What tight-fisted, miserly habits would you not admit to in real life?

[FluffyHamster]

I know it's very trendy to be frugal in this age of austerity, but sometimes I do things which even shock me in terms of how tight-fisted and frugal they seem...

e.g. I...

• save all the 'return' envelopes you get in junk mail/ credit card bills etc and use them with a sticker over for school letters etc.

• pick up the red elastic bands the postman drops

• cut up old T-shirts etc to use as cleaning cloths

• save anything with a 'blank side' and put it in a 'scrap paper' tray for use as shopping lists/ kids homework scraps etc

• always take the pens/pencils/pads from hotels/ conferences etc

What about you?

Thanks vintage, have just been onto Amazon and ordered a pack of cards - I always leave it to the last minute and end up buying full price ones - mounts up!

Miserly dinner of today: fishfinger sandwiches, made from the last few fish fingers in a few boxes.

Never buy anything full price if I can help it, will usually try and wait until there is a special offer/ sale on.

In the supermarket, chop and change brands depending on what is cheapest at the time or will leave buying something 'til next time if it's not reduced enough.

I also stock up on the cards 7 for £1.

Use quidco/ topcashback, and discount codes for all internet purchases. Look for vouchers online if we're eating out/ doing something.

Hang up clothes instead of using tumble drier. Walk instead of drive when I can. Lidl nappies and asda/ morrisons value wipes at 18p a pack - both brilliant!.

Always look at the reduced section in shops. Clothes have to be at least half price (but usually much less) unless I need them for a specific occasion.

Buy mobile phone top ups in Boots to use vouchers and get points.

At xmas, regift wine and chocolates if I can to save buying more.

Hard to think - it's so ingrained in me to be tight, that it all comes naturally! Some of these things will readily admit to, others not so much.

I help myself to the sugar sachets in cafes etc. Then when I go to the park (particularly on a cold day) I'll make up a flask of tea & use said sugars.

I also reuse A4 envelopes & blank on one side flyers etc for notes.

I regularly swap books & buy CDs from Amazon market place which can be loads cheaper.

Finally I use vinegar for various housework tasks, much cheaper than usual products.

Reading this I realise I'm equally tight-fisted! Yes, swapping books is a great way to get hold of things you really want - I do the charity-shop thing too.
In my experience just about everything turns up eventually, if you're happy to wait. 'Never walk past a charity shop' could be my motto....

If I've got any lemons or limes looking a bit tired in the fruitbowl I try to remember to squeeze them before they die - freeze the juice in ice-cube trays and they're good for adding to cooking when you want some citrus (or even in a gin and tonic if really desperate).

Waste paper gets kept and used on the other side for printing, and then when it's finally done with, it goes in the shredder and then on the compost heap.

Always check the 'reduced' section of the supermarket. You can freeze things if not eating them immediately. The Waitrose where my mum lives is always practically giving stuff away - I can't work out how they manage to stay open.

All the above may well be mean but it gives me great satisfaction!

I do so many of these! I make my own popcorn to go to the cinema and take my own drinks etc.

I refuse to buy sandwiches or full-price greetings cards, it just makes me too mad! I either make cards or get big packs of generic cards without messages for cheap in The Works or charity shops and use those. I'm always sending cards to people through the post for silly reasons anyway, so they come in handy.

If I see a nice wallpaper in a DIY shop sometimes I'll take a sample and use it to wrap a present... I know I shouldn't but they're so pretty!

I turn ziplock bags inside out and wash them so I can reuse them. I do the freezing lemon/lime juice as well, also sometimes if I have loads of them I cut them into slices and freeze those. Really nice in a glass of lemonade.

I hate paying full price for books, I love finding them in charity shops (I should really start using the library more, too!) I do find myself in charity shops saying "£2! For a book! What do you take me for?" so perhaps this whole frugality thing has gone too far...

We lived next to the London Marathon course for a few years, and my neighbour had trained her kids to (safely) run out into the road between the runners and pick up all of the discarded (smelly) t- shirts from the road; they were all washed and provided a years worth of clothes for the family.

My mum did the one about diluting the ketchup with vinegar to make it last.
Until I unsuspectingly grabbed the bottle,turned it upside down and gave an almightly shake...ended up with a dinner covered in ketchup and vinegar.

Nice.