Tight people and the things they do to save money
Discussion
I used to work with a chap that used to fill a Thermos flask from the tea urn at the end of his shift take home. He was quite open that it was to save using his kettle at home. The same chap would also only go for a no.2 at work to save on toilet paper at home.
Work with another chap who worked out it was cheaper (by 3p a bowl) to buy a bag of sultanas, and normal bran flakes then mix them himself, rather than buying sultana bran.
Work with another chap who worked out it was cheaper (by 3p a bowl) to buy a bag of sultanas, and normal bran flakes then mix them himself, rather than buying sultana bran.
I used to milk on a really old fashioned farm, it was like stepping into the 60s!
They refused to buy disposable paper towels, so instead washed 60+ hand towels twice a day instead!
I used to have a cup of tea after milking; leaf tea, that was left in the pot all day, the beastings (milk with colostrum/mastits/little bit of blood in it) that you can't put in the bulk tank just after calving, and instead of sugar, there used to be a pot of molasses that they used in the cow feed!
Your intestines got used to it after a while...
They refused to buy disposable paper towels, so instead washed 60+ hand towels twice a day instead!
I used to have a cup of tea after milking; leaf tea, that was left in the pot all day, the beastings (milk with colostrum/mastits/little bit of blood in it) that you can't put in the bulk tank just after calving, and instead of sugar, there used to be a pot of molasses that they used in the cow feed!
Your intestines got used to it after a while...
Bought my house from a pal who was moving upmarket to a very nice house in the sticks.
He removed and took with him the following...
All the light bulbs
All the light holders and wires
Kitchen cabinets from three walls
Built in gas hob and electric cooker
The waste pipe for the washing machine
He wanted me to buy his carpets, but I made him take them away...
He left the lawns, so I guess I shouldn't complain...
I did hear of someone who really did take his lawns.
He removed and took with him the following...
All the light bulbs
All the light holders and wires
Kitchen cabinets from three walls
Built in gas hob and electric cooker
The waste pipe for the washing machine
He wanted me to buy his carpets, but I made him take them away...
He left the lawns, so I guess I shouldn't complain...
I did hear of someone who really did take his lawns.
Adam B said:
rgv250ads said:
2. Buying bulk kitchen rolls then offloading spares to friends to recoup cash
run that by me againInstead I gave my sister a couple of bottles for what they cost me.
The OHs family came from humble beginnings so are good at being thrifty.
Buy in bulk and cook meals for the week in 1 go sort of thing.
and the 2 things the thread started with.
They used to boil kettle and put in thermos for rest of day and in their house the toilet is only flushed if someone has a crap, with 2 parents and 4 kids it saves quite a bit compared to flushing away 20+ wees a day.
I take packed lunch to work as it used to cost me £4.40 a day from the roll van now the weeks lunches only cost about £8 combined so saving nearly £15 a week, same again for the OH.
We shop at Aldi rather than Tesco now as the average weekly spend in Tesco was £65-80 and now its £30-50. The OHs sis and husband spend about £120 a week using Tesco with home delivery.
I have also started using Gumtree a lot now, you do have to deal with a lot of utter mongs but selling stuff that I would usually chuck is proving quite good, even if it only £10 a time so far this year I have "made" £380 from selling bits from around the house and shed.
Buy in bulk and cook meals for the week in 1 go sort of thing.
and the 2 things the thread started with.
They used to boil kettle and put in thermos for rest of day and in their house the toilet is only flushed if someone has a crap, with 2 parents and 4 kids it saves quite a bit compared to flushing away 20+ wees a day.
I take packed lunch to work as it used to cost me £4.40 a day from the roll van now the weeks lunches only cost about £8 combined so saving nearly £15 a week, same again for the OH.
We shop at Aldi rather than Tesco now as the average weekly spend in Tesco was £65-80 and now its £30-50. The OHs sis and husband spend about £120 a week using Tesco with home delivery.
I have also started using Gumtree a lot now, you do have to deal with a lot of utter mongs but selling stuff that I would usually chuck is proving quite good, even if it only £10 a time so far this year I have "made" £380 from selling bits from around the house and shed.
Tango13 said:
I bought a pack of six bottles of washing up liquid in Costco for about £7. As a single bloke living alone I don't need over 5 litres of washing up liquid so I could in theory sell the spare bottles for £2 a go and make a profit.
Instead I gave my sister a couple of bottles for what they cost me.
Gave?Instead I gave my sister a couple of bottles for what they cost me.
I work in a shop (Joy's of being a student and needing part time work that will fit around lectures) and see an all manor of things people do to penny pinch. Being in Wales as well it's amazing just how many people come in fill a basket full of stuff and then will refuse to pay 5p for a carrier bag and would rather juggle a weeks worth of shopping back to the car. I can't help but laugh when somebody who does this drops something (especially when it breaks) and then sheepishly comes back to the till and ask's for a bag.
But anyway there's one woman in particular who comes in that really does my head in. She's causes a lot of hassle over the years, she's in her 70's at least. But she'll constantly just come and buy maybe one or two things at a time mainly reduced items. If she goes elsewhere and gets something else (usually reduced) she'll come back for a refund for the item she's already purchase. Had her once bring something back had a refund, and then as she was about to leave said "I might come back and rebuy them later". Me and the person on the till next door just looked at each other with a "WTF kinda look"
There was one time I served her on the till, and we had a couple of cakes sat on the till next to me reduced dirt cheap with that days date on them. They caught her eye and after the transaction finished she says to me "I'm just going to stand by here whilst I consider this" She'd spent about 50p in the first transaction and the cake was reduced to about a £1. Served about half a dozen people and she was still stood there looking at these cakes, after they'd all gone I looked at her and she actually said "I'm still considering this can you give me a minute" Served the next person by which time she'd decided she was in fact going to buy it. Hardest decision of her life did she want a cake for about a £1. Paid for, in small change like everything else always is with her. She comes in and acts like she's hard up cash wise, but there's been times she's come in and been talking to people who she obviously knew about how she'd not long got back from various cruises and where she was going next. I thought to myself is this how she affords to do this, by being so tight back at home? She's also been known to shoplift as well.
Another thing she has done is bought a bottle of spar branded water into our shop (Co Op) and asked for a refund, and she was adamant she'd bought it from our shop when it quite clearly had Spar all over it. She makes my blood boil, she is one person I well and truly despise. If I see her come in I will go hide in the store room if I'm able to. I could sit here all night and tell you stories about what else she's done.
But anyway there's one woman in particular who comes in that really does my head in. She's causes a lot of hassle over the years, she's in her 70's at least. But she'll constantly just come and buy maybe one or two things at a time mainly reduced items. If she goes elsewhere and gets something else (usually reduced) she'll come back for a refund for the item she's already purchase. Had her once bring something back had a refund, and then as she was about to leave said "I might come back and rebuy them later". Me and the person on the till next door just looked at each other with a "WTF kinda look"
There was one time I served her on the till, and we had a couple of cakes sat on the till next to me reduced dirt cheap with that days date on them. They caught her eye and after the transaction finished she says to me "I'm just going to stand by here whilst I consider this" She'd spent about 50p in the first transaction and the cake was reduced to about a £1. Served about half a dozen people and she was still stood there looking at these cakes, after they'd all gone I looked at her and she actually said "I'm still considering this can you give me a minute" Served the next person by which time she'd decided she was in fact going to buy it. Hardest decision of her life did she want a cake for about a £1. Paid for, in small change like everything else always is with her. She comes in and acts like she's hard up cash wise, but there's been times she's come in and been talking to people who she obviously knew about how she'd not long got back from various cruises and where she was going next. I thought to myself is this how she affords to do this, by being so tight back at home? She's also been known to shoplift as well.
Another thing she has done is bought a bottle of spar branded water into our shop (Co Op) and asked for a refund, and she was adamant she'd bought it from our shop when it quite clearly had Spar all over it. She makes my blood boil, she is one person I well and truly despise. If I see her come in I will go hide in the store room if I'm able to. I could sit here all night and tell you stories about what else she's done.
Crafty_ said:
I don't think taking a packed lunch to work is tight more that buying overpriced sandwiches every day is frivolous spending.
I mainly do it as I can make a very nice sandwich, and it saves me the bother of going to a shop on my break (I don't take a long lunch break).My point being its not really about saving money for me.
There's a bloke local to me who runs a fairly sucseful business. He's got a reputation for being tigher than anyone and he thrives on it. One thing I cant work out from such a clever bloke is, he will hunt around for the cheapest flights to his house in Spain. Then he will drive an extra 100/150 miles than nessisary just to get to an airport that can offer the flights for £15 less?! Surely going to the local airport and paying that little extra would work out the same and less hassle?!
TheInternet said:
rgv250ads said:
These people have multiple investment and probably circa 150k dotted about in various pots.
gottans said:
Apparently he is a millionaire...
baldy1926 said:
I know someone ... he bought his last house for 200k with cash and is looking to buy another one as a cash purchase.
Gareth1974 said:
My mate has a reputation for being tight ... he paid his mortgage off by the age of 40 ... he's accrued c£400k in savings, and is packing in work at the end of the year.
Hmmmmdavhill said:
Tango13 said:
I bought a pack of six bottles of washing up liquid in Costco for about £7. As a single bloke living alone I don't need over 5 litres of washing up liquid so I could in theory sell the spare bottles for £2 a go and make a profit.
Instead I gave my sister a couple of bottles for what they cost me.
Gave?Instead I gave my sister a couple of bottles for what they cost me.
We used to receive complimentary airline peanuts as Christmas/birthday presents from another elderly family couple.
And recycled cards with the written part cut off. All wrapped in reused anniversary/Christmas/bday paper used in random order.
They are immensely frugal but as a result could afford to travel the world and have some serious capital sat in the bank and invested to see them through their dotage.
And recycled cards with the written part cut off. All wrapped in reused anniversary/Christmas/bday paper used in random order.
They are immensely frugal but as a result could afford to travel the world and have some serious capital sat in the bank and invested to see them through their dotage.
simoid said:
Quattromaster said:
I'll always try and charge my phone when in car, rather than at home, theory being the engine is running anyway.
I know I know, I'm sad.
Incredible - have you found an infinite power source? I know I know, I'm sad.
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