Extreme cheapskates!! What's the most extreme thing you have done to save money?

dekaspace

As for what I did the most thriftly was I used to nick toilet paper from public toilets when I was living off £20 a week, sometimes if there was a unused soap bar there I nicked that.

And I remember when at college they had leftover goodie bags from freshers which included either make up or pot noodles (strange thing for a boys bag) I nicked almost all the pot noodle ones and lived off them for ages, that being said I didn't do it at once, did it over a few months period as people weren't bothering to take them, and every Friday the canteen left out the unsold sandwiches from the week so I grabbed what I could take and lived off them for the weekend.

Even now I go to freshers fairs even though not a student and get freebies and even get as many things like tins of beans or energy drink as I can i.e go back a few times until staff say no.

VfM4meplse

CathA wrote: »

I am always the one leading from the front regarding paying " shares ". I don't drink and usually have water so I'm not paying for someone to drink an entire bottle of wine! Sometimes people get a bit sniffy, I don't care.

I find its often the lowest earners that eat and drink the most extravagantly out, and then expect the bill to be split. Tbh I now rarely go out for shared meals as I usually don't enjoy the food anyway, and the unfairness around the bill situation is like scratching a sore spot.

Having said that, at family meals out its always a fight as to who takes the bill (everyone insists!). Which is when we play credit card roulette....

melanzana

I don't understand the angst about restaurants and splitting the bill problems.

Honestly, once would be enough for me to exit stage left forever if people do not understand that splitting a bill is fine if everyone eats and drinks more or less the same.

If not, separate bills, or a reduction for the non drinkers, and non caviar eaters! Get the drift?

As another poster said, the only time I don't give a dam is with family and friends who think the same. Family, well that's not a problem, this time we pick up the bill, next time another does. All is well, we don't care even if it's more expensive one time than the other. We actually love each other and enjoy it all, it evens out and it's never a problem.

But moochers and leeches who are not family or trusted friends... forget it, once bitten twice shy.

Am I a cheapskate? lol.

dekaspace

melanzana wrote: »

I don't understand the angst about restaurants and splitting the bill problems.

Honestly, once would be enough for me to exit stage left forever if people do not understand that splitting a bill is fine if everyone eats and drinks more or less the same.

If not, separate bills, or a reduction for the non drinkers, and non caviar eaters! Get the drift?

As another poster said, the only time I don't give a dam is with family and friends who think the same. Family, well that's not a problem, this time we pick up the bill, next time another does. All is well, we don't care even if it's more expensive one time than the other. We actually love each other and enjoy it all, it evens out and it's never a problem.

But moochers and leeches who are not family or trusted friends... forget it, once bitten twice shy.

Am I a cheapskate? lol.

The only problem with the take a turn system with close friends and family be it for a night out drinking or a meal is even then it may turn out unfair.

If you drink/eat the cheapest things on offer and others like more expensive things you will still lose out, lets say its £1 a pint at student bar for Fosters, but £3 for Kronenberg, you may get 5 rounds give or take so you have £5 of drinks, even assuming you had 4 other friends you have paid £13 for 5 drinks when if you bought your own it would be £5, if you consider the same sort of argument for meals but you may go weeks or more without seeing family on top.

Though my reasoning for that is that especially when younger I was very badly off, for me even £1 or £2 at most was breaking the bank (income was £15 a week and later found out I couldnt even afford £15)

Spendless

Recently I went into town to get a few bits and decided that on the way home I would stop at my sisters house which I pass and give her my twin Niece and Nephew's birthday presents and Easter eggs, to save petrol on a separate journey. As I hadn't got them cards, I put the presents and eggs in the car intending to buy the birthday cards in town, which I did. At this point I realised I had no pen on me to write the cards out and didn't want to return home to write then, costing more in fuel, nor did I want to buy a pen I didn't need, so I went into the bank and used the pen in there to write the cards out.

midnight_express

I don't really understand why so many of you seem to be eating out with people you don't even like.

marleyboy

Today I upgraded all the cheap Easter eggs. The Mars egg got a couple extra Mars bars, as did the Caramac Egg with Caramacs, The Yorkie Egg had extra Double Deckers (as they prefer Double Deckers).

I have an array of small choc bunnies, choc mini eggs and M&Ms to slip inside each of the eggs.

Spendless

marleyboy wrote: »

Today I upgraded all the cheap Easter eggs. The Mars egg got a couple extra Mars bars, as did the Caramac Egg with Caramacs, The Yorkie Egg had extra Double Deckers (as they prefer Double Deckers).

I have an array of small choc bunnies, choc mini eggs and M&Ms to slip inside each of the eggs.

That's a great idea I've never thought of doing. Sometimes the chocolate bars, go on sale at £1 for 4 eg I bought 4 ripples for £1 yesterday at the Co-op. I could buy then and re-distribute.

Lynplatinum

Hiya

I and my two boys were invited to an 18th birthday party meal out held in a local pitza place. The 18 yo was my good friend's daughter. I explained to my young teenage sons that I had not got much money but that they could order a drink and a main each but could we eat ice cream/ Hm coccy cake later at home. The 18 yo + her mates had 3 courses each and were attempting to see who could drink the most. At the end of the meal the 18yo announced that the 'adults' (including me) were paying !!!! My friend looked mortified - I dont think she was expecting this as many of the 18yo 's friends worked as she did! I stood up, put down the cash for what we had eaten + tip money, by her plate and said in a clear, loud voice 'I really dont expect people to freeload on me. Let this be your 18th birthday present - a lesson in good manners!' And me and my boys walked out!

Years later she fell on hard times (unemployed - several credit cards maxed out - a boyfriend who cleaned out their joint account and then dumped her) and behold - she started to speak to me again - and I taught her how to get out of debt AND STAY out! She is now married to a moneysaving guy and they have a lovely baby; nice home and, apart from a mortgage, no debt!!! :j

My friend stayed my friend and could not apologise enough for her daughter's behaviour and was v grateful of my help when her daughter later fell on hard times!

My point in telling this story is that I will NOT be socially bullied into spending what I do not have.

My most outrageous thing that I do to moneysave is to use other places warmth - libraries for example and I always freemantle!!

Daksapce - learn the lesson - money is always out of sight rather than put temptation in people's way ditto things that I do not want consumed so, for example, only half of a batch of flapjack will be made available for my son's friend's consumption!
Rooms you rent are your space - its your rules - feel free to tell scroungers not to come round again! I do! there is being kind and generous but there is also being a mug - I took the decision long time ago not to be a mug.
However, tomorrow, a not v well off friend is coming for lunch and I shall deliberately make extra so she can take a doggie bag home in the guise of helping me use stuff up - but she has been good to me in the past!

Keep on moneysaving folks! :j

thisuseridistakenagain

I worked at a toiletries company for a while. There the companies own saniatry items were provided for free in the loos. I stuck a few in my bag each day. Didn't have to buy any for quite a while.

I always take leftover buffet home from work. I've left tupperware and clingfilm in the staffroom especially for this purpose. Colleagues take the mick out of me and it gets a bit embarasing and annoys me actually because they all earn much more than me, so maybe shouldn't mock it till they try it. But meh.. It saves me cooking/shopping and I get to try posh nibbles I wouldn't normally buy.

Only watching stuff (not live) on iplayer to save on the licence fee. - They are trying to change that rule at the minute. Lets hope they fail!

Showering/drying hair at the gym.- No big deal really as I've paid for it but- I'd rather go straight home and shower there - But I don't- To save money.

I think the saddest thing I've done is take home sachets of ketchup. Bet I saved myself 2p by doing that as I buy Aldi's own anyway!