Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

foxgloves

Yes, @EH, Mr F & I have been having that exact conversation, but concluded that these scammers must just catch out enough people to make it worth their while.
One of my best ones was getting calls very early in the morning (around 7am so clearly a dodgy calculation of time zone differences) in which the scammer said they were "Microsoft, phoning about your computer problem". We didn't have any computer problems so I said "Oh? Which computer is that?". 
"It's the one you have been having problems with".
"Which one?"
Long pause......
"Ummmm.....it's a Windows one".
They must think I came upstream on a bloody water biscuit!! But people do fall for these things through utter naivety, not to mention stupidity.
F

EssexHebridean

Oh I used to LOVE the computer ones - it was possible to have so much fun with them! (But again, not forgetting that some folk DID get scammed by them of course). I've always taken the view that the more of their time I can take up, the less they have for catching someone who might be more vulnerable. 

Cheery_Daff

Mr Cheery's dad often used to try and sell scammers a cat 😂😂 "Have you ever thought about getting a cat? They're excellent company" 😂😂

lucielle

My OH always tried to sell them a lawnmower. 

L

themadvix

My BIL once tried to sell one an oven - managed to keep the conversation going for a good 30 minutes.

Sun_Addict

I’ve answered phone calls from numbers I don’t recognise or withheld with a cheery “fraud team, how can I help”. That gets rid of them 😆

foxgloves

Afternoon Campers,
I've enjoyed reading about all your responses to scammers. It isn't just the emailed ones which have stepped up recently, it's calls too, although my phone network is very good at identifying incoming spamminess , so the numbers do get swiftly blocked. I do often just run the number through online to see who it is purporting to be. Today's spambuster call (because it WAS busted instantly by network so phone didn't even ring) was one of these dodgy outfits purporting to be from one's mobile network (or any) trying to sell a new contract. If I wanted a new phone contract, I would shop around & visit a provider in person, I find it difficult to imagine that there are 1000s of people sitting around who would suddenly agree to a new contract when phoned out of the blue, but I suppose again, they must get enough people sign up to make it worthwhile, & there do seem to be a lot of phone companies in this particular cold calling game.

Anyway, enough of spammyness & onto today's small budget positives. Not a no-spend day as have had the piano tuner in first thing, so will start with that.....
*Remembered I had booked a tuning & budgeted the money when I set this month's budget. That's the difference, really, between forgetting & then having to via the cost from somewhere else, or actually having the payment ready to go. I do use my physical diary a LOT to keep myself organised & I always flag up those entries which will have a financial outlay.
*Decided to bring my regular house cleaning forward a day so as to free my time up for a couple of really decent gardening sessions tomorrow. So usual minimal cleaning products & washable cloths. I'm finding I can use a spray bottle with diluted multi-surface cleaner from the eco-refill shop for so many tasks.
*Bought 50 x 2nd class stamps so as to postpone the forthcoming price rises a little longer.
*Mr F decided to pop into a different supermarket for his usual grocery pick-up tonight, a decision largely prompted by Ash deciding he has reached peak slightly cheaper meat & would like to see a full restoration of daily Persian Queen. No 40 pouch boxes of said substance at our usual supermarket & so this will avoid an additional faffy trip into town centre just to pick up this sole item. 
*Did a few surveys - not a lot by any means, but it all adds up. March's earnings currently at £15-16. Had a really interesting survey today about climate change mitigation & in the de-briefing afterwards, there was a list from an academic paper on the subject which listed 14 mitigating behaviours, grouped as to whether they have a large, moderate or small effect. I have actually noted them down to think about later, but I think we will probably all be interested in no. 12, which was simply "Buy fewer things".
*No. 9 was "Reduce food waste" which I am pleased to say I am always hot on doing. I've already done a quick sweep of fresh supplies this morning & will be using up half a red onion & half a leek in tonight's kedgeree, as well as swapping out peas for the leftover sweetcorn I have sitting in the fridge. 
Well, that is my lot today. I had intended to do a couple of Annoying Jobs too, but have kind of gone off the boil with any more jobs for today. I am going to go & prep all the ingredients required for cooking tonight's meal then have a read of my book. I am finding it utterly intriguing - still "A Bird in winter" by Louise Doughty- one of those in which little bits of info unfold gradually. Hope it has a good ending when I get there.
Wishing everyone a peaceful cosy evening. 
Love F x
P.S Should be some good money saving activity tomorrow, as I intend going on a hunt for free plants. Self-seeded goodies coming up all over the garden, so I will see what I can find.

Makingabobor2

Love being able to clean multiple surfaces with one cleaner and certainly with washable cloths. Drives me mad seeing all these throw away things advertised.   I have just spent the afternoon making up and trying out Nancy Birtwhistle's Cream Cleanser and also her All Purpose spray cleaner. Quite pleased with the results. I do like a cream cleanser for sink & bath and the refill shop I use no longer stocks one, so decided to have a go and so far seems very good.  I have also made up some of the Magic Loo cleaner, and that is cooling on the window sill for trying out later (have to make it with hot water, and then let it cool).  I managed to get most of the ingredients at the refill shop and they will last for ages, so think its a money saving thing in the long run.  Did have to go the chemist for surgical spirit though as they need a licence to sell that. 
Enjoy your book, I currently have 2 or 3 on the go, all non fiction, so need to get a good fiction one for some escapism I think. 

milann

The bay tree talk was interesting….I had one for years - very nicely shaped and it suddenly curled it’s toes up one winter. I’ve bought a couple of small ones since but they’ve never survived.
All the talk of stamps has reminded me to go and get some before the price hikes….thinks 👍

Elisheba

You have made me think about stamps. I wonder if it would be worth my while stocking up for Xmas now? Do they go out of date - I'll need to look it up.