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Original poster

Mu parents have bought 48 tins of tuna

312 replies

CrinklyCraggy · 07/02/2022 19:56

It was on offer at a discount store, worked out about 50p a tin.

These are not poor people. One of their biggest concerns is inheritance tax (I say fgs spend it!)

They don't even like tuna much, but have been back for another 48 tins.

This absolutely will not be wasted. They will plough their way through 96 tins of tuna that they don't enjoy, just to be thrifty, which they don't need to be.

They've always been ones for stocking up when the price is good - in then70s they would buy a whole cow from the butcher for the freezer, but surely this is ridiculous?

What's more, I mentioned that we actually get through quite a bit of tinned tuna because it's about the only thing DS2 likes in a sandwich and they didn't even offer me a pallet Grin

Do you have examples of extreme and unnecessary thrift? I like a bargain, I'd stock up if it was something I enjoyed, but when you don't?

OP posts:
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5
HelloBunny · 08/02/2022 05:59

stairway, my dad once found an umbrella in the bus & was thrilled with himself... It was one of those transparent plastic granny numbers.

UnsuitableHat · 08/02/2022 06:05

Ha, my parents used to be a bit like this, although with sardines rather than tuna so it's a bit different. And definitely remember us parking miles out of town (or so it seemed to a kid) to avoid paying.

Mollymalone123 · 08/02/2022 06:10

@HelloKeith that made me 😂

GnomeDePlume · 08/02/2022 06:11

@SarahAndQuack
I think it's to do with being that middle generation - they inherited ideas about food poverty from parents who lived through WWII, but they had far more disposable income than we do, so they bought loads of stuff but never really felt the need to use it efficiently.

My DM is part of this generation and this resonates. She is a great believer in a false economy. She learned all the techniques of economy from her DM who grew up in the 30s then wartime/post war shortages.

DM would buy things on offer knowing she didnt like them but they were on offer. We cleared her kitchen when we fitted a new one. Her pantry was full of tins of things she didnt really like plus open packs of things like dried soup which she was saving for she knew not what.

purplesequins · 08/02/2022 06:16

sounds like my parents.
including the whole cow. and a ram that was killed by traffic
mine would then look up a gazilion recipes on the internet and then make exactly one.
and then they forget that there are 20 or so cans left and they are pushed to the back of the cupboard together with the tinned chicken that they bought in 1985.

sorry, no advice apart from 'smile and nod'

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 08/02/2022 06:17

Tesco 59p always, no special offer!

Mu parents have bought 48 tins of tuna
Goatinthegarden · 08/02/2022 06:23

I have had three unopened tins of tuna in my pantry for at least 18months.

I like tuna, but if you open a tin around here, the cat launches a relentless campaign to share it with you.

Tuna doesn’t taste as good when you’re being shrieked at.

NotJustACigar · 08/02/2022 06:25

My father is the exact opposite of this. He will only buy Ortiz tuna at £4 a tin. He had a good job but after he retired he kept spending. He had an interest only mortgage on his house which he lost due to overspending. He was very fortunate to have inherited from his mum before being out on the street and is now working his way through that money also. He's like an irresponsible teenager with money and when he runs out I'm not supporting him. Those of you with thrifty parents - I envy you!

stayathomer · 08/02/2022 06:30

why did she mass buy tights? I remember being at M & S and seeing this elderly lady with at least 5 pairs of tights in her hands. There were no multi buy offers and I haven't seen many discounts for tights..they tend to sell at RRP...
Because they sometimes randomly discontinue tights, I used to get a pair of natural toeless tights and then one day I got them and they'd changed the bloody shade!!

FindingMeno · 08/02/2022 06:31

I'm too tight to pay for unnecessary bus fares or to buy drinks out. I'll walk for miles and almost die of dehydration before I'll spend a quid on a bottle of water Blush

FrenchFancie · 08/02/2022 06:38

Wow really wished we had a Lidl handy!
We live in Europe, we regularly pay 5-6 € for four tins of tuna. And when we open it the bloody cats coming running like they have a homing beacon so you have to share, or they keep winding around your legs hoping to trip you up….

Mumdiva99 · 08/02/2022 06:44

@lborgia great recipe....but Tuna pasta is one of my 2 Tuna recipes already. Lol. I need more....although I don't think Tuna soup or Tuna curry would do it for me....

Fedupsotired · 08/02/2022 06:44

I went to lidl to get some but they'd sold out in our local. I thought the offer was only for the weekend so don't think they'd be cheap still today 🤔

Fedupsotired · 08/02/2022 06:46

@stairway

My parents own 3 houses outright…, my dad was absolutely thrilled at finding someone’s hat on a walk and has been using the hat himself everyday since. I said to him why don’t you leave it on a fence for the owner to pickup but nope finders keepers.
@stairway I'd be disgusted with this. Not sure why but this has made me really cross that someone would think this ok 🤷🏼‍♀️
PurBal · 08/02/2022 06:46

We go through 7/8 tins of tuna a week for two of us (DH has it for lunch most days) so intrigued by the deal. But we prefer ours in water not brine. Sad times.

marieantoinehairnet · 08/02/2022 06:49

During thev80s my grandmother had a spare room full of toilet roll, and I keen absolutely full, very very odd

JangolinaPitt · 08/02/2022 06:53

@harriethoyle

Completely missing the point but I'm going to lidl tomorrow to look for this deal!
Same here Grin
Pembertonrd · 08/02/2022 07:01

It's Pears soap with my df.
He stacks them one on top of the other in the coat cupboard.
42 bars when dd counted last!

I too live in Europe and am envious of the tuna deal.

WhenwillIlearntoadult · 08/02/2022 07:03

I saw the tuna deal in Lidl at the weekend and thought, ‘who would buy THAT much tuna?’
Now I know!

Dentistlakes · 08/02/2022 07:24

@stayathomer

1forAll

I love tuna, I have it in sunflower oil. I ran out of cat food last week,i have three cats, so opened a couple of tins of tuna for them, and all three cats sniffed their dishes of tuna,and walked away in disgust ! so I had to make some tuna sandwiches for myself.

They didn't like the tuna?!?! Wow!!! (I adore tuna and the cats go wild for the odd little bit I let drop out!)

We had a very thin and sickly stray cat pass by and I offered it some tuna. I could t believe it when it when it rejected it! It must have been starving! I went out and bought some cat food (the expensive kind in the pouches) but it had disappeared by the time I got back.
itsgettingweird · 08/02/2022 07:34

I need the tuna bargain!

Ds eats 4 tuna rolls a day as he's an athlete. We go through 8 times a week!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/02/2022 07:38

@Pembertonrd

It's Pears soap with my df. He stacks them one on top of the other in the coat cupboard. 42 bars when dd counted last!

I too live in Europe and am envious of the tuna deal.

Grin Now imagining the conversation in your house when a visit to Grandpa's is on the cards.

'Oh good, we can check on the soap stocks! How many was it last time, 37? What do we think it will be this time?'

'Thanks for the tea, Granddad. I'm just ..... I'll be back in a minute.'

'While Grandpa's in the garden - 42! 42! He's going to need another cupboard soon ...'

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 08/02/2022 07:43

NHS advice on how much fish different sexes/age groups can safely eat: www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/fish-and-shellfish-nutrition/

LittleBearPad · 08/02/2022 07:51

I’m bewildered by the pride that one poster has that she’s hasn’t had to buy kitchen roll for 5 years!

AliceAbsolum · 08/02/2022 08:03

Yes my aunties like this. Big house, hundreds of thousands of pounds in savings and they eat the cheapest food everyday. Basic white sliced bread, cheapest margarine, everything is cooked like they're on rations. But they're really quite well off. Madness