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What things are you tight about?

(100 Posts)
lixy Sat 05-Nov-22 17:36:05

I'm in the 'careful' club. I plan meals and shop accordingly so there's rarely food waste here. OH started cutting my hair during lockdown and has kept it up - just a simple bob.

I do spend money on days out both by ourselves and with the Gchn and we all going to the theatre too.

My indulgence is having the windows cleaned every six weeks or so. Our old house was three stories high and I'm not good with ladders. We built a good relationship with our window cleaners and they have carried on cleaning our windows even though we now live in a bungalow!

Like some others have said thriftiness is just automatic.

annsixty Sat 05-Nov-22 17:12:21

Oh my, Sago, TheDrunken Duck.
What memories you have brought back.
My late H and I loved it there when we holidayed in our caravan, more years ago then I care to remember.
The first time we went, we were meeting my H’s colleague and his partner there.
We got hopelessly lost and arrived just as they were starting their meal at a table for two.
Very red faces!!
To return to the subject I am tight about everything now, never waste food, thermostat is down to 16.
Clothes are being re-used more than they ever had and I have never had a manicure or any beauty treatment apart from haircuts, now done at home and costing £22 every five weeks.
I feed people ( family) very well but nothing is wasted.
I don’t actually need to be so parsimonious but it is built in.

AGAA4 Sat 05-Nov-22 17:04:57

I empty ever tube, jar or pump bottle. Not a scrap is left. I keep my clothes going for as long as possible using the well past it ones for doing the housework in.
I won't give up my theatre visits, meals and coffees out as I enjoy them too much.
Very topsy turvy I know.

Skydancer Sat 05-Nov-22 16:53:52

I am always thrilled when I get a letter where the stamp is unmarked. Then I reuse the envelope sealing it with sellotape. Unfortunately with the new barcoded stamps I can't do it any more.

JaneJudge Sat 05-Nov-22 16:53:50

young women are doing online courses to inject their faces with god knows what. This isn't about money or being tight, it's about something quite disturbing imo

Sago Sat 05-Nov-22 16:52:27

I don’t spend money in beauty salons but will buy good cosmetics.
My hair is coloured and cut every 8 weeks but at a reasonably priced salon.
I almost never buy a drink out and when we hike we take a picnic, our extravagance is occasionally eating out at very good restaurants, we love L’Enclume, tomorrow is the Drunken Duck at Outgate.

sodapop Sat 05-Nov-22 16:51:32

Heating, I don't feel the cold so only put the burner on at the end of the day if it's really cold. We don't have central heating.

Blondiescot Sat 05-Nov-22 16:39:19

I'm pretty tight with most things, I think - and especially when it comes to spending money on myself. I never seem to be able to justify it - I always put myself at the bottom of the list of priorities when it comes to spending.

MerylStreep Sat 05-Nov-22 16:38:25

I bought everything needed to do my nails. My granddaughter practiced and practised and now she does mine.
My next door neighbour cuts my hair.

Grandma70s Sat 05-Nov-22 16:13:19

I pay to have my hair cut, but otherwise see to it myself. I just wash it, push it about a bit, and leave it to dry naturally. It looks quite nice. I have never even thought of having my nails ‘done’. Beauty products are Nivea and a bit of lipstick. I’ve had the same lipstick for years! I don’t even know what brand it is. Oh, and I have some L’Oriel blusher.

I like to spend money on good food, flowers, clothes (not as many as I used to) and good theatre/concert seats.

Oldnproud Sat 05-Nov-22 16:01:41

Almost everything.

I would like to defend myself by saying that my married life has made it a necessity, as DH is a complete spendthrift. However, while that is completely true, I suspect that 'being careful' is in my nature anyway - I am a person of extremes, an all or nothing person. Even as a young child, I would make a single sweet last me as long as possible!

It would be much quicker for me to answer the question "What things are you not tight about?"
Actually, no, on reflexion I would struggle to answer that one too. sad

Blossoming Sat 05-Nov-22 15:54:00

I don’t spend money on fake nails, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc.

JaneJudge Sat 05-Nov-22 15:48:50

I paint my on nails too. The beauty industry is hinged on women feeling insecure about themselves sad

Norah Sat 05-Nov-22 15:45:56

Anything we can do ourselves or do without.
Eating in cafes, coffees out, mobile phone, frivolous spending.

Can't/won't do without - new walking shoes often, hair care, dog care, holidays, home at our appropriate temperature summer and winter.

Theexwife Sat 05-Nov-22 15:39:30

I am fortunate enough to be able to afford things that I want or need but am oddly tight when it comes to leftover food.

I have half a tin of tomatoes in the fridge, about 30p worth, instead of just throwing them away am trying to build a meal around them which will involve me going shopping for things I would not have bought otherwise.

The other day I used the oven to refresh half a leftover baguette which probably cost me more than it was worth in electricity.

ginny Sat 05-Nov-22 15:33:26

Anything that comes in a pump bottle. There is always a lot left which the pump can’t reach. I use a a long handled foam ‘brush to get everything out.

V3ra Sat 05-Nov-22 15:12:42

DollyD

My daughter tells me I’m quite extravagant and a bit of a “spender” but I will squeeze the toothpaste tube to within an inch of its life, to get out the last bit.
Weird or what?

After I get to this stage I cut the tube in half and scrape out the rest with my toothbrush. It's surprising how much is still left!
The same goes for hair conditioner and hand cream.
Am I tight? Maybe but I think it's more that I don't like waste.

The one and only time I had a professional manicure and false nails applied was for my daughter's wedding, 20 years ago. I didn't enjoy it and wouldn't go again.

M0nica Sat 05-Nov-22 14:54:02

Ready meals or almost anything that is the ready version of something I can cook for myself. I always have plenty of home made ready meals in my freezer.

With almost any purchase my first thought is 'Can I get it cheaper second-hand.'

crazyH Sat 05-Nov-22 14:46:40

Sorry, I didn’t answer the question - I’m tight about paying for Manicures (I do it myself). My hair, simple straight bob, is cut by my d.i.l. I do have a pedicure occasionally; it’s beginning to get difficult to do myself. I like eating out, but I will only order something which I can’t or don’t know how to cook at home.

crazyH Sat 05-Nov-22 14:41:11

I agree with Doodledog - I posted a £10 ‘King Charles’ souvenir mug to my sis-in-law in Canada. The postage was £15 😫

GagaJo Sat 05-Nov-22 14:40:20

A lot of things.

* Cars. I won't spend a lot on a car. If it's tidy and reliable, it's fine.

* Utilities at the moment. Haven't had the heating on yet.

* My hair. I have it cut a couple of times a year BUT I don't mind too much how much it costs if I find a hairdresser I like. Dye it myself. Never had a hairdressers dye job I liked.

Happy to pay for some things. I pay for a cleaner. Buy good quality food, especially for my DGS. Good, width fitted Clarks shoes for him.

It's all about what you value, isn't it?

Doodledog Sat 05-Nov-22 14:30:00

Postage costs. It makes no sense, but I hate seeing £5 or something added to the price of something for postage. I know it's daft, but I will spend far more on half-wanted items to make the total up to the 'free postage' stage rather than pay it.

Davida1968 Sat 05-Nov-22 14:21:39

Haircuts. I have a simple mid-length "bob" which only needs cutting about every ten weeks. I gave up on colouring, years ago & I'm happy with my "own" colour. So it's a simple "cut & blow-dry" at the hairdressers.

DollyD Sat 05-Nov-22 14:06:51

My daughter tells me I’m quite extravagant and a bit of a “spender” but I will squeeze the toothpaste tube to within an inch of its life, to get out the last bit.
Weird or what?

snowberryZ Sat 05-Nov-22 13:57:57

With me it's nails.
I refuse to pay £30 every three weeks to a nail salon when i can buy nail polish and do it myself. And there are some good ones out there now.
OK it chips after a day or so, but I usually only want to wear it for the odd night out here and there so don't really need it to last.
I've had women say Your nails look really nice, not realising it's bog standard bought from boots nail polish.confused
I spend a lot on my hair but am tight fisted when it comes to nails.
What's your thing?