Super Scrimpers

tinamoo

I used to love this programme but it is getting laughable. I was watching one last night where Faye put mayonnaise on her head instead of an intensive conditioner.

The couple who wanted an engagement party and they had them hanging up ripped bits of material as decorations.

The most ridiculous one that I have seen for a while was today, the headboard made of books. It looked awful in my opinion.

I would put money on the people in the show getting rid of these things as soon as the cameras have gone.

catkins

I'm still watching this although I don't know why as it annoys me and most of the information is useless.

What is annoying me the most is that they keep going on about haggling. For a start probably the only reason it works in their case is because they have a camera there and it makes the shop owner or market trader look good. Some large shops may drop the price of something as they are likely to be able to but small shops and market stalls probably can't afford to drop their prices especially now when people are shopping far less. The one last night where they haggled over the secondhand books made me feel uncomfortable to be honest.

I buy lots of fruit and veg in my local market and it is much much cheaper than in the supermarket. I also like the fact that you can get things like fresh spinach and watercress and not the bagged stuff. I would never ever think of trying to haggle with the stall owner. I think it would be an insult when they are selling their items cheaply anyway.

The market closest to me doesn't sell items in bowls except sometimes when they are close to closing they will sell say a huge bowl of bananas for £1. There is a large market further away which I sometimes go to and some of the stalls there sell bowls of fruit and veg. They work out at fantastic value and I buy them and either freeze some or make things like soup so none of it is wasted.

Honey_Bear

I can't get my head around how frequently the commentary includes the word 'bartering' when they mean haggling or bargaining.

Bartering is a brilliant system, but we don't use it much in the UK - the tax man gets terribly over-excited about it when they hear about it.

Haggling or bargaining, on the other hand, is when the customer decides the goods aren't worth what the seller is asking for them. I think it's disrespectful, whereas 'Discount for cash?' with a huge smile is cheeky, flirty and fun.

I finally stopped thinking it was worthwhile watching when they took it as read that you had to spend money to save it. Upcycling, re-purposing and reusing with our houses full of stuff we don't use would be a brilliant idea, but they're forever creating tat out of useful things instead - down-cycling, un-purposing and trashing, basically.

APennySaved

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

orangey ping pong balls from the supermarket

What a SUPERB - and accurate! - description! :T

dory22

Peggybabcot wrote: »

What gets me are the sewing tips. In today's episode they made a jumper dress. She made the tube of fabric the width of the top but didn't take into consideration the potential width of hips and never mentioned neatening the sleeves or hem where she'd cut the jumper. The first wash and it'd unravel! And personally I'd have saved myself £1.50 on decorative studs for the collar on the checked shirt too! Maybe I'm so much of a skinflint already Mrs Moneypenny can't teach me anything lol?! X

the sewing one are weird i work with costumes for tv and theatre although i only have basic skills i could do better!

dory22

miss_emmajane wrote: »

Me too, I am 25 and just can't relate to people they find around my age ... its like they're living on another planet :eek:

im 26 got 2 friends who cant even switch the oven on, when 1 of my now ex friends moved in with BF i had to show how to work a washing machine, oven and had to explain what council tax was also she didnt know how to demist the windows in her car as her dad used to get up at 5am to demist her car windows! clueless was an understatement.

hobbitfancier

tinamoo wrote: »

I used to love this programme but it is getting laughable. I was watching one last night where Faye put mayonnaise on her head instead of an intensive conditioner.

The couple who wanted an engagement party and they had them hanging up ripped bits of material as decorations.

The most ridiculous one that I have seen for a while was today, the headboard made of books. It looked awful in my opinion.

I would put money on the people in the show getting rid of these things as soon as the cameras have gone.

In the ep I watched Faye made hairspray out of boiling lemons in water, putting in a spray bottle, and hey presto, hairspray that only lasts for two weeks for under a £1 - lifesaver if you don't live in a country that sells hairspray that last indefinitely for £1! oh, hang on.....

lindsaygalaxy

My favourite comment of the sereis is where the women is wearing a coat she made out of curtains and said 'shhh, dont tell anyone I made my coat out of a pair of old curtains'. Because it didn't look like it at all.... lol

CupOfChai

hobbitfancier wrote: »

In the ep I watched Faye made hairspray out of boiling lemons in water, putting in a spray bottle, and hey presto, hairspray that only lasts for two weeks for under a £1 - lifesaver if you don't live in a country that sells hairspray that last indefinitely for £1! oh, hang on.....

I'm positive that would do horrible things to your hair and the sugar in the fruit would attract things to you. Ick. And it probably wouldn't even work.

Peggybabcot

I think a lot of beehive hair dos were created using sugar water in the 60's so I'm sure it'd work but like you say it may attract some undue attention!
This series is really driving me potty as I wouldn't be seen dead in half the creations they come up with and don't even get me started on that table made out of a pallet and those lovely cream curtains they dyed that ended up looking like a washday accident! Oh and whilst I'm moaning why do they never neaten edges on clothes they just cut up? One wash and it'll fray like mad aaarrrggghhh!!!! X