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

comping_cat

[quote=[Deleted User];47817437]Hmmm. Read some of these tips and I cant help noticing that SOME are a bit dodgy in terms of cleanliness, lawfullness etc or take advantage of someone/some company somewhere.

For instance,

Nicking the hotel soap - not really in the spirit is it even if it is legal?
Stealing sauce sachets, salt etc - same here
Re-using car park tickets - its your fault if you get caught because you know its wrong
Minesweeping drinks - Puh-lease!
Going through skips - Eww!
Washing machine at 30C only - surely it doesn't get everything clean? If it did why do they make washing machines with higher temps?
Not flushing the toilet - Are you really that desperate to save the water?

Also, I wonder how many people do some of these things just for the sake of saving money? Surely the cost saving versus the hassle is not worth it sometimes?[/QUOTE]

Nicking the hotel soap - not really in the spirit is it even if it is legal? they only throw it all away, they cannot risk using anything a second time, even in sealed packages, in case they have been tampered with.
Stealing sauce sachets, salt etc - same here Same as above, if its been taken and left on the table, it will be thrown so might as well take it with you.
Re-using car park tickets - its your fault if you get caught because you know its wrong I dont do this, and most places are now ticketed as you go in, but if someone wants to take the risk then thats up to them.
Minesweeping drinks - Puh-lease! I agree, yuk - anything could be in it!
Going through skips - Eww! Whats one mans rubbish is another mans treasure - its not as if people are going through general waste!
Washing machine at 30C only - surely it doesn't get everything clean? If it did why do they make washing machines with higher temps? My old washing machine didnt go as low as 30, but my new one does, it means they are finding new ways of doing things more energy efficient, not that low is bad and high is good.
Not flushing the toilet - Are you really that desperate to save the water? Yes, i am that desperate to save money - im on a water meter and every flush is costing me money.

Im a single parent on a low wage, so if i can save money anywhere i will. This year for Christmas we are visiting friends in Australia, more money saving there, but even so, there is no way i could do that if i didnt find every single way of saving money. If you are fortunate enough not to have these worries, then great - im a bit surprised you are here on the embarrassing ways to save money if you are going to rubbish peoples ways of trying to save themselves a few pennies.

jdp1970

MartinWickham wrote: »

I also do almost all of my cleaning with vinegar and washing-up liquid. They are both brilliant and there is little in the house which requires anything else.

However, it is worth remembering that acid reacts quite badly with aluminium and you will corrode aluminium parts on the inside of washing machines, dishwashers etc., in longer-lived machines this can be bad enough to destroy the machine. I don't use commercial acid cleaners like Calgon for the same reason, though very moderate or occasional use where the acid is neutralised by the calcium deposits probably isn't a problem.

Acid also attacks chrome, so rinse off well afterwards.

Thanks Martin for the advice I only use the white vinegar once in a blue moon to clean the machine out (washing machine and now dishwasher). I don't use it all the time.

jdp1970

comping_cat wrote: »

Nicking the hotel soap - not really in the spirit is it even if it is legal? they only throw it all away, they cannot risk using anything a second time, even in sealed packages, in case they have been tampered with.
Stealing sauce sachets, salt etc - same here Same as above, if its been taken and left on the table, it will be thrown so might as well take it with you.
Re-using car park tickets - its your fault if you get caught because you know its wrong I dont do this, and most places are now ticketed as you go in, but if someone wants to take the risk then thats up to them.
Minesweeping drinks - Puh-lease! I agree, yuk - anything could be in it!
Going through skips - Eww! Whats one mans rubbish is another mans treasure - its not as if people are going through general waste!
Washing machine at 30C only - surely it doesn't get everything clean? If it did why do they make washing machines with higher temps? My old washing machine didnt go as low as 30, but my new one does, it means they are finding new ways of doing things more energy efficient, not that low is bad and high is good.
Not flushing the toilet - Are you really that desperate to save the water? Yes, i am that desperate to save money - im on a water meter and every flush is costing me money.

Im a single parent on a low wage, so if i can save money anywhere i will. This year for Christmas we are visiting friends in Australia, more money saving there, but even so, there is no way i could do that if i didnt find every single way of saving money. If you are fortunate enough not to have these worries, then great - im a bit surprised you are here on the embarrassing ways to save money if you are going to rubbish peoples ways of trying to save themselves a few pennies.

I am not a single parent - altho I used to be. I am now a Nan!
Still putting my hand in my pocket all the time to help daughter out or buy for the grandkids! On top of that the bills have gone through the roof (as everyone knows) and my income has gone down :-(
So I still need to budget....just as hard as I ever did.
But I enjoy it in many ways. Gives me great satisfaction!

I am a great believer that food and other essentials are what we have to buy....if I can save on those, I can afford some luxury along the way.
It makes me feel less bad about treating myself to something, when I know I have saved - not pennies, but hundreds of pounds just by being frugal... and in turn I am being kinder to the envronment.

[Deleted User]

Well said, if you dont want to save money why read the threads, we are to help each other, I love the tips, so please keep them coming, lifes a struggle for alot of people and here we are friends and help each other, so no more moaning about what people do, lets just keep the thread going as it should be.:p

[Deleted User]

comping_cat wrote: »

Nicking the hotel soap - not really in the spirit is it even if it is legal? they only throw it all away, they cannot risk using anything a second time, even in sealed packages, in case they have been tampered with.
Stealing sauce sachets, salt etc - same here Same as above, if its been taken and left on the table, it will be thrown so might as well take it with you.
Re-using car park tickets - its your fault if you get caught because you know its wrong I dont do this, and most places are now ticketed as you go in, but if someone wants to take the risk then thats up to them.
Minesweeping drinks - Puh-lease! I agree, yuk - anything could be in it!
Going through skips - Eww! Whats one mans rubbish is another mans treasure - its not as if people are going through general waste!
Washing machine at 30C only - surely it doesn't get everything clean? If it did why do they make washing machines with higher temps? My old washing machine didnt go as low as 30, but my new one does, it means they are finding new ways of doing things more energy efficient, not that low is bad and high is good.
Not flushing the toilet - Are you really that desperate to save the water? Yes, i am that desperate to save money - im on a water meter and every flush is costing me money.

Im a single parent on a low wage, so if i can save money anywhere i will. This year for Christmas we are visiting friends in Australia, more money saving there, but even so, there is no way i could do that if i didnt find every single way of saving money. If you are fortunate enough not to have these worries, then great - im a bit surprised you are here on the embarrassing ways to save money if you are going to rubbish peoples ways of trying to save themselves a few pennies.

I'm just interested in how people save money. Like I said, if you really need the money and it is saving you money then fair does.

I just think that some of things on here dont save much money and are more hassle than they are worth. And some of the practices are questionable I think.

Just wonder how many people do these things when they dont really need the money that badly? (although I appreciate there are people who genuinely do).

Not being funny though but I cant afford to visit Australia. Flights aint cheap last time I looked - not far shy of £1000?

I certainly wouldnt compromise my quality of life just for this....

jdp1970

[quote=[Deleted User];47820319]I'm just interested in how people save money. Like I said, if you really need the money and it is saving you money then fair does.

I just think that some of things on here dont save much money and are more hassle than they are worth. And some of the practices are questionable I think.

Just wonder how many people do these things when they dont really need the money that badly? (although I appreciate there are people who genuinely do).

Not being funny though but I cant afford to visit Australia. Flights aint cheap last time I looked - not far shy of £1000?

I certainly wouldnt compromise my quality of life just for this....[/QUOTE]

I would! and I do! Because even if they dont save money..they are saving our planet!
Infact in the last 2 years, there has been an increase in items being refurbed, people making their own things (ie. sewing, beer-making), re-using, recycling etc etc just like poeple did in the war. I admire that...infact I take my hat off to it.

jdp1970

[quote=[Deleted User];47817171]Maybe not. Which is why I mentioned that I might be more fortunate not to have to do these things.[/QUOTE]

It's not just about the money..its about being thoughtful to our planet.

Or perhaps the money you save could be given to charity if you dont need it? :cool:

or offer the food that you throw away (before it's past it's best) to a homeless charity or hostel or something?

jdp1970

ultramagnetic_commuter wrote: »

I'm with you on this. I can't believe all of these miserly tips which save pennies at the expense of a quality of life. Not flushing the toliet? Timing yourself in the shower??!!

And putting clothes to dry on radiators will probably cost you more as they block the heat and make the heating kick in more often...

If I didn't do all those things I wouldn't be able to afford a few luxuries.

jdp1970

fairyface wrote: »

Well said, if you dont want to save money why read the threads, we are to help each other, I love the tips, so please keep them coming, lifes a struggle for alot of people and here we are friends and help each other, so no more moaning about what people do, lets just keep the thread going as it should be.:p

Well said! I can see your a peace-maker!

I agree we are hear to help each-other and if nothing else the more extreme ideas on saving money give us something to gasp about!! LOL!

jdp1970

mishmogs wrote: »

I do a lot of these already except I wash my bedding fortnightly.

Yesterday, I cut my own hair, my last visit to the 'hairdresser' who was absolutely rubbish, I was so disgruntled I decided to do it myself. Haven't done this for years but it has turned out fine.

Use carrier bags os bin bags, why wouldnt you?
club errands together so cut down on amount of time out in the cold.
when I go out, take sarnies, flask and water.
when I need the loo when out and about and no supermarket about? use the pub (try and not get way laid by a pint tho!).
only light the room you are in.
small draught round a pvc window? use crunched up cling film to fill the gap.
dont forget to draught proof the loft hatch and if you can, put insulation on top of the hatch door.
sell any unwanted items on your local town facebook. have some success with this and its free compared to the cost of ebay.
need an excellerator for your compost? use OH (male) urine. it does work.
use water butts.
if you have less people in your house than the number of bedrooms, get a water meter. I pay £12 per month for water and sewerage.
garden for your type of garden. eg my back is very hot so its mediterranean type, side cool and slightly damp - woodland style and front is all comers so some veggies but mainly planted for wildlfe.

Good on you!

I have a water meter fitted now - I used to pay £35 a mth, now I pay £22 a mth. Not as good as you unfortunately.

However, I tried to do my own hair and made a hash of it!
I go to the hairdressers now...but I found one that is good and does my hair for £10.50 - thats a wash. cut and a rough blow-dry.

I also hang it out for as long as I can before I get my hair cut...so instead of every 6 weeks, like I used to, I wait until at least 8 weeks (my hair grows very fast though).