Do you have any irrational economies?

Greatnan Fri 02-Dec-11 16:42:16

I used to have a gas cooker that had to be lit with a match,and I used to save the spent match to light one burner from another. Eventually, I realised how daft it was and bought a petrol wand ( I have never been able to use a cigarette lighter)

My latest economy is perhaps not so silly, as it is saving water (not that we are short of it round here!) My toilet broke, and while I was waiting for the plumber I had to use a bucket to flush. Next day, when the toilet was repaired, I looked at my full bath and thought .......hm, no point in wasting that. Now, I use it to wash my previous day's clothes, as I have no machine, and then to flush the toilet. My water is metered, so it probably is saving me a tiny amount of cash, but it mainly makes me feel good thatI am not wasting a resource that is so scarce in some parts of the world.

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kittylester Sat 03-Dec-11 20:46:02

jingl that made me laugh too!

I have a friend who goes from supermarket to supermarket buy the cheapest items in each - must cost twice as much in petrol as she saves!

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grannyactivist Sun 04-Dec-11 00:50:11

According to my husband all of our economies are rational. But then he did warn me before we married that his motto in life was, 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without'. confused

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riclorian Sun 04-Dec-11 11:15:57

My Grandmother ( who was well off ) would buy a new carpet and promptly put the old one on top !!!! I also waste a lot of water waiting for the hot to come through to the kitchen and DH has decided that it is cheaper , as we are on a meter , to fill and use the kettle .Another economy of mine is to save inner bags of cereal boxes , they come in very handy for storing food in fridge and freezer as they are water proof . What an interesting thread , please keep ideas coming as we all need to economise at the moment .

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Elegran Sun 04-Dec-11 11:22:23

riclorian and then the new carpet wore out twice as fast because of the uneven underlay ......

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Greatnan Sun 04-Dec-11 18:47:13

My mother worked with a woman who spent money on hardly anything other than the basic necessities. She said she was saving for her retirement, when she would have all the holidays she wanted. She died at 60 and her widower remarried a much younger woman who had a whale of a time spending the cash. Carpe Diem.

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Ariadne Sun 04-Dec-11 21:28:07

Carpe diem indeed! Greatnan, are you not about to leave? Will miss you, but enjoy every minute.

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Seventimesfive Sun 04-Dec-11 22:45:41

jingl etc. George at Asda do surprisingly good knickers and much cheaper than M&S!

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glassortwo Mon 05-Dec-11 00:01:57

Asda no VPL knockers at great and only £2.50 a pair.

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glassortwo Mon 05-Dec-11 00:03:08

hmm knickers

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grannyactivist Mon 05-Dec-11 00:07:06

Asda no VPL knockers at great and only £2.50 a pair.????
glass have you been at the wine ?

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Ariadne Mon 05-Dec-11 03:56:32

Wow! There's a 24 hour Asda just down the road. Will they notice my fleece dressing gone and dainty sheepskin booties? Could with a new pair. grin

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shysal Mon 05-Dec-11 09:18:21

At my local Asda I saw a lady in dressing gown and slippers last week (11 a.m.). I have seen this closer to the city, but it's a first in my village! I would not have the nerve. shock