The Official BITOG Cheapskate Thread

[oilyriser]

Originally Posted By: Vilan
Originally Posted By: Kestas
In this weather I chill my ice cubes and groceries outside before putting them in the refrigerator to save on electricity.


I see you're also so cheap that you resurrect old cheapskate threads rather than start a new one.

I'd take the groceries inside while they have free heat from the store. Putting them in the fridge sucks out the heat and recovers it to my home. If I were really nuts, I'd put my trash in the fridge before putting it out. Don't want to waste good heat.

 

[Cutehumor]

91 ways to save on anything!

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Sav...ing.aspx?page=1

 

[DrinkDuff77]

Our house's tap water has a very strong chlorine taste. Instead of buying Brita/Pur filters and a pitcher, I take empty gallon jugs to work and fill them up there. Work-water is charcoal filtered and passed the wife approval test.

I rarely carry cash because I'm more apt to spend it.

I try to go to the bathroom before I leave work so I don't have to use our water and toilet paper at home.

 

[Cutehumor]

no wonder I see so many dudes pinchin a loaf in the stalls at work. I have a phobia with that.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
no wonder I see so many dudes pinchin a loaf in the stalls at work. I have a phobia with that.

At my work, some people from other Countries cannot figure out to lift the toilet sear before standing up and going #1 in the toilet!

WHY do people do that?

 

[oilyriser]

It's harder to squat perched on that narrow rim.

 

[Crashbox]

I usually will not purchase a new jacket until my current one is pretty much threadbare.

There seems to be a few other areas in my life (VERY few) where I will be spend-conscious.

There are places NOT to skimp, though- I would NEVER use "fuse protectors", for example.

 

[greenaccord02]

I buy alot of my clothes from goodwill or department store clearance centers. My home theatre system has been built from parts and speakers purchased from goodwill over the years.
When there are 2 or more varieties of a given item in different sized packages in a store (i.e. toilet paper, paper plates, socks, toothpaste). I get out my pen, paper, and calculator and determine which is the best price per unit. Often the answers would surprise you.
My shaving kit is replenished from hotels which are booked using priceline.
The reason I got into the career I'm in is because I was too cheap to buy a computer. I learned to build and maintain my own.
My tools are generally bought from yard/estate sales. All of my lawn equipment is purchased this way or picked up out of the trash.
I've never been scared to dumpster dive. I've salvaged TVs, radios, beer, computers, furniture, and many other things from dumpsters. Just today my neighbor was throwing away a small bookcase. After dark it was mine.
I shop at dollar stores and flea markets when I can.
When I need something big, I go to auctions. I got my large rolling steel toolchest for $11.
I don't have long distance phone service and only broadcast TV. I download all my movies and music except for those few artists I choose to support.
Almost all my home office supplies are liberated from the workplace.
I built a laserjet printer from parts being thrown away at work over the course of several months in anticipation of my wife's inkjet cartridges running out.

 

[crinkles]

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02

Almost all my home office supplies are liberated from the workplace.


naughty boy!

i use waste paper from work for home printing. my work pens disappear at home only to resurface weeks later

 

[AcuraTech]

This is a great time to resurrect this thread! I'm a little bit of both. I have a penchant for shiny new things sometimes, but I usually get a lot of use out of what I have. The one area where I save a lot of money that my peers don't is by not hankering for the latest gadgetry.

-My Sony shelf system stereo was a dumpster pick.
-My (non-HD) Sony Trinitron was purchased mostly with gift cards about 5 years ago. That's the only TV I own.
-I only get basic basic cable. Ch. 2-13.
-My cell phone is going on 2 years old
-I have a PS2 I got for free. I don't own XBox, Wii, or PS3
-My car is a 92. It's got some rust, but mechanically perfect. It was paid for years ago.
-I buy heavy duty things that last a long time.
-I keep and wear clothes for a long time. I don't fall into the latest fashion trap.
-I don't own an Ipod. I rarely ever buy music. Streaming audio rocks.
-I'm generally "easy on equipment" so it lasts a long time. Still working on getting my bull in a china shop girlfriend on the same page!

The only thing I refuse to compromise on is beer. I'm a beer geek, and love craft beer. I did just receive a home-brew kit, so I can make quality beers for cheap(er).

 

[AcuraTech]

Canada's resident redneck, Dave, from Dave's Farm fame, takes cheapskate to a whole new level. By doing oddball repair jobs and spending almost no money, he doesn't need to have a job. Basically he just screws around and makes funny YouTube videos for a career.

Dave's Farm

 

[Turk]

If you like chocolate:

Go out to your Target or wherever and you can get chocolate for 50% off today! Who cares how it's wrapped!

Hurry for your best selection, cheapskate!

 

[Cutehumor]

I'm on a diet, so I can't take up on the offer. i always used to hit target the day after halloween, valentine's day, and easter for their awesome candy sale.

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Instead of buying books about saving money, I read this thread.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

I was saving money before bitog, (or even the internet), existed....

 

[Vilan]

Went chocolate hunting today, but still overpriced. A $12 box of chocolates is marked down to $6, when it's really worth $2. But it's in a heart-shaped box! Ah, OK, here's my wallet then.

Cheapskate ahoy!

 

[eljefino]

^ you could save the box, get some holiday hershey's kisses on clearance in january, filter out the green ones for yourself, and refill the box.

 

[Turk]

When you tear off the top of the tissue box, use it to make a darn good book marker.

 

[ksJoe]

I'm redeeming $40 of our Discover card cash back, to get a $45 Lowes gift card. I'll use the gift card with a $10 off $50 purchase coupon. But this is only because I don't have a $10 off $25 purchase coupon right now.

With a little luck, I'll find some great stuff on clearance there (like more tile morter for $5 because the bag is torn).

 

[moribundman]

I saw someone picking field mushrooms in Golden Gate Park.