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?

I wonder that too @Ffsmakeitstop, Ds was certainly not on minimum wage and he did care if someone was stealing. Same as my friend who still works in a supermarket. God forbid they take a bit of pride in their jobs or care about their work.

Of course the Royal Mail is NOT part of the government. Nor is the Post Office. Both were privatised years ago.

People who steal are criminals. They are also stupid. Profits should be fair and not exploitative, but unless everything is publicly owned and run, profits are needed to pay wages and to fund company pensions, sick pay, holiday pay etc. Taxes on profits (and earnings, of course) pay for the NHS, schools, welfare benefits etc. People who steal reduce profits. This not only pushes up prices but also reduces the amount of money available to fund services that we all rely on.

Of course, if people are in very dire straits, that is a rather different matter. But I don't think anyone contributing to this thread fits that description.

@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.

@Saracen why on earth don't you just ask for a glass of tap water rather than chugging an entire bottle, probably affecting your appetite, before you go in. It's a perfectly acceptable thing to do when you're paying for food. Also filling up dc is not a wise thing before charging around soft play for an hour.

@monroeagogo

I have to say, this thread went somewhere different than I anticipated

I think the lack of definition of 'cheeky' was the issue. You now have tales of people being genuinely frugal through to outright theft.

Just as I was getting over the woman who though she was clean by simply letting water run over her and never touching her body let alone using soap of any other product, today it's not even 7am and I've discovered that some people don't wear socks and believe that no women do/should. Now we have someone who bathes with her face masks!! I always think I I've got to the point where nothing will surprise me but yet here we are...... 😆

Go on Money Saving Expert and there’s loads of “cheeky” ways to save money. Buying a £2 one off ttt try abel insurance to qualify for 2 for 1 Meerkat Movies is a personal favourite. My own one is if I’m out and near M&S, buy the 2 litre sparking water for 55p instead of the 500ml for about 79p.

ttt try abel = travel

@NewPapaGuinea

Go on Money Saving Expert and there’s loads of “cheeky” ways to save money. Buying a £2 one off ttt try abel insurance to qualify for 2 for 1 Meerkat Movies is a personal favourite. My own one is if I’m out and near M&S, buy the 2 litre sparking water for 55p instead of the 500ml for about 79p.

M&S is terrible for that. You can buy the large sharing bottle of Coke for about 99p but the individual one costs about £1.80. Their flavoured water is the same. £1.60 for the small and 70p for the big one in the next aisle 😆

Years ago, o2 used to offer £1 lunches on Mondays from places like Upper Crust. At the time you just had to show the code (expired after 15 minutes from activation). Paddington Station used to have 2, so you’d go to each one with same code and get 2 days of lunch for £2.

I find it hilarious how people find stealing from a multibillion pound company offensive. They steal from you on a daily basis by charging well over the odd for what they are selling. Like shop assistance who are paid minimum wage and worry someone steals. I would be condoning that at this stage with the cost of everything. Plus isn't royal mail part government and isn't the government continuously increasing taxes to give themselves raises.

If people are stealing from multimillion pound companies, who do you think is going to bothered/affected by it first - the CEO (on their 6 or 7 figure salary) or the shop assistant...? If people continually steal then its the shop floor staff who will be trying to make the til balance or see someone blatantly steal something but not be able to do anything. Then, to mitigate this, once noticed at a higher level, prices of things would go up (which you object to) to allow for a certain amount to be stolen, and probably wages stabilised. Or worse, shop staff could be held accountable and face consequences. I imagine the people earning the most have the least consequences from people "cheekily" taking something extra or putting everything on the self checkout through as onions or whatever....
If someone is genuinely stealing because they are hungry and had no food then understandable but that isn't the case in most incidences.

@NewPapaGuinea

Or drink tap water?

Bottled water is the biggest con since 1990.

Plastic waste

Old water

Or drink tap water?

Bottled water is the biggest con since 1990.

Plastic waste

Old water

I agree with still water - bit difficult to get sparkling water from the average tap, though.

I still wouldn't pay 55p for two litres, though - it's 17p from several of the bigger supermarkets.

I cut out old Christmas cards and use them as gift rages the following Christmas. And the blank backs if the cards I keep for shopping lists.

"M&S is terrible for that. You can buy the large sharing bottle of Coke for about 99p but the individual one costs about £1.80. Their flavoured water is the same. £1.60 for the small and 70p for the big one in the next aisle 😆"

There are economies of scale everywhere, but if you're on foot they don't really work. I have to buy the more expensive little packet of everything unless I want to be constantly going to the shop and back.
Bottled water I would think people mainly buy when out and about though so a smaller bottle is more practical.

@intwrferingma

I cut out old Christmas cards and use them as gift rages the following Christmas. And the blank backs if the cards I keep for shopping lists.

I do this too. And with birthday cards.

@intwrferingma

I cut out old Christmas cards and use them as gift rages the following Christmas. And the blank backs if the cards I keep for shopping lists.

I do the same. Better than recycling them!

So do I

Gift tags

@Gwenhwyfar

"M&S is terrible for that. You can buy the large sharing bottle of Coke for about 99p but the individual one costs about £1.80. Their flavoured water is the same. £1.60 for the small and 70p for the big one in the next aisle 😆"

There are economies of scale everywhere, but if you're on foot they don't really work. I have to buy the more expensive little packet of everything unless I want to be constantly going to the shop and back.
Bottled water I would think people mainly buy when out and about though so a smaller bottle is more practical.

Why would you have to be constantly going to the shop and back if you didn't buy expensive little packs

Surely it's the other way round. Big packs = less trips?

Has anyone mentioned re-using teabags yet? 😂 I do this. You can use the same bag twice and it's fine, but by the third cup it starts to taste a bit stewed.

I’ve started using one between two.

I think the little bottles/packs of things obviously have a place though. If you’re on a work away trip and haven’t brought a packed lunch for example, you’re more likely to get a meal deal with a little bottle of coke than whip out a two litre bottle and just start swigging it. Same if you’re having a day out in another city, while a smaller bottle is more expensive it’s also more convenient. Although I always try and buy multipacks then if I want such and such (crisps, can of coke) on a day out I bring it with me to save money.

@FlyingGeeseAgain

I’ve started using one between two.

Ah yeah I do that with teabags too.

"Surely it's the other way round. Big packs = less trips?"

No because I can only carry a certain amount. I had to buy dishwasher salts the other day. I couldn't buy anything else on that trip as it's only sold in massive packs.

@ScrumpyBetty

Has anyone mentioned re-using teabags yet? 😂 I do this. You can use the same bag twice and it's fine, but by the third cup it starts to taste a bit stewed.

But then the tea is weaker so it's a false economy unless you like weak tea, like all of the 'watering down' ideas.