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?

@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.

Also, you can push a pin through near the top of the stem, a little below the flower, and they perk up very quickly! Never have understood why though

That’s amazing!!

@Danikm151

I take a hip flask or 2 on a night out and just order lemonade at the bar. Saves money 🤣

How often do you go out?!

Remember doing this when I was 17 and going out every weekend
Now - going out is much more of a rate, precious and glam affair. Half the enjoyment is going to a lovely place and having someone else make me a cocktail / drink!

“Rare”

@Landedonfeet

That’s amazing!!

If you know how to make the most of the Nectar card, you can do really well out of it. We're not even high spenders.

@Saracen

At some restaurants, the food is a reasonable price and they make their money on expensive drinks. I make sure to drink a bottle of water before going in, so I'll be happy to make do with just one drink during the meal. Sometimes I tell the kids to do likewise.

Same if I'm going somewhere where you aren't allowed to bring in your own food or drink - I used to get the kids to eat a big snack in the car on the way to soft play, for example.

Just ask for water for the table, tap waters normally free

Not so long ago there was a thread along the lines of 'what is the stingiest thing you've heard of?' Quite a few posts on here would have made it on to that thread.

There was also a long thread about what people thought was ok to take from a hotel after your stay. Towels are fair game apparently.

Not so long ago there was a thread along the lines of 'what is the stingiest thing you've heard of?' Quite a few posts on here would have made it on to that thread.

Yes, that was an interesting thread. In amongst the genuinely stingy people who clearly valued saving a few pennies over the considerable extra time their methods took them (as is their right) and actual careful frugality, there were people who just offloaded their costs on to somebody else - whether through taking advantage of a friend/family or outright theft.

If somebody shows off to me about how 'cleverly' they can 'economise' on the costs of things simply by stealing stuff or forcing somebody else to pay, I'll respond by showing them my amazing 'miracle human growth method' by which I can achieve a height of 10 feet - by standing on a step ladder.

*:32monroeagogo

I've also been known to add extra rolls or cakes at the self checkout scale. Quite often, actually.

I'm like a big time thief. grin*

If you're really that desperate that you feel the need to shoplift (and increase prices for the rest of us) do you know you can access food banks for extra help!

People aren't 'taken into the back' for stealing anymore, so that's boks!! 🤣🤣

They most certainly are. I know someone who was taken into the managers office at Asda only last week for shoplifting

@Sparklingbrook

There was also a long thread about what people thought was ok to take from a hotel after your stay. Towels are fair game apparently.

Oh that thread really annoyed me. The number of people taking towels, bedding and anything else that wasn't nailed down was so depressing to read.

The number of people taking towels, bedding and anything else that wasn't nailed down was so depressing to read

I like to think that on that thread (and this one) people are just saying stuff to get a reaction and wouldn't don't actually do those things at all.

If you're really that desperate that you feel the need to shoplift (and increase prices for the rest of us) do you know you can access food banks for extra help!

Nah, food banks are there for people in need, not in greed. They're more about helping provide you with the unsexy staples and essentials and not quite so hot on handing out the Danish pastries and Krispy Kreme donuts.

@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?

And that is why postage has gone up so they can put barcodes on all the stamps to stop this happening.

I have nylon net bags for a bar of Castile soap hanging in my shower. I use it to wash my hair and body. I can use every last bit of it because it's in the bag.

It costs just over a fiver for a bar but I'm still using the bar I bought in November. Probably got about another month or so of use left.

I use a salt of the earth mineral salt stick for deodorant. Still using the one I bought in 2020.

@Kite22

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.

Is it not regional? It was always ‘the baths’ when I was a kid up north.

@User76745333

People aren't 'taken into the back' for stealing anymore, so that's bo*ks!! 🤣🤣*

They most certainly are. I know someone who was taken into the managers office at Asda only last week for shoplifting

It’s very common. If it’s a shoplifter, security will often take them into an office to wait for the police. Apparently razor blades are very popular.

@Landedonfeet

Do you understand what a thermos is?

You can get single drink size thermoses 🙄

I own a large chain of supermarkets and I make customers scan their own shopping. I don't trust them to do it honestly, so the till weighs each item as they scan them. This means it takes twice as long to scan as a proper till. Sometimes I save extra money by not bothering to have a member of staff overseeing these tills and/or taking half of them out of service.

I'm so surprised at the thievery on here.
Yes, it's absolutely hilarious to break off a thumb sized piece of ginger for 9p and trying to hide 12 bottles of wine under it at the self checkout.
(Yes I'm exaggerating)
However , you don't thieve.

I recall walking out of Sainsburys many years ago with a bag of nappies under the trolley that I hadn't paid for. I only realised when I got to my car.
I immediately went back to the store and fessed up. The lady at customer services seemed shocked that I'd come back to confess! She went on to tell me that so many people put nappies on the bottom of their trollies/prams etc.. and didn't pay, that it was almost ignored.

My own cheeky saving story is that, for quite a number of years, we stay at a certain hotel near to a dear family member.
The hotel usually offers a good rate when we go but it charges a blanket £16 for breakfast, irrespective of what you eat.
When we're served we're told to help ourselves to the buffet while they cook our breakfast.

Truth be told, my husband might have poached eggs but I'll have toast. My husband may have a pot of yoghurt while he's waiting.

I can't be bothered with a cooked breakfast as I have IBD and know that we have a long journey home. So I have toast.
But , I MAY, take two tiny pots of jam and take one home.

That's it really ... but it cost a lot!

@Haus1234

I try to avoid stealing in general tbh

Oh God, let it go luv

@ButtercupOfFlorin

Just popping on to remind folks that meanness is a very unattractive quality

Probably said by some judge poster who has no money worries whatsoever

@Sparklingbrook

The number of people taking towels, bedding and anything else that wasn't nailed down was so depressing to read

I like to think that on that thread (and this one) people are just saying stuff to get a reaction and wouldn't don't actually do those things at all.

I think you’re being naive

My son's a security guard and it's actually against the law to detain a shop lifter in this way. Bloody frustrating when you have let the thieving scum go!