Page 21 | Cheapest thing a person has ever done

Unorganisedchaos2 · 2025-11-17T13:38:44+00:00

Inspired by the children's birthday party thread, Im sure this has been done so many times but humor me as Im stuck at home with a poorly DD... Our family once knew a couple who were convinced that the baby they were due to have shouldn't cost them any more than the family allowance and a grant I believe you used to get in the early 2000's. Some of the things they did: - Commented that it had worked out well that the baby was born 2 months prem as they had been able to claim family allowance but he hadn't cost them anything yet as the hospital were providing nappies, milk etc. - Refused to visit the baby until the hospital had issued a free parking pass then only visited 3 times a week because they were tired and as it was a 30 minute it was already costing a lot in petrol. - Did a separate food shop for him of all supermarket own brand food and £1 meals, she actually had "his money" in one of those money bags the bank used and made the checkout person run it through as two separate shops. - Spent hours in charity shops buying up the next few years with of clothes for him, at his second birthday they were asking us to buy clothes for 7-8 year old. - Asked my mum to register as a childminder so they could claim childcare but expected my mum to do it for free (not honestly sure how that was ever going to work out) - Not child related but he refused to drive above 50 MPH because he believed it was uneconomical, even if he was late for work or holding up a queue of traffic.

GrandTheftWalrus · 20/11/2025 02:20

I can sympathise with the OP who was left sitting waiting on the family eating while she had nothing.

When I was young stupid with my 1st serious boyfriend his family would invite me to stay at weekends and not even offer a glass of water to the point I started buying my own food and keeping it labelled in their freezer.

This was the the same woman who told her kids they didn't get any money left from grandparents and she kept it all.

Unfortunately I was stupid enough to marry him and the night before my wedding my ex phoned me to tell me that his mum hadn't paid for the cars like she said and I had to fork out 1500 from my grans inheritance for them this was after my ex bil also paid 500 on his credit card to help.

When I did get my grans inheritance my ex didn't put his hand in his pocket once because I had money.

Obviously note he is now an ex and my current dh is generous to a fault even if he has nothing.

krustykittens · 20/11/2025 02:26

NoodleHorses · 19/11/2025 11:41

My parents were exceedingly tight - or frugal as they called it. Family allowance was 8 shillings a week back then. My parents made sure that not one penny more was spent on me. I never had meat or fish until I went to school as it was ‘too expensive for ugly children’. I thought that I was a leapling (29th Feb) and I got a present when I was 4, 8, 12 & 16. After I left home at 16 and 4 and a bit months, I discovered that I was not born in February at all. I also discovered that I was adopted.
Looking at pictures, from my childhood, I was way too skinny.

Their other daughter, my younger sister, not adopted, was not treated the same. she was the golden child and had whatever she wanted.
When I left home, at 16 years and 4 and a bit months, I went NC and never looked back.
I ignored the letter, that my parents sent me, requesting that I set up a standing order to send them £120 a month To repay them for my upbringing. I ignored the subsequent letters too.

Bloody hell. That is AWFUL!

sashh · 20/11/2025 04:07

One I heard of was Princess Margret.

She had a home on Mustique and would always fly BA. When whoever was booking the tickets (she wouldn't have done this herself) would book her in to economy, and every time she would be upgraded to first class.

Bojosgirl · 20/11/2025 05:22

I initially bought it from QVC during the first lockdown but they don't seem sell it anymore. My second lot I bought earlier this year from good old Amazon.

Mothership4two · 20/11/2025 07:21

We were based at a military base in the 90s and PM was causing a lot of consternation @sashh . On base there was a bungalow for Royal accommodation - meant as stop gap accommodation not a holiday home. PM kept regularly turning up at weekends to use it, which meant the base had to provide all the services she needed and fund staff and extra security (usually bringing them in from their weekend off). They were mightily p*ed off and apparently continually complained to the RF but, by the time we moved on, nothing was being done about it. I think she was a force to herself and the ultimate CF.

Mind you I remember watching a documentary about Mustique where it was reported that PM would just turn up and invite herself to friends houses to stay. One couple recounted how she turned around to them and announced "I'm going to sleep with your husband tonight" and she did. It was ages ago (so I might not remember 100% accurately) but she was still alive at the time. So free accommodation and cheaper flights are pretty small fry compared to that!

IsntItDarkOut · 20/11/2025 07:30

SeraphinaGia · 19/11/2025 22:40

I used to work in a large office when I was younger, and we always did collections for special birthdays. There was one guy who was really well-liked, a trainer who worked with pretty much everyone on the floor, when he turned 50 the collection for him was huge.

During all the excitement, another colleague piped up with, “Oh, it’s my 30th next year, I wonder what I’ll get!” The thing is… this was the same colleague who never put his hand in his pocket for anyone else’s birthday, leaving dos, collections absolutely nothing. Ever. And his reasoning was always that his faith didn’t celebrate birthdays - no problem with that.

So I was left thinking… if you don’t contribute to anyone else’s birthdays because your religion doesn’t celebrate them, why would you expect a big collection for yours?!

this reminds me of my old twat of a boss. Admin started counting collections before and after he ‘contributed’ he once put in 3p when a member of his staff was leaving.
He then used to put his birthday in the joint calendar expecting something.
We had to start hiding food as we would often share treats but he would just take them home at the end of the day (never contributed) he then said he was going to HR as there was no treats anymore (wish he had).

IsntItDarkOut · 20/11/2025 07:30

SeraphinaGia · 19/11/2025 22:40

I used to work in a large office when I was younger, and we always did collections for special birthdays. There was one guy who was really well-liked, a trainer who worked with pretty much everyone on the floor, when he turned 50 the collection for him was huge.

During all the excitement, another colleague piped up with, “Oh, it’s my 30th next year, I wonder what I’ll get!” The thing is… this was the same colleague who never put his hand in his pocket for anyone else’s birthday, leaving dos, collections absolutely nothing. Ever. And his reasoning was always that his faith didn’t celebrate birthdays - no problem with that.

So I was left thinking… if you don’t contribute to anyone else’s birthdays because your religion doesn’t celebrate them, why would you expect a big collection for yours?!

this reminds me of my old twat of a boss. Admin started counting collections before and after he ‘contributed’ he once put in 3p when a member of his staff was leaving.
He then used to put his birthday in the joint calendar expecting something.
We had to start hiding food as we would often share treats but he would just take them home at the end of the day (never contributed) he then said he was going to HR as there was no treats anymore (wish he had).

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 20/11/2025 07:52

Mothership4two · 20/11/2025 07:21

We were based at a military base in the 90s and PM was causing a lot of consternation @sashh . On base there was a bungalow for Royal accommodation - meant as stop gap accommodation not a holiday home. PM kept regularly turning up at weekends to use it, which meant the base had to provide all the services she needed and fund staff and extra security (usually bringing them in from their weekend off). They were mightily p*ed off and apparently continually complained to the RF but, by the time we moved on, nothing was being done about it. I think she was a force to herself and the ultimate CF.

Mind you I remember watching a documentary about Mustique where it was reported that PM would just turn up and invite herself to friends houses to stay. One couple recounted how she turned around to them and announced "I'm going to sleep with your husband tonight" and she did. It was ages ago (so I might not remember 100% accurately) but she was still alive at the time. So free accommodation and cheaper flights are pretty small fry compared to that!

I remember a very old HIGNFY (when Angus Deayton was still presenting it), where they were talking about an expensive luxury car owned by the royal family that had very poor economy.

The comment/joke was something like "It does X miles to the gallon... wow, that's almost as many as PM!"

I assumed it was just a disrespectful joke, but maybe there was indeed some truth to the rumours...

Mothership4two · 20/11/2025 08:17

FIL was also in the Forces @Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService and told us about that time when a group of officers were invited to PM's party. Used to having to entertain dignitaries and occasionally the RF, they went off assuming a polite cocktail party. He was on duty when these 'worldly' men returned looking ashen and shell-shocked. Apparently it was positively debauched and everything and anything was available (don't want to think too hard about what exactly).

To put it politely PM was a bit of a character!

AlexisP90 · 20/11/2025 08:28

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/11/2025 22:28

Bet she was generous Granny for giving your son a whole pound, and that will be how she told the story to her friends "Oh well we know those things are a rip off but when its the grandchildren, you just cant say no can you?!"

Never adding "But I made sure that DIL paid me back!"

Show quote history

For SURE thats EXACTLY how she told it to her friends...!

DowagerDuchessLadyAirCommodoreCrocsNotDocsVC · 20/11/2025 08:32

My mum.

She visited Hong Kong as a teenager in the 1960s. Had a few coins left over and kept them for 40 years until she went back, then used them in tip jars even though they were no longer legal tender.

I have seen her on her knees in full business attire trying to flick a 20 c piece out from a grate with a stick.

When Australia got rid of 1 and 2 c coins, our milk delivery would round up to the nearest 5 cents. She cancelled the milk delivery.

As above, shops would round down in the customer’s favour if the total fell on a 1 or 2 cent and round up in the shop’s favour if the total fell on a 3 or 4 cent. She would carry a calculator around shops to ensure she always got the round down on the final total.

Achewyhamster · 20/11/2025 08:41

PyongyangKipperbang · 19/11/2025 22:49

As others have said, its not about the chocolate, its about the "win" to him. The fact that the stamp would cost more than the potential 15p he got back is not the point, he "won".

Although......lets hope he couldnt bear to throw them away, and had unpleasant (but not life threatening) consequences!

Show quote history

He wouldn't have PAID for a stamp!

Trust me,he would have blagged one off someone

Not my mother but someone more gullible

He wouldn't have eaten it himself (he would have been very ill indeed,but my mother is a greedy pig around food and would have eaten one while unwrapping the next until the box had gone-saving any for her grandchildren wouldnt enter her head)

Katiesaidthat · 20/11/2025 09:34

NoodleHorses · 19/11/2025 11:41

My parents were exceedingly tight - or frugal as they called it. Family allowance was 8 shillings a week back then. My parents made sure that not one penny more was spent on me. I never had meat or fish until I went to school as it was ‘too expensive for ugly children’. I thought that I was a leapling (29th Feb) and I got a present when I was 4, 8, 12 & 16. After I left home at 16 and 4 and a bit months, I discovered that I was not born in February at all. I also discovered that I was adopted.
Looking at pictures, from my childhood, I was way too skinny.

Their other daughter, my younger sister, not adopted, was not treated the same. she was the golden child and had whatever she wanted.
When I left home, at 16 years and 4 and a bit months, I went NC and never looked back.
I ignored the letter, that my parents sent me, requesting that I set up a standing order to send them £120 a month To repay them for my upbringing. I ignored the subsequent letters too.

You know? I just can´t get my head round why someone would put themselves through the torture that is the adoption system to then treat that child in the crassest cruellest way they can. But there are obviously people wired that way. My mum´s first serious boyfriend was adopted by a couple who couldn´t have kids and all went well until the mom suddenly and completely unexpectedly fell pregnant. The new kid was the golden child and the adopted kid had it made clear to him that he was now surplus to requirements and ignored. He was very damaged by this and had many attachment problems that affected his adult relationships. I hope you made a great life for yourself away from these btards.

Pedallleur · 20/11/2025 09:43

sashh · 20/11/2025 04:07

One I heard of was Princess Margret.

She had a home on Mustique and would always fly BA. When whoever was booking the tickets (she wouldn't have done this herself) would book her in to economy, and every time she would be upgraded to first class.

A true story related by the BA Chairman of the time Lord King. He said she was the Queen's sister, no way was she going in Economy. Of course BA was a British company then. Doubt she would have got that treatment with anyone else who flew that way.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 20/11/2025 09:46

Katiesaidthat · 20/11/2025 09:34

You know? I just can´t get my head round why someone would put themselves through the torture that is the adoption system to then treat that child in the crassest cruellest way they can. But there are obviously people wired that way. My mum´s first serious boyfriend was adopted by a couple who couldn´t have kids and all went well until the mom suddenly and completely unexpectedly fell pregnant. The new kid was the golden child and the adopted kid had it made clear to him that he was now surplus to requirements and ignored. He was very damaged by this and had many attachment problems that affected his adult relationships. I hope you made a great life for yourself away from these btards.

Show quote history

I think it's always a danger with adoption that some people may feel compelled to do it because they believe they can't have children naturally, but then despise the poor child they adopted if it later transpires that they can have bio children.

If you adopt a child, they are your precious child, regardless of what may or may not happen in the future; but you do get some vile people who consider adopted children as a 'consolation prize'. Horrible enough when strangers do that on their behalf; but when the adoptive parents actually see it that way too, it's truly nasty.

These particular parents aren't just cheap or tight; they are disgusting and abusive and should have been prosecuted for cruelty to a child.

Achewyhamster · 20/11/2025 10:01

IsntItDarkOut · 20/11/2025 07:30

this reminds me of my old twat of a boss. Admin started counting collections before and after he ‘contributed’ he once put in 3p when a member of his staff was leaving.
He then used to put his birthday in the joint calendar expecting something.
We had to start hiding food as we would often share treats but he would just take them home at the end of the day (never contributed) he then said he was going to HR as there was no treats anymore (wish he had).

Show quote history

This is my old boss

He'd worked there since God was in short trousers and thought he was God and irreplaceable (he wasn't and was sacked in the end)

(His wife is lovely but turns a blind eye to him)

He would be first in on any treats we brought in (I once brought some home made brownies in and he scoffed half the tin-they are very rich,or he would have had the lot-he moaned that others had some and there was none left by the time he went home)

One staff member brought in a bag of shopping and asked if she could keep it all in the works fridge until home time (it's more a large room) and he went in,picked through it and took most of it home with him

Ditto when a charity asked us to donate shampoo/toothpaste/shower gel/soap etc for the food bank-he picked out 'the good stuff' for home

He couldn't put any money into any collection-from a poppy to fundraising for charity but would take full credit

We have a waste bin for any leftover foods (its kept outside in all weathers) and he would go through it and eat what he could find

He would go mental if you binned any food/drink left by a customer-he would finish it

He would eat for free at work and refuse to buy food for home (really greasy and fatty food even though hes a type one diabetic-any food at home is paid for by his wife)

He was on 150k

Katiesaidthat · 20/11/2025 10:15

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 20/11/2025 09:46

I think it's always a danger with adoption that some people may feel compelled to do it because they believe they can't have children naturally, but then despise the poor child they adopted if it later transpires that they can have bio children.

If you adopt a child, they are your precious child, regardless of what may or may not happen in the future; but you do get some vile people who consider adopted children as a 'consolation prize'. Horrible enough when strangers do that on their behalf; but when the adoptive parents actually see it that way too, it's truly nasty.

These particular parents aren't just cheap or tight; they are disgusting and abusive and should have been prosecuted for cruelty to a child.

Show quote history

I totally agree with you. It just beggars belief, the nastiness. You´d have to be pretty nasty to do this day in day out.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 20/11/2025 10:28

littleorangefox · 17/11/2025 19:45

Once knew a guy who was quite the cheapskate. Can only remember a few examples but one was when he gave me a tiny bottle of moisturiser or similar for Christmas and when I noticed it said part of a multipack, he said it was a 3 pack and he had given the other ones to his mum and sister. As if it was a very normal, practical and obvious thing to do 😂

Another time we got takeaway coffee and for the first time ever he actually paid but got himself a large and me a regular and informed me that if I wanted a large I could pay next time. Oh and then he demanded, because he paid for it, that I gave him the little sticker from the cup that was put on a card thing to save up for a free coffee.

That reminds me of my fortieth birthday present from my (happily estranged) sibling. One of those posh toiletry boxes with perfume, body spray and moisturiser in it. Only the perfume wasn’t there 🤦🏻‍♀️. Par for the course I’m afraid. Very happily no longer in contact as it was death by a thousand cuts.

ruethewhirl · 20/11/2025 10:58

Worriedaboutrapecourts · 18/11/2025 18:29

once read me the riot act for giving a homeless person 50p

@ruethewhirl you have reminded me of when my oh so generous then husband kindly accompanied me to my best friend's funeral. Towards the end of the service they said if we wanted to donate to the charity in memory of my friend we could do it on the way out. I took a £20 note out of my purse, he leaned over and muttered "A fiver will be enough". I went back into my purse and got out my last tenner to add to the twenty.

Good for you! Blimey, how hard-hearted of him.

romatheroamer · 20/11/2025 12:14

PorridgeAndSyrup · 19/11/2025 15:13

lol I never thought I’d see a steamer is being portrayed as “tight” 😂 We got a set of these as a wedding present and we use it weekly. Not only does it save on fuel costs, but (and probably more importantly) it saves space on the hob when cooking a roast. I can steam 3 or 4 types of veg on one hob, and still have 3 hobs spare for sautéing, making gravy, and anything else .

Oh, and I forgot to mention the PRIMARY purpose of them, which is that steamed veg is tastier and healthier than boiled, as it retains more of the nutrients (when you boil veg, most of the nutrients leech into the water).

Show quote history

They're not steamers. They're described accurately somewhere upthread and there's a photo of them

CherryRipe1 · 20/11/2025 12:20

I can understand people that have been through hardship and poverty being frugal but these people are mean in character & spirit as well as the tightness. There really are some really horrible cruel people around.
I've just remembered a fellow I worked with in finance, millionaire in the 80s, huge house in RBKC, rental properties, stocks and shares etc borrowed a huge heavy book on electrics from his local library and struggled in to work with it on buses and tubes to photocopy some wiring diagrams for free rather than pay the 5 or 10 p cost of photocopying it locally in the newsagents. He cobbled his own shoes & never ate lunch in the staff restaurant, ate out or brought stuff in. If we had a works 'do' he wouldn't come along but would physically visit the premises not to eat but check out where we'd eaten & moan about the prices. He admitted to buying yellow sticker food regularly. I sensed a deprived childhood & he did admit once about running away with his mother overseas, from a tyrannical father, to the UK.

Katiesaidthat · 20/11/2025 12:30

Latenightreader · 19/11/2025 16:28

My daughter was dressed in some of my baby/childhood clothes and we used terry nappies left from my babyhood for various things (not nappies though - not waterproof enough). Why throw away when they are still good? Lots of clothes wore out or were passed on, but it is lovely to see my daughter in a jumper my Nan knitted for me, or a party dress I loved as a toddler.

Show quote history

My mum kept my very nice dresses of when I was a kid. I used a couple of them for my daughter. I loved seeing her in the clothes my aunt and mum had made. (Aunt was a professional dressmaker and used lovely materials).

krustykittens · 20/11/2025 13:37

Achewyhamster · 20/11/2025 10:01

This is my old boss

He'd worked there since God was in short trousers and thought he was God and irreplaceable (he wasn't and was sacked in the end)

(His wife is lovely but turns a blind eye to him)

He would be first in on any treats we brought in (I once brought some home made brownies in and he scoffed half the tin-they are very rich,or he would have had the lot-he moaned that others had some and there was none left by the time he went home)

One staff member brought in a bag of shopping and asked if she could keep it all in the works fridge until home time (it's more a large room) and he went in,picked through it and took most of it home with him

Ditto when a charity asked us to donate shampoo/toothpaste/shower gel/soap etc for the food bank-he picked out 'the good stuff' for home

He couldn't put any money into any collection-from a poppy to fundraising for charity but would take full credit

We have a waste bin for any leftover foods (its kept outside in all weathers) and he would go through it and eat what he could find

He would go mental if you binned any food/drink left by a customer-he would finish it

He would eat for free at work and refuse to buy food for home (really greasy and fatty food even though hes a type one diabetic-any food at home is paid for by his wife)

He was on 150k

Show quote history

I really hope the staff member whose GROCERIES he took, kicked up a fuss?! That is outrageous behaviour!

MatchaMatchaMatcha · 20/11/2025 13:40

donaldtrumpsfaketandealer · 19/11/2025 19:15

Mince that's intended to feed your animals with......

Show quote history

Lol I don't if you're being deliberately obtuse or not but 'pet mince' would suggest it's of inferior quality or even not fit for human consumption. Its unlikely to be lamb or beef so its a legitimate question (and I'm curious too)

Dollymylove · 20/11/2025 14:14

Pet mince is all the stuff like the lungs and innards, what my mum used to call "lights" she used to get it from the butchers for iur cat. It smelt awful when it was boiling in the pan.
I assume its not really suitable for human consumption