Please tell me I'm not the only one - extreme saving

[Bitsandbobs2]

I noticed lots of people in real life and social media started saving this year.
We are not rich by any means - we even receive top up from UC. So ideas about batch cooking, bargains, saving, etc are always with me.
However, this is first time in my life that I noticed that other people's saving plans affecting me in funny way and I believe some of them have zero clue about reality and realistic budget/saving goals:
*Our neighbour - has an idea to save 20k this year on 35k salary and constantly asking me to "be her taxi" as she ran out of petrol budget this week . She will send her son to my door every weekend "to say hi" as she knows I'm batch cooking snacks, so he'll be "ohhhh,smells so good, I would like to have it for my packed lunch". Of course I'll offer some to him .
*My colleague - single, no kids, earns 2x my salary. Decided to save on lunches, taking odd sandwich from home and literally stealing coffee sachets or cookies from my drawer . Coffee sachets are treat as I love coffee and I ended up buying second pack last week!
*Other colleague - 3x my salary, decided to save more than 20k this year for travel around the world, stealing toilet paper from work so we all need to buy our own as housekeeping top up it twice a week and it disappears in first 10 minutes. Hand wash too.
*My friend - constantly asking to be free childcare for her daughter as she has a "saving goal" and can't afford wrap around care.
I'm not even talking about social media - saw some crazy stuff like stealing colleagues crisps as craving but can't go over budget, etc.
I'm not talking about people who really struggling, I'm talking about people with good salaries and unrealistic saving goals!
Anyone else?

Why on earth are you letting them grift off you?
People like this
Grifters or chancers are known as Cheeky Fuckers these days.
Learn to say No

This is just stealing. You need to stand up to them and start saying no as you sound like a soft touch.

Tell them all to do one! Why should you subsidise their stupid choices?

I haven’t noticed anyone in real life stealing off me. It’s just your life. Perhaps they view you as a sucker. Learn to be assertive. I find two words word well ‘fuck off’ or 3 words even better ‘fuck right off’!

The only one thing I still do- I give neighbours son some baked treats as child is not responsible for her mothers choices and crazy ideas. She massively cut his packed lunch too, I'm pretty sure it's not even enough for him to be full.
Not doing lifts anymore as I have limited budget for petrol too and no more free childcare.
Coffee sachets and any sweet treats are locked in my changing room locker since last Friday.
I'm still with toilet roll from home in my handbag though:)))

I would stop giving the neighbors child treats and report her go social services if you feel she isn't feeding him enough and he keeps pestering you for food.

I would also report to toilet roll thief to management. Maybe give her a chance to fix it first " Thief, it is ridiculous that you are stealing all the toilet rolls, there's none left for us to use day to day. You need to stop it or I will be forced to report you"

I can't believe how many people you've allow to take advantage of you, pleased to hear you are wising up to it.

I would draw a line at the treats as well! You don’t have to be men’s - just say there’s none left.

Saving doesn’t mean taking from others.

Honestly, I am all for saving money but that is not an excuse to sponge off others. I would absolutely not be a taxi service or feed the neighbours who come scrounging for a handout. And I would not be taking on any childcare - except in an utter emergency - because that is the parents' responsibility. There is little lower behaviour than stealing office loo paper and soap. I'd be stealing some first (a modest amount) and keeping it in my handbag. I would absolutely call out anybody stealing my coffee - asking why they think it is okay to steal from you. People don't steal from me because they know they would be challenged - there has to be some benefit to having a law degree.

I think in January a lot it’s quite normal to assess your finances and make changes, especially straight after Christmas.

However, the examples you’ve given are unusual, and you have a lot of thieves amongst your cohort.

I’m glad you’ve stopped being a taxi service and locked your coffee away. Stealing from work, even toilet rolls, could cause your colleague to be in trouble at work. Don’t become free childcare for your friend. These friends can afford childcare, petrol etc, just choose not to, and it’s not your job to make up the difference.

Toilet roll - we reported it. The same person stole jam sachets and butter from our staff canteen (we have bread/butter/jam provided by employer). However, HR was not interested and that person stopped taking jam/butter only because our boss noticed it.

I don't think this happened.

These people want to save money by fleecing you, unbelievable! The toilet roll theif would really piss me off, I’d be grassing her up straight away.

I’d suggest all these people stealing can’t afford to save . Protect yourself OP , their savings goals should not be at your expense .

Me either

What sort of employer doesn't provide tea and coffee?

As for the sweet treats, you are just being a mug. His shameless mother's penny pinching ways isn't your problem.

I have no words for the loo roll thief. Other than CALLING HER OUT.

In fact, I have never encountered people like this. May they never find me.

Only breakfast tea and Nescaffe coffee provided. And it's very limited - one jar Nescaffe and 2 packs of tea for 27, per month. We usually ran out on the second week.
I usually treat myself with coffee sachets - caramel latte, etc.

You know a lot of specific information about the salaries and savings goals of your friends and neighbours. Very odd.

Sounds like people who “give up smoking” and are forever scrounging one. What they mean is they’ve given up buying their own.

When people mention the snacks etc just “I’ll send you the recipe!”

What sort of employer doesn't provide tea and coffee?

So many places!!!! Penguin head office did 20-odd years ago but nowhere I've worked since

As PP have said these are just thieving to enable them to save

Public sector? I’ve never had tea or coffee provided in 33 years

I am really surprised free flowing tea and coffee isn't a thing anymore.

Omg no. There's saving and then there's stealing and using people ! Absolutely not!

How do you know what everyone earns and their savings goals?

Exactly. Stealing from your workplace/friends and sponging off people is not saving: it's theft and grifting.