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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 05:45 PM   #21
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Quote:
Originally Posted by - SG
How do you decide what toilet paper to buy?
Someone on this forum a few months ago discussed a brand he would never buy, no matter how tough things got. It was "John Wayne" Toilet Paper. You know...the type that's kinda rough and doesn't take cr*p off anybody.

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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 05:48 PM   #22
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

We had high class TP in the outhouse when I was little.

Spoiled American I guess??
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 06:03 PM   #23
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Quote:
Originally Posted by - SG
Ahhh . . . another manic comparison shopper. So let me ask you a question . . . How do you decide what toilet paper to buy?

I gave up and make my wife decide.
We're more alike than you'd probably like.

For years I bought the Kirkland fine grade sand...I mean...toilet paper. Cheap, huge rolls, fine with me. When we moved to our current locale, the costco was too far away, but we have a sams about a mile away. When I went shopping, they were out of the el cheapo sams/members mark brand so I got the charmin ultra.

My wife informed me that would be what I'd be buying in the future. If I valued my life that is.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 06:27 PM   #24
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

I gave up my Costco membership years ago.

I figured why should I pay these guys so I can shop there.

The supermarkets here in Canada have a supersize aisle that will match anything that Costco or Sam's has.

Specials at Home Depot or Wal-Mart let me keep the Costco fee in the Zipper pocket. :P
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 06:43 PM   #25
 
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

I find it's best to stay with one brand of toilet paper.* Without getting too graphic, I'll say that variations in strength can lead to unfortunate consequences.* We've standardized on Charmin Ultra, which is probably the most expensive.* But you use much less when the stuff is strong.* OK, too much information. :P

Based on info from this forum and another, I've seen the light and become a born-again grocery tightwad.* *Because of bad habits from the time when we were very busy, and didn't have time to shop carefully, we've been spending way more than necessary.* I expect to save over $1,000 in the next year.

My main weapon is a database of food prices, so that those evil grocery store marketers won't be able to trick me into thinking something is on sale when it's not.

Here are the sites that gave me religion:


http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cheap/20040518a1.asp

http://sheknows.com/about/look/2154.htm

http://www.hotlib.com/articles/show....y_On_Groceries

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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 06:52 PM   #26
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Perhaps - in deferance to old time religon - er ah the old forum:

Dryer sheet brands - able to stand recycling??

TP or dryer sheets? Call me 'old school' but I'd rather be cheap with dryer sheets and go top drawer on TP.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 07:49 PM   #27
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
On my bicycle rides I was usually stopped by the light at a particular intersection for 2-3 minutes. One day I noticed that a penny had sunk into the blacktop. Then I saw several more nearby. Unfortunately I didn't have an edged tool with me to dig them out.
Of course I raced home, grabbed a knife, and started to remount. Then I realized that I'd be riding five miles uphill to sit in a three-lane intersection digging less than five cents out of the asphalt (and doubtless the EMTs would soon be doing the same with me). Gee, good thing I was wearing a helmet.
When I ride my bike around the city, I see the streets paved with (fake) copper but I pass them by. It just isn't worth my time to stop and pick them up but I do stop when I see an occasional nickel, dime or quarter. I did find a $10 bill once.

MJ
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 08:14 PM   #28
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Cheapest soft toilet paper - Angel Soft in the 24-36 roll pack - Walmart

Biggest "found money" find - $60 (3 folded $20) on the sidewalk outside my apt in Philly.

DrLLLong

PS I also do the "how many quarters" debate at the parking meters at the library (only place I go that has parking meters) when I don't see a spot with time on the meter.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 08:30 PM   #29
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

As someone who bought Charmin Ultra for several years, I want to let you guys know that Quilted Northern is actually much better. I switched a while back. Give it a try and see if you agree.

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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 08:54 PM   #30
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
* One day I noticed that a penny had sunk into the blacktop.* Then I saw several more nearby.* Unfortunately I didn't have an edged tool with me to dig them out.
* *Nords, that sounds like me .... *
* *Since we're doing true confessions here ... I admit, I dug 2 pennies out from under the plastic cover on the counter at CVS. I always pick the darn things up if I can *... maybe they'll lead me to bigger prey

* *Al, that database you're talking about is called a price book -- used by devout disciples of Amy D. *

* * My threshold involves grocery shopping ... I may, while I'm at store A, buy things that I know are a bit cheaper at store B. *It's not always worth the extra time and gas to shop at 2 stores ...
*
* * As for TP, I pretty much *look for sales-plus-coupons and figure that if I can get a 4-roll pack for less than 75 cents, I'm doing well. *Funny, but we have a lot of Angel Soft in the house, too ...
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 09:20 PM   #31
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

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Originally Posted by LovesLife
I like Blue Bunny ice cream.* I can always buy the cheaper store version for less and most of the time I do buy store brands, but not for ice cream.*
Ah well, no Blue Bunny here.* And maybe there's "shrinkage" in the shipping container.

Quote:
Originally Posted by TromboneAl
My main weapon is a database of food prices, so that those evil grocery store marketers won't be able to trick me into thinking something is on sale when it's not.
Ya know, I think we've finally found a purpose for our kid's Palm Pilot...
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 09:36 PM   #32
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

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Do any of you have a similar cheapness threshold?
I do not have a particular threshold but have a tendency to optimize. That is, I always shop arround for the best price. As to the meter case, I never put more coins than I need to.

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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 10:01 PM   #33
 
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Mean spirited kids in my 1960s junior high school used to throw pennies on the ground to see who would stoop to pick them up. Recovering them was good practice on my way to becoming a millionaire later in life.

I not only pick up coins laying on top of the ground, I also dig them up from underground after locating them with a metal detector. The wife and I found plenty of jewelry using the metal detector, too.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-12-2005, 11:07 PM   #34
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

I tried that 'quilted northern' stuff once. I was advised that if I would like to see my wife naked again EVER...that I'd start buying that charmin ultra stuff again. It do feel like soft cotton on ones behind, and I *am* rathr fond of seeing my wife naked, so....

As far as the walmart and grocery guys matching up with the costo and sams clubs of the world, perhaps on some items, but not on the range of products.

I just bought a jug (it looks like its about the same size as a gallon of milk) of sour cream for $5. We had a mexican fiesta this weekend with the whole family and I have a range of recipes all calling for 1-2 cups of sour cream each that will make that tub cry uncle by the end of this week. The cheapest 8oz I could find at the cheapest market was almost $3. I bought 3lbs of "fake k-rab" for $5.50. I can sneak that into a dozen recipes between now and the end of civilization when it's supposed to go bad. I bought 2 huge jars of green olives for $3.60. Cant touch that in any market. 5Lbs of very good pasta for $3.50. Six jars of excellent pasta sauce for $3.90.

Just scratching the surface...you cant do this in a regular supermarket in the jumbo section, I've tried. I go to the regular market once a week, sams club 3-4 times. Its a fun challenge when I get 3 metric tons of something to find a dozen recipes to put it in without it becoming onerous, but I get the job done.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 02:34 AM   #35
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Hello th. Not all of us are that excited about seeing our wives naked (Gosh, I hope she doesn't read that one).

JG
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 02:57 AM   #36
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

I NEVER pass up so much as a penny, ever! Speaking of "found money", I have stories (surprise surprise)

I was walking the dog on my birthday several years ago and found a $20 bill in the gravel. The next day at the same spot the dog comes
out of the grass with a $20 in her mouth (Good dog)
We spent an hour combing the grass for 100 yards in either
direction. No more cash.

I was traveling sonewhere and stopped for gas. There was a
$10 bill blowing around outside on the ground. I was ready to leave when I spotted it just as it blew under someone's car.
I waited until they drove away which seemed like forever.
Most I ever found at one time was $40.

JG
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 03:18 AM   #37
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Quote:
Originally Posted by BristolBane
As someone who bought Charmin Ultra for several years, I want to let you guys know that Quilted Northern is actually much better.* I switched a while back.* Give it a try and see if you agree.

In view of how it is used, should it be called "Quilted Southern"?

JG
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 06:26 AM   #38
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Generic(Sunbelt) dryer sheets and Winn-Dixie store brand TP.

Scott - 1000 sheet rolls - for 'a luxury wipe' on special occasions.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 06:28 AM   #39
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

I'm not cheap! I just get a lot for my money.
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold
Old 05-13-2005, 06:48 AM   #40
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Re: Your Cheapness Threshold

Da SO brought a free 5 gal or so glass chemical jug from work - took 12 years - $ 298 of pennies - bottom ones had turned green - the bank almost threw me out. No more!

I'll leave the pennies to the pros. Dryer sheet recycling and maybe! just maybe generic TP!
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