Things you've done when things got desperate!

dawnybabes

Lived for a month on a few huge bags of economy pasta cooked in economy dried packet soup mixes, could have tomato, chicken or mushroom and if I was really rich I added some veg .... Think my shopping bill for the month was about £12.

As soon as I got up I hot tailed it into work and had loads of nice free coffee (made with mlk b4 every once else arrived) for extra vitamins. Always was outside the door after lunchtime meetings in case their was any leftovers for the staff so I could have first grabs ...

Popping into McD's places and "borrowing" the extra milk cartons they have & the free napkins (make good loo paper)

dragonstgeorge

Hi!

Great thread here! Thanks for starting this - makes you realise you are not alone in your darkest time!

As a child I remember my mum making a stew that would last for a week - different things added to it to 'beef' it up. I've also had the knitted clothes for my doll For Christmas, made from a jumper that my brother had out grown and could nt be passed down to me!

I also remember a family story of my uncle during hard times when he was young, would kick the legs out from under the fruit and veg stall and - living on a hill - his other brother would wait futher down the street and collect the fruit and veg as it rolled down the hill!!!!


We have deliberately put enough petrol in the car to last us till pay day and 'forgot' our wallet! They gave us seven days to pay which was just enough!

cdg1111

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

*ahem* used rolled up loo roll as sanitary towels because I had run out and have no money to go to the shop.... *blush*

Been there.....

do_it_today!

Hi :hello:
this is more of an indulgence not necessity really but my mum used take me and my brother window shopping and we'd share one jacket potatoe from Wendy's it was great.
This is a brilliant thread it also makes me realise how abundant and lucky I am! Which Im grateful for

madmum33

black-saturn wrote: »

I have always made the most of any freebies. If a supermarket is giving out samples I make sure I go round 3 times and send my children round 3 times each too. The last time I did this was last week when someone was handing out free chewing gum.

I have done this.... a new Spar shop opened across the road and were giving away free fresh cod fillets (to promote a service to order fresh fish once a week), I went over and got a bagfull, OH got another, eldest DD got yet another! We ate very well on fried cod and chips that night

The fish ordering service never took off, there was a very good fishmonger in town just a mile away which was cheaper and more convenient!

I made alot of my kids clothes when they were small, buying cheap fabric from the market and making it go as far as possible. Many clothes were handed down (eldest DD ended up wearing lots of boys colours/trousers so her little brother could wear it next!)

While most people my age were turning their noses up at any offers of hand-me-downs from friends and family, we accepted everything offered and sold whatever we didn't need!

My parents didn't spend alot on me and my brothers for Christmas - bikes were second hand (one I was given had been painted pink with flower transfers all over and I loved it!), and gifts were put in a character pillow case (smaller than a sack).

wherediditallgo

When I didn't have a washing machine, I could only afford to go to the launderette once a week, so anything that couldn't fit in one load had to be washed by hand. I can remember doing my undies by hand, then realising I had to go to the shops - I had to go without undies on because none were dry, & I promise you I've never prayed harder for a windless day nor rushed home quicker.

I can remember having cream crackers with cheap Echo margarine for breakfast & rice with fried onions for dinner every day for nearly a month because I couldn't afford anything else to go with it.

Also 'borrowing' the nearly-finished loo rolls from work because I'd run out at home, paying loads of visits to my mum because I knew she'd feed me until I felt sick, watering down tomato sauce, sleeping in the lounge & keeping the other doors shut because I could only afford to heat one room, bringing home the sachets of sugar/salt/pepper from the canteen tables.

cdg1111

My FIL was so hard up one christmas eve that he pawned his gold tooth and put the money on a horse. The horse came in so santa delivered.... U hate to think what would have happened if it hadn't.

My dad used to work for a wool company so he used to get wool cheap. My mum and nan were avid knitters so practically everything we had was knitted - dolls at christmas, tea cosies, and even our underwear! I kid you not. When I was 11 and went to senior school you can imagine the reaction to my undergarments in the changing room.

globalds

I am one of 5 children and when i was about eight my mom (who was on her own by then ) bought the ultimate cheap christmas present ..to be shared by all the kids .....One book on how to do Origami ....and a pile of paper ....I was hoping for an Atari TV game ..so you can guess I was a bit underwelmed.

COOKIEWILLOW

Hi, I Am Weak With Laughing At All These, Some Great Ideas Though!! I Used To Order Dresses Etc From Catologue To Wear To Discos Or Parties And Keep Tags Hidden And Put Them On Line Next Day To Get Rid Of Any Smells And Return Them Within A Day Or So Saying They Were Unsuitable, Had A Close Shave Once When My Friend Spotted It And Nearly Removed For Me!!!!

TheAble

I used to buy Tesco value tea bags. I didn't really need to though, they were just the cheapest option.