What is the most moneysaving/stingy thing you do?

normandeguerre

Joanthebone wrote: »

Drying out my tea bag after I make a mug of tea, the second one still tastes ok!

This definitely works with (loose) green tea. The water must not be boiling (throw in a little cold if need be) and the first brew needs two minutes, not three. After that you can be increasingly relaxed about times (but still not too hot). The third pot can be the best - and then you're set for the day! Ah, but, please NO MILK. Recent experience with quality black tea (we're not talking T. Finest Builder's tea dust here) (boiling water, three minutes a throw) makes it almost affordable!

bassitt74

jenna42 wrote: »

Mine is buying supermarkets' own make value shower gel for 30p (used to be 14p!) .... and filling hand soap bottles in the kitchen and bathroom ... can't tell the difference!

YES!! I do the same. I also add any travel sized versions from trips or gift to the bottle. Same with shampoo and conditioner, just screw on a pump dispenser. And I quite agree that supermarket basics are getting cheekier with their prices more and more. Highly annoying!

pollypenny

I cut open tubes, as it's rarely 'a bit' left, but usually quite a lot.

To keep stuff, foundation for example, fresh I cover the tube with a cotton wipe, then put the top of a hairspray can on. This holds the cotton wipe down and keeps it airtight.

gillymot

I was once in the supermarket queue in front of a lady buying quite a few bottles of wine. I asked her if she was having a party. No, she said I'm buying these with the spare change I collected in various bottles and jars around the house!

eagle_eye

When travelling to the airport for a holiday I park in local streets well away from the airport having dropped the family off at the airport first. I make sure I don't park in either a run down area or in a posh part of town so my car doesn't look out of place. I then catch a bus or train back to the airport. I don't feel too guilty as the streets are used for parking by the local rail travellers anyway.

puk999

jenna42 wrote: »

Mine is buying supermarkets' own make value shower gel for 30p

I do this also. Tesco normally (this stuff). They used to be 10p and went to 30p overnight. Last week they rose to 40p

eagle_eye

meanmum wrote: »

There are a few that could be described as stingy & that probably embarrass my family - getting 2 cups out of one teabag, making gift tags from the previous years Christmas cards, cutting open tubes to get the last out (although I only bother for expensive stuff), turning the heating down & putting a jumper on, yellow sticker food, recycling gift bags multiple times........

They all sound fine to me, but I do feel slightly guilty when I steam off stamps that haven't been franked, select a pub to go into on the basis of the charging points they have or hand on my discount card so that others in my party buying drinks can get the benefit. I also used to deliberately not warn the cashier when my food contained 2 different priced yellow labels so that I could get double the discount at Customer Services when it went through at the wrong (higher) price!

pluggy

...use a cheap make up brush to get the last of the lipstick out of the roll-up base....

Boogiecat

I love the idea about the batteries, and collecting water from the shower before it gets hot enough to shower in. I'll definitely be doing those . Some of my stingy ways:

Cut tubes in half to reach the last bit
Make 3 cups of tea with 2 tea bags ) I like mine strong
Cut up used Christmas cards to make tags
Use supermarket bags as bin liners
I save all the hanging-ribbons out of clothes, I do lots of sewing and they come in useful to make bows etc
I save all the buttons off worn-out clothes to re-use
Make all my own curtains and blinds, and cushion covers.
Melt leftover candlewax in a mince pie tray to make wax tarts.
If I see something I really want, check if I can get it cheaper on Ebay.
Go to auctions and upcycle furniture.
Wait for the sales.

I am, however, rubbish at making the most of Tescos and other supermarket vouchers, and need to do better :rotfl:

Primrose

eagle_eye wrote: »

When travelling to the airport for a holiday I park in local streets well away from the airport having dropped the family off at the airport first. I make sure I don't park in either a run down area or in a posh part of town so my car doesn't look out of place. I then catch a bus or train back to the airport. I don't feel too guilty as the streets are used for parking by the local rail travellers anyway.

If you did that in our street, within 24 hours our Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator would be checking with all the residents if they had a house guest staying to whom it belonged and it not if would be reported to the police as a possibly stolen vehicle, especially if they were unable to make contact with the owner.