Brits: Are we frugal or just tight?

Justamum

Number 22 is just dishonest.

Dunroamin

I'm obviously on the wrong website - 4/29.

BitterAndTwisted

PasturesNew wrote: »

So you'd be happy if we went out for a meal and I guzzled my way through £200s worth of booze and specially made food, while you had a hot pot for £5? You'd split the bill happily? Every time? And if I bring my friend next time ... and we go 1/3rds on a £405 meal?

Nobody'd take a calculator, the maths is simple enough without one.

Of course I wouldn't be happy, I've been stung like that before myself and more than once. But if you're on a limited budget, as I am, then it's only fair to tell everyone that you can only pay for precisely what you've ordered and no more, before anyone has a menu put in their hands. Getting the calculator out (and this has happened but it wasn't me, I promise) or doing the mental arithmetic thing only when the bill lands on the table isn't the right way to go about it.

True story: pals go out for a birthday meal for someone not everybody who was invited has met before. Guest orders a starter because "she's not that hungry". Then proceeds to beg "a taste" from every one else's main course, the accompaniments, their puddings and their wine. She's the one who got the calculator out. I'd been out with her before so knew what to expect and sat back watching in awe at her absolute brass neck. She left her contribution on the table in cash to the precise penny.

VfM4meplse

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

A calculator at the restaurant table? Being excluded from further invitations is a real moneysaver!

I regularly go out with a group and we are happy to ID what we had on the bill and split it appropriately. Everyone eats and drinks what they like and leaves happy. It's not a case of being mean - when we meet up at each others homes, for picnics etc, we are always generous with our contributions, packing away and sharing etc. Which makes me think that splitting the bill "equally" is a man thing as I've encountered similar with boyfriends (just didn't want to spoil the relationship over it).

want_to_save wrote: »

21. Re-using teabags - only cos i have really weak tea so its a waste if i dont reuse them once

This reminds me of my Queen-of-Mean aunt: she always insists on squeezing the teabag hard to get very last drop of tannin-goodness out of it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DigForVictory

13 or so. Life is not a one size fits all..
Saving coupons / using vouchers - on things I'd buy anyway, yes.
Making your own lunches to take to work - of course!
Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making - at home, yes.
Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay - yes
Refusing to leave a tip - depends.
Only heating rooms you use - of course
Using internet/phone apps to find cheapest place to buy items - of course
Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose - no - does this work?!
Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents - my mother does & it stresses my husband wildly.
Driving slower to preserve petrol - sometimes
Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes - only within reason!
Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill - yes
Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin - yes (if I can beat the children to it)
Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath - yes
Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present - depends.
Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical - rather have the full tank & know how much it's cost me.
Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden - logistically challenging so not presently.
Making birthday cards/ presents - depends - some family like them.
Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub - if I drank, I might!
Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work - now might cost my job so no.
Re-using teabags - always, but I like astonishingly weak tea.
Returned clothes I have worn - no, that's squicky as well as morally dubious.
Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch - who? No.
Keeping cling-film to use again - no - not clean & immensely frustrating.
Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in. - not applicable
Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway - not applicable
Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round - not applicable & morally dubious.
Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these' - oh to have a twenty/have this line believed...
Rounding up people's change in your favour - not applicable & morally dubious.

Justamum

How far do you go to save money? The 'tight tactics' employed by money-saving Britain:

1. Saving coupons / using vouchers Yes - I've only started doing this recently though as I used to forget

2. Making your own lunches to take to work I'm a SAHM but DH does, and the children take packed lunches.

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making I drink a big pot of tea each time, so I need a full kettle.

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay Parking on the roads is free here - you just need to use a display showing what time you arrived as time is limited.

5. Refusing to leave a tip Why do some jobs expect tips, but most don't? I've never tipped.

6. Only heating rooms you use Our heating is antwacky and most of the radiators don't turn off

7. Using internet/phone apps to find cheapest place to buy items No

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose No - seems a bit pointless. How far is one drop of petrol going to get you?

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents God no, I was brought up doing this, and the same bits of wrapping paper were brought out year after year. Wrapping paper is so cheap these days.

10. Driving slower to preserve petrol I drive to the speed limit

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes marg tubs and jars

12. Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill I went out for one group meal years ago and ate the cheapest things on the menu and only drank water. I was fuming when the bill was divided at the end and I ended up subsidising everyone's expensive meals and alcohol :mad:

13. Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin My son is always giving me the odd coin he finds at school

14. Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath I hate baths so always shower. I'd quite happily take the bath out of the bathroom.

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present N/A

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical I do this. I have a fuel budget which I take out of the bank each month too so that I don't overspend (I started doing this after a garage took a double payment once) Any left over at the end of the month is rolled over to the next and the new monthly amount added. This comes in handy if we have to do any extra driving one month.

17. Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden No. We don't have water meters so this wouldn't save any money

18. Making birthday cards/ presents Card Factory is the cheapest for cards. You couldn't make them that cheaply.

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub No, but I have sneaked in popcorn and crisps to the cinema.

20. Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work NA

21. Re-using teabags I like weak tea so I use loose tea - 1tsp for the pot.

22. Returned clothes I have worn This is dishonest and not fair on people who might have saved up for ages to treat themselves to something new only to find its' been worn before.

23. Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch You shouldn't have to ask.

24. Keeping cling-film to use again How?

25. Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in. No - I'm not at all sociable so this would never apply.

26. Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway No

27. Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round Don't go to pubs, and if I did I wouldn't be buying rounds.

28. Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these' The anti-social reply applies to this - we don't socialise :rotfl:

29. Rounding up people's change in your favour This seems dishonest too.

pink_princess

I do 17 of them

kboss2010

Re the splitting the bill thing, it's always a contentious issue especially with colleagues or people you don't know all that well. If I go out for a group meal, I scout the menu beforehand, work out how much stuff costs for 3 courses and make sure I have enough to cover this plus a little more.

I order the same number of courses as most people at the table (usually skip the booze) then at least I feel that if I am asked to split the bill I haven't been hard done by and don't have to be the "awkward one".

I appreciate that not everyone can afford this though. My colleagues go out only a few times a year so it's not too much of an expense.

VfM4meplse

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Some of the things on that list are just plain meanness, which has nothing to do with being frugal, skint or not wanting to waste what little money

You'll love this anecdote then:

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present

I once worked with someone who would actually take money out of the envelope if he didn't like them (or so I was told). Can you beat that for mean?

Miss_Mulberry

VfM4meplse wrote: »

How far do you go to save money? The 'tight tactics' employed by money-saving Britain:

1. [STRIKE]Saving coupons / using vouchers[/STRIKE] - Occasionally. I need to step up my game but hate buying things just because I have a voucher. I'll say I should do this.

2. Making your own lunches to take to work - When I get a job! Often not very organised but I'll have no choice.

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making - No kettle so the less water in the saucepan the quicker it boils

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay - No car, but yes I've done this

5. Refusing to leave a tip - For bad service. I refuse to tip terrible waiters. They need to learn!

6. [STRIKE]Only heating rooms you use[/STRIKE] - Never done this

7. Using internet/phone apps to find cheapest place to buy items - Always

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose - or spill any on the forecourt

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents - Only pretty paper. I also used to frame it if it was nice enough

10. [STRIKE] Driving slower to preserve petrol [/STRIKE]- Solely when I'm running low. Not all the time.

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes - Jam jars, but everyone does that don't they?

12. [STRIKE]Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill [/STRIKE]- No. I once had a friend do this. It was MORTIFYING

13. [STRIKE]Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin [/STRIKE]- No.

14. [STRIKE] Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath [/STRIKE]- My friend's mum used to make us do this after sleepovers. It was DISGUSTING and not particularly clean! No point having a bath if you're going to end up with someone elses skin and dirt all over you

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present - Never

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical - Not really

17. [STRIKE]Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden[/STRIKE] - Nope

18. [STRIKE]Making birthday cards/ presents[/STRIKE] - I'm not crafty at all. My one home made gift was a sweetie jar full of pick n mix.

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub - I've done this before at a cinema

20. [STRIKE] Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work[/STRIKE] - This is just pure stealing!

21. [STRIKE]Re-using teabags[/STRIKE] - I'm too much of a tea purist

22. Returned clothes I have worn - Yes, I bought a dress from a fairly pricey store for a wedding, knew I'd never wear it again and returned it after having it dry cleaned

23. [STRIKE]Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch[/STRIKE] - Far too polite to do this. And I see anything up to 20p as the price I pay for being a lazy bum and not getting my own food

24. Keeping cling-film to use again - Yes, usually for similar foods though

25. [STRIKE]Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in. [/STRIKE] - No.

26. [STRIKE]Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway[/STRIKE] - No. Even though I don't have much, I'm not going to ever be that person

2[STRIKE] Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round[/STRIKE] - No, seems very rude to me.

28. [STRIKE]Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these'[/STRIKE] - NO!

29. [STRIKE]Rounding up people's change in your favour [/STRIKE] - NO!

I think it's only tight if you're being a miser with friends and colleagues. Sharing a bath and reusing cling film is thrifty (if a little icky) but being manipulative in order to not buy a round or round up change so you profit is very tight, and just plain wrong.

I've had a few friends (with very high paying jobs and no mortgage/rent/kids to pay for) who've been for meals out, ordered loads of food and wine, thrown down just enough to cover the food and gone, leaving everyone else to pick up their drink and service charge. Needless to say I never invite them out! If you can't afford much, I'd rather they just said 'I'm a bit skint, so I'll just get XYZ if that's ok'. Everytime I've said that people have offered to pay for drinks anyway!