Sunday fun: what's the cringiest money saving you've witnessed??

Sazzie23

Worst money saving tip, recycling presents, it's too difficult as I can't always recall who bought me what, so I try to find a different use for them or send them to the charity shop unless I think I'd get something for them on EBay.

Teabags, yes at lowest financial point, did use one teabag for 3 cups, but made them at the same time. Trick is to move the teabag round so each cup gets a bit of fresh and more brewed (stewed), doesn't taste so nasty then. Fortunately Mr Aldi's decaf tea tastes great and is good value so no longer have to do this.

Water down the OJ when I take it to work not just financially but also lowers the calorific content. Do struggle to keep a decent bottle to take it in though.

Trying to pack up some very cheap shower gel in a way it doesn't look skimpy for a present, bags and baskets cost more than the gift so still pondering that one.
Have been doing a bit of Xmas shopping so might need to find some more cringing saving to get through to Jan. I'm not the most popular person in the world so probably everyone will just put it down as me being weird.

dannyboybath

Used to work with a guy driving a Lorry all day .
He used to buy a bag of boiled sweets , carefully unwrap one , pop it in his mouth, carefully swirl it round his mouth for a few mins then re wrap it !!! Then get another and do the same !
When I asked him why ......he replied 'so they last longer'
Then when we had a break , he would try to stop where there was a recycling point ...... So he could put his arm into the bin to grab some newspapers...... To save him buying a paper to read !!!! He got caught out one day as his watch snagged on the flap of the bin & popped off ! He even found out the number of the local council to see if they would open the bin so he could retrieve his watch!

yeldarb

My dad will go out for a meal and hide his own bottle of wine in his bag and will keep topping up his glass.
My dad calls security at the hospital car park and complains that the car park machine ate his money in order to avoid paying for his ticket.
My dad once forgot to take a voucher to a restaurant and managed to persuade the waitress to give him the staff discount.
My dad collects the oil from cans of tuna and burns it in little oil lamps with a wick.
As a kid we could never play the first hole at the golf course in case we were seen from the club house - we always started at the second hole.
At the driving range, if it was quiet he would as us kids to run up the field and collect the balls so he could hit them all again.

Pixie5740

My cousin and her husband own a shop. One day she got home from visiting her mum and found her husband and the 20 year old shop assistant in the shower together. He claims he was doing it to save water.

Lwsi

A friend of mine told me that her sister in law used to put her 2 children in the boot of her car when she went to an event where she had to pay for each person at the entrance to the car park.

rdone

Bobarella wrote: »

It's all relative isn't it. What seems stingy to one person is ok to another.

I own and run a cafe. I've had people come in before and as part of their meal ask for a cup of boiling water. When it came to clear them I've found fruit teas they've made themselves with the water. Is that ok? Not to me. But maybe that's seen as a perk to be had.

The infamous 'I'd like a black coffee' oh but can I have a dash of milk is also good....depends how nice I'm feeling

I used to work in a coffee shop and my favourite was always "Can I have an espresso please with a pot of hot water and milk on the side". I'd give them the smallest cup I can find!

I can't drink caffiene and am not a huge fan of most herbal teas so carry tea bags around with me. I only use them when the place I am at doesn't have anything I can drink and I always offer to pay for the hot water! I think a £1 is acceptable, anything over and I won't pay it. After all, you're still using their water and cup and there's washing up etc to be done.

homelovin

Putting kids in the boot - yea we used to do this when we went to Center Parcs! They had/have 2-bedroomed villas but would only let 2 adults and 2 kids in them, and we have 3 kids. The price for a 3-bedroom was a lot more, so we used to book for just 4 and hide the smallest under coats etc because you drive in and do all your 'checking in' through the car window at a booth on arrival. Once inside, there was never any checks so would get the 3rd child out and carry on the rest of our holiday. We would have a blow up bed with us and a sleeping bag for the third child. They all bundled in one room happy as larry. This was quite a few years ago now...I had forgotten until this posting

homelovin

RE: charging for a cup of hot water - yes you should be charged for it unless it is to heat a baby's bottle. If you were at home and not trying to make a profit it isn't free - there's the water, the heating charge, the cup, the cleaning of the cup, the replacement of the cup, the lighting/heating of the room you drink it in etc etc. OK the costs may be very low but they are there. Cafes have to also pay for staff to give you the hot water, insurance in case hot water burns you and a charge to waste collection charge to get rid of the spent tea bag!

homelovin

And for my third post.....I wonder if we will now see some interesting cringe moments regarding the cost of carrier bags? What will people do to avoid paying 5p?

rdone

I went to a wedding once in a local hotel, the cheapest wine was £25 a bottle. I found out what it was and went to Aldi and guess what! I bought the same bottle for a couple of £s. The awful bit was when it was on the table and a waiter walked past and asked if we wanted an ice bucket and apologised for the bar staff not giving us one in the first place!

My parents used to claim I was younger than I was a twins with my younger brother to get us in cheaper.

Myself and a friend went to F&B's for lunch recently and they messed up my order. I didn't complain and when leaving was given a free meal voucher. The next time we went I couldn't find the voucher but didn't say anything. The women remembered us and gave us the free meal anyway. I've since found the voucher and we're considering going to a different one to use it...