Cheapest thing a person has ever done

[Unorganisedchaos2]

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.

Absolutely despicable what rotten people

I do that on hills to save the petrol.

I imagine the elderly couple were happy to be able to help a busy nurse out. If she parked there without permission that would be cheap cf behaviour.

Her choices and only affected her

When I have bought wine or food to share to a gathering and these have been squirreled away by the recipient, I have been known to say 'I'll have a glass of the wine I bought, thanks! Anyone else?' Or 'Oh, let's crack open those biscuits we bought with us'.

These CFs rely on you saying nothing.

Yes. I'd certainly do that to help a nurse out with parking!

No, the really old fashioned ones my grandparents had.

Those are such a great idea. They only use one ring, so you can cook other stuff at the same time.

Sounds like the business model for Ryanair

As a children’s nurse I can tell you this absolutely happens more than you think. And the entitlement is always with the families who don’t stay or visit.

That's just awful, isn't it. I couldn't do your job at all, so kudos to you 👍

You do wonder sometimes what is in peoples heads

Reposting this again.

You'd think nurses and social workers would have more empathy.

I finally caved and registered so I could post this.

A couple of years ago me and dp went to a joint 30th birthday party of some friends, which was a weekend away in a big house in the lake district. Each couple was given a meal to prepare over the weekend, the idea being you bring all ingredients for your meal. Afterwards we were supposed to submit all our receipts and the hosts worked out who had spent what, so people who had spent less money contributed something to those who had spent more. Fine.

About a week after the party they emailed me and dp saying we owed 25p each. We had a good laugh about this and I sent the money via PayPal. Or so I thought... Apparently I messed something up and it didn't go through as about a week later I got another email chasing me up and asking me if I'd had a chance to send the 50p!

I should add we are all middle class, dual income and at the time no kids couples so really not hurting for cash... (I have been absolutely brassic at times during my life and know what a difference pennies can make when you're in that place)

We have also done these people countless favours over the years too. E.g. for a while I was in a band with them and was always default driver, dp recorded our band for free etc etc. So I sent the 50p and needless to say our friendship cooled a bit after that😅

Presumably that it's another woman's wedding and she should be hosting?

I had the exact set as a wedding present from my ILs in 1976. They were a bloody faff and no where near big enough.

Im guessing, but god.

I'm in two minds about this. Unless your host has asked you to bring something to contribute to the catering, then surely they have already purchased whatever they are going to serve the guests and may simply not think to add your contribution to it. I have a friend who has form for bringing cake-shop patisserie when I invite them for a meal..... when I have gone to the trouble to make one or more delicious homemade desserts. I do service her stuff too, but inevitably most of it is left for us to eat up. Likewise, if we are having red wine, DH will already have opened the bottles to allow the wine to breathe. He might not think to open a bottle brought by a guest, especially if it doesn't really go with the food.
Of course if it's a "bring and share", the above does not apply.

A relative of mine did a friend a small favour and picked something up at a shop for them. The friend insisted on their penny change. 1 penny.

I think the bride should have just either let everyone get ready and not provided breakfast, or said, I'll see you at the church or whatever. I think sending someone out shopping was a bit cheeky really.

Yeah, now that you point it out, maybe. Probably with something like a wedding, all arrangements, plans. money etc should be made really clear beforehand otherwise you can get into awkward situations. I guess the bride thinks it's her wedding, so people should be generous. But the reality is that for most people ALL spending is difficult regardless of what it's for. The hen dos where you are asked to fork out a fortune are the worst.

Yes, I agree. I sometimes think that some brides lose a bit of perspective, and develop unreasonable expectations.
As you say, all these "hen" things can get very pricey. If they're all getting ready together, that's the bride's choice. Sending a bridesmaid out shopping for breakfast ingredients and also expecting her to pay for them I think falls into that category, and is a bit cheap and CF.

I used to have some of them that came with a pressure cooker. There was also at least one with holes in like a colander.

Not cheap maybe slightly cheeky but parking permits for nurses in hospital are hard to get and also prohibitively expensive
I would have done the same!!

Had an ex who followed my suggestion for 3 Christmas presents each (S, M and L) by buying me two rough hewn pots in different sizes with a bundle of twigs to go in them. I had got him a fleece, a CD and a small gadget for his bike. 🙄