Lots more Sneaky Ways to save the pennies

Primrose

On the Question of Christmas  presents generally I know itsoften a problem what to buy for elderly relatives so they end up getting boxes of chocolates!

i,ve emailed my MP suggesting she uses her influence to get all the energy companies, now the Winter Fuel Allowance has been withdrawn from most pensioners, to issue Energy Gift cards which are interchangeable across all sectors and energy providers, rwther like the national book token scheme.    I doubt whether it will come to anything but it might be a way of providing elderly people with something really useful which would help them

kimwp

Primrose said:

On the Question of Christmas  presents generally I know itsoften a problem what to buy for elderly relatives so they end up getting boxes of chocolates!

i,ve emailed my MP suggesting she uses her influence to get all the energy companies, now the Winter Fuel Allowance has been withdrawn from most pensioners, to issue Energy Gift cards which are interchangeable across all sectors and energy providers, rwther like the national book token scheme.    I doubt whether it will come to anything but it might be a way of providing elderly people with something really useful which would help them

Gift cards are such an odd thing. Somehow seen as a gift where money wouldn't be, it's just money with restrictions and a bit of plastic that ends up as landfill. 

Not to say that this isn't a nice idea, it would just be nice if it was socially acceptable just to give cash if that's ultimately what's best for the receiver.

Kaylataste

kimwp said:

Primrose said:

On the Question of Christmas  presents generally I know itsoften a problem what to buy for elderly relatives so they end up getting boxes of chocolates!

i,ve emailed my MP suggesting she uses her influence to get all the energy companies, now the Winter Fuel Allowance has been withdrawn from most pensioners, to issue Energy Gift cards which are interchangeable across all sectors and energy providers, rwther like the national book token scheme.    I doubt whether it will come to anything but it might be a way of providing elderly people with something really useful which would help them

Gift cards are such an odd thing. Somehow seen as a gift where money wouldn't be, it's just money with restrictions and a bit of plastic that ends up as landfill. 

Not to say that this isn't a nice idea, it would just be nice if it was socially acceptable just to give cash if that's ultimately what's best for the receiver.

i have to agree,ive just been given £100 on a giftcard,which is lovely but such a faff to use online!first it must be converted into a coupon,then i have to register for a coupon account,then i can only use a certain amount at a time.Its driving me mad a lovely thought and i am grateful to have it,but honestly,cash or bank transfer would have been so much easier.

Primrose

Yes, as the originator of this suggestion I have to agree there can be snags but the idea is to keep it really simply so that the whole value of the gift card can be downloaded onto the recipient's energy account in one  go so that the full value is then available to be used in energy consumption as needed. 
There ought to be enough brainpower in the energy industry andnthe relevant government departments to come up with something simple.   After all, they managed to bring in a fair food rationing system during the second world war (but perhaps the quality of brainpower and constructive thinking has diminished since the advent of social media !)

MrsCD

Gem-gem said:

Regarding the hanky discussion, My DH and I use hankies on a day to day basis but we do have a box of tissues for a) guests b) if we have a very heavy cold. 

DH used to work in a factory that made hankies and toilet rolls, so he says it's keeping people in work when we buy tissues! We both still use cotton hankies too.

Nelliegrace

We gave up UPF breakfast cereals completely.

A lot of them should be classed as sweets, and not as food.
This is a popular one,

Ingredients

Whole Grain Oat Flour (31.9%), Whole Grain Wheat Flour (29.6%), Whole Grain Barley Flour (18.2%), Sugar, Wheat Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin B3, Iron, Vitamin B1), Invert Sugar Syrup, Calcium Carbonate, Sunflower Oil, Molasses, Salt, Caramelised Sugar Syrup, Colours: Carotene, Annatto Norbixin, Antioxidant: Tocopherols, Iron, Vitamins C, B3, B5, B9, D, B6, B2

We buy basic muesli and add a bit of fresh fruit and a teaspoon of mixed seeds to the bowl. DH fills his bowl with muesli so there is barely room for the fruit. I have given him smaller and smaller bowls, and a smaller spoon. A portion is supposed to be 40g. Finally I have started adding budget porridge to the muesli to make a kilo last a bit longer than a week. It is half the price. 
I blame the plastic cereal container which was free with Alpen years ago. It pours out too much too quickly. My porridge is in a glass sweetie jar and I have a small portion-sized plastic measure. Mum used to add a bit of muesli for variety when she made porridge. 

I rinse and reuse the food grade plastic bags. 

MrsCD

Hubby uses one of my measuring cups, either a third or quarter cup if I remember correctly. Otherwise he would pour far too much out. I have chopped banana and sometimes dried apricots with Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of Truvia. My BP meds lower my potassium levels too much, so this is (tasty) self medication! If I don't have any for a few days, I get palpitations.😞

London_1

For the past couple of years I told my friends and family that I would be donating to the Sally Army instead of cards as the money I would normally spend will go to better use for people who have very little . The cost of a card plus postage is absurd and that could give someone something hot to eat or drink rather than a piece of card to be thrown away to go into landfill.
Just choose you charity of choice , and tell everyone, most folk agree and I still receive a few cards from die-hards but I'm not too bothered.
I do send my grandson one in New York plus an anniversary card as they married in 2016 on Christmas Eve,and one to my cousin in Australia and another cousin in Canada but that all. The rest get what's app messages or emails or a phone call.. 17/- for a stamp I don't think so and over a pound if its first class.  

JackieO xx

IrishRose12

Regarding tissues, I only use hankies. Always have one in my pocket and handbag.  Didn't do anyone any harm all those years ago, so it won't do me any harm now.  If I have a bad cold, I use toilet roll so it can be flushed down the toilet.

Gift cards, I don't do those.  I give cash but preferably it's a gift given.  I received 3 gift cards last year for Christmas, and found them in an old handbag last week, still not spent.  I'll have to go into town to spend them, as I can't find anything for the amount on the giftcard, and I cant't use them as part payment

Christmas cards - I will always send Christmas cards.  Don't care what the excuses are for not sending one, sending a card to someone shows that they are worth the price of a stamp, and it will put a smile on someones face, it could change their whole outlook on their day knowing someone took the time to think about them and write their name on a card.
The charity excuse really angers me, as you can donate to charity anytime of the year, so why just Christmas? Why use the excuse of postage costs?  Why not donate the costs of a couple of coffees/teas or takeaways throughout the year for example. 
A pack of 50 cards cost what?? £3.50 in the card factory?? £5 at the most??  Thats less than 1 cup of coffee.  

People have used the charity excuse with me, and have then had some of them ask me why I didn't send them a card my reply?? well you didn't send me one so why would I send you one? I decided to show my charitable time elsewhere to people who took the time to think of me.
As a family we are big card givers... we write Christmas cards for the people in the local nursing homes, and we write cards for our priests and shop keepers/chesmists etc. The children still take christmas cards into school for their friends and each staff member who works with them. 

The motto in our family is Charity begins at home, and that means the community and those who need it most.  Not the big wigs sitting behind their fancy desks lining their pockets. I've stopped donating money completly to charity, we donate to the local foodbank, and the local toy appeal, that way we know where our money is actually going and the items will actually be put to good use. And not just at christmas, it's an all year round job. 

Nelliegrace

DH checked online for the best price for the car insurance renewal. The renewal quote we had was reasonable but they had put the excess up to £750, and by reapplying online to the same company, he got that reduced by £400.

My phone payment has gone up yearly since O2 took over the company. DH has helped me to change phone supplier, keeping the same number and plan for £6 instead of nearly £10 a month.