Great 'Embarrassing MoneySaving tips' Hunt

Emstick14

I sometimes eek the washing tablets out with some soda crystals if need be, usually at the end of the month.

We often have friends round for a roast and its always, Smartprice stuffing, yorkies or anythign else I get away with - I always get compliments of the meal too.

We always look out for money and this is more embarrassing as IU get my daughter to pick it up:o We did find £10 just lying on the pavement in town once!

A new thing I have started doing is scanning trolley bays as I walk past as quite often people either forget to take the £1 or they don't even click the trolley in to start with - OH was surprised when I originally said this but I have found 3 pr 4 pounds since then:)

I also re-use stamps that aren't franked:o

Owain_Moneysaver

ivorysky wrote: »

There's no need to buy sandwich bags as the supermarkets give them away for free in the fruit & veg aisles

There's no need to buy sugar as the supermarkets give it away for free in the cafe.

LittleVoice

Emstick14 wrote: »

I also re-use stamps that aren't franked:o

Yes, you should be embarrassed.

Emstick14

LittleVoice wrote: »

Yes, you should be embarrassed.

Well I am not that emmbarrassed really but a little gleeful of an extra bargain - I can't help it if they have not franked it, so why not re-use? If I was using a franked stamp then yes I can ese the problem!

NiceGuyEddie_2

Emstick14 wrote: »

Well I am not that emmbarrassed really but a little gleeful of an extra bargain - I can't help it if they have not franked it, so why not re-use? If I was using a franked stamp then yes I can ese the problem!

Why not re-use? Because you're using a service you haven't paid for!

In much the same way that you wouldn't use the bus without paying for it, or take an apple from a shop without paying for it, except that perhaps you think this is acceptable because it's a less obvious form of theft?

They shouldn't have to mark every stamp to stop people from abusing the system.

jezza2412

NiceGuyEddie wrote: »

Why not re-use? Because you're using a service you haven't paid for!

In much the same way that you wouldn't use the bus without paying for it, or take an apple from a shop without paying for it, except that perhaps you think this is acceptable because it's a less obvious form of theft?

They shouldn't have to mark every stamp to stop people from abusing the system.

If you saw a 50p coin on the pavement, with no-one around who might have dropped it, would you just leave it because you didn't earn it in your pay packet?...

shandyclover

I carry a clean spoon in a sandwich bag in my handbag when I have to spend all day in town. Lunch consists of a 50p tub of yoghurt bought from a supermarket and eaten on the park bench.

1sue23

Piece of elastic around the toilet roll prevents people from tearing off more than they need ,cut rubber gloves into strips and use as elastic bands ,old tights are also cut up to use as plant ties etc ,elderly well of lady I know goes round the bus station and parking meters picking up loose coins ,she also goes round the recycling bins and takes magazines and books to read at home and takes them back when she has finished them ,she also goes round the local shops with a flask and asks them to top it up for her with coffee ,she keeps two flasks and they last her all day ,she gets away with it because she looks like a bag lady ,if only they knew she is one of the richest people in town .

ceridwen

Emstick14 wrote: »

Well I am not that emmbarrassed really but a little gleeful of an extra bargain - I can't help it if they have not franked it, so why not re-use? If I was using a franked stamp then yes I can ese the problem!

Interested to know what the difference is between a used stamp that has been franked (ie the Post Office can see its been used) and a used stamp that hasnt been franked (ie the Post Office cant see its been used)???

Either way - its BEEN used and therefore cannot be used again. As an earlier poster said - what one is paying for is the "service" provided by that stamp whilst the letter its on is on a journey and ends up getting delivered by the Post Office.

So - either way - its theft. Sorry - I know its not what you wish to hear - but it IS the case.

Personally what surprises me most is someone putting their name to admitting theft on a public forum - so that everyone can see it and think "Right - Emstick14 - duly noted" and some people might know who you are ITRW. You just dont know if x years down the line the person you had just applied to for a job had realised who Emstick14 is back in 2010 and then when they saw you applying for a job/rental accommodation/etc remembered that post and didnt give it to you because of it.

Someone only has to tell me once about a very minor theft and if I can see its the truth - then that person will never get anything out of me ever again. A lot of us are glad of the "warning" as to what someone is like...

NualaBuala

I don't think most of these are embarrassing either - but I am getting great ideas so thank you all!

I agree that using unmarked stamps for a second time is stealing. But I don't think there is any malicious intent on the part of those doing it. I just don't think those doing it see how we are all paying for it. There are extra costs of delivering a letter regardless of what stamp is on it - the stamp is just a mark to show the delivery costs have been paid, it doesn't have intrinsic value. The Post Office passes the cost on to all of us and the price of stamps goes up! I also think taking more than one's fair share of bags from the supermarket is stealing - again, not in a deliberate, malicious way. But the costs do get passed on to everyone else.