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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what small cheeky things you do to save money?

803 replies

monroeagogo · 05/03/2022 19:17

DH routinely reuses stamps. His excitement when an envelope arrives and the stamp isn't marked is a wonder to behold.

Franking is the enemy.

What cheeky things do you do to save the pennies?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Ozanj · 05/03/2022 22:41

@ImInStealthMode

In the days before easyJet changed their baggage rules, you could take ONE bag up to cabin size on board. I used to travel a lot for work with a cabin bag and a small handbag, so I kept an old world duty free carrier bag and would just drop my handbag into it on the way to the gate.

Not frugality as such as I could have avoided an extra charge by just taking a bit less stuff and dealing with the hassle of my wallet and passport needing to be in my case, but it worked a dream.

Brings back memories. My aunt used to file her duty free bags by airport and used them as her cabin bag on cheap flights. She never even bought anything - she’d just go to duty free and pretend her bag ripped & they’d give her the massive ones for free lol.
ButtercupOfFlorin · 05/03/2022 22:41

@yoyobaby

But it IS theft. You’re supposed to pay for carrier bags. I was too embarrassed to get righteously indignant because technically I’d nicked something

And you're absolutely right, you are meant to pay for them. I'm just saying that I don't pay for them and couldn't actually imagine someone picking up on it and marching me right back to the till!

If you stole a chocolate bar would you feel the same?
BlondeWidow · 05/03/2022 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn as it quotes a deleted post.

yoyobaby · 05/03/2022 22:44

@LemonJuiceFromConcentrate

What’s the point in diluting a product with water if it actually functions by being diluted in water (washing up liquid, for instance)?

Surely you could just use a smaller amount.

I know I’m not the first to query this on the thread but honestly — it’s just so odd

Sometimes with hand wash there's enough in the container but the stick in the middle can't reach it anymore. Add a bit of water to top it up and now you can get your hand wash out properly🤷‍♀️ doesn't make all the sense in the world but you just feel like you're getting your money's worth😂
TonytheDog · 05/03/2022 22:44

@SpiderVersed

I use the water collected in my condenser dryer to water my houseplants. I mix dryer fluff and the dregs of candles/tealights into fire lighters.

I don't nick out and call it cheeky.

I've thought about using the dryer water for this but I was worried that any residue washing liquid would harm the plants. I use the dryer lint for fire lighters too, I keep it in a car and just dab cheap Vaseline (massive tub from Poundland etc) on it.

Stealing cakes might save you money but it's not 'cheeky' it's theft and it's illegal.

ImInStealthMode · 05/03/2022 22:44

7. If you shop at Waitrose after 8 then almost all the bakery items are heavily discounted. I haven’t spent more than 30p on a loaf of wholemeal breas for nearly a year.

If you're at our Waitrose very close to closing they're open to negotiation on reduced stuff, and the deli counters will often throw more stuff in for free to get rid of it.

notacooldad · 05/03/2022 22:45

Crikey I wasn’t expecting some of the responses.
I thought mine was bad by not buying a Starbucks or Costa on the way to work like a lot of the staff do but having the free unlimited coffee, tea or hot chocolate and biscuits that we are allowed to have!

AdditionalCharacter · 05/03/2022 22:47

My dad goes to Spain a few times a year. Not because he likes Spain, but because you get free food with alcohol, so he never pays for a meal, just booze.

TonytheDog · 05/03/2022 22:48

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

When your cut tulips do that dramatic thing where they keel over as though in extreme distress, pop some coppers in the vase and within 24 hrs your tulips will be fully upright again and will last another week.

Or just put coppers in the vase on the first day.

That's brilliant, I didn't know that. Does it work for gerberas too? They're sooo dramatic.
Maze76 · 05/03/2022 22:48

I take full advantage of my supermarket offers on their shopping app. It’s great as all the offers are based on my shopping habits. I save money on items I actually use and collect points which I save for my Christmas shopping.
Same with Boots I save my points for Christmas gifts and take advantage of of 3 for 2 offers.
I also complete surveys and product test brands - and I’m looking into becoming a secret shopper.

ButtercupOfFlorin · 05/03/2022 22:48

@AdditionalCharacter where in Spain do you get free food with a drink?!

mum2bee2022 · 05/03/2022 22:49

Ffs lighten up

Saracen · 05/03/2022 22:50

To save on washing, I strongly encourage all the family to use hand towels in place of bath towels. And flannels in place of hand towels.

One family member apologetically said they MUCH preferred a nice big towel, but I don't mind because as an environmentalist they reuse it a good few times between washes.

AdditionalCharacter · 05/03/2022 22:50

[quote ButtercupOfFlorin]@AdditionalCharacter where in Spain do you get free food with a drink?![/quote]
Nerja. It's only little platefuls, but it's the only thing he talks about, or sends photos of.

yoyobaby · 05/03/2022 22:50

@mum2bee2022

Pastries through as bread rolls on self scan
Me clicking a standard 20p jam doughnut when I've really got a £2.70 krispy kreme😂
WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/03/2022 22:52

But the sewage systems cannot cope with anything more than human waste or toilet paper. Paper napkins are not the same as loo roll and will block the pipes

PP said Christmas-themed kitchen roll AND loo roll. I presume it's the latter on which the snowmen meet their sticky end.

I think the problem with asking small cafes for free hot water is that, although it's 'just water', most of what you pay for - and what keeps them going - is the service. Their premises, staff costs, utility costs, supplies costs and other overheads (including the costs for PAT-testing their hot water boiling machines) all have to be paid for - and it's their customers who use their service who also pay this.

If you object to paying for something where the basic product cost is low, but it's the service and preparation that incur most of the costs, you're perfectly at liberty to save your money and not to use them. It's just that, not using them means....you don't use them.

The arcade ones, I don't really have a problem with as nobody nicks a 2p and takes it out of the premises, do they? It just goes straight back into the machines anyway, as you're paying for the entertainment value. The 2ps are actually legal tender, but in that scenario, they may just as well be little tin counters (which would probably actually cost them more to buy!). They make their money from the £1 coins and notes that you hand over at the booth or put in the change machines - the 2ps are just gaming tokens/collateral that 99.9% of people just feed back in.

Whydoesthecatalwaysdothat · 05/03/2022 22:52

@mum2bee2022

Pastries through as bread rolls on self scan
@mum2bee2022

You're a thief then?

AledsiPad · 05/03/2022 22:53

@Maze76

I take full advantage of my supermarket offers on their shopping app. It’s great as all the offers are based on my shopping habits. I save money on items I actually use and collect points which I save for my Christmas shopping. Same with Boots I save my points for Christmas gifts and take advantage of of 3 for 2 offers. I also complete surveys and product test brands - and I’m looking into becoming a secret shopper.
Oooh yes, nectar? I truly think sainsburys works out cheaper than Aldi for us when we factor in things like this. We have pet insurance with them, so they double our nectar points every month too. They’ve now added a nectar tab to the website so every week when I do my shop I check the savings and plan a week’s meals around the offers. I’ve collected £80 of points since Christmas.
yoyobaby · 05/03/2022 22:54

If you stole a chocolate bar would you feel the same?

Carrier bags went from 0p to 5p to 10p and then jumped to 20p. I don't pay for it because I genuinely don't see why I'm paying 20p for a bag that used to be free.

For as long as I've been born, there's always been a charge on chocolate. So if the bar increases I don't even bat an eyelid as I know I'll still have to pay for it.

This logic doesn't make sense and I'm not justifying what I'm doing. I'm simply saying that I hardly pay for carrier bags but I just don't want too. It honestly depends on my mood but more often than not, I won't scan it

elephantoverthehill · 05/03/2022 22:55

I have reused a stamp this evening. It was on a letter which ended up being hand delivered.

Bluelillies · 05/03/2022 22:55

If there’s a bit of shampoo,hand wash,shower gel etc left in the bottle I take the lid off and use it in place of washing powder

I put a packet of soda crystals in a box of washing powder and mix-it makes it go a lot further

I put the turn the shower on and put the shower head in a bucket until it’s warm and use that to water my plants

Just the other week I glued the sole of my boot back together-it had come away from the boot-done this for years

I’ll empty my hoover bag and reuse it-my dad does this and his record was to reuse it 9 times
I’ve got about 3 out of it

I won’t turn the lights on until it’s almost dark and I won’t turn the heating on if I’m home alone

I don’t take sugar but my partner does so I always grab 4 packets of sugar for every two he uses in maccys
They build up for the summer months when we go out for the day and we take a flask of tea

I grew up,and was a single mum on benefits years ago without much money so money saving is second nature to me

Justkeeppedaling · 05/03/2022 22:55

When your cut tulips do that dramatic thing where they keel over as though in extreme distress, pop some coppers in the vase and within 24 hrs your tulips will be fully upright again and will last another week.

If you put a pin through the stem of a tulip just below the flower, it won't keel over at all. It will stay nice and upright.

Carpediem15 · 05/03/2022 22:55

[quote ButtercupOfFlorin]@AdditionalCharacter where in Spain do you get free food with a drink?![/quote]
Tapas - a bit of bread with something on it if they are freebies with your drink, you would have to have a lot of drinks to make a meal out of those.

Branster · 05/03/2022 22:57

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

When your cut tulips do that dramatic thing where they keel over as though in extreme distress, pop some coppers in the vase and within 24 hrs your tulips will be fully upright again and will last another week.

Or just put coppers in the vase on the first day.

This is amazing! Thank you for the tip. I adore tulips and they look so sad when they vend down like that. I'll definitely try that.

This one works for cut roses: if they start wilting, cut about 1cm of the stem at the bottom, plunge in boiling hot water for 30 seconds then plunge into ice cold water for 30 seconds. They do revive quickly.

Wagsandclaws · 05/03/2022 22:57

Wrt to going to the cinema our local one is a little independent with only two screens and the old fashioned curtains that go back and forth in front of the screen.

If I go to a huge chain I don't mind taking in a packet of sweets or something as £50 is a lot to pay for a half term treat with DC's but I know for a fact that the Smaller cinemas especially barely make any money in the price of the ticket ( £4/£5 ) and it's all on their food, drinks and Ice cream so I absolutely don't mind buying popcorn, sweets and drinks Ect to support them so they stay open. They are STILL half the price of what I'd spend in a Vue or Odeon after buying treats to eat during a film.

Even the ice cream comes out just before the film starts in a little tray ( you can only pay for it with cash ) I really love our local cinema and it is well used by the community.