Inspired by the budget thread - what's the strangest 'frugal' habit?

[KimR]

When we were kids we used to play Yahtzee at my grandparent's house. My grandfather used to make us ERASE the scores on the Yahtzee pad instead of just crossing them out and using the next column!

Also, DH used to know someone who would pull all of the grapes off of the stems at the grocery store before putting them in the bag so he wouldn't have to pay for the stems (hey, that's an extra .0002 ounces at $.99 per ounce - I guess it does add up after a while! )

 

[minniepumpernickel]

This is horrible, and in some circles could surely be considered immoral.I had a roommate who would eat loose food at the grocery store before paying for it. She used to eat fruit, nuts, anything that she could stuff into her mouth quickly.

Very strange indeed. I would never go to the store with her after seeing this behaviour.

 

[skiwee1]

The strangest I've ever heard was here. I still can't believe anyone would buy an extra roll to go with a double burger! I say buy the other burger whether you can eat it or not. Don't be so cheap. Putting on the flame suit as we speak! LOL!

 

[Maleficent13]

When my grandmother would make Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, she would only use half the packet of cheese. She'd fold up the rest and use it with her own noodles the next time.

It wasn't very good.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

lol my grandmother would never give any one a whole piece of gum. She would always tear it in half.

 

[Jolie C]

Washing out and reusing ziploc bags. Seriously, I know someone who does this.

 

[dizagain]

Had a friend as a kid whose family rule was "two squares of t.p."on a visit to the restroom. They actually told me this but fortunately I was left on my own...they didn't actually check! I was worried as a kid, though, so I followed the rules!

 

[monarchsfan16]

My stepdad washes and reuses plastic forks, spoons and knives. It's only a few bucks for a pack of about 600 at Sams Club. I really don't think he needs to do that. Especially since he washes them by hand and doesn't get everything off.
When he buys the plastic disposable plates he also washes and reuses those. EWWW.

 

[cardaway]

Anytime somebody would go a half hour (or more) out of their way to save a couple bucks. How much do you value your time? I doubt they realize how little they are, in effect, paying themselves.

 

[KimR]

I thought of another one: we were having dinner at my in-laws one night and I spilled some ice tea. I got a paper towel in order to clean up the mess (it wasn't a big spill) and all of a sudden my MIL yelled 'NO!!! - those are expensive!' (it was an ordinary paper towel, most likely bought in an economical 100-roll pack from Sam's). She then snatched the paper towel out of my hand, neatly fold it back up over the towel-holder bar, and proceeded to go into the laundry room to get a mop to clean up the tiny puddle of tea.

 

[hercamore]

A neighbor used to wash and reuse paper plates. How, I don't know!

My SIL washes and reuses disposable plastic plantes, and plasticware, cups.

What's the point. Jut use regular dishes if you're going to cleaarn them. More sanitary.


herc.

 

[phillybeth]

My FIL washes and reuses DENTAL FLOSS.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

DH and his buddy were staying at an Embassy Suites in Chicago. Most of you probably know that a full breakfast is included in your stay. The hours for the breakfast was 6 AM-11 or noon. DH suggested they get up and eat an early breakfast and then eat again for lunch before they checked out. THey actually did this

Same buddy used to live in FL and travel to Cincinnati 2-3 times per year. He would have his son save his cup from the first McDonalds they stopped at and get free "refills" at each McDonald's along the way.

I'm hard pressed to beat the grapes in the OP, however.

 

[momm2four]

It may be worth it to some, but to me the biggest waste of time for the amount you save is when people save the tissue paper from gifts, iron it and reuse it when they give gifts. Ditto for wrapping paper.

Lori P.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

You're supposed to iron the tissue paper before reusing it?! Oh, and just what is the problem with washing ziploc bags, anyway?

 

[HollyJoy]

I have quite a few! LOL I use only fill the lid of the detergent bottle half way when I wash clothes. I also reuse giftbags (doesn't everyone do this?). I have also gotten the girls to make birthday cards when they go to parties. Much cheaper! I try to reuse ziploc bags (only those that aren't used for meat or veggies).. just rinse them out and let them dry! I'll often buy paperplates at the dollar store and use them for quick dinners instead of dirtying our regular dishes and having to wash them.

 

[CajunDixie]

I remember when I was about 6 eating a PB sandwich at my aunts and her patting my on the head and telling me I did a good job of not getting the paper plate dirty. She then knocked the crumbs into the trash and put the plate back into the cupboard. After that I was scared to eat at her house.

 

[kbeverina]

My mom did a lot of these things when we were growing up--we knew better than to throw the dixie cup away, had to be used until the bottom was falling out. Re-used paper plates, never even had paper napkins (good thing we were all very neat), saved wrapping paper and bows, etc. When we drank through half a gallon of milk, she would mix it with powdered milk to make a full gallon again and she would pick a moldy piece off a piece of bread and use it. Always re-used foil, of course.

I also used to wash the pieces of saran wrap doing the dishes at night and lay them over the faucet to dry--this was after she broke the dishwasher when she would put it in there to wash and re-use.

 

[Pongo69]

Originally posted by skiwee1
The strangest I've ever heard was here. I still can't believe anyone would buy an extra roll to go with a double burger! I say buy the other burger whether you can eat it or not. Don't be so cheap. Putting on the flame suit as we speak! LOL!

ROFLMAO

 

[Pig Pen]

My grandmother grew up during the depression and I think she did everything described above including rationing the toilet paper. When we would visit she would measure out shampoo into the cap and leave it in the shower for us. We weren't allowed to squeeze out our own.

She used evaporated milk and diluted down to chalky water. YUK!

Living in farm country, she would knock on people's doors after they were done picking watermelons, squash or whatever and ask if she could "glean their fields." She would spend hours picking up all the beans, etc., that were dropped or overlooked. This was just a few years ago too!

She used rubbing alcohol instead of deoderant (it didn't work)!

I'm sure there are lots of other things she did, but I just can't remember.

We always believed she was nuts, but now it just seems very sad.