Things cheap people do

[Lemming Train]

Umm.. ? So what are you washing your hair with if not a hair shampoo?

Also I have to disagree with you about own brand WUL being as good as branded. It really isn't and I know this because I've tested it myself. The own brand WUL is really weak and so probably watered down as it just doesn't cut through the grease on plates and pans like eg. Fairy does. You have to use a lot more of it to get the stuff clean so it's a false economy. In contrast you only need a small blob of Fairy on your dishcloth to do several plates.

[aka_kerrly]

Lemming Train said:

Sales & Marketing at P&G

When it comes to mundane purchases like household cleaning guff I spend as little as possible but will concede that I don't buy the absolute cheapest washing up liquid.

I spend far more on car cleaning products than bog roll, washing up liquid, washing powder & toiletries for myself

[Lemming Train]

aka_kerrly said:

Lemming Train said:

Sales & Marketing at P&G

When it comes to mundane purchases like household cleaning guff I spend as little as possible but will concede that I don't buy the absolute cheapest washing up liquid.

I spend far more on car cleaning products than bog roll, washing up liquid, washing powder & toiletries for myself

Same here, but I also have very low patience and tolerance levels for things that are just st and don't work! Own brand WUL falls squarely into that category. We only buy Fairy because it seems to be the only decent one to be found in supermarkets now. Years ago there was a cheap brand called Morning Fresh iirc and that good value and actually worked as well but I haven't seen it for years.

[markcoznottz]

Lemming Train said:

aka_kerrly said:

Lemming Train said:

Sales & Marketing at P&G

When it comes to mundane purchases like household cleaning guff I spend as little as possible but will concede that I don't buy the absolute cheapest washing up liquid.

I spend far more on car cleaning products than bog roll, washing up liquid, washing powder & toiletries for myself

Same here, but I also have very low patience and tolerance levels for things that are just st and don't work! Own brand WUL falls squarely into that category. We only buy Fairy because it seems to be the only decent one to be found in supermarkets now. Years ago there was a cheap brand called Morning Fresh iirc and that good value and actually worked as well but I haven't seen it for years.

Funny you should bring that up, morning fresh available in Poundland. 2 big bottles for a quid. My mate runs a cafe, told me about it. Knowing them it will soon dissapear, to be replaced by something slightly smaller and inferior.

[anonymous-user]

I'd consider myself frugal, generally and I will always shop for a bargain but I am also happy to spend a little more in local shops to ensure they stay there for the future.

Non-frugality;
Driving a depreciating, petrol V8 that costs a fortune to run but puts a smile on my face every time I open the garage which also means I run two other cars.
Going out for lunch / dinner with my partner 2-3 times per week.
Shooting / Golf

Being frugal;
Going to the cinema only on a Tues / Weds means it costs £5 instead of £15 odd.
Shopping only (generally) in Lidl / Aldi, granted we lived in Germany for years and always shopped there.
Putting in one of those Hive Smart heating things in so I can control the heating from my phone as I know it would just be on all day otherwise.
Putting as much into my pension as possible to minimise tax, maximise employer contribution and ensure I can leave at 58 (28 years to go!).

Ultimately though, I am always doing something and happier for it, I had a ridiculous wage when I lived in Germany and I can tell you I am much happier at home earning probably around half of what I did rather than sat in Germany with a load in the bank yet only a limited environment to enjoy it.

No point being the richest man in the graveyard nor scrimping nor so you can have a luxury retirement when the majority of your life has passed you by.

[So]

Lord.Vader said:

Shooting / Golf

You combine shooting and golf? That sounds pretty frugal to me. Do you down pheasants with a nine iron?

[HTP99]

BiL and SiL, (wife's brother) both tight as aholes.

I don't think they have paid for any of their kids clothes, they will trawl various freecycle sites and get clothes from there; their kids are awfully dressed look a complete mess and many of the clothes are either too big or too small, they even put on FB, requests for free shoes! Other member of the family have a strict policy of not handing down any clothes to them as a) they don't appreciate it b) the clothes aren't looked after and c) they sold some on once.

They scour the reduced aisles in supermarkets; bulk buy and freeze.

Invited the MiL to go out for dinner once, upon paying, she had to pay for herself!

Invited the MiL to go on holiday, they didn't book any hold luggage for themselves and took only hand luggage, leaned on MiL to book hold luggage (at her cost) and then dumped a load of their clothes on her for her to take for them.

They scour free cycle sites for their kids Christmas and birthday presents.

They went through a phase of getting free cycle items for free and then selling them on, on ebay, this has stopped now as I don't think it was worth the hassle, however one year the BiL picked up a rigid paddling pool/sand pit, asked if he could drop it at my house in the work van and pick it up a few days later. I agreed, time went on and then he changed jobs, the new job had no van, he was round once and noticed the paddling pool which he'd forgotten about, as it wouldn't fit in his car he very kindly offered it to us for £5, I declined and told him to collect it; we've had it about 3 years now; the dog loves it in the summer!

The thing is it's not as if they don't earn OK; not 6 figures but we'll enough, and he refuses to get rid of his Elise that he's had 10 years; he spent £800 a couple of years ago refurbing the suspension and there have been other recent costs, mainly its not used as he has another car now but the Elise is fully insured and taxed so keeping 3 cars insured and taxed isn't cheap.

When we did see them more often, if invited round for dinner they would always bring that awful flavoured "wine" which is about 2.5% and costs about £2.50. We used to have a family BBQ for MiL's August birthday (stopped now as he always caused grief) 1 year we asked BiL to bring the booze, he bought 1 bottle of that 2.5% wine, he then moaned the whole way through that there was nothing for him to drink (I like cider so had plenty, he doesn't like cider), our local shop is a 4 minute walk away but he refused to go and get himself some beer.

We see them as little as possible now as they wind us up!

Edited by HTP99 on Tuesday 18th December 08:29

[urquattroGus]

Another one:

My other half went around to our friends to eat and noticed that he had portioned things down to counting the number of carrots and 2-3 potatoes per person, mean small portions etc Everyone in our group of friends always seems to end up a bit hungry after visiting.

Others that host always make sure there is loads of food to spare and no one goes hungry.

[Labradorofperception]

Rather than put the big light on, my dad used to make us sit in the bay window and use the street lamp outside if we wanted to read.

Even now I follow my girlfriend around the house, turning the lights off.

Getting a Nest system was great - I can sit at work and turn the heating off, knowing it would be like Kew Gardens if I left her in charge of the boiler.

[227bhp]

Pro Bono said:

But one tip I can give, though it'll no doubt be met with much scepticism, is not to be conned by chemical manufacturers into buying things you really don't need. The main culprit here is shampoo. For nearly all people this is completely unnecessary, and we've just been persuaded through intensive advertising that we must use it, otherwise our hair will become disgustingly greasy / lank / matted / smelly etc, etc.

It won't. I was told this by a doctor friend about 4 years ago, and I've never used shampoo since then. At first I was very sceptical, and it felt all wrong to step out of the shower without the reassuring scent of shampoo. But it's been absolutely fine - my hair is healthy and clean, and is in at least as good condition as it was before I stopped using shampoo.

I've managed to convert several friends now, and the bonus is that as well as saving money it's good for the environment, not just because pouring chemicals down the drain is bad practice but because the packaging is nearly always non-recyclable plastic. Walk along any beach in the world and one of the most common bits of plastic you'll see is a shampoo / conditioner container.

To some extent the same principle applies to washing up liquid. For most washing up you really don't need it at all - hot water will clean the plates just as efficiently. However, if you eat food that generates a lot of grease or need to clean very greasy surfaces it does definitely come into its own, so I do still have a bottle of washing up liquid (always own brand - another excellent saving tip, the majority of own brand goods are just as good as the branded ones). The difference is that a bottle now lasts a couple of years.

You know it makes sense!

I don't think i'm going to be going down the no shampoo or washing up liquid route, no doubt you're right, but I have a dishwasher so a bottle of wash up liquid lasts me probably a year or so and I use own-brand shampoo at 50p per 750ml, I dunno, maybe 2 bottles a year? Not worth it IMO. Also, I don't go to the coast to throw the bottles in the sea, they're recyclable so go in the appropriate bin.

To whoever thought dishwasher tabs were expensive, they're 10 - 12p each.

You've missed the biggie on cleaning products however and it's liquid soap/shower gel etc, I can't see any advantage to using that at all. A bar of soap is quicker to use, comes with less packaging and lasts longer.

[Drew106]

My Dad was quite cheap growing up, especially with the heating. Probably a standard Dad thing. But he would always complain that the house was cold! He would expect to put the heating on at it be instantly warm, so it only ever went on briefly and the house was always cold. Not like we were short of a few quid either.

I'm now the complete opposite. The heating is always on and always up high in my house, 20c minimum. I would rather be comfortable than save £20 a year.

[theplayingmantis]

Benbay001 said:

Me? Really?...

I dont think you get the point i was making.
Over the last year ive earnt somewhere around £24k due to payrises.

Yet ive been on 7 flights, ive bought a car and ive bought a flat.
The bit you seem to be missing is that by cutting the st out of my life which really adds no value, im able to spend that same money on other, much larger things that i gain much more benefit from.

And just so you know, your bit about returning the shopping for the sake of £3.50 i wouldnt even dream of it. I think thats cheap, not frugal.

call me cheap, i call it basic common sense, 5 mins of inconvenience to save tree fiddy.

I'm pleased for you as long as your happy! But your only young once being boring in your 20's (which i assume you're in) will only lead to regrets later in life. batch cooking meals, seeing misses once a month, having a tiny leisure budget all seems somewhat monastic to me.

i should point out out im only saying as such if you have a choice about this, as it seems you do, apologies if im wrong. I fully appreciate many people have to live like this simply to get by.

Anyway unless i think of any more cheap things i do i bow out as im distracting from the point of the thread.

[theplayingmantis]

urquattroGus said:

Another one:

My other half went around to our friends to eat and noticed that he had portioned things down to counting the number of carrots and 2-3 potatoes per person, mean small portions etc Everyone in our group of friends always seems to end up a bit hungry after visiting.

Others that host always make sure there is loads of food to spare and no one goes hungry.

breaking my promise of keeping out, but why (if assuming its the same tight arses as before) do you keep them in your circle? or alternatively can you not lightheartedly joke/p take about it with them, assuming you have that sort of relationship with them, which may change there ways?

[nealeh1875]

Labradorofperception said:

Rather than put the big light on, my dad used to make us sit in the bay window and use the street lamp outside if we wanted to read.

[budgie smuggler]

Labradorofperception said:

Rather than put the big light on, my dad used to make us sit in the bay window and use the street lamp outside if we wanted to read.

that's amazing, top dadding

HTP99 said:

BiL and SiL, (wife's brother) both tight as aholes.

They scour free cycle sites for their kids Christmas and birthday presents.

I don't see too much wrong with getting second hand kids clothes or toys TBH. We buy a lot of playmobil and stuff like that for my little girl. 9/10 it's in box fresh condition, sometimes even including the original box and instructions.

Edited by budgie smuggler on Tuesday 18th December 11:01

[untakenname]

theplayingmantis said:

call me cheap, i call it basic common sense, 5 mins of inconvenience to save tree fiddy.

I wouldn't dream of doing something like that either, maybe just five minutes inconvenience for you but about an hours worth to the staff that need to go around and restock all the items (and bin any that may potentially spoil).

The only time I've threatened the cashier with leaving my stuff at the counter was when they ID'd me for alcohol and refused to sell it to me even though I was in my thirties and the bill came to over £100, manager came saw sense and apologised.


Yesterday I went to an all you can eat Indian buffet in London that cost under £9! Needless to say one guy on the table next to us was taking the piss surreptitiously shovelling food into a tupperware container whilst some of the people on my table ate far too much simply because it was an all you can eat then complained about being bloated for the rest of the afternoon.

Not sure how the place could make any profit being in central London and having proper ingredients?
https://www.imperialhotels.co.uk/en/restaurants-an...

[theplayingmantis]

untakenname said:

I wouldn't dream of doing something like that either, maybe just five minutes inconvenience for you but about an hours worth to the staff that need to go around and restock all the items (and bin any that may potentially spoil).

The only time I've threatened the cashier with leaving my stuff at the counter was when they ID'd me for alcohol and refused to sell it to me even though I was in my thirties and the bill came to over £100, manager came saw sense and apologised.


Yesterday I went to an all you can eat Indian buffet in London that cost under £9! Needless to say one guy on the table next to us was taking the piss surreptitiously shovelling food into a tupperware container whilst some of the people on my table ate far too much simply because it was an all you can eat then complained about being bloated for the rest of the afternoon.

Not sure how the place could make any profit being in central London and having proper ingredients?
https://www.imperialhotels.co.uk/en/restaurants-an...

yeah so inconvenient, in that 5 mins of time between return and the till receipt time of purchase, the 3 packs of smoked salmon would have gone off and then taken them an age to put back on the shelves...

the inconvenience to the M&S workers is not my problem. no one forcing them to accept the return.
returns are part and parcel of a retail environment, hardly inconveniencing them by them having to do the job they are paid to do...

£9 all you can eat Indian in London. i imagine the local cat and dog population is down a bit.

[DickyC]

One evening early on in a charity car rally, several 'teams' tottered into the hotel bar at the same time. The owner of the car I was co-driving was one of the the organisers and was away organising so I was on my own with other pairs of drivers. "Who'd like a drink?" I asked. I bought a round of maybe a dozen drinks and we sat and drank. And sat. And sat. In an effort to break the deadlock I said, "Who'd like a drink?"

"Oh, no thanks, we don't get involved in buying rounds."

Ah. So that's how it's done. I'll know in future.

[chow pan toon]

theplayingmantis said:

yeah so inconvenient, in that 5 mins of time between return and the till receipt time of purchase, the 3 packs of smoked salmon would have gone off and then taken them an age to put back on the shelves....

If it is anything like the place I used to manage (and I can't imagine that is unusual) then any chilled or frozen stuff would have to be binned straight away (how are they to know how long you had it in your basket before buying for example).

[carreauchompeur]

DickyC said:

One evening early on in a charity car rally, several 'teams' tottered into the hotel bar at the same time. The owner of the car I was co-driving was one of the the organisers and was away organising so I was on my own with other pairs of drivers. "Who'd like a drink?" I asked. I bought a round of maybe a dozen drinks and we sat and drank. And sat. And sat. In an effort to break the deadlock I said, "Who'd like a drink?"

"Oh, no thanks, we don't get involved in buying rounds."

Ah. So that's how it's done. I'll know in future.

Not keeping up with your rounds is a deadly sin and one I desperately try to avoid!