Gran’s old records, Elvis, Abba, Tom Jones etc… A lady wanted the Elvis one. Whilst digging in her purse, she explained her son was an art student who painted onto the vinyl and framed it. I told her to take it FOC, that it was going to a good home. I love the idea that my dear old (now deceased) Gran’s records would be made into something much greater than the sum of its parts. In fact I told the lady to take all of them FOC. She did take them, but she gave my Daughter a little something for her piggy bank instead of paying me.
Good luck with the wine rack!
SarahN says
I worked on MAKING old bananas for smoothies (with peanut butter) but then I OD’d – there’s one lurking in the freezer still but that’s OK. I don’t sell much of my ‘clutter’ – I give away heaps! Like an IKEA Expedit. Did sell a wardrobe (about $400 I think), but genreally I can’t be bothered. Late last year in pre-move stage, I sold pens on ebay (nice boxed ones), old phones etc etc worked well pre christmas, just suffering the post office wasn’t so nice (OK cause I do it in work time :p). Giving away feels good, and gets it gone faster! Might try the wine rack on ebay now, seeing it didn’t work on another site
simplybeingmum says
Hi Sarah… Yeah banana smoothies are okay in moderation. I add one to milk and choc whey protein for my ‘after run’ drink. I prefer summer fruits and vanilla though. Not a massive banana fan, but in the loaf it’s quite mild.
As for selling stuff, it takes a lot of effort I agree. When I did my car-boot last week I also gave stuff away. My objective is always to return home with next to nothing. I don’t store it for the next car-boot sale. I took about 5 or 6 of my Gran’s old records, Elvis, Abba, Tom Jones etc… A lady wanted the Elvis one. Whilst digging in her purse, she explained her son was an art student who painted onto the vinyl and framed it. I told her to take it FOC, that it was going to a good home. I love the idea that my dear old (now deceased) Gran’s records would be made into something much greater than the sum of its parts. In fact I told the lady to take all of them FOC. She did take them, but she gave my Daughter a little something for her piggy bank instead of paying me.
Good luck with the wine rack!