Spill the beans ... what's the most embarrassing MoneySaving thing you do?

MarilynMonroe_2

jonnythurston wrote: »

I minesweep on nights out. Which sounds very cool but actually means going round night clubs and finding people's half drunk drinks and finishing them off. Had some unbelievable nights out for completely free.

I have also been known to minesweep kebab's. Some how they just taste better when they are free! :money:

Oh no I couldnt! :eek:

jenniewb

I have several:

Maybe not as embarassing as much as strange, I do not use my bath (don't own a shower). I just make sure I go to the gym every day and use their shower. This works out beneficial in other ways too, it stops me not using my gym membership and so getting my money's worth, it means I am fitter then otherwise and less likely to overeat or forgo watching what I eat (if I eat too much I find it uncomfortable to exercise!) and it keeps me from wandering the streets in search of a shopping fix!

I regularly stay inside shops to keep warm as oppose to going home (where its not warm). I just make very sure my purse is left without me when I do this!

I look for damaged items to get a soiled or damaged discount on them. I don't mind repairing things and just style out the mended bits with a bit of an attitude!

I pretend to be younger then I am (I am lucky I can get away with this!) and often am assumed to be a student so get a student discount just by asking or saying I've lost or scattly-forgotten my card. I do have to beg grovel and plead at times though

I'm also not adverse at picking out magazines and papers from the bin. I don't buy my own (I don't have the money!) but do read those I find others have finished with. Either that or I'll dive for the one you've just finished reading and have left on the chair besides you. I do ask first though, or say thankyou. Or both! (And many times over have jumped the gun too early and am told 'no its still being read'!)

tumshieheid

mellywoo wrote: »

We inherited one , glad I didn't buy it as it didn't work, very fiddly and tube unravels. I just use the handle of the toothbrush rubbed along the tube , gets loads out , then when you can get no more , I cut it open and there is just enough for 1 lot for me , throw it then as if left around the miniscule bit left dries up.

Try cutting the tube in half then fit one half over the other half to keep the leftovers from drying up.

ceridwen

jonnythurston wrote: »

I minesweep on nights out. Which sounds very cool but actually means going round night clubs and finding people's half drunk drinks and finishing them off. Had some unbelievable nights out for completely free.

I have also been known to minesweep kebab's. Some how they just taste better when they are free! :money:

Did you check that the "owner" of the drink or food had finished with it first? - ie left the club and gone home and didnt intend to have the rest of their drink themselves...

Fruball

jonnythurston wrote: »

I minesweep on nights out. Which sounds very cool but actually means going round night clubs and finding people's half drunk drinks and finishing them off. Had some unbelievable nights out for completely free.

I have also been known to minesweep kebab's. Some how they just taste better when they are free! :money:

This has got to be a wind up.

If its not then its frankly dangerous as drinks have been known to be spiked - I know from past experience :eek: (not from minesweeping I might add) Luckily my friend realised what had happened and made sure I went home with her.

hummingfridge

BigPitch wrote: »

I thought I was pretty frugal, but friends of ours (who live in Scotland), cut their J-cloths into quarters. I still have a long way to go.........

Um...I do that!:rotfl:
I feel wasteful using a whole J-cloth for a little spill (but I can usually find a whole J-cloth for a big spill)

bigfatpig

My washing machine is nearly always on the 30degree daily wash which only takes 30 minutes and goes on when I get up in morning so on cheap night rate electricity. Use cheap washing powder/liquid and all my clothes come out clean and fresh. Then dried on washing line and finished off over clothes horse on landing or in spare room.

Dishwasher only ever used on 25 min economy programme, only use cheap sainsburys own wash powder, everything comes out clean, very occaisonally I have to put a baking tray through twice. Again put on first thing in morning on cheap night rate electricity.

My phone gets charged at work and my husband has an in car charger that he uses to charge his phone in his work lorry.

Buy my Guinea pig shavings from horse feed merchant, £6 for a huge vaccum packed bag which will last them about a year!

Also made the Guinea pigs tunnel for their run with an old bath mat sewed around an old metal coathanger shaped to make the tunnel. Saves buying an expensive plastic one from the pet store.

katecheshire

My dear departed Dad used to have what we called 'Dad's patent balloon knot'. After blowing up the balloon you only tuck the end half way through. That way you can let the balloon down later to be used again!! Still used by all our family.

katecheshire

Back to the hotel toiletries!! Quite often in the info booklet it will say if you take (or want to purchase!) the bathrobes, towels or kettles you will be charged accordingly - They will have your card details already.
The drink sachets, biscuits, shampoos, soaps etc or the free slippers are yours to take. I always take the little soaps - they are a little souvenir and an advert for the hotel.
A money saver on holiday is to make up a packed lunch from the breakfast buffet. Doesn't work with bacon and egg! Staff in one hotel we stayed at in Italy were actively encouraging guests to take pastries and fruit for later.

sotonsaverjen

Thanks for all the great tips guys - especially Hawthorn for your moisturiser! Definitely making that one! I'm not embarrassed by any of the money saving things I do but I have a loooonnng way to go to be as good as you guys!! haha

The one thing I do do, is freezing herbs before they go off and then just snip some off straight from the freezer into whatever i'm cooking - pop the rest back in the freezer! Makes dill and coriander and other strong herbs last for ages. I also have a plastic thing from Lakeland which keeps herbs fresh in the fridge door for ages....

I'm inspired to do more though!