Superscrimpers

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Been watching this for a couple of weeks (for wont of anything else to do ) and this is the first one that has made me want to post comment. I assumed there would already be a thread about it, but clearly I'm a saddo who worries too much about these things

The woman makes me so cross. They are saying they don't have any savings and no money to get married and she is spending so much money on crap she doesn't need! It's not like she's buying physical things she could later sell on/return/gift.. it's all taxi's and mobile phone bills. £40 a week on kids clothes? She's frigging BONKERS!

ahh.... that's better

Did you see the woman who buys boys pants as they last longer and have better elastic?

I think all the people on the programme have sent their handy shit 'tips' into Take A Break.

Place mats made from hideous 80's curtains? pass

Picking up red elastic bands discarded by the postie? pass

Ah yes, shit tips.

Some few of the ideas are good, like how to cut credit card debt etc... most are just tight though, rather than just thrifty.

There's a difference between cutting back and saving money where you can and being a complete tight arse and living a miserable existance when you don't have to.

I don't like shows that tackle money on such a superficial level. How to get good deals on bills, shop efficiently etc are good tips, but making your own placemats? How much does the average person spend on placemats in their lifetime? They always go on about things like making your own clothes - again, not a money-saver as all the bits and pieces you need are expensive. But learning how to eBay well (I think it's a skill!) can mean you spend less on stuff and get better quality things to show for it, as well as making money back when you sell them on.

The thing is, lots of these money saving exercises can take a lot of time (the placemats is a good example). Personally, I put a value on my own time, so if it's going to take me an hour to make something that would is low cost, I don't consider it a good use of my time. If I can save money by making my own curtains rather than paying somebody else too though, that makes sense.

If I could make my own clothes that actually looked good, then I probably would. I think I could probably make little dresses fairly successfully, but I think DS would object

Wearing boys pants is just weird.. I don't care how much longer they last.

coastgirl -completely agree, ebaying well is definitely a skill, as is buying wisely (especially children's clothes) with a view to ebaying them later. Sometimes buying more expensive brands can cost less in the long run as they have a better resale value :)

The old women they have on that programme are hilarious. "You just have to cut up the whatsit, add some lemon juice, rearrange it into a thingummy, and lo and behold, you've saved yourself 10p!"

Also hilarious - but probably not to his family - was the guy who, thousands of pounds in debt, didn't want to swap up his BMW(?) 4x4 for a Ford family car, because, "I like luxury brands, they're who I am."

I hate all that crap about using lemons etc for cleaning. Maybe it's good from an eco point of view but when it comes to money saving, lemons are about £1 a bag and wouldn't last long - whereas a bottle of spray cleaner can be bought from any pound shop and would last ages.

What channel is it on?

Have you seen the ads for that voucher hunters show? Coupon something or other? Basically they cut all the coupons and save HEAPS. or so they say!! I doubt buying 24 packets of Ariel is cost efficient!!

Channel 4 on Wednesdays Ithink.

Not seen the coupon thing, sounds like a Sky special