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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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
Sgtmajormummy · 05/03/2022 23:26

Back in the days of Blockbusters we used to rent a video over the weekend, watch it on Saturday and give it to a friend to watch on Sunday. They would then drop it back to the shop.

The modern version of that is synching several people’s devices to one Kindle account so you can all read the latest popular book. I haven’t done it myself, though…

We do have a nice well made Santa hat that has saved us buying the cheap ones for the last day of school for about 10 years.

Nepenthe · 05/03/2022 23:28

@CharacterForming

Surely the best practice cheapskate approach to carrier bags in the supermarket is to take your own, which is 100% free. I realise that "that's just what they want you to do!" but it has the major advantage of not getting you into awkward and time consuming conversations with security guards.
Absolutely. I think a lot of people miss the point of the carrier bag charge. It's not about the money that supermarkets make from it. The idea is to deter people from using them! Lots of people don't want to pay for them, so take their own bags, or re-use the ones they've previously bought.

I'm curious, those that don't pay for the plastic bags they should be paying for - do they make any effort to reuse them? Or just sling them in the bin and grab more the next time?

olaamigo · 05/03/2022 23:28

@Proudboomer

'I don't care if I am wiping my arse on Snowmen'

I love this so much Grin

marqueses · 05/03/2022 23:30

@Wagsandclaws

Oh and I also always pay for carrier bags.

However I was told by the checkout staff that the money from the carrier doesn't go to the supermarket but goes into the governments pockets as a 'plastic tax' how much do that is true I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me.

I'm almost certain that isn't true. When the bag charge was first introduced there was something about money going to charity but never to the government
olaamigo · 05/03/2022 23:30

@BridgesofMadisonfan bleach works for the tulips

notacooldad · 05/03/2022 23:32

Surely the best practice cheapskate approach to carrier bags in the supermarket is to take your own, which is 100% free
I have a couple of nylon bags fold to the size of a small match box that I keep in my handbag. No need to forget plastic bags.

ThatsNotMyGolem · 05/03/2022 23:36

I'm not sure what I find most troublesome on this thread - the outright theft or the petty penny-pinching. Miserable!

ButtercupOfFlorin · 05/03/2022 23:36

And it's seriously ugly to be nasty to people who are struggling

Oh please, these people are NOT struggling they’re just tight.

IME people who are piss poor will give you their last 10p if you asked for it. Wealthy people can be tight fuckers.

I work in fundraising, big philanthropy, so six figure donations etc. currently have a camping for Ukraine. Some people who are millionaires have given £25 vouchers whereas colleagues dealing with lower level donors are getting £100 cash donations from people who will see a real impact on their finances but are decent people.

TheOccupier · 05/03/2022 23:37

@LemonJuiceFromConcentrate

Whoever said “200ml is just as filling as 300ml”…you know it’s not, right? It’s literally 2/3 as filling.

You are just eating 1/3 less, which is fine if it works for you but it’s not like it’ll necessarily work for others as a money saving tip Confused

I thought the same thing when I read that, @LemonJuiceFromConcentrate!
MyDcAreMarvel · 05/03/2022 23:38

@Tsuni Swimming pool right - my mind went blank as I have never said or heard anything other than swimming baths.

MyDcAreMarvel · 05/03/2022 23:40

@Bitofachinwag I must be old or maybe just regional , never heard people say swimming pool.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/03/2022 23:44

However I was told by the checkout staff that the money from the carrier doesn't go to the supermarket but goes into the governments pockets as a 'plastic tax' how much do that is true I don't know but it wouldn't surprise me.

Yes - that's what I understand: either that it goes to the government or to a registered charity; but either way, it MUST be levied at the point of supplying a new carrier bag, by law.

It's actually more serious than stealing a chocolate bar (not condoning that either, of course), as it isn't 'just' shoplifting - it's actually technically tax fraud.

pawpaws2022 · 05/03/2022 23:44

Not cheeky ones but

Wonky veg
Buy anything you always use only when it's on offer, and make sure you never run out. So if the cat litter I use drops in price, I buy two bags. Never ever pay full price for something like that!
Quidco/sign up for website newsletters for discount codes
I rinse the last bit of hand wash/shampoo/shower gel and use it to clean the sink/loo/bath
If you don't like a conditioner, shave your legs with it
Tube squeezers and store bottles upside down/cut open so you don't waste anything
If carrots/onions/celery look a bit sad and you don't have anything to cook, blitz them in a chopper and freeze them to add to the start of a soup/stew

Mocara · 05/03/2022 23:46

If you can afford costa , starbucks , cinema ,hotels , waitrose and all the rest then your notion of saving is an amuseing past time to you. You obviously dont live in the real world where what you all find amusing is for most people a reality ,real life ,survival.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/03/2022 23:47

Whoever said “200ml is just as filling as 300ml”…you know it’s not, right? It’s literally 2/3 as filling.

I believe that was Marjorie Dawes - although she was more thinking of the weight-loss aspect rather than saving money Grin

TakemedowntoPotatoCity · 05/03/2022 23:50

Scan a filled crispy kreme as a ring doughnut Blush

Nsky · 05/03/2022 23:51

I’m amazed by the thief’s here and meanness, if I want coffee out, I want proper coffee, instant is ok, think proper coffee is better.
For those self scanning, go to Aldi or lidl, where it’s cheaper anyway

Kite22 · 05/03/2022 23:53

Most people these days say "the swimming pool" or "the leisure centre". I like " the swimming baths"

Speak for yourself.
Even ignoring the fact I was talking about when I was a child, we still call our swimming baths either the swimming baths or XTown baths / YTown Baths. Hmm

Kite22 · 05/03/2022 23:56

For those sneering at people saving money, or saying how 'unattractive" it is, you do realise that those individual small amounts add up for some people don't you? That not everyone can afford to pass by the opportunity to save a small amount here and there.

Not talking about those laughing at the fact they steal, I'm talking about the money saving things.

VodkaSlimline · 05/03/2022 23:57

My cheeky ones:

  • I have to buy all sorts of things as part of my job. All purchases go via my own quidco/topcashback/BA Avios account. And if I ever have to get anything from Boots I put the points on my own advantage card!
  • if something I've bought recently gets reduced, I buy it again at the reduced price then return it with the full price receipt from the first one. That way I've had the benefit of having the thing for longer but have paid the sale price for it without having to wait. Works best for Christmas/January sales.
ButtercupOfFlorin · 05/03/2022 23:58

@Mocara

If you can afford costa , starbucks , cinema ,hotels , waitrose and all the rest then your notion of saving is an amuseing past time to you. You obviously dont live in the real world where what you all find amusing is for most people a reality ,real life ,survival.
Put the vodka down and go to bed
ButtercupOfFlorin · 05/03/2022 23:59

@Kite22

For those sneering at people saving money, or saying how 'unattractive" it is, you do realise that those individual small amounts add up for some people don't you? That not everyone can afford to pass by the opportunity to save a small amount here and there.

Not talking about those laughing at the fact they steal, I'm talking about the money saving things.

Like picking up almost worthless tickets off the floor, or taking 70 pepper sachets from a petrol station, and washing your face mask in the same water as your genitals? This is just mean and I can practically guarantee these people are not struggling
MerryPoppings · 06/03/2022 00:08

Such a depressing thread. Most of it either celebrating theft or being miserly.

britneyisfree · 06/03/2022 00:11

@VelvetChairGirl

You have issues x

britneyisfree · 06/03/2022 00:16

I used to do this too😂 tbf I don't drink coffee but on the way to work I'd either go to Pret or Cafe Nero (whichever I fancied) and would ask for boiling hot water. They'd always give it in a normal cup and I'd take my teabag out of my pocket and pop it in to enjoy a nice peppermint tea:)

Why pay £2 something everyday for peppermint tea when I have the teabags at home lol

In Starbucks where I used to work that didn't happen. I offered to buy my team a coffee for a meeting. I was being nice I wasn't loaded. One idiot who was incredibly well off but worked because needed something to do after children went to uni /use her degree. Anyway she decided to order hot water as she didn't want to not take me up on my offer even though she didn't want anything. Other team member told her it wasn't free but she insisted on having it anyway.

She didn't drink a sip and left it there when the meeting was finished untouched and thought it was amusing.

I'm sure it was above the £2.50 mark but it was a few years ago now.