Being 'tight' or being creative

liz.._4

Nice thread thriftlady and IMO definitely creative!

Nothing wrong in saving a few bob, thats why we're all on this website!

Go for it and enjoy!

stressedoutmumof1

:rotfl: The fireworks display brings back memories :rotfl: When I was a kid my mum, brother and myself would got to our local school's display, we always "cut through" a hole in the hedge - I didn't know at the time it was to save money. I'm quite embarrased by it now. What annoys me about our local display now is all the fairground rides at £1.50 a pop etc etc My DD's birthday is on bonfire night so we always pay and go to the display, but try to get there a little late so she doesn't have to do all the extras

thriftlady_2

Buxtonrabbitgreen, I think your sig should be changed from

Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination

Oscar Wilde

to Anyone who lives within their means suffers from extraordinary imagination

rainbowrisin

Creative, creative all the way. Tight is when you don't spend on necessities so people suffer.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with seeing the fireworks for nowt - I come at it from a different perspective, as, whilst I love the colours and lights I have animals and every year they are terrified to the point of incontinence on bonfire night, despite dope from the vet, everyone indoors, music on and so on. I honestly feel the fireworks don't make up for the suffering the animals endure, so don't think it's any great moral issue not to pay money to see fireworks, even if it does go to the PTA - you could always volunteer for some sort of PTA activity if you want to support them.
When I was a nipper, being a good manager with money, making it stretch and getting summat for nowt were applauded and ingenious freebie ways of solving problems were passed on and re-told through letters and the phone (I feel about 170 writing that). I'm not quite sure how we ended up in a society where those virtues are met with derision in some quarters. Frugal dougals win the day, I say.

pounds_and_pensive

Years ago, before my kids were born, we lived in a first floor flat that overlooked the city football ground. I'd happily watch their firework display for free from the comfort of our livingroom, considering it a compensation for all the chaos we had to put up with on match days for the rest of the year.

We all go to our local school's display now (and pay for it), but only for the benefit of the kids - the appeal has usually waned for me by bonfire night owing to the fact that you can see a constant display of fireworks in the sky every night from mid October around here anyway. It's possible by then that I'd cheerfully pay *not* to have to see any more

JillD_2

I have only recently started trying really really hard to save money and I think my husband thinks I have gone mad. I've been laing my own bread which I am sure he thinks won't last, all summer we had picnics where previously we would have eaten in cafes, I am budgeting like mad on our groceries and everyione is getting homemade pressies for Xmas this year.

I think he does think I am being tight but its out of necessity more than anything plus I like a good challenge!

QueenB.

I think we are being creative not tight. Like many on here i believe in OS ways because not only do i need to tighten the old money belt but it is also good for our enviroment. We are a wasteful society and many have forgotten just how many things can be enjoyed without spending a fortune. My children and i where sitting down yesterday looking over the summer holiday photos and we all said how wonderful the summer had been and how much fun we had all had as a family and yet we had spent barely any money on days out. We just enjoyed all the free and cheap things locally and more importantly we spent our time enjoying ourselves as a close family. I take pack lunches everywhere and the children have come to expect H/M nibbles and bottles of water when they need them, they aren't embrassed as i always pack what they enjoy and not having been brought up on fast food and tons of sweets they are not bothered.

Plus i enjoy how creative OS make me, i have to think more about everything around me and be more creative rather than just depend on shops and money i don't have. It can be very challenging and therefore very rewarding. The children seem to be following in my footsteps and that is a good thing. Saving in so many little ways means that when we do treat ourselves we can and fully enjoy it.

As for fireworks, we also used to watch them from our flat when we lived in one and then attended a local schools display but prices started getting out of hand and i really began to feel resentful at being ripped off. So when we moved last year we decided to buy a cheap box of fireworks and held our own little display in our garden. The children enjoyed that more than any display we have ever paid for. Plus as the fireworks where a BOGOF offer we put a box aside for another occassion. The children have been asking all year when we will have our firework display again LOL.

jazzyjustlaw

Definately creative. My friends think I am a tight wad. i wont go to Costa Coffee but then I live off the high street. I will go for coffee just not pay over the odds. I get my car washed but only in the week when its half price. I am too busy to do it myself and for £2.50 its a bargain. I wont buy things just because they are cheap I weigh up the quality and necessity too.

I spend a fortune sometimes on things I really want and need but can only do so because I refuse to go OTT on the basics.

I am lucky as I live near the Quay and fireworks are free anyway - yippee!!

kittiwoz

hollydays wrote:

I used to give presents to a relative,who would tell me as she unwrapped it carefully,that she was going to re use the paper.

I'd be kind of flattered because I'd think it implied she thought I'd chosen nice paper.

Anyway, I think it is more to do with being creative. I think I am generally quite a creative person (I am currently doing an MSc in Industrial Design) and I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy cooking so much, apart from my great love of food. I like making things too. I am actually thinking of trying to make some stuff from recycled materials to sell on eBay but I don't know whether that will work out. Maybe people will just see it as junk because it is made from junk. I'll have to try it for a bit and report back. Also, for me, it is a social and environmental issue as well. I hate the growing consumerism and materialism in society. I want to be defined by what I create not what I consume. I also think materialism is part of a very selfish culture and encourages an "I'm alright Jack" attitude that I deplore. I really hate that people should feel they have to aspire to ownership of certain things to be counted a success and that other people who have those things should feel able to look down on others. I actually thing the idea of a lifestyle built around money and possesions is quite sad. Of course rampant consumerism is really not good for the environment either because of all the energy and materials used in making the new things which are then thrown away and create landfill because consumerist society tells us we need new shiny things to feel complete so we don't repair or reuse the old ones. To a large extent I feel I'm opting out.

Rachel021967

I think looking at fireworks at a distance is far better than up close. I just end up with a sore neck and covered in bits from the fireworks and fire. Don't get me wrong I love firework night but I prefer to watch them from a distance than at the barrier of a public firework display.
I suppose the difference between OS and being damn right tight is OS is using your time, money and resources creatively to get the best out of life but not at somebody elses expense.