Cheapskate tips for the credit crunch

[HelenD123]

No, Arch lives in a rented flat, it's her own leccy.... Anyway, as rich so helpfully pointed out, I can just reuse the envelope and stamp together (as long as the weight doesn't exceed the postage provided.

You could just add extra stamps up to the required amount.

 

[Arch]

You could just add extra stamps up to the required amount.

Oh yes, I know, it's just knowing if it's exceeded it. I can weigh it at work - not sure I'd have the front to go to the post office, with it being a treasonable stamp and all that.

 

[HelenD123]

Good point! You could just go to the Post Office and innocently ask them to check you'd put the correct amount on, unless it obviously looks like a used stamp. Anyway, I think we've covered all possible stamp/envelope options!

 

[Arch]

Good point! You could just go to the Post Office and innocently ask them to check you'd put the correct amount on, unless it obviously looks like a used stamp. Anyway, I think we've covered all possible stamp/envelope options!

True, time to move on perhaps...

 

[Lurker]

Now that we've done stamp/envelope permutations... how about this for a cheapskate tip? When your toothpaste tube's nearly empty, just cut it in half with bathroom scissors so that you can use up the last dregs of toothpaste from each half. This will give about 10 person-days' worth of toothpaste (approx). Or has this already been suggested?

 

[Amanda P]

I was listening to a discussion the radio at lunchtime today about shops' strategies to attract customers, and whether we should use discount vouchers and all that.

No-one said that you probably shouldn't use the voucher just because you have it. So I'll say it: when someone gives you a 10p off voucher - don't use it unless you were going to buy the thing it discounts anyway.

This doesn't save money so much as stop you spending it unnecessarily in the first place.

This may seem obvious, but believe me, I know some people to whom it's far from obvious...

 

[peanut]

blimey ol riley I can't be assed to read all 11 pages so apologies if this has already been suggested.

Last month I bought of 4x 3mm clear acrylic sheets and taped them inside ,over my draughty single glazed timber windows .Boy does that make a difference. zero drafts.

Then i bought 2x cheap bed blankets from the local charity shops and hung them over the back and front doors in the kitchen. Tight to the walls all round its really toasty now.

I still use the heating but this winter I have been wearing a thick sweatshirt and fleece jacket around the house and I've noticed the difference .

 

[cchapman]

Another tip, people down on their luck may be given supermarket vouchers by charities such as the salvation army which they can then spend on groceries with the restriction that no tobacco or alcohol be bought with them. Consequently at the checkout there will be people hanging around offering to sell their vouchers for a discount. I bought $50 of vouchers for $30 the other day and everybody was happy, except the salvation army perhaps.

And yes op-shops in Australia are where charities sell donated goods, I think they are called thrift shops in the USA. Apart from clothes they are also good sources for books and cd's, some people trawl them for rare vinyl.

 

[swee'pea99]

when someone gives you a 10p off voucher - don't use it unless you were going to buy the thing it discounts anyway.

This doesn't save money so much as stop you spending it unnecessarily in the first place.

This may seem obvious, but believe me, I know some people to whom it's far from obvious...

In a similar vein, I was amazed when picking up an ebay printer recently (from round the corner in Norf London) to find that the guy had recently had two people pick up printers they'd won for 99p (and were very pleased with themselves). One had driven from Liverpool, t'other had come from the Isle of Wight! So, when you're 'saving money' on ebay, don't forget to include all the costs, including petrol if applicable. Again, really obvious but...

 

[gratts]

If anyone treats themself to something off Wiggle then the code 'YJUGA-D8ANK' gets you £5 off if you spend over £25