Things cheap people do
Discussion
JaredVannett said:
emicen said:
I don’t know if it’s still on TLC but there was an American show called Extreme Cheapskates. You would honestly struggle to believe the spendthrift antics of some of these folk!
That show sounds familiar.There is a youtuber who specialises in being a cheapskate, his content is very good:
How to live in London for £1 a day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfTFZQdKmeE
Your man London Hacks has had 4.5 million views in the last 30 days, not a bad return on his £1 a day!
emicen said:
Recently watched an American car youtuber detailing his earnings vs views. It’s crude and it varies, but his real numbers demonstrated they earn ~$7,000 per million views.
Your man London Hacks has had 4.5 million views in the last 30 days, not a bad return on his £1 a day!
The American youtuber you are referring to I think picked his example very carefully - I don't think $7/CPM is a realistic number. More like $3-4/CPM.Your man London Hacks has had 4.5 million views in the last 30 days, not a bad return on his £1 a day!
JaredVannett said:
That show sounds familiar.
There is a youtuber who specialises in being a cheapskate, his content is very good:
How to live in London for £1 a day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfTFZQdKmeE
Interesting - just watched his 7 day series to see how he did it. Have to say though, trying to find food on a very restricted budget seemed more like surviving than living.There is a youtuber who specialises in being a cheapskate, his content is very good:
How to live in London for £1 a day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfTFZQdKmeE
I was brought up in a family with not much money. I learned from a young age to make my £1 go as far as possible
As a result of this I was always on the look out for bargains and found a source of cheap items that enabled me to start a business. This turned into quite a big business and changed my life. I now have a lot more than I ever imagined I would. Unfortunately the business ceased but in the good times I was able to put myself through medical school as a second degree entirely self funded with 9k fees.
Some people are too proud/busy/stupid to save money. Each to their own. It works for me and I'll continue doing my thing.
As a result of this I was always on the look out for bargains and found a source of cheap items that enabled me to start a business. This turned into quite a big business and changed my life. I now have a lot more than I ever imagined I would. Unfortunately the business ceased but in the good times I was able to put myself through medical school as a second degree entirely self funded with 9k fees.
Some people are too proud/busy/stupid to save money. Each to their own. It works for me and I'll continue doing my thing.
227bhp said:
Like others I've also been known to cut the huge stalk from broccoli and leave it behind.
I buy a weekly load of veg for the OH's house rabbits. When buying the likes of cauliflower that come at a fixed price I often throw in a few extra leaves that other people have discarded in the bottom of the tray. Weird when you think about it.227bhp said:
Benbay001 said:
Joey Deacon said:
7)Rarely eat out, if I have no choice it will be Nandos.
Nandos is one of the few places i will not go back to on principle.I went once because my nan made a mess of buying what was meant to be a Tesco shopping voucher.
Looking on their website the only thing id want to order is:
Chicken Butterfly
Two chicken breasts joined by crispy skin.
On its own
£7.95
+2 reg sides
£11.45
Clearly everyone will have the two sides which means its £11.45.. for two chicken breasts, chips and a dollop of coleslaw.
I had a toby carvery Saturday and for just £2 more i had a starter, huge main and a pudding. (and decent service, which i didnt get in nandos)
gazapc said:
227bhp said:
Like others I've also been known to cut the huge stalk from broccoli and leave it behind.
I buy a weekly load of veg for the OH's house rabbits. When buying the likes of cauliflower that come at a fixed price I often throw in a few extra leaves that other people have discarded in the bottom of the tray. Weird when you think about it.You should be eating the rabbits though
Wood pigeon breast here tonight, locally sourced (don't ask) with home made Bramble port as a bed time beverage.
Go to M&S foods about 1hr before closing and you can grab some real bargins as they discount outofdate stock with yellow stickers.
I've done 3 days worth of shopping there for £5 which is even cheaper what you can get at Aldi.
Timing is everything though, go too early and the discounts are poor, too lates and all the other penny pinchers will have beaten you.
I've done 3 days worth of shopping there for £5 which is even cheaper what you can get at Aldi.
Timing is everything though, go too early and the discounts are poor, too lates and all the other penny pinchers will have beaten you.
samsock said:
Lemming Train said:
Tesco water in 2 litre bottles is 17p ! All the water snobs will turn their nose up at it because it doesn't have a Volvic label on it but there is virtually no difference in taste if you drink it chilled from your fridge. Despite living in W Yorks, the tap water where I am is nasty and gives me awful stomach aches so all my drinking water comes from Tesco and it's absolutely fine.
Tap water for most part is cleaner than bottle water, as it's subject to stricter tests.
t. All I know is that it causes nasty stomach aches and I have no such issues at all drinking the basic bottled water found in Tesco and other supermarkets. I am aware of the scare-mongering about the plastic chemicals leaking into the water but given as it tastes absolutely fine to me and doesn't cause me any health issues I'll take my chances thanks.A school friend of mine is tight when not spending money on himself or his family.....
1) He went to a fancy dress party dress as a chef - his job at the time was a chef.
2) Went to a friend's BBQ where you were asked to bring something (food or drink), he brought a box of fish fingers.
3) When inviting friends around for dinner, the main meal would be either with rice or pasta and if it was a Sunday roast it will always be chicken.
4) When going to a friend's house for dinner, he will bring the bottle of wine that you get with the M&S £10 meal deal.
1) He went to a fancy dress party dress as a chef - his job at the time was a chef.
2) Went to a friend's BBQ where you were asked to bring something (food or drink), he brought a box of fish fingers.
3) When inviting friends around for dinner, the main meal would be either with rice or pasta and if it was a Sunday roast it will always be chicken.
4) When going to a friend's house for dinner, he will bring the bottle of wine that you get with the M&S £10 meal deal.
Edited by Ridealong on Saturday 15th December 02:54
Most of the material stuff I have is only bought if I can sell it on again for a profit. I find the process of tracking stuff like that down very satisfying.
As for food I'm not going to scrimp. It's one of life's primary pleasures and varieties. I've lunched out every day this week for the pure hell of it and enjoyed it vastly more than chewing ramen in tears.
The older I get the more in the now I become. It doesn't take much to please me and I'm not going to put it off for the sake of a few quid.
As for food I'm not going to scrimp. It's one of life's primary pleasures and varieties. I've lunched out every day this week for the pure hell of it and enjoyed it vastly more than chewing ramen in tears.
The older I get the more in the now I become. It doesn't take much to please me and I'm not going to put it off for the sake of a few quid.
I like that “cheap v frugal” pic: very true!
I do think that life is for living, first & foremost....after 12months where I’ve been to 4 funerals, that brings things into focus...work hard & play harder....
.... but also that we waste a lot on things we don’t need (I’m as guilty as anyone on that).
I try to keep the monthly bills as cheap as possible: I pay for 4 family mobiles, all on £8-10 PAYG sims with 4-6gb data). Trying to wean the family off iPhones.....they are stupidly expensive and really no better than a £200 moto G6, it’s all in the app now!
We are an Apple computer house....but mine is now 4.5years old and still working just fine, the time spent NOT faffing with windoze was worth the extra. Not sure about any future replace,ents, I feel Apple have lost the plot a lot in recent years.
Each year spend an hour or three doing the shopping dance for car&house insurance, utility bills etc...kinda hate the faff, but enjoy the savings...
Not overly fussed about clothes, so tend to save money there.
Best thing you can do long term (imho) is shift spare cash direct (‘salary sacrifice’) to pension fund....free government money, just remember to live a bit first, before you get to draw on it!
Hate people who endlessly are last to the bar etc.
Be frugal, but have fun!!
I do think that life is for living, first & foremost....after 12months where I’ve been to 4 funerals, that brings things into focus...work hard & play harder....
.... but also that we waste a lot on things we don’t need (I’m as guilty as anyone on that).
I try to keep the monthly bills as cheap as possible: I pay for 4 family mobiles, all on £8-10 PAYG sims with 4-6gb data). Trying to wean the family off iPhones.....they are stupidly expensive and really no better than a £200 moto G6, it’s all in the app now!
We are an Apple computer house....but mine is now 4.5years old and still working just fine, the time spent NOT faffing with windoze was worth the extra. Not sure about any future replace,ents, I feel Apple have lost the plot a lot in recent years.
Each year spend an hour or three doing the shopping dance for car&house insurance, utility bills etc...kinda hate the faff, but enjoy the savings...
Not overly fussed about clothes, so tend to save money there.
Best thing you can do long term (imho) is shift spare cash direct (‘salary sacrifice’) to pension fund....free government money, just remember to live a bit first, before you get to draw on it!
Hate people who endlessly are last to the bar etc.
Be frugal, but have fun!!
Muzzer79 said:
Life sounds like a 24hr party in your house....
What i earn is relatively fixed.What i spend it on is entirely up to me.
If i spent more on the things ive mentioned i would have to find that money from somewhere else. Somewhere else being things i enjoy much more than a cup of starbucks.
mackay45 said:
samsock said:
I'm doing this, and on track to retire at 40 in a couple of years.
It's not so much about living a life of poverty, rather, it's more about maintaining a high savings rate, relative to your income.
For instance, 33% saving rate arguably won't change your lifestyle in a hugely meaningful way. Above a certain level of higher income there are diminishing returns.
For example if I earn 90k, but only spend 60k a year, after 15 years of 5% returns, you would have 750k saved up. If you were then to retire maintain the same spend, the balance would last you a further 17 years.
So for the sake of spending 2/3 of your income, you have basically bought yourself 17 years of financial freedom.
Assuming 5% + inflation returns, which is a big if.
Is that extra 33% really worth 17 years of work? For some people sure, for others maybe not.
If you earn 90k a year, you're only left with 60k of it anyway after the tax man has taken his chunk...It's not so much about living a life of poverty, rather, it's more about maintaining a high savings rate, relative to your income.
For instance, 33% saving rate arguably won't change your lifestyle in a hugely meaningful way. Above a certain level of higher income there are diminishing returns.
For example if I earn 90k, but only spend 60k a year, after 15 years of 5% returns, you would have 750k saved up. If you were then to retire maintain the same spend, the balance would last you a further 17 years.
So for the sake of spending 2/3 of your income, you have basically bought yourself 17 years of financial freedom.
Assuming 5% + inflation returns, which is a big if.
Is that extra 33% really worth 17 years of work? For some people sure, for others maybe not.
A £30,000 gross pension investment each year only costs you £18,000 and saves you £12,000 in tax.
Over 20 years this saves you £240,000 in tax and your pension would be worth £1m with a 5% average return.
Grahamdub said:
I have a company mobile that allows free personal calls, use the company laptop but have a 10 year old Mac I got given too, utilities are the cheapest I can find, car is 5 years old but paid for and £30 tax, don't really drink now but partly for health reasons.
Completely agree about packed lunches too. People in my office spend £10-20 a day and then complain that their house is too small or rented.
That’s crazy £10-20 a day on lunch plus breakfast and dinner maybe a coffee or two what are they earning per day? A lot less after all that gets taken out. Completely agree about packed lunches too. People in my office spend £10-20 a day and then complain that their house is too small or rented.
I’m so lucky I can work from home no fuel no sandwiches at crazy prices lots of money saved.
Yeah I'm definitely frugal, hopefully not cheap.
I spend on the things that matter to me most, but see no reason to waste money if I can avoid it.
We were fairly hard up when I was growing up and that has obviously rubbed off, a good life lesson I think and wouldn't change anything at all.
I spend on the things that matter to me most, but see no reason to waste money if I can avoid it.
We were fairly hard up when I was growing up and that has obviously rubbed off, a good life lesson I think and wouldn't change anything at all.
A colleague of mine regularly gets the National Express coaches to ANYWHERE he has to go. For example, his regular journey each weekend costs £8 on the coach and takes 2 hours, the alternative train takes 45 minutes and costs £12...
When going abroad, he chooses the destination based on price, not location. He goes further by flying from the airport which is offering the cheapest flights despite vast amounts of hours/stress added to the travel. Today he's set off on a 4 hour train journey to Scotland to stay overnight and then fly the next day, and the same on the return leg for a saving of £50 - He's also refused to pay for luggage costs on the budget airline he's flying with so he and his wife are going to wear extra layers and buy clothes from a local market to save the £20 fee for 20kg luggage allowance... The mind boggles
When going abroad, he chooses the destination based on price, not location. He goes further by flying from the airport which is offering the cheapest flights despite vast amounts of hours/stress added to the travel. Today he's set off on a 4 hour train journey to Scotland to stay overnight and then fly the next day, and the same on the return leg for a saving of £50 - He's also refused to pay for luggage costs on the budget airline he's flying with so he and his wife are going to wear extra layers and buy clothes from a local market to save the £20 fee for 20kg luggage allowance... The mind boggles
BoRED S2upid said:
That’s crazy £10-20 a day on lunch plus breakfast and dinner maybe a coffee or two what are they earning per day? A lot less after all that gets taken out.
I’m so lucky I can work from home no fuel no sandwiches at crazy prices lots of money saved.
I'm currently working on a team full of contractors earning pretty large day rates (£400-£750 depending on seniority) and I'm constantly amazed by how much they spend on eating out every day, they often have the cheek of calling me stingy because I refuse to do the same!I’m so lucky I can work from home no fuel no sandwiches at crazy prices lots of money saved.
An average day for one of the serial offenders is: Breakfast on the way in to work from Pret-A-Manger ~£12, lunch at Five Guys/Wagamama or similar with drinks etc ~£15-£30, 2-3 large coffees at the local branded coffee shop at ~£5 a pop, on a particularly excessive day that's £58pd, appreciate it's probably not even 10% of his pay and a certain amount is wrote off against his company, but I couldn't stomach spending 10% of my meagre in comparison day rate on food whilst in work...
Edited by 95JO on Friday 14th December 09:41
Lemming Train said:
In theory, yes. However the reality is somewhat different. I'm not the only one in this neighbourhood to complain about the tap water quality here and Yorkshire Water have been out and run tests. It has a higher than average chemical content but they said that it's within government tolerances so tough st. All I know is that it causes nasty stomach aches and I have no such issues at all drinking the basic bottled water found in Tesco and other supermarkets. I am aware of the scare-mongering about the plastic chemicals leaking into the water but given as it tastes absolutely fine to me and doesn't cause me any health issues I'll take my chances thanks.
it's not so much about the plastic ... Bottled water is much more likely to become contaminated over time. Also there are no requirements for bottled water producers to do tests for things like e-coli. And 'mineral water' is likely to have higher chemical content than 'higher than average' tap water.t. All I know is that it causes nasty stomach aches and I have no such issues at all drinking the basic bottled water found in Tesco and other supermarkets. I am aware of the scare-mongering about the plastic chemicals leaking into the water but given as it tastes absolutely fine to me and doesn't cause me any health issues I'll take my chances thanks.Government tolerances are quite strict for tap water in the UK, so even higher than average is likely to be much safer than bottled. If Yorkshire did the same tests on bottled water I think you would be shocked at just how much stuff (including 'minerals') is left in. I try to avoid the stuff whenever possible.
Edited by samsock on Friday 14th December 09:45
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