Really mean things people do to save money.

My dad was the only one in the household who drank real ground coffee, though I seem to remember Camp Coffee being used in my granny's house. As students, we bought a huge tin of own brand instant coffee which didn't bear much similarity to the real thing and the coffee they sold in some of the coffee shops was more like washing-up water! However, going to live in Kenya where they grew it was a revelation.

Yes, that's all that was on offer I think. No one in our circles drank 'real' coffee!

I do remember powdery Nescafe as well.

You can still buy Camp coffee rose.

I can't remember a time when instant coffee wasn't readily available, I must say. My grandparents drank it, certainly (and they were ordinary, working-class folk!).

Coffee was too expensive and rarely served

I remember Camp coffee - a liquid mix of coffee and chicory.

No one has been abusive to you.

And are you really new to internet forums?

This thread has prompted some great hints on saving and poignant memories of our mothers and grandmothers making ends meet.
My advice to you, Daddima is 'Let it Go!'

I am new to internet forums, so don't know the form.

Should I start a " money saving" thread?

Once again, I must say, the post is about meanness, not thriftiness or good money saving tips.

There's meanness and meanness of spirit

Just sayin'

It is worth saying that in many of our early lives it wasn't meanness it was rationing. The allowances were very small indeed and children did have to take second place. A joint did have to last several days and took many guises. My mother was a good cook and we had an allotment so lived quite well comparatively. But meals were boring and today's choice would amaze my mother, born in1904.

Like Gagagran there were six of us. My mother was not the best of cooks and I remember a joint on a Sunday, cold (fatty) meat on a Monday, some sort of broth from the bone on a Tuesday, then a cheaper version of spam, one tin between 8 of us, mince (1/2 lb) or occasionally sausage. Sometimes we had trout when Dad had been fishing or rabbit if he went out with his homemade bow and arrow! He also grew vegetables in the garden which my mother managed to make a mush out of!

I had to help with and then take over baking on a Saturday - a sandwich cake, buns and an apple pie for Sunday, the only pudding of the week with Bird's custard.
We had cornflakes for breakfast every day (for the 18 years I lived at home). One pack lasted a week, and bread and cheap marg (co-op Red Seal) for tea. We collected wild blackberries, crab apples, damsons and gooseberries in season with which she made jam which lasted all year.

At Christmas we had an orange.

I would like to say 'Happy Days' but I remember always being hungry!

There were five of us so Mum had a hard task feeding a family of seven on little money. We had fruit trees and a greenhouse so had things like tomato sandwiches and stewed apple for tea. Maybe cake - always home-made and plain. Always fresh veg and potatoes (usually mashed). There were no likes and dislikes allowed - you ate what was put in front of you however simple the meal. Meat was served in small portions with Dad always getting the most and choicest bits. We drank water or tea. Coffee was too expensive and rarely served. Mum prided herself that by the age of 13 all her 3 daughters could make a Sunday lunch, including proper Yorkshire Pudding and a sponge cake for Sunday tea without supervision.

Vegetarians were very few and far between and regarded as a oddballs so my 13 and 14 year old granddaughters would have had a hard time of it had they dared to suggest being veggie!

Chin up, Daddima - we have some good tips now on saving money and a good Christmas pudding recipe!!

Matella, you are correct, there is a lot more to this forum posting than I thought! I have read things with which I don't agree, or seen attitudes which puzzle me, but I have never felt the need to castigate the posters, as I don't know the circumstances, or I may not have gauged the spirit correctly. Being quite new to this, I'm not terribly keen to use little smiley pictures to make sure I don't offend anybody!

We live and learn.

My mum would try to make one tin of baked beans go round 4 of us. She was quite penny pinching in many ways. "Oh that costs a lot of money" My parents were not well off but managed money carefully.

Flipping heck Ana maybe he did and I was cup number 3 from the tea bag of the day

Daddima, that is the trouble with posting. It is difficult to gauge the spirit in which things are written. I suppose that is what emoticons are for and I guess there is a reason why there isn't one for "spit" .
I have to say thank you for raising the topic though because it has led to many enjoyable posts.
Although I am not desperately hard up these days I was when the children were little and I did enjoy the challenge of making a meal out of very little while still providing a nutritious tasty meal, and I still do. When we eat out I cannot help but think "I could feed us for a week for that".
Old habits die hard!!

You'd have thought he'd have used that teabag at least four times!

I laugh at myself now, but when we were young and short of money I actually sewed teabags in half (IYSWIM) using my electric sewing machine! What an idiot...

I went to an old guy in our village years ago to deliver a prize he had won.

He asked if I would like a cup of tea , which I accepted. His kettle was on an angle and I noticed there was a wedge shaped piece of wood underneath to angle it. I asked what it was for. He said you save on your electric if you only just cover the element with water so it doesn't burn out. . I said what even if you are making two cups he said "Oh I'm not having one now you want one , I shall HAVE TO wait for tea time before I use another tea bag.

He died with more money than anybody expected of him .

Oh dear

"The good news is that when she died we had a lovely time spending all her dosh!"

Did you really think that would go down well Daddima?

No one has been abusive to you daddima.