Any "embarrassing" money saving things you do?

Scr1mper

Ilona wrote: »

You sound a bit like me, OP, but beware, you will get called all kinds of nasty names if you give too much away, I should know. Some things best kept private.

You must have a lot of money stashed away somewhere, you can't take it with, no pockets in shrouds, always get mentioned. You must stink, it's a wonder you get any visitors if you don't have the heating on, no teabags for guests, etc etc. Be ready.

Ilona
aka Meanqueen

No teabags for guests? I did also say I wasn't mean enough to let guests freeze About being called names lol...no I don't stink plus I earn less than £700 a month so I'm no millionaire, just super careful

NewShadow

Scr1mper wrote: »

I'm a singleton money saver/scrimper/cheapskate and was just sitting here thinking I couldn't ever possibly live with anyone again otherwise my money saving would go out of the window

Snap, but for me it's because I think discovered how little I like to compromise

I bath every other day unless it's a special occasion - I only bathe if it's a special occasion (and then it tends to take 2 hours and lots of smellies). I tend to shower every day in summer, twice a week in winter. I only wash my hair once a week either way.

I would never even wear jeans two days running for years but now they last for ages, plus less washing means they fade slower - I wear jeans (black or blue) at work most days. I make sure I've got 3 a week, but tend to only wear two - same for socks and bras but I do use 5 tops and knickers (honest)

I only change the bed every couple of months~I pull the duvet back every morning and have the window wide open (yes even in winter) to air the bed so it feels fresh every night - Same here. The difference may be that I sleep in layers of blankets and quilts rather than a duvet. This means I can rotate, add, or remove layers to suit the weather and generally (unless i spill my tea) it's only the blanket directly in contact with my skin and the one I'm sleeping on top off that need washing regularly.

I stuff my face (for free) when I go to work so for at least the next few hours I don't need to eat when I get home - I need to stop doing this. Free food may be good, but it's rarely healthy. Does help on squeaky months though. An added tip might be to take an empty lunch box on days when you know they'll be a buffet. It's only going in the bin anyway. I ask while it's being cleared and have only once been told I can't take some leftovers. A lovely lady even took them away and clingfilm wrapped them for me neatly with a garnish. My favourite is to take the fruit, but most things are fine if you're heading right home and put them in the fridge.

I even have a wee before I leave - I do this, but it's mostly because I realise I've not gone all day and have had five 12oz cups of tea throughout the day :rotfl: There's also a bit of a weird thing at work where we've cut back on costs by only having the cleaners in once a day. This means they change the (industrial sized) loo rolls when they're only 2/3rds empty and throw the old ones away (so they don't runout before the next check). I asked nicely and now very rarely have to buy loo roll.

I rarely use the heating (I don't let visitors freeze~not that mean but I do secretly wish they'd bring a jumper) - I just don't tend to have visitors in the house (we'll go for coffee instead).

I sit in bed if it's too cold - I sit in bed because the cats prefer it that way. I'm honestly not sure why I need a two bed with a lounge - there's a room each for the cats I guess.

I have 6 or 7 bank accounts. There's no way I could do that! I have enough trouble with one account. I have about a third of my take-home transferred to my credit union account before I get paid (direct payroll deduction). It means my income hasn't increased in 5 years (or at least that's what I trick myself into thinking...)

I am super stingey with my shopping and only buy own brands unless it's toothpaste or tea bags - Have you checked out the grocery challenge? I think you'll find some like minds.

I don't drive either - Do you get odd looks? I tend to get 'well how do you get to the supermarket' - walk...?

missbiggles1

NewShadow wrote: »

Snap, but for me it's because I think discovered how little I like to compromise

I bath every other day unless it's a special occasion - I only bathe if it's a special occasion (and then it tends to take 2 hours and lots of smellies). I tend to shower every day in summer, twice a week in winter. I only wash my hair once a week either way.

I would never even wear jeans two days running for years but now they last for ages, plus less washing means they fade slower - I wear jeans (black or blue) at work most days. I make sure I've got 3 a week, but tend to only wear two - same for socks and bras but I do use 5 tops and knickers (honest)

I only change the bed every couple of months~I pull the duvet back every morning and have the window wide open (yes even in winter) to air the bed so it feels fresh every night - Same here. The difference may be that I sleep in layers of blankets and quilts rather than a duvet. This means I can rotate, add, or remove layers to suit the weather and generally (unless i spill my tea) it's only the blanket directly in contact with my skin and the one I'm sleeping on top off that need washing regularly.

I stuff my face (for free) when I go to work so for at least the next few hours I don't need to eat when I get home - I need to stop doing this. Free food may be good, but it's rarely healthy. Does help on squeaky months though. An added tip might be to take an empty lunch box on days when you know they'll be a buffet. It's only going in the bin anyway. I ask while it's being cleared and have only once been told I can't take some leftovers. A lovely lady even took them away and clingfilm wrapped them for me neatly with a garnish. My favourite is to take the fruit, but most things are fine if you're heading right home and put them in the fridge.

I even have a wee before I leave - I do this, but it's mostly because I realise I've not gone all day and have had five 12oz cups of tea throughout the day :rotfl: There's also a bit of a weird thing at work where we've cut back on costs by only having the cleaners in once a day. This means they change the (industrial sized) loo rolls when they're only 2/3rds empty and throw the old ones away (so they don't runout before the next check). I asked nicely and now very rarely have to buy loo roll.

I rarely use the heating (I don't let visitors freeze~not that mean but I do secretly wish they'd bring a jumper) - I just don't tend to have visitors in the house (we'll go for coffee instead).

I sit in bed if it's too cold - I sit in bed because the cats prefer it that way. I'm honestly not sure why I need a two bed with a lounge - there's a room each for the cats I guess.

I have 6 or 7 bank accounts. There's no way I could do that! I have enough trouble with one account. I have about a third of my take-home transferred to my credit union account before I get paid (direct payroll deduction). It means my income hasn't increased in 5 years (or at least that's what I trick myself into thinking...)

I am super stingey with my shopping and only buy own brands unless it's toothpaste or tea bags - Have you checked out the grocery challenge? I think you'll find some like minds.

I don't drive either - Do you get odd looks? I tend to get 'well how do you get to the supermarket' - walk...?

I'm wincing as I ask - don't you use sheets?:eek:

Scr1mper

NewShadow wrote: »

Snap, but for me it's because I think discovered how little I like to compromise

I bath every other day unless it's a special occasion - I only bathe if it's a special occasion (and then it tends to take 2 hours and lots of smellies). I tend to shower every day in summer, twice a week in winter. I only wash my hair once a week either way.

I would never even wear jeans two days running for years but now they last for ages, plus less washing means they fade slower - I wear jeans (black or blue) at work most days. I make sure I've got 3 a week, but tend to only wear two - same for socks and bras but I do use 5 tops and knickers (honest)

I only change the bed every couple of months~I pull the duvet back every morning and have the window wide open (yes even in winter) to air the bed so it feels fresh every night - Same here. The difference may be that I sleep in layers of blankets and quilts rather than a duvet. This means I can rotate, add, or remove layers to suit the weather and generally (unless i spill my tea) it's only the blanket directly in contact with my skin and the one I'm sleeping on top off that need washing regularly.

I stuff my face (for free) when I go to work so for at least the next few hours I don't need to eat when I get home - I need to stop doing this. Free food may be good, but it's rarely healthy. Does help on squeaky months though. An added tip might be to take an empty lunch box on days when you know they'll be a buffet. It's only going in the bin anyway. I ask while it's being cleared and have only once been told I can't take some leftovers. A lovely lady even took them away and clingfilm wrapped them for me neatly with a garnish. My favourite is to take the fruit, but most things are fine if you're heading right home and put them in the fridge.

I even have a wee before I leave - I do this, but it's mostly because I realise I've not gone all day and have had five 12oz cups of tea throughout the day :rotfl: There's also a bit of a weird thing at work where we've cut back on costs by only having the cleaners in once a day. This means they change the (industrial sized) loo rolls when they're only 2/3rds empty and throw the old ones away (so they don't runout before the next check). I asked nicely and now very rarely have to buy loo roll.

I rarely use the heating (I don't let visitors freeze~not that mean but I do secretly wish they'd bring a jumper) - I just don't tend to have visitors in the house (we'll go for coffee instead).

I sit in bed if it's too cold - I sit in bed because the cats prefer it that way. I'm honestly not sure why I need a two bed with a lounge - there's a room each for the cats I guess.

I have 6 or 7 bank accounts. There's no way I could do that! I have enough trouble with one account. I have about a third of my take-home transferred to my credit union account before I get paid (direct payroll deduction). It means my income hasn't increased in 5 years (or at least that's what I trick myself into thinking...)

I am super stingey with my shopping and only buy own brands unless it's toothpaste or tea bags - Have you checked out the grocery challenge? I think you'll find some like minds.

I don't drive either - Do you get odd looks? I tend to get 'well how do you get to the supermarket' - walk...?

*sharp intake of breath* re the loo rolls :rotfl:

Perhaps I should also have pointed out that I change my grundies every day too to prevent any insults God forbid some people shouldn't drive~always getting the "but how do you cope/poor thing" as if I've been in some tragic accident and had my legs amputated.

I'll check out the Grocery Challenge, thank you

NewShadow

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'm wincing as I ask - don't you use sheets?:eek:

I use old fashioned sheets - more like flannel and linen than modern 'cotton' blend sheets.

I inherited a steamer trunk full that my grandmother had as a wedding gift but never used - given she married at 21 I'm guessing they're from the 30's.

melanzana

I save but don't really scrimp. I don't need to, but I love the YS bargains for the freezer. It's ingrained in me from the times I REALLY had very little.

I change the bedding regularly, but that's my secret lol.

I wash myself every day, but only shower every other day in Winter depending on whether I have something on or not. Every day in Summer.

I like to feel clean, although hair washes have reduced due to scalp issues, and that has worked out very well I have to say. It used to be every day.

I shop in Aldi.

When I go to Tesco or whatever I am so gobsmacked by the price of similar items it really teaches me a lesson!

So I am just ordinary I suppose. But there may be a few things that I do, that I just can't think of right now.

Scr1mper

melanzana wrote: »

I save but don't really scrimp. I don't need to, but I love the YS bargains for the freezer. It's ingrained in me from the times I REALLY had very little.


I know it's going to be really obvious, but what does YS mean please?

melanzana

Scr1mper wrote: »

melanzana wrote: »

I save but don't really scrimp. I don't need to, but I love the YS bargains for the freezer. It's ingrained in me from the times I REALLY had very little.


I know it's going to be really obvious, but what does YS mean please?

It is a term for reduced items in the Supermarkets at certain times of the day, it means "Yellow Sticker", that's how you know they are reduced.

It is produce that is at or near its sell by date. I urge you to look out for them, there are some great bargains to be had if you are there at the right time!

Scr1mper

melanzana wrote: »

Scr1mper wrote: »

It is a term for reduced items in the Supermarkets at certain times of the day, it means "Yellow Sticker", that's how you know they are reduced.

It is produce that is at or near its sell by date. I urge you to look out for them, there are some great bargains to be had if you are there at the right time!

Thank you I do look out but not usually that lucky with them. I found that post on here somewhere that gave the best times to look but still no luck.

milasavesmoney

I got trounced with the supposed barb 'You can't take it with you' too on another thread.
All the time I'm thinking but I'm not dead.