Super Scrimpers

ALIBOBSY

I think alot of my thoughts have been covered by other posters.

Stupid tray idea, who would buy a £20 designer tray anyway (their comparison on what she "saved"). If I wanted more trays I would have got some brightly coloured cheap and cheerful ones from the £ shop/aldi/lidl-think aldi had some a few weeks ago 3 matching ones for about £3 I think. I am currently using a couple of trays given to us for free as they are a bit worn (got family who like matching stuff and redo every so often-they know I will take freebies lol-can see my new Bosch fridge freezer free from cousin-only 2 years old but they have got one of those big american ones instead ).

Some of the tips were the same as last week and no better than they were to start with. The credit card thing was quite good, that girls face when told by paying the min it would take her 50 (or was it 15-either way huge) years to pay of the card when she estimated it would take 3 years lol.

Also thought the family weren't getting enough of a wake up call, if his redundancy runs out in a few months why aren't they panicking more. The saving weren't enough to cover their overspend, espcially when the redundancy thing ends.

Also didn't get the no spend week where public transport was used? Surely this costs money!!!

The whole gadget thing was rubbish as well, we have all those items and we aren't anywhere near as well off as them, on 100k all my kids would get ds's instead of one between them lol. If you are a savvy shopper and save for things (or get lucky and win stuff-my hobby) it not really a waste.

To me waste is all that pre packed food/meals, high amount of pocket money, what about cars, no mention of shopping around for bill reductions (apart from a brief mention at the start).

Depending on their mortgage I would said they should have been able to live off 2000 a month easily.

Rubbish really, but good for a laugh and a moan on here :T.

Ali x

BTW does anyone else find Ms M reminds them of Sophie Grigson-not when she was young, but how she is now with glasses and a bit more curvy like me lol.

foxgloves

I think they were a family who quite simply had never in their lives had to be careful with money or apply any sort of budget. For them to look at the gift of a kitchen blackboard on which to write things that needed buying on their next shop as if it was some kind genius wonder-plan said it all, really. I think the programme is a missed opportunity, but I shall still watch it....for quite selfish reasons, really. Despite my old-style skills, my partner & I have both been big spenders in the past (before seeing the light re budgeting!) & do you know what? Watching that programme & seeing what people waste makes us both feel like proper little reformed angels!! It reminded us of that bit on 'Economy Gastronomy' (I loved that programme) when they visited that couple who were eating a bit of breast meat off a roast chicken & throwing the rest straight in the bin! We were yelling at the telly going 'Hang on, you can get 4 portions of curry, sandwiches & a load of soup out of that, you pair of divs.....' I think a new series of that would be a brilliant idea, particularly if, as things have got tighter, the recipes were even cheaper to prepare. I don't feel the need to make personal criticisms of the people featured on this current Scrimpers programme.....I think the main problem is the presenter & the fact that they just haven't got the format & content right. If the programme was an hour it would be better as it could feature a broader range of families & more tips. I agree that a using a wider age-range of people giving their thrifty tips would be helpful. I'm pretty thrifty on the whole but I can still run to new knickers!! I actually might make the nettle pasta. I do sometimes make nettle soup which is nice (tho' depends on the recipe!) & I thought that the fresh pasta might be nice if rolled thinner & cut into thinner noodles.....it did look a bit like my Grandma's pastry (sorry Grandma, RIP x) have never added oats to make meat go further, but I do add 2 tins of Lidl mixed beans to lamb mince to make 2 shepherd's pies out of the same mince I used to use to make just one, so I suppose that's a similar thing.

ALIBOBSY

I also noticed they are asking for people to apply to go on it so either there is a definate second series on the way or they are short of people for the end of this series lol.

ali x

Link here

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/take-part/articles/superscrimpers-waste-not-want-not

Looks like they want peeps wasting dosh for this series as well as wanting more super scrimpers with advice. Any MSE'ers want to step up lol?

elfen

As an aside, anyone notice the truly heinous pink hat/orange scarf combination.....oh dear lord. And she certainly doesn't look like she's been scrimping. And my mum could come up with better tips - I nearly cried when instead of sorting her £1 tray into something usable she WRECKED it! I'd be happy with a rust sanded off cheap silver tray.

mlz1413

I saw about 5 mins last night before I went out and although i enjoyed the tips, never realised ironing a piece of wrapping paper would get the sticky tape off, my instant impression was they are all old and well off.

having read about 3 pages of posts on here about both weeks I'll probably not bother watching a full eposide.


I miss Alvin Hall too!

bellaquidsin

mlz1413 wrote: »

I saw about 5 mins last night before I went out and although i enjoyed the tips, never realised ironing a piece of wrapping paper would get the sticky tape off, my instant impression was they are all old and well off.

having read about 3 pages of posts on here about both weeks I'll probably not bother watching a full eposide.


I miss Alvin Hall too!

Could it be because they have been living a thrifty life for a very long time like I have?

Even so I thought the programme was rubbish, although I have dyed a set of washed out towels today with great success, but I had alreadly bought the dye before the programme. Won't be doing my bra purple though.

Bella

Sweet_Pea_2

I was really disappointed with this programme, but not really suprised. I knew it wouldn't be very good because it is only half an hour long, not long enough.
On this type of programme they always choose families that are reasonably well off and have no clue about money. I would love them to come and tell me how to save some money, they would find it a much harder job! (It would have to be the lovely Alvin Hall though.)
I am quite intrigued by the scrimpers though, I find anyone who watches the pennies fascinating though, for some strange reason. I always want to know more about them. If the programme just did a special on the scrimpers, a biography and loads of detail, that would be more my thing. I probably wouldn't learn anything I haven't learned already from this site, but it's just fun to see someone putting it all into practice.
A programme I would really love to see would be about Amy Daczyn and her family. If she decided to write another book, that would be even better.

dianasnan

After watching the 2nd program and cursing at the TV I did something useful.

Deleted the Sky series record and then deleted both programs.

Get far better and sensible money saving tips on this forum.

miss_corerupted

raphanius wrote: »

i cannot believe a programme focusing on saving money and NOT SPENDING can generate consumerism amongst money savers!!!

be strong people and resist the pink pig!!!

I have no intention of buying a pig,but if i see her out with them i will drag my son over and tell her i;m rubbish with money just to get one

sp1987

FatVonD wrote: »

And if he earned 100K why were they living in that ugly house??!

YES!

No disrespect to anyone with an ugly looking house, but if you are on £100+k a year you have the ability to buy something a little pretty without a short RAF runway for frontage.

Worst thing is I bet they didn't get it cheap.

Oh and they bought them a blackboard and chalk, waste of money?

Do they not just have paper and pens?

Or maybe they could have just used a pc/ipad/iphone from upstairs.

That orange hat and her overinflated but at the same time deflated lips made be shake with the fear I may one day end up like that.