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

[monroeagogo]

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?

@OssieShowman

We’ve told a child to say they are younger, when attending events, that charge more for children slightly older.

My family's definitely done that one!

@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.

That is actually genuinely clever

Recently I have been asking for a jug of water with a meal instead of buying a second soft drink. I paid £3 for a small glass of diet coke to go with my meal last week. No way was I paying for a second. The water was free, and came with plenty of ice. I need to drink more water anyway.

I also take any mini toiletries home with me - ideal for when (if!) I next get on a plane. I never pay to check in luggage. I can easily fit two weeks of t shirts, shorts and underwear in hand luggage as I book SC with a washing machine. I got free mini samples of toothpaste from the dentist - they are in my holiday luggage box now.

*Are people not embarrassed to go in a cafe and ask for a cup of hot water or o then get their own tea bag out?

Thermos flasks start from about £15. Stop being such a tight miserly bastard. Fair enough not paying for coffees but that’s someone else’s water you’re a demanding they give you, have some self respect.*

Why are you so hurt😂 I really don't see the problem with going into Pret or Cafe Nero and asking for hot water when they happily give it to you. Most Starbucks say they don't give it because of health and safety whereas some will charge you. As long as you're not demanding the store give you hot water for free, what's the actual problem?

Like I said, when I'd be on my way to work I'd always pop into Pret and they'd see my face and know I wanted hot water lol. No problems/issues about it so I'm not sure why you're crying about it on the Internet. I must have saved a couple hundred pounds a year from doing that

I think some of these seem to border on the parsimonious to the very act of theft! Honestly who would rock up to a cafe for a blast of hot water . Sounds funny but if we all did it there would be no cafes left! Also "taking an extra bread roll" is clearly shoplifting ,and the store would be within its rights to prosecute. Once a week at 0 .40p per roll would soon escalate to £20.00 per year .Spread over 5 years £100 ! Again if we all did it prices would rise swiftly .Be honest!

@itrytomakemyway

Recently I have been asking for a jug of water with a meal instead of buying a second soft drink. I paid £3 for a small glass of diet coke to go with my meal last week. No way was I paying for a second. The water was free, and came with plenty of ice. I need to drink more water anyway.

I also take any mini toiletries home with me - ideal for when (if!) I next get on a plane. I never pay to check in luggage. I can easily fit two weeks of t shirts, shorts and underwear in hand luggage as I book SC with a washing machine. I got free mini samples of toothpaste from the dentist - they are in my holiday luggage box now.

I do this with the kids especially. Ice water for the table when we order and they are allowed one bought drink each. Drinks are so expensive it makes sense.

We hardly ever buy drinks when eating out. We always have water, adults and kids all. No one drinks coke or beer or wine etc. We just don’t like them.

Why do people water down fabric softener with water (to make one bottle into two)? Would you just put half the amount in because the machine adds water?!

Here’s a tip for the “save 1p by nicking single servings of salt from McD” - stop eating at McDs and you’ll save much more (money, your health, and the environment).

I honestly can’t believe this tread, or that people are proud for such despicable behaviour.

@EatYourVegetables

Here’s a tip for the “save 1p by nicking single servings of salt from McD” - stop eating at McDs and you’ll save much more (money, your health, and the environment).

I honestly can’t believe this tread, or that people are proud for such despicable behaviour.

How is it stealing when it's literally free??🤣 I think a lot of you are pressed about the wrong thing on here

@EatYourVegetables

Here’s a tip for the “save 1p by nicking single servings of salt from McD” - stop eating at McDs and you’ll save much more (money, your health, and the environment).

I honestly can’t believe this tread, or that people are proud for such despicable behaviour.

Is taking packets of salt from MacDonalds 'despicable'? Really?

@buddylicious

Why do people water down fabric softener with water (to make one bottle into two)? Would you just put half the amount in because the machine adds water?!

It's good if you're a big pourer.

I'd consider my mum the most honest person I know - but growing up, there was quite often a dish of water on the kitchen side, with a stamp soaking in it, so that mum could slide it off and re-use it!

[quote ButtercupOfFlorin]@Oblomov22 funny you should say about baby’s bottles, when my DD was tiny I met with a baby group in a Costa’s and they refused to give the bottle feeding mums hot water to warm their bottles. Because obviously being stupid women they probably accidentally chuck the boiling water over the baby so one mum one day said “ok then I’ll have a black tea please” and then they’d all take it in turns to use that to heat their bottles I wish I’d known they could just go in with a thermos and peppermint tea teabag and pretend to be a skinflint rather than a parent[/quote]
It seems daft but we have the same policy at work. We used to do it, but stopped after a horrific incident where a mum with a tiny baby and a toddler. The toddler knocked the cup over and scalded herself very badly on the hands and her legs. That was a good few years ago and I can still her her screaming ☹️☹️☹️

@yoyobaby

*Are people not embarrassed to go in a cafe and ask for a cup of hot water or o then get their own tea bag out?

Thermos flasks start from about £15. Stop being such a tight miserly bastard. Fair enough not paying for coffees but that’s someone else’s water you’re a demanding they give you, have some self respect.*

Why are you so hurt😂 I really don't see the problem with going into Pret or Cafe Nero and asking for hot water when they happily give it to you. Most Starbucks say they don't give it because of health and safety whereas some will charge you. As long as you're not demanding the store give you hot water for free, what's the actual problem?

Like I said, when I'd be on my way to work I'd always pop into Pret and they'd see my face and know I wanted hot water lol. No problems/issues about it so I'm not sure why you're crying about it on the Internet. I must have saved a couple hundred pounds a year from doing that

But they are giving you the hot water for free

Do you make a purchase?

[quote OldTinHat]@Cluelessbeetroot I can confirm it's real! I have two friends who always ask for a mug of boiling water in cafes (free when muggins here has paid for a cuppa). They then magic a teabag or coffee sachet from their pocket! I have to say I admire them for it.[/quote]
Cafes would go out of business if everyone did this. Not cool

@CarolinaStabril

I sometimes put birthday cards under my shopping bags so I don’t have to pay for them

Shoplifting

@yoyobaby

*Are people not embarrassed to go in a cafe and ask for a cup of hot water or o then get their own tea bag out?

Thermos flasks start from about £15. Stop being such a tight miserly bastard. Fair enough not paying for coffees but that’s someone else’s water you’re a demanding they give you, have some self respect.*

Why are you so hurt😂 I really don't see the problem with going into Pret or Cafe Nero and asking for hot water when they happily give it to you. Most Starbucks say they don't give it because of health and safety whereas some will charge you. As long as you're not demanding the store give you hot water for free, what's the actual problem?

Like I said, when I'd be on my way to work I'd always pop into Pret and they'd see my face and know I wanted hot water lol. No problems/issues about it so I'm not sure why you're crying about it on the Internet. I must have saved a couple hundred pounds a year from doing that

Would their manager or the person paying their wages & bills be happy to give it to you? I very much doubt it.

@PandemicAtTheDisco

Cheeky things to save money?

My friend's ex always asked to charge his phone up at everyone's house. He wants to know wifi passwords even if it's a quick stop at someone's house rather than a visit.
He stuffs himself with food at parties, brings cheap stuff then drinks the expensive stuff. He takes leftovers home and freezes them.
He forgets to buy his round of drinks, he cadges lifts and doesn't offer petrol costs.
He regifts or buys in charity shops yet claims things are brand new and bought at full price. He resells charity stuff on ebay.

He goes into the charity donations store and takes anything he can use or sell.
He pretends to be asleep on trains or hides in the toilets to get out of paying.
He gets up early at the weekend and checks around cash machines to see if drunken revellers have dropped money or left it in the machines.

This sounds exhausting

@yoyobaby

I don’t give a hoot about you going in to pret asking for hot water

I am just genuinely baffled why? Why not buy a thermos and save yourself the queuing and waiting.

How much saving would you actually make? I don’t want to be melodramatic but if my life comes down to shuffling into a cafe and asking them for hot water on a day out to save money on boiling my kettle I’ll know that I’ve hit rock bottom.

Yes, also reminds me of the story from the cafe who replied to a bad review after a women was charged for hot water and a slice of lemon for her own tea bag.

@woodhill if I want something else then obviously I would. If not then I’d ask for my hot water and be on the way to work

@TeaAndBunsPlease then like Starbucks they can happily decline to give people hot water. Pret and Cafe Nero don’t so obviously people can request it if they wish. I don’t see the problem at all

@Landedonfeet because I’m on my way to work. I don’t want to carry a thermos for my whole journey into work but rather make the commute into work and get it from the shops right next to my workplace. I’d sometimes get breakfast from there too so I’d be in there anyway. May as well ask for hot water and pop my teabag in once I arrive at my office

Changed to bar soap for the shower, less waste and plastic

Sometimes use half a dishwasher tablet (depending on what's in there - don't do this every load)

DC's love baguettes /crusty rolls for lunch so I usually pick these up in the reduced section of Tesco when I'm on my way home from work. They go straight into the fridge when I make lunches for the next day and stay fresh

All loaf ends are turned into breadcrumbs and frozen for stuffing/coating for goujons

Microfibre towel turban really cuts down hair drying time

Outdoor line drying as much as possible

Not cheeky (I hope) but they make sense to me