False economy (merged threads)

HOLsale

hornetgirl wrote:

Regarding the shoes:

I don't have a problem with second hand shoes for myself or my husband. We only buy ones that look to be in good condition, chuck them in a pillowcase in the washing machine, then stuff them with newspaper while they dry. No good for suede shoes obviously, but we've had no disasters (with either the shoes or the washing machine) and plenty of cheap shoes using this method.

inexpensive shoes from charity shops can also be had for kids if you are careful about it.

i check all shoes over carefully for wear. if they have clean soles and look new chances are they've never been worn or only worn very briefly. kids are hard on their shoes so it's usually very easy to spot 'new' shoes.

you can feel inside the shoe with your hands as well. if it feels smooth and stiff they are new or barely worn. if you aren't familiar with what to look for try this with new shoes in the shoe store and remember what it feels like.

also look inside the shoe to see if there are any stains and if any print is smudged/smeared or missing. if it is then the shoes have been worn a lot and are probably best avoided.

and of course, look for tags! my dd is now wearing a pair of brand new boots that i bought for her 2 years ago brand new with the plastic ring still connecting them both... i paid £1

HOLsale

sarahturner9 wrote:

. Another tip to encourage the dog to eat (and I'm sure I'll sound nuts here!) is to put his bowl down as normal, and if he turns his nose up at it put your face very near to the food and pretend you're eating it, a few sound effects don't go amiss and make sure your dog can see you. This will soon make them change their mind!

Sarah

that one works with my 3 year old daughter as well :rotfl:

squeaky

I recently shopped for some sealant to do a very small repair in my bathroom. Looking around the shelves I saw a pack of sealant of ten grams for £1.50 something, yet a much larger one for only £2.30 something.

The big one looked like better value for money until I realised that I truly only needed a small amount and that by the time I had any use for the remains of the big one, if I were to buy it, the darn stuff would have set solid.

So where have you realised that you almost, or did, fall for a false economy?

Quackers

In the supermarket I always look at the other price - I think its price per weight or price by units or something

The philadelphia cheese is cheaper for the smaller tubs :wall: It doesn't take much to confuse me but this did! I always used to naturally pick up the bigger of everything to save me money - doesn't always work that way though!

coffeeandfags

I always think cheap toilet paper is a false economy. You need so much of it to stop your finger going through it :eek: that we use much less and it works out cheaper to buy Andrex

Coffeeandfags

Debt_Free_Chick

BOGOF can be a false economy, if you wouldn't normally buy the item. You either end up eating twice as much of something you wouldn't normally eat, or chucking half away.

OK of course if you store or freeze it and it's something you would actually buy on a normal shop.

Beware the temptation of BOGOF - evil

Queenie

Squeaky wrote:

So where have you realised that you almost, or did, fall for a false economy?

Marrying dh on the premise: "Two can live as cheaply as one!" :rolleyes: :wall:

Squeaky - know anyone with an aquarium? You could have clubbed together or cagged a bit if they already had it of Aquarium Sealant - it's apparently much better

coffeeandfags :rotfl: I'm in total agreement with you.

Debt_Free_Chick - you're singing my song!! It's amazing being in a supermarket and hearing people say: Oooh, we'll have that, it's BOGOF! - no shopping list, (no menu plan?) .. it's sooooo obvious they have fallen for gimme-gimme-must-have temptations

squeaky

Queenie wrote:

Squeaky - know anyone with an aquarium? You could have clubbed together or cagged a bit if they already had it of Aquarium Sealant - it's apparently much better

Yes I do!

Me! Two of them

But I'd run out and had neglected to top up. Naughty 'cos you never know when you might spring a leak.

Queenie

LOL @ Squeaky - very true! Men can tend to spring a fair few when their equipment ages :whistle:

Talking of leaks .. stocking up in advance can prove a false economy too; a neighbour's pipe burst in her loft one winter and absolutely flooded the main bedroom and then the lounge! Problem? She used the main bedroom to store her bulk buys

Curry_Queen

coffeeandfags wrote:

I always think cheap toilet paper is a false economy. You need so much of it to stop your finger going through it :eek: that we use much less and it works out cheaper to buy Andrex

I'm soooo glad someone else agrees with me on this as i too find "economyw brands are a false buy.

I seem to remember this subject has been aired previously