Great 'Embarrassing MoneySaving tips' Hunt

Frugalista

janetmw wrote: »

I rarely buy bubble wrap.

This can be obtained from supermarkets who use it between the layers of fruit and veg on display. I'm sure it is already in the crates when delivered and then thrown out when empty.

Janet

I do this too - and, apparently, they do throw it out .

phizzimum

The_Bluester wrote: »

do try to get an allotment -

We're not embarrassed to have an allotment - I thought they were quite a life-style fashion at the moment!

culpepper

At home,I sit quite near to the central heating controller when working so keep an eye on the temperature and if it goes 2 degrees below comfortable,I switch it on,then about 40 mins later,switch it off again. It saves people coming in and switching it on and forgetting till we are all cooked to death.
The most embarrassing money saving thing was when I was about 16,I bought myself a sewing machine and mum gave me her floppy knickers and asked me to sew in new elastic . I was mortified.
Regarding regifting,we always did this and often it was lovely things that had been given to us but we couldn't afford to buy gifts so we would just give them ours. Things like pretty soaps , music cassettes,new books. I am sure the recipients would have been so embarrassed if they knew we really valued the gifts ourselves but were too worried about not giving anything to them.

diddly74

We have always regifted and I have a "Birthday drawer" where I put stuff I collect throughout the year for birthday parties. This year my MIL has 3 2nd hand books. All I bought for myself but 1) a veg growing book I am unable to use now as new garden is small, 2) a book I bought for myself and read it in a matter of 2 days - we usually share books by this author so I've wrapped it up for her and No. 3) is a book I ordered from Amazon but also ordered from the library - the library order came in before the book was delivered so I read that and saved my purchase! She also collects glass so she has 2 figures from the charity shop, a freebie watch from Avon, along with a few other pieces that I think she will love.

She is a great forrager in the charity shops herself and last year made me up a kitchen hamper in a great big serving bowl with HM, 2nd hand and TK Maxx pruchases - which I loved.

I don't find anything I do to save money embarrasing you know! I have always shopped in charity shops, accepted any donations from friends (I was more of lessed dressed by neighbours and their clear outs when I was a kid!!)

Greenqueen_2

A couple of people mentioned using charity sacks as bin liners-this goes without saying. But I also use the little outer bags that they now come in. Just cut across one end carefully to take out the contents and use it for disposing of sanitary products. They easily hold a days worth.

roosterpotatoes

The_Bluester wrote: »

If you, like me, are sick of paying inflated supermarket prices for anything from james to wine then make your own! It can be so much cheaper (and tastier!) The only problem I had was finding jars and bottles for the end product. Thank goodness for the dog is all I can say! Taking him for a walk early in the morning (by torchlight - now there's dedication!) revealed an untapped treasure trove of jars and bottles put out for recycling. Well, I'm recycling, aren't I? Took a carrier bag with me on each walk and came back with loads. That's all my jams, chutneys and wine sorted for the next few months! :T

My ds is called James lol, ill make sure im not in the supermarket when you are as ill turn around and he will be in your trolley :eek::eek:
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

SoapyDish_2

My mum and her old school-friend have given up buying each other Christmas presents, after one regifted to the other a cheapish perfume the next Christmas. It's now a running joke, they just send the same bottle of perfume back and forth every year, with a few sprays gone just to test how badly it has gone off! It's been going as long as I remember, at least 15 years or so, probably more...

Vaila

SoapyDish wrote: »

My mum and her old school-friend have given up buying each other Christmas presents, after one regifted to the other a cheapish perfume the next Christmas. It's now a running joke, they just send the same bottle of perfume back and forth every year, with a few sprays gone just to test how badly it has gone off! It's been going as long as I remember, at least 15 years or so, probably more...

this has been the best post i have read all evening:)


i dont find any of the suggestions in this thread embarrassing !

Blobby8_2

culpepper wrote: »

At home,I sit quite near to the central heating controller when working so keep an eye on the temperature and if it goes 2 degrees below comfortable,I switch it on,then about 40 mins later,switch it off again.

Is'nt that what a thermostat does ?

stilernin

shazzprozz wrote: »

....one more thing use pre paid envelopes with a sticky label over the address.they have already been paid.just dont rely on them for anything too inportant.

I see that it has been mentioned that this is ilegal; not only that, but the flaw is that envelopes are not prepaid. They are paid for once they are used and in the system; the owner of the licence number pays for the amount used.

If you think it through, no one is going to pay 40odd pence (not sure what it is these days) for every 'prepaid' envelope that exists whether it is used or not.

The licence number for all 'prepaids' is only for the address (and different post code for that address) printed on the envelope. Once you put a different address on it, even if it is for the same company, the 'prepaid' bit is invalid.

It might appear to the sender that it works, but the recipient has to pay as if there was no postage put on it at all. Over £1 these days.