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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
Vebrithien · 07/02/2022 21:01

I have a somewhat heartwarming one though. My dear departed grandfather never EVER wanted to wasted anything. Everything that could possibly be saved, was. I lost him in 1996.

At some point in the late '80's, my grandparents got a new, plastic set of Christmas fairy lights. My dear GF carefully unscrewed all of the metal screw bulbs, and kept them. Just in case.

When my beloved GM passed away, she left me all of her Christmas fairy lights. Carefully tucked away in the middle, was a little box I'd given my GF, with all of the spare, old bulbs safely inside. This was in 2014.

Fast forward to this Christmas, just gone. We visited DH's parents. They had their tree, with the original fairy lights that they had got for when DH (in his late 30's) was a baby. They were sadly lamenting that if another, single bulb went, they would have to get rid of the set, as they just couldn't find any replacements.

AND MY GRANDAD'S BULBS FIT!

There are enough to light their tree for many, many years, and I find it so lovely that, although my GF never got to meet DH (they would have got on), something he did , so many years ago, as a frugal instinct, has made my PIL and DH so happy.

Newnormal99 · 07/02/2022 21:02

I'd love to buy cheap tuna but unfortunately I have a complete irrational hatred of draining tuna tins (so much I would rather not eat it) so only buy the pre drained which is always at least about £1.20 a tin.

HelloKeith · 07/02/2022 21:02

This happens to me when I go to Costco. Go for brownie mix and come back with 48 tins of tomatoes amd a corner sofa.

FoamBurst · 07/02/2022 21:03

My friend in LD1 stock piled. And is still continuing to do so. Every kitchen cupboard is full. She's brought 3 extra freezers for the shed. She's filled the ottoman in bedroom and lounge. She's filled the side boards and under the stairs. Filled one of the garden storage boxes of things like floor cleaner.
. Her last count was over 100 bottles bleach. 80 floor cleaner 150 washing up liquid
100 tins beans, spaghetti tin toms.
100 bags pasta.
200 toilet roll in the loft. And still buys 9 a week.
70 tubs of wahsing tablets. 50 dishwasher tablets.
Things like noodles pasta in sauce anything with a long date she buys and buys and buys.
Daily just buys what's on offer.

tintodeverano2 · 07/02/2022 21:03

@Indoorcamping

Missing the point a bit....but what shop was this?

We get through a lot of tuna.

Lidl!
caringcarer · 07/02/2022 21:04

I must pop in and pick some up for my cats. They love Tuna.

TottersBlankly · 07/02/2022 21:06

That’s lovely, Vebrithien.

Smile < Actual smile, not snark.

OhFuckBloodyHell · 07/02/2022 21:06

@Newnormal99 the lidl stuff is drained. You can have my share, I'm allergic to it Wink

Tilltheend99 · 07/02/2022 21:06

My dad obsessively buys toilet rolls on offer so that his stack never goes down. Was doing it way before the pandemic. I used to take the Micky a bit but he always brings me some when he visits so now I’m glad he does really.

CrunchTime22 · 07/02/2022 21:07

We could never go to a restaurant with my late DM unless we had a voucher or there was an offer . Didn't matter that we didn't want to eat at the Toby at 6.30. And if you mentioned a dessert that was not in the offer...

GeneLovesJezebel · 07/02/2022 21:08

My DM stocks up on food. It comes from having very little after WW2.

caringcarer · 07/02/2022 21:08

My parents had an electric knife. They used it for years. One day it broke. My Dad threw away body of knife but kept blades. Years later I got an electric knife and after about 7 years one of the blades broke. My Mum handed me one of the ones my Dad had saved. I know Dad would have been so pleased with himself because we all teased him for keeping the blades at the time, but he said you never know maybe they will come in one day.

MacavityTheDentistsCat · 07/02/2022 21:08

What did you say? 96 tins of tuna? I can help. Just PM me their address.

Mu parents have bought 48 tins of tuna
TibetanTerrah · 07/02/2022 21:08

@Vebrithien I love that Grin

AuntyBumBum · 07/02/2022 21:09

I buy loads of stuff in bulk. This is more to do with laziness. If I have a stockpile of 144 bog rolls I don't have to worry about buying bog rolls for some time! (And also about having storage we have a capacious cellar, ideal for stocking up on cleaning products and tinned toms Grin)

(I was very quiet but smug during the 2020 bog-roll crisis!)

caulkheaded · 07/02/2022 21:09

Remember when there were petrol shortages? Well, I told FIL I had a Costco card and he asked if I could take him somewhen. He had a field day and left with 600 toilet rolls and something like 10,000 dishwasher tablets. We needed two cars to take it all home (both estates). Thankfully they have a large garage and it’s all stored in there but I’ve been banned from taking him again. I think it’s likely the toilet rolls will out live FIL.

Tilltheend99 · 07/02/2022 21:09

@Vebrithien

I have a somewhat heartwarming one though. My dear departed grandfather never EVER wanted to wasted anything. Everything that could possibly be saved, was. I lost him in 1996.

At some point in the late '80's, my grandparents got a new, plastic set of Christmas fairy lights. My dear GF carefully unscrewed all of the metal screw bulbs, and kept them. Just in case.

When my beloved GM passed away, she left me all of her Christmas fairy lights. Carefully tucked away in the middle, was a little box I'd given my GF, with all of the spare, old bulbs safely inside. This was in 2014.

Fast forward to this Christmas, just gone. We visited DH's parents. They had their tree, with the original fairy lights that they had got for when DH (in his late 30's) was a baby. They were sadly lamenting that if another, single bulb went, they would have to get rid of the set, as they just couldn't find any replacements.

AND MY GRANDAD'S BULBS FIT!

There are enough to light their tree for many, many years, and I find it so lovely that, although my GF never got to meet DH (they would have got on), something he did , so many years ago, as a frugal instinct, has made my PIL and DH so happy.

I love it when the universe works out so perfectly ❤️
Luredbyapomegranate · 07/02/2022 21:10

I have a load of cheap tuna on my top shelf

I could drop it round if they like?! Smile

Bought it in lockdown, and discovered I only like tuna in olive oil (Waitrose own, or John West for preference).

Mumdiva99 · 07/02/2022 21:10

I would buy that deal but my Tuna recipes don't extend beyond Tuna and sweetcorn mix (with peppers and olives if being posh) in mayo. Or Tuna with pasta and tomato sauce.

Inspire me Mumsnet....

OhFuckBloodyHell · 07/02/2022 21:11

DM tells of clearing her great aunt's house when she died. She had built a wall of bags of sugar behind the sofa, incase rationing came back. Apparently it must have got damp at some point and was completely solid, a whole wall of sugar, completely unusable.

Ellmau · 07/02/2022 21:12

@MacavityTheDentistsCat

What did you say? 96 tins of tuna? I can help. Just PM me their address.
My DB used to buy bargain tuna instead of cat food for his DCat. DCat was very very happy.
Bubblesandsqueak1 · 07/02/2022 21:14

Haha love it I am like that but only food we like mainly with coffee beans too I can get 3kg for around £4 so I stick pile whenever I find that offer we drink around 3kg a week though haha

StopStartStop · 07/02/2022 21:15

Are you a Cragg elder, @CrinklyCraggy? Lincolnshire or Greater Manchester?

Congratulations on your parents' choice of economy. My dad is in his freezing living room, with his thick dressing gown over his clothes, under a duvet and heated throw, rather than put on the heating or the gas fire.

CaribouCarafe · 07/02/2022 21:16

@Classica

'We've snagged a great deal here, Marjorie' 'We have indeed, Roy. What a bargain' 'How's your tuna sandwich?' 'Revolting' 'Will we have the same again tomorrow and for the next 47 days?' 'Oh yes'
That's assuming they eat a whole tin per sandwich. Could be 96 days of disappointing sandwiches!
Silkierabbit · 07/02/2022 21:16

They need to be careful, they may attract cat burglars with that much tuna around. Wink

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