Any "embarrassing" money saving things you do?

moneyistooshorttomention

LadyDee wrote: »

Especially when it takes 3 probably over-paid TV "personalities" to present the programme.

Well - if the tv companies can get away with it - it looks like they try and do so. Well-known columnist Liz Jones was recently asked to do some work (think it was being on tv?) and told them her fee is £1,000. The response was that they expected her to do it for nothing. She argued back and they offered £500. She repeated that she wouldnt work for that - and then they finally offered her £1,000.

Just goes to show - ie that they had to be prodded to take them from offering nothing to offering her standard fee (ie £1,000).

Obviously - us more "ordinary folks in the street" wouldnt get paid that sort of amount - but I stick to my view we should be paid something for filling their schedules for them.

[Deleted User]

I found a way to stop eating too many biscuits is to only keep ones I'm not keen on in the tin. I make biscuits for my grandsons, but only have Rich Tea in my tin at home, and will only have a couple if I am taking a tablet, as my late Dad, who was a chemist by trade, always said if you take a pill or tablet ,especially anything with paracetamol in it or asprin always have a biscuit afterwards with a cuppa and it will minimise an upset tummy. how true this is I don't know but I have stuck to his advice ever since :) I'm not keen on sweet things anyway and have never taken sugar at all.

VfM4meplse

JackieO wrote: »

only have Rich Tea in my tin at home, and will only have a couple if I am taking a tablet, as my late Dad, who was a chemist by trade, always said if you take a pill or tablet ,especially anything with paracetamol in it or asprin always have a biscuit afterwards with a cuppa and it will minimise an upset tummy. how true this is I don't know but I have stuck to his advice ever since :) I'm not keen on sweet things anyway and have never taken sugar at all.

Not true, but from the days we happily sang this toon.

NewShadow

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Not true, but from the days we happily sang this toon.

True in so much as NSAIDs (not so much paracetamol) can cause gastritis or ulcers and taking them with fluids and/or food can avoid or alleviate side effects.

I agree it doesn't have to be a biscuit.

VfM4meplse

tenuissent wrote: »

<< And he could have said it nicely >>

I think that is my problem - I say it too nicely and it doesn't go in.

Well it's turned into his problem - I haven't graced his door or spoken to him since, and made it clear at the time he was not to speak to me in such a way again. Picking an argument out of thin air was a silly thing to do, but I've just had enough of it.

There is no way our LO is going to be raised in a disharmonious environment just because adults know no better. It doesn't cost money to create it, and no amount of money in the world can fix it.

tenuissent

p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { } [FONT=Bitstream Charter, serif]Estrangement from your father is a very sad result, though I suppose there must have been problems before the YS argument.

My daughter-in-law is the main collector of YS stuff (son knows my views but hesitates to control her....), and has just popped in with an elderly fish, some bread, and crumpets! She knows I make all our own bread.....and crumpets are fattening (but now in freezer awaiting grandchildren).

I love her, and she is very sweet to me, but I certainly do not want to start off a "mean mother-in-law" situation by following the advice in message 150 (though I would like to....). She is from Thailand, adores her own mother but never sees her because UK keeps refusing her a permanent visa, so she dare not travel in case of problems re-entering UK. So I have every reason to be kind to her and show gratitude for her gifts.

It's not that hard to find uses for unwanted extra food - a very First World complaint..... Elderly fish is in the oven, and will be made into a very thoroughly cooked fish pie for this evening, with a creamy leek sauce.[/FONT]

Pollycat

tenuissent wrote: »

p { margin-bottom: 0.25cm; line-height: 120%; }a:link { } [FONT=Bitstream Charter, serif]Estrangement from your father is a very sad result, though I suppose there must have been problems before the YS argument.

My daughter-in-law is the main collector of YS stuff (son knows my views but hesitates to control her....), and has just popped in with an elderly fish, some bread, and crumpets! She knows I make all our own bread.....and crumpets are fattening (but now in freezer awaiting grandchildren).

I love her, and she is very sweet to me, but I certainly do not want to start off a "mean mother-in-law" situation by following the advice in message 150 (though I would like to....). She is from Thailand, adores her own mother but never sees her because UK keeps refusing her a permanent visa, so she dare not travel in case of problems re-entering UK. So I have every reason to be kind to her and show gratitude for her gifts.

It's not that hard to find uses for unwanted extra food - a very First World complaint..... Elderly fish is in the oven, and will be made into a very thoroughly cooked fish pie for this evening, with a creamy leek sauce.[/FONT]

If you don't want your DIL buying YS food for you, perhaps your son shouldn't 'hesitate to control her' - why can't he just say that it's a waste of money buying bread for you because you make your own?

I can't think of anything worse than an 'elderly fish' - I wouldn't even waste the effort making it into a fish pie.

ETA:
Sorry to hear about your fallout with your Dad, Vfm4meplse.

VfM4meplse

tenuissent wrote: »

She is from Thailand, adores her own mother but never sees her because UK keeps refusing her a permanent visa, so she dare not travel in case of problems re-entering UK. So I have every reason to be kind to her and show gratitude for her gifts.

Then it is cultural, feeding someone is a way of showing affection.

It's also a huge compliment that someone with a different ethnicity can love you as they might their own mother (something that I wouldn't say about for partners and children, who are actively chosen. In-laws are part of the package that are a bit of a lotto). The idea that anyone should seek to control rather than positively influence is outdated and not one that my own father is aware of.

I believe in getting on with people, ultimately if it's not an important issue then concede graciously / leave it well alone.

tenuissent

Yes, you are right - offering food is cultural, and I should have mentioned that earlier. It is also cultural to be constantly on the lookout for bargains. Watching her and her sisters bargaining over cheap tuk-tuk rides and little presents for me in Bangkok was delightful - done with smiles and jokes, and both sides appear to be enjoying themselves. (I remember being ticked off by a stall holder in Uganda for handing her the money she had asked for: "Bargain! Why do you not bargain??!!?" It helps pass the day).

Again, it is cultural to revere mothers. In her large family, one sister has given up work to keep their mother company since their father died - it would be unthinkable to leave her alone in the house, and they do everything possible for her. My DIL would like to treat me the same, but I have managed to resist that without offending her. Initially I was not allowed to carry anything or clean anything in her presence, but she is more relaxed now, though a little shocked by what my adult children expect me to do, especially my daughters.....

This has moved aside a bit from embarrassing money-saving activities, but I think it is connected.

cyantist

tenuissent: can you pass off the items onto someone else, a neighbour maybe? I work in an office and if I go in with cakes/biscuits/baked goods it makes everyone's day. I'm sure there must be someone who would appreciate these things and use them, then everyone is happy.