Tight people and the things they do to save money
Discussion
Mercury00 said:
I've never thought of myself as being tight but my girlfriend has made me realise I am. For my work lunches I buy two packs of sliced cheese that'll last me about a week an a half, bread for free as my dad works at a bakery, I only drink tap water and fill my own bottle up from home - probably works out at about £2 per week. If I've spent more than £20 over the weekend I'm disgusted with myself. It's pretty bad now I've typed it out 
Wow, party animal over here.£20 is a few drinks in the pub mid week. I fully expect several hundred to disappear this weekend, as usual. Dinner and drinks tonight, do something tomorrow, lunch and a film on Sun with mates.
DeuxCentCinq said:
I tried explaining this to them while sweating my arse off in the back of a mate's Bongo Friendee on the way down to the South of France last year.
Eventually he relented, and yes, the a/c was broken. I had to buy one of those battery-operated fans that squirts water on you.
I never used aircon in the UK because it doesn't get that hot! An open window with a temperate, fresh smelling breeze is more enjoyable than freezing air. Eventually he relented, and yes, the a/c was broken. I had to buy one of those battery-operated fans that squirts water on you.
However, now I live in Mauritius and the aircon never goes off. Even turning it off for 1 minute will warm the car to the temperature of a sweaty Turkish bath.
Accelebrate said:
Some people have strange principals with their spending, I guess we all do to an extent. I have a colleague who works from home and lives in an area that has fibre internet, but he adamantly refuses to pay the £10 monthly premium for it.
I'm like that though. I don't see the point in paying extra when my broadband is pretty fast. When our son is older & playing online games etc then I'll probably get it, but for now I'm happy to wait a couple of minutes extra for stuff to download.
northwest monkey said:
Accelebrate said:
Some people have strange principals with their spending, I guess we all do to an extent. I have a colleague who works from home and lives in an area that has fibre internet, but he adamantly refuses to pay the £10 monthly premium for it.
I'm like that though. I don't see the point in paying extra when my broadband is pretty fast. When our son is older & playing online games etc then I'll probably get it, but for now I'm happy to wait a couple of minutes extra for stuff to download.I have many examples, but I'll share this one as it's fresh and quite remarkable.
CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
stuckmojo said:
I have many examples, but I'll share this one as it's fresh and quite remarkable.
CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
More amazing he reached that position with that logic.CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
stuckmojo said:
I have many examples, but I'll share this one as it's fresh and quite remarkable.
CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
Desalinated seawater is perfectly drinkable and safe. Where do you think ships get their drinking water?CEO of a 25,000-strong organization, at a conference in an isolated hotel near Dubai, drank tap water all week to avoid paying any charge to the hotel. Needless to say, water in Dubai (that particular one ) is sea water, desalinated. Plus, the bottled water in the hotel was complimentary, but this guy was so tight that in his mind they'll find a way to charge him again.
He also set up the conference at a remote location so that the participants wouldn't be able to go out at night and drink/eat at the company's expenses. Except, the hotel was about 40% more expensive than downtown and the buffet meals there were more expensive than the average meal out. Go figure.
berlintaxi said:
Olivera said:
BorkFactor said:
I don't see an issue with that - I have 2 slices of toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and make a big pot of bolegnese / chilli / etc for dinner and that will last about 5 days.
The same dinner all week!? All food made from scratch so tastes good and is reasonably healthy!
BorkFactor said:
berlintaxi said:
Olivera said:
BorkFactor said:
I don't see an issue with that - I have 2 slices of toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and make a big pot of bolegnese / chilli / etc for dinner and that will last about 5 days.
The same dinner all week!? All food made from scratch so tastes good and is reasonably healthy!
Good luck in your studies.
Somebody I know turns every single plug off at the wall if the relevant appliance isn't being used. Even turns plugs off if there's a charger cable attached, but no phone at the other end, usually when the plug is somewhere awkward such as behind a desk or bookcase. Then at the petrol station, maximum of £10 goes in.
On the other hand, I don't spend a huge amount on stuff. Such as clothes/shoes, I seem spend about 6 days out of 10 in a uniform so the remaining 4 days casual clothes don't get worn out quick. Plus I have no interest in clothes really, which is probably what actually makes the difference.
But when it comes to cars, I always brim the tank unless I'm in a hurry and don't want to spend ages filling. Regularly topping up the fluids, regular washing and if I get back from the supermarket having forgotten something, I'll go back (I enjoy driving more than enjoy saving fuel...). And when I go out with the OH, I don't mind paying the bill.
My philosophy is that money is there for wise spending. Things that bring you enjoyment or fufillment are worth spending on. Things that won't, aren't.
On the other hand, I don't spend a huge amount on stuff. Such as clothes/shoes, I seem spend about 6 days out of 10 in a uniform so the remaining 4 days casual clothes don't get worn out quick. Plus I have no interest in clothes really, which is probably what actually makes the difference.
But when it comes to cars, I always brim the tank unless I'm in a hurry and don't want to spend ages filling. Regularly topping up the fluids, regular washing and if I get back from the supermarket having forgotten something, I'll go back (I enjoy driving more than enjoy saving fuel...). And when I go out with the OH, I don't mind paying the bill.
My philosophy is that money is there for wise spending. Things that bring you enjoyment or fufillment are worth spending on. Things that won't, aren't.
The people who only fill up a tenner's worth - if it's to stop carrying around the weight of the fuel, what about the extra wear and tear driving in and out of the petrol station each time? And the extra fuel used when starting the car again, having been stopped at the pump?
2. The paper bags are provided as they last longer in paper and don't go slimy.
viscountdallara said:
I always snap the stalks off of mushrooms before putting them in the bag for weighing.
I also put them in the thin plastic bags rather than the paper ones as they weigh less too !
I'm not tight, I'm frugal !!
1. The stalks are edible.I also put them in the thin plastic bags rather than the paper ones as they weigh less too !
I'm not tight, I'm frugal !!
2. The paper bags are provided as they last longer in paper and don't go slimy.
CharlieGee said:
J4CKO said:
It is a bit pointless me trying to be frugal given the rest of my family aren't remotely bothered.
Come home every single light on, including the garage, doesnt really matter as they are now mostly LED's but it was the same when it was old school ones, three 100W jobs int he kitchen and nobody ever in there.
The wife went out last night and rather than cook anything, kindly put the oven on, so it was warm ready to heat something from the freezer 45 minutes before I got home.
Found a toothpaste tube the other day when emptying the bathroom bin, squeezed from the top and still, conservatively containing 30 percent of its original contents, it got squeezed properly and put back.
My wife puts the shower on for our youngest when she gets up and starts cajoling him to get moving, can be ten minutes from it going on to him being in it, she gets ratty if I complain, I just say well its up to you if you want to choose running hot water unused down the drain or having the cash in the bank.
Unopened packet of ham, four quids worth flung in the bin as it goes out of date tomorrow, I have to earn about nine quid extra to pay for that once tax, ni and whatever is taken from it, the ham was fine
Any one of these would drive me to distraction. In combination? You're a patient man...Come home every single light on, including the garage, doesnt really matter as they are now mostly LED's but it was the same when it was old school ones, three 100W jobs int he kitchen and nobody ever in there.
The wife went out last night and rather than cook anything, kindly put the oven on, so it was warm ready to heat something from the freezer 45 minutes before I got home.
Found a toothpaste tube the other day when emptying the bathroom bin, squeezed from the top and still, conservatively containing 30 percent of its original contents, it got squeezed properly and put back.
My wife puts the shower on for our youngest when she gets up and starts cajoling him to get moving, can be ten minutes from it going on to him being in it, she gets ratty if I complain, I just say well its up to you if you want to choose running hot water unused down the drain or having the cash in the bank.
Unopened packet of ham, four quids worth flung in the bin as it goes out of date tomorrow, I have to earn about nine quid extra to pay for that once tax, ni and whatever is taken from it, the ham was fine
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