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Original poster

Cheapest thing a person has ever done

1000 replies

Unorganisedchaos2 · 17/11/2025 13:38

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.
OP posts:
LiftAndLetLift · 14/12/2025 07:55

WalkDontWalk · 13/12/2025 19:07

I went abroad for a wedding with a married couple and another single person, Chris. The couple paid for themselves and it was decided that Chris and I would split our costs - accommodation, food, petrol - down the middle.

My attitude in this situation is (perhaps too) relaxed. I'm like 'you paid for dinner last night, so I'll pick up the bill tonight'. In my view of the universe, it all works out about even, give or take.

A few days into the trip, the couple told me, on the quiet, that this comme-ci-comme-ca would probably not go down well with Chris, who was notoriously tight. But Chris didn't say anything so I didn't really think about it.

At the conclusion of breakfast on the morning I was leaving, Chris said, "So, before you head for the airport, we need to settle up."

I thought, "Hello. Here we go."

Chris said, "I've been keeping track of expenditure and if you pay for this breakfast, then..." A calculator was produced, plus a note of expenditure to date. Chris looked at the bill for breakfast and tapped in the numbers "...then, umm, hang on. Yes. I owe you three pounds twenty-nine." Which precise sum was then counted out in cash and pushed across the table towards me.

"Chris, it really doesn't matter."

"No, no - we agreed we'd split the cost. I owe you three pounds twenty-nine."

Tight, yes, but very, very fair.

Edited

I'm AuDHD and used to do this (keeping track and going 50/50 when someone said they wanted to split costs), thinking it was entirely logical and the correct way of doing things, before a friend explained it made me look tight!

I was mortified. I don't do it now.

FleurDeFleur · 14/12/2025 07:55

republicofjam · 14/12/2025 07:19

Agree, taking a small gift like wine, chocolates or flowers for the host who has cooked for you is common courtesy. It's up to the host if they decide to share the gift with their guests, I am cringing for the posters who demand it.

Show quote history

Me too 😯

DonttouchthatLarry · 14/12/2025 08:23

Kimura · 25/11/2025 03:40

I used to work with a guy who claimed he hadn't bought toilet paper for ten years. Once a week he'd wait until everyone had left the office, then chuck a few rolls in his bag. He'd also do it in pubs, he took a little empty backpack with him specifically for that purpose.

Wasn't like this with anything else. Unreal.

An ex colleague of mine was sacked for stealing toilet paper. We suspect she was taking dishwasher tablets too but was caught red handed with a bag of loo roll as she went home.

Higgledypiggledy864 · 14/12/2025 08:34

Gowlett · 17/11/2025 20:10

I once worked with a guy who had a bring your own meat barbecue. He also allocated sides, desserts, even sauces to each attendee. I’m not sure he actually provided anything other than the coal… His wife was mortified but well used to it, too!

This is actually quite normal in some countries, it's called a 'bring and braii' in South Africa

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 14/12/2025 08:37

DonttouchthatLarry · 14/12/2025 08:23

An ex colleague of mine was sacked for stealing toilet paper. We suspect she was taking dishwasher tablets too but was caught red handed with a bag of loo roll as she went home.

Show quote history

Aside from the income lost until she found a new job surely being far, far greater than the money she saved in not buying her own toilet paper, wouldn't you just be so mortified to have that on your record: losing your job for stealing bog roll?

What would you even say to explain to a potential new employer why you left your last job? Would they find out - and then likely rescind any job offer that they'd already made to you? What would you tell your family and friends when they asked how work was going?

If she'd been diverting thousands from the company to her own account, of course it would have been 100% wrong, but she could have had a serious gambling problem or something... but something like this just makes you look nasty and grabby for the sake of it. It would instantly mark you out as a compulsively dishonest, untrustworthy character and so who would ever want to employ you again?

That could end up being some extremely expensive toilet paper for her!!

Inwhitelights · 14/12/2025 09:02

kellygoeswest · 18/11/2025 11:17

When I was a teenager my best friends birthday was a few days before mine. She basically always gave me cast off from her birthday presents (CD's, DVD's she'd received and didn't want etc). I was always there at her birthdays so I'd see her receive/unwrap these gifts!

One year, she received a large case of nail polishes from Boots. She 'gifted' me a selection of the colours she didn't like from the box a few days later.

I don’t see this as being tight or mean, quite the opposite .. she could have not given you anything, plus it was her birthday so why would she give you any of her presents, esp the ones she liked? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Ihadalittletime · 14/12/2025 09:12

I used to go out for meals regularly with a group of friends where one guy would practically whisper to the waiter during the meal to order extra drinks for just him without asking anyone else. Several times I heard him order a quadruple Bacardi. Also when it was his round at a bar, he would look gutted when he asked what people wanted and they accepted!

Mysticmaud · 14/12/2025 09:35

My sister went through my dads'bank statements after he died.
She thougjt he had life insurance (he did but it expired at 75). He died at 81 I'd housed him for 18 years.

She works part-time , has no mortgage or car finace and i pay her dd to care for me. She keeps a ledger if her dc borrow any money.

She'd skin a louse for it's hide.

PortSalutPlease · 14/12/2025 09:37

Theoldbird · 17/11/2025 22:44

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.

@Unorganisedchaos2 I read a lot of BS on here but I simply refuse to believe this

I’ve worked in NICU and sadly have no trouble at all believing this is true :(

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 14/12/2025 09:40

Ihadalittletime · 14/12/2025 09:12

I used to go out for meals regularly with a group of friends where one guy would practically whisper to the waiter during the meal to order extra drinks for just him without asking anyone else. Several times I heard him order a quadruple Bacardi. Also when it was his round at a bar, he would look gutted when he asked what people wanted and they accepted!

Most of these kinds of people learn to regulate their drinking habits so that they always finish their drinks just after everybody else.

That way, they can be seen to be offering, but if the other people have all just got a nearly full drink, they'll likely decline; whilst the person who just got that round in will have offered and the CF will say "Yes, please, I've very nearly finished this one, so I'll have a quadruple whisky ready for then, please!"

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 14/12/2025 09:45

Mysticmaud · 14/12/2025 09:35

My sister went through my dads'bank statements after he died.
She thougjt he had life insurance (he did but it expired at 75). He died at 81 I'd housed him for 18 years.

She works part-time , has no mortgage or car finace and i pay her dd to care for me. She keeps a ledger if her dc borrow any money.

She'd skin a louse for it's hide.

To be fair, I don't know her and her 'form', but I don't blame anybody for looking to see if there might be any payouts due to the family (or funeral/pension plans etc.) after the death of a loved one.

Not everybody diligently keeps their adult children informed of all financial plans that they may have taken out, and if there is some money due, far better for it to go to the family than sit on some rich insurance company's balance sheet instead.

HeidiLite · 14/12/2025 11:57

Inwhitelights · 14/12/2025 09:02

I don’t see this as being tight or mean, quite the opposite .. she could have not given you anything, plus it was her birthday so why would she give you any of her presents, esp the ones she liked? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Edited
Show quote history

she gave those items for the poster for poster's birthday a few days later

cramptramp · 14/12/2025 12:11

republicofjam · 14/12/2025 07:19

Agree, taking a small gift like wine, chocolates or flowers for the host who has cooked for you is common courtesy. It's up to the host if they decide to share the gift with their guests, I am cringing for the posters who demand it.

Show quote history

It depends if you already know that they are stingy gits before you go and you know you’ll be served the cheapest of everything by them. If that’s the case, then you’re perfectly entitled to ask for some of what you’ve provided if only to enjoy the look on their tight arse faces when you do.

MissConductUS · 14/12/2025 12:13

Potteryclass1 · 17/11/2025 22:10

This is very practical and causes no harm to anyone.

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In the US, the kitchen roll (paper towels to Americans) comes perforated so that it's easy to tear off half a sheet.

Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels

Nevermind17 · 14/12/2025 12:37

She keeps a ledger if her dc borrow any money.

I do that too, why shouldn’t I? I’ve got 5 DCs and they’re always borrowing (often very large amounts). My memory is shocking and I can’t keep track of what they owe me if I don’t write it down.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 17:37

daleylama · 13/12/2025 13:07

Her choices and only affected her

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Well, the dishwashing liquid could damage her skin and dermatology expenses would be on the NHS.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 17:47

Mysticmaud · 13/12/2025 17:08

One lunch guest brought a bread maker loaf. She popped her butter back into her basket to go home. Now known as butter gate.

That's fair enough. You didn't need the whole pack of butter, did you?

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 17:53

republicofjam · 14/12/2025 07:19

Agree, taking a small gift like wine, chocolates or flowers for the host who has cooked for you is common courtesy. It's up to the host if they decide to share the gift with their guests, I am cringing for the posters who demand it.

Show quote history

Not everybody said 'dinner party' though. Sometimes it's an informal gathering like drinks or tea and biscuits so you take what you will use during that gathering. In that case, I expect to be able to drink/eat what I brought.
I

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 17:56

Higgledypiggledy864 · 14/12/2025 08:34

This is actually quite normal in some countries, it's called a 'bring and braii' in South Africa

Show quote history

My friends and I also do this. Why should all the cost fall on the friends who happen to have a big garden and a barbeque? We all contribute.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 18:24

"She was the last one to receive the bill so she counted the money and realised (because of the tips) it already added up to the bill total, so she didn't contribute anything! (not even her own meal/drinks!)"

I know a few people who are always the last to pay in similar situations. They know that everyone else will have rounded up and they can get away with paying less than their share and what was meant to be tip goes to pay for the food.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 18:38

WearyAuldWumman · 18/11/2025 18:39

When people first started the tradition of donating in lieu of flowers, the understanding was that you'd give the cost of the flowers to the charity.

When my dad died, I recall being surprised that some people had put loose change into the collection box.

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I would have no idea how much funeral flowers cost.

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 14/12/2025 18:47

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 18:38

I would have no idea how much funeral flowers cost.

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Pretty much the same as buying normal flowers if you're a guest. The ornate family ones - like the ones that spell out 'MUM' or whoever - cost more; but the equivalent cost of a nice normal bunch of flowers is great. Tenner or maybe twenty is fine; but just chucking a few coppers in is more insulting than giving nothing (unless it's from a small child who wants to give some of their pocket money).

Inwhitelights · 14/12/2025 18:49

HeidiLite · 14/12/2025 11:57

she gave those items for the poster for poster's birthday a few days later

Show quote history

Ahhhh yes, I’ve just re-read it properly! Oops, sorry 😬

republicofjam · 14/12/2025 18:52

cramptramp · 14/12/2025 12:11

It depends if you already know that they are stingy gits before you go and you know you’ll be served the cheapest of everything by them. If that’s the case, then you’re perfectly entitled to ask for some of what you’ve provided if only to enjoy the look on their tight arse faces when you do.

Show quote history

I don't understand why you would accept the invitation in the first place when you have such a poor opinion of the hosts and the food they serve.

Gwenhwyfar · 14/12/2025 18:53

Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService · 19/11/2025 08:59

That's a different take on it. CF taxi-sharers normally try NOT to be the last one out, so they're never there when the taxi needs to be paid for!

Often, if anything, they'll push a derisorily tiny amount in the hands of the others as their 'share' and then consider it dealt with.

Either that, or they'll pull the 'oh, but you were going there anyway' card and 'justify' it that it isn't costing any extra for them to share the journey. It conveniently never seems to occur to them that, except for maybe the last half a mile after they've got out, you could turn it around and say exactly the same to them.

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The problem is that there's a minimum fee so it's often the first person out who ends up paying too much as they pay the minimum plus the payment for the first part of the journey.

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