Wombling in restrictive times (2021)

Siebrie

Please join me on keeping track of my wombling, especially now that wombling has almost stopped due to the coronavirus. I'm not comfortable picking up receipts to claim someone else's loyalty points, not comfortable picking up dropped coins (someone else's).

What is wombling?
In the words of Bobarella, the founder of the earlier wombling threads:

"Wombling is at its most basic level finding things. That you can use and someone else decided they couldn't. When I started this challenge in January of 2015, I used to Womble a lot of brand match coupons, these were just like finding money and I have no idea why people ever threw them away.
My initial idea was to try and find one thing each time I left the house that would make my life cheaper in some way. Roadkill (change found on the road, bus, self service till draw) is a great one for that. I find that I can usually find at least 1p per journey and although some people would say what's the point? Because I trained myself to look for coins as second nature I have found a lot of money over the years £ 84.20 in 2015, & £62.28 last year.
I often find useful big items left in the street outside people's houses with notes saying 'take me away' last year I even found a Hoover. I needed a new one so took it. This saves me quite a lot of money. My own wombling style is finder, but a lot of people Womble a lot of money by doing BOGOFFs. Or eBay buying.

YS shopping is worth a mention. If you are able to buy food with a huge mark down then that's a Womble.

Basically if you are able to make a saving in any way, including comping then that's a Womble. I don't have any strict rules for this challenge and quite often we just chat! So come on in and join the free fun."

Siebrie

So, to gainsay what I said in my introduction: when I stepped out of my car yesterday, there was a Euro-coin next to my foot. I did pick it up, with a tissue, and washed it at home.

I had to stand in line at the village's pharmacist for quite some time, and I stood in a part of the shop I don't usually visit (the expensive skin care corner), and noticed several freebies and testers. I politely asked if I could take some, and they let me take one of each:

4 sachets of specialty tea (relax, night, etc)

4 15ml toothpaste tubes

4 7.5ml Louis Widmer facial cream, skin cream, eye contour cream

1 sachet 30 ml Louis Widmer bath oil

3 sachets CeraVe facial products

2 sachets pain relief gel against oral ulcers (I used to suffer, but keeping an  eye on what I eat, I keep it in check. DDs don't want to lay off candy just yet .....).

I'd say this is worth about €7 + the €1 I found = €8.

Siebrie

My neighbour gave me 4 butternut pumpkins from his abundant harvest, and as I visited the supermarket yesterday, I know the going retail price is €2,49 each (and they were smaller than the ones I've been given). Total €9,96.

stewartwilliams

I've seen a total of 2p lying on the ground since Aug/Sept time.  Nothing anywhere else, although I haven't been going out of my way to search - just casual glances whilst passing tills, machines and car parks.  Ended up with £9.xx last year.

A few receipts about that have provided some cashback and points, but reduced visits to places such as supermarkets, have reduced opportunities.  Did have greater access to supermarkets whilst living in a bigger city, but with lockdown etc., now in a smaller town with less options.

NBLondon

My first womble of the year...   I was in a Tesco Express (not one I'd usually be near) at the self-service and there was 40p of small change left behind.

Definitely less opportunity this year.    I'm Working from Home so not so many chances to spot roadkill and my old favourite the Coinstar is less accessible since Sainsbury put a one-way system in and the assistant with the sanitiser spray is usually leaning against the machine.

I have trained myself to pick up coins with left hand and drop in unused pocket.  Then sanitise.   When I get home the coins get washed in hot water and anti-bac.

Siebrie

One of our supermarkets has started a 'nutri-boost' campaign, where they refund you 5% of any healthy item you buy. It's a more upscale supermarket, so I don't shop there often, but so far, this year, I have amassed €2,75

1 free frozen pizza €2,75

bottle of Nivea shampoo free after rebate €2,99-€1,07 (stamp ) = €1,92

Siebrie

Husband was sent a 'party box' by his employer; they have an online party this Thursday and alle employees are supposed to wait to unwrap the box until then. Of course, we already unpacked it It contains: 1 courgette, 1 single portion yoghurt, 1 Italian dried sausage with truffle, bottle of red wine, crisps, dip, black olive spread, dried tomatoes, lemon sardines, small toasts (the ones you pile up with spread, caviar, etc), 1 cut loaf of bruschetta.

I have the feeling there was supposed to be a recipe..... Anyway, as husband won't eat almost any of this, I will claim it for family meals at €10.

Siebrie

Theramed children's toothpaste, free after rebate €2,79

Siebrie

1-person serving of individually wrapped gingerbread at supermarket checkout €0,20

Dash laundry pods, free after rebate €6,29

Siebrie

Nutriboost €0,43

curry sausages €3,09

1 pot of strawberry jam €0,99

Siebrie

I was invited to a conversation with the developers of an app we used last year and then didn't renew subscription. It took 30 minutes and was great fun, and they rewarded me with an Amazon voucher worth $30 (€ 25,17 / GBP 21.59).