Brits: Are we frugal or just tight?

Any

1. Saving coupons / using vouchers -YES

2. Making your own lunches to take to work - YES

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making - YES

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay - YES

5. Refusing to leave a tip - NOT if service was excellent

6. Only heating rooms you use - NO, but then my house is so small it is completely used:-)

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

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose - YES

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents - YES

10. Driving slower to preserve petrol - Not sure, LOL!

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes - Do take away containers count?? (though having a take out is not strictly OS I know... but I collect my sister's too, so that is OS again:-))

12. Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill - If other people requested that too, yes

13. Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin - YES

14. Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath - YES

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present - That is not money saving if you like them, that is just mean

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical - YES

17. Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden - no, though I might if I was on a meter

18. Making birthday cards/ presents - yes, sometimes, if receiver appreciates that sort of thing

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub - no

20. Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work - that is stealing, not money saving

21. Re-using teabags - no, we buy catering 1 cup ones

22. Returned clothes I have worn - no

23. Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch - no, never needed to and wouldn't if the situation arrisen

24. Keeping cling-film to use again - how?? Like re-wrap the same thing after taking slice off? If so, then yes

25. Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in - that is not money saving, that is calculated scumbaginess (I think I just thought of new word:-))

26. Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway - never had the need, but if long term arrangement I cannot see problem with that, if that saves both of you money and convenience? (driver usually looses convenience, passenger gains)

27. Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round - only scumbags would do such a calculated move


28. Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these' - again, only scumbags would do such a calculated move

29. Rounding up people's change in your favour - no

Any

PasturesNew wrote: »

Shouldn't THEY be the ones declaring "I'm going for the king prawns and all the extras, plus I'll be sinking lots of wine - I'm looking forward to everybody else paying my way".

In my book, expecting other people to pay your way isn't the way to go about it, by springing it on people when the bill arrives.


Well, she's just rude/weird. I'm afraid I'm with Smithy from Gavin and Stacey on food: "If you want X, you order X. This is MY X. If you wanted it you should have ordered it".

I have to say, I only go out for meal with real friends, people who have the same values and traditions as me.

We go out and say "are we going to have starters as well?" and SHARE a bottle/s of wine.
Thought most often we go on deal with voucher/special menu to start off with actually:-)

So I have never experienced the situation where I was with people who I thought could have thought to themselves "ah ha ha ha, lets have the most expensive thing and let the other beggers pay for part of it" or when I was picking from the menu, I never thought that myself.

I might be lucky on friends, but that just never happened to me.
I would not go out with people I might think do that. EVER.

Idiophreak

Any wrote: »

So I have never experienced the situation where I was with people who I thought could have thought to themselves "ah ha ha ha, lets have the most expensive thing and let the other beggers pay for part of it" or when I was picking from the menu, I never thought that myself.

In my experience, it's rarely that people are actively thinking "here's a chance to have some cheaper grub!!"

There are three things that happen:

1) People just get a bit squiffy and don't really notice that people haven't eaten/drunk as much of them.

2) In large groups, people can't be bothered to sit there playing "banker" to make sure everyone pays their way...wandering around the table grabbing a twenty from everyone is much easier....especially if it saves arguing about whether to tip, how much to tip...

(interestingly, if everyone just puts up what they owe, the total always seems to be a fiver short...guess who has to make it up... :mad:)

3) People think "we'll probably end up splitting the bill anyway...I may as well get my money's worth".

kboss2010

Idiophreak wrote: »

In my experience, it's rarely that people are actively thinking "here's a chance to have some cheaper grub!!"

There are three things that happen:

1) People just get a bit squiffy and don't really notice that people haven't eaten/drunk as much of them.

2) In large groups, people can't be bothered to sit there playing "banker" to make sure everyone pays their way...wandering around the table grabbing a twenty from everyone is much easier....especially if it saves arguing about whether to tip, how much to tip...

(interestingly, if everyone just puts up what they owe, the total always seems to be a fiver short...guess who has to make it up... :mad:)

3) People think "we'll probably end up splitting the bill anyway...I may as well get my money's worth".

Indeed, I agree! This happened at my birthday meal a few years ago. Two groups of friends were invited (not organised by me, I should add), one group was used to just splitting the bill, the other group just wanted to pay for what they ate.

Problem was, there were 25 people there. End result was a rather annoyed organiser and it took about half an hour to sort out the bill and everybody's change.

Now I just go with option 3 on the above list, it's easier. That way I know what I ate and don't mind paying for it but if the bill is split, I'm not going to be paying for much more than I ate/drank.

PenguinOfDeath

1. Saving coupons / using vouchers
Only if I wanted to buy or try out that product anyway, I do collect online vouchers for TCB/surveys sites however

2. Making your own lunches to take to work
Do this most of the time

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making
Wern't we taught this in school as a way to be 'green'? Also a time saving task

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay
Yup, or wait until its free parking in the local town

5. Refusing to leave a tip
I only tip when its really deserved, or to easily round up a bill

6. Only heating rooms you use
That's what TRVs are for

7. Using internet/phone apps to find cheapest place to buy items
Most of my waking day...

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose
I love the smell of petrol...

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents
Between friends and family we tend to give using a gift bag, then return the bag to the giver so they can use it again

10. Driving slower to preserve petrol
In my car now yes, only if I'm not in a rush to get somewhere of course

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes
Use jars for spices etc, and marg cartons for throwing out old oil, sauces etc

12. Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill
(You have a phone on your calculator? Wow!) Depends what the occasion is and who I'm out with - sometimes we discuss what vouchers we each have for the place beforehand

13. Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin
If the floor's clean, its my money...

14. Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath
Don't remember the last time I had a bath, there are ways of relaxing that don't make your skin wrinkly

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present
In my last work they ran a birthday club - I refused to join because there were too many people I wouldnt choose to buy for myself, and my birthdays later in the years so I didnt think I'd benefit as much...we were all made redundant by August...

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical
No, as I'd probably end up having to make a long journey at some point so would have to fill up again so I wasn't caught short

17. Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden
I do this with the water from the condenser dryer sometimes

18. Making birthday cards/ presents
I am the least artistic person I know, I'd be laughed at!

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub
Maybe take snacks to a theatre or cinema, but in a pub that horrible practice - refresments are a sidleine to other entertainment but in a pub thats the idea of the establishment, no?

20. Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work
Not really possible

21. Re-using teabags
Throw in the compost

22. Returned clothes I have worn
Have considered, but always ended up liking it too much and keeping, or staining it so being forced to (it's a sign)

23. Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch
I don't have servants I can send to shop for me, where am I going wrong?!

24. Keeping cling-film to use again
Nope

25. Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in.
Not on purpose

26. Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway
Not for a one off

27. Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round
And then have no-one to go back to the pub with...

28. Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these'
That's what paper moneys' for, to turn into metal at some point?

29. Rounding up people's change in your favour
Not since i lost my job in retail...Oh wait, that wasn't me

Any

Idiophreak wrote: »

In my experience, it's rarely that people are actively thinking "here's a chance to have some cheaper grub!!"

There are three things that happen:

1) People just get a bit squiffy and don't really notice that people haven't eaten/drunk as much of them.

2) In large groups, people can't be bothered to sit there playing "banker" to make sure everyone pays their way...wandering around the table grabbing a twenty from everyone is much easier....especially if it saves arguing about whether to tip, how much to tip...

(interestingly, if everyone just puts up what they owe, the total always seems to be a fiver short...guess who has to make it up... :mad:)

3) People think "we'll probably end up splitting the bill anyway...I may as well get my money's worth".

Oh, I completely agree... I think that is quite probably one of the reasons why I've never been in that situation...
Because this is what normally happens in real life.

But as you see here, unless you always split the bill there are people out there that think that that is exactly what you are thinking... And give you names in their head (unless they are behind a keyboard) and all sorts!

OrkneyStar

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

1. Saving coupons / using vouchers- sometimes but not to extremes.

2. Making your own lunches to take to work- I don't work now but we make DH lunch and DS, and I often did when I worked too.

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making-yes.

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay- yes and it is healthier too, extra steps!

5. Refusing to leave a tip-I leave a tip 80% of the time but I am more generous if I feel they deserve extra!

6. Only heating rooms you use- yes!

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

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose- yes, though diesel, filling my car with petrol would be a bad idea!

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents- sometimes, more often for crafty things with DS.

10. Driving slower to preserve petrol- I drive to get best mpg with diesel car, can get an average of around 60 mpg if careful.

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes- keep for craft or for storage.

12. Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill- not really.

13. Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin- yes though DS likes doing this as he loves finding pennies!

14. Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath- sometimes me and DS will share the shower but not really.

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present- I contributed if I liked the person!!!! Take from that what you will!

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical-we normally sit at 1/2 full or thereabouts at home but do fill up for long (over 100 mile) journeys! We live on an island so fill up nearer the central belt on the way home and again at Inverness sometimes, as cheaper!

17. Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden- no bath but do save dish water sometimes. No water meter here so it is less money saving, more environmental!

18. Making birthday cards/ presents- I am quite good at card-making and also I am a decent knitter, so I make these, but only if person will like! E.g. I just gave niece money as she won't want knitted things!

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub- don't drink!

20. Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work- no! This is THEFT. Never did even when I worked.

21. Re-using teabags- only DH likes tea and he likes it strong so no!

22. Returned clothes I have worn- deceitful, so no!

23. Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch- I wouldn't send anyone, in the rare case I did at work I'd write off small amounts, after all they were kind enough to go!

24. Keeping cling-film to use again-no, but we don't use much anyway!

25. Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in- don't drink so don't do rounds!

26. Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway-no that is deceitful! Same with giving lifts, though if someone offers I might take it if a longer journey.

27. Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round- don't drink but did do this as a student!

28. Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these'- nope!

29. Rounding up people's change in your favour- nope!

datlex

kboss2010 wrote: »

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

1. Saving coupons / using vouchers - Americans do this far more than us, Extreme Couponing, anyone? yes do this

2. Making your own lunches to take to work - a lot of places don't provide a canteen and it's usually unhealthy food yes have been for the last year, it's much healthier

3. Only boiling enough water for cups of tea and coffee you're making - saving energy/curbing greenhouse gas emissions I have a one cup boiler, not sure if it is more efficient than a kettle, it only uses the exact amount of water you need for a cup of tea/coffee and even pours it into the cup for you. All in 30secs!! Great for first thing in the am.

4. Parking on a road further away from the shops so you don't have to pay - avoiding rip-off council/NCP car parks AND getting in your 10000 steps a day for good health! Have done in the past

5. Refusing to leave a tip - a tip is for excellent service and not compulsory never leave a tip and ask for the service charge to be taken off bills. I don't get a tip for doing my job.

6. Only heating rooms you use - again, environmentally friendly! (have different rooms at different temperatures)

7. Using internet/phone apps to find cheapest place to buy items - why throw away money unnecessarily? (makes sense, although doesn't always work)

8. Shaking the end of a petrol pump so you don't leave any in the hose - I've never done this for that reason, it's more to stop me splashing drops on the floor/myself when removing the nozzle! (try not to leave any drops, but as much as anything to stop drips on floor etc)

9. Saving used wrapping paper to re-wrap presents - recycling! (don't do this)

10. Driving slower to preserve petrol - does this actually work? (not tried this)

11. Keeping/reusing old cartons/ jam jars etc. / cereal boxes - recycling and energy-saving! (don't do this)

12. Used a calculator (or phone) on my calculator in a restaurant to work out the bill - ?? I don't get how this is tight? Surely just means you aren't good at mental arithmetic? Have done this especially if I have had fewer courses or less alcohol than others at table.

13. Scrabbling on the floor for a dropped penny coin - again, the Bank of England spends a lot of money every year producing new coins to make up for the lost/stored coins , why add to this wastage? wouldn't bother with this

14. Sharing bath water/ having a shower rather than a bath - I wouldn't do it, but maybe would with kids for the first. Showers are just quicker to me, I maybe have 3 baths a year because it takes ages to fill! I only have a walk in shower, so can't have a bath at home. I use baths at hotels on the odd times each year am away.

15. Not contributing to a colleague's birthday present - depends on if you speak to them or they're just another random in the office you said hi to once. At my place the birthday person buys the treats

16. Filling up the car with half a tank of petrol as it's economical - again, environmentally friendly! wash not aware of this one

17. Save dish/ bath water to use on the garden - clean water is getting scarcer globally, no point wasting clean water on plants! don't do this

18. Making birthday cards/ presents - this is just fun and often saves little cash in my experience have made cards on occasion

19. Sneaking your own bottle of wine into the theatre / pub - students would hardly drink if they didn't do this lol! don't do this

20. Posting parcels/ Christmas/ Birthday cards through work - I wouldn't do it, it's stealing! would only post things with a stamp via work

21. Re-using teabags - again, probably wouldn't but good for composting! wouldn't do this

22. Returned clothes I have worn - I wouldn't. wouldn't do that

23. Demanding 5p or 10p change from the person you sent to buy your lunch - again, I'd be a bit annoyed if I didn't get my change but meh I wouldn't ask. I expect to give change and receive it, but since I make my own lunch not an issue

24. Keeping cling-film to use again - how does one un scrunch it enough to do this? not worth it

25. Buying the last round in a large group safe in the knowledge you won't have to get a second one in - depends on how skint I am/ how far away pay day is! yep done this

26. Asking for petrol money on a journey you would be doing anyway - no, unless you're car sharing for work every day. never asked for petrol money

27. Leaving the pub before it's your turn to buy a round - I just wouldn't accept drinks in a round I'd buy my own if I was skint! not unless whole group was leaving

28. Saying ' I don't want to break into a twenty' so someone else says I'll get these' - no. what is a twenty?

29. Rounding up people's change in your favour - that's stealing. Wouldn't even consider doing that[/QUOTE]

Added what I do out of these.

Gloomendoom

Number 8 is second nature if you are a bloke.

Downsizing__for_sanity

10. Drive BETTER, not necessarily slower. IE don't tailgate the person in front of you, so that you can actually see what is happening on the road in front of you and the reason everyone else is slowing down. Why do some people drive like the clappers straight up to a busy junction or red traffic lights where they are clearly not going to get out/through straight away? :mad:

(Sorry - my pet hate and just returned from a busy airport run with lots of silly people on the roads!)