Your Cheapness Threshold

[unclemick]

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.

 

[MJ]

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

 

[DrJDoe]

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.

 

[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.

 

[VoyT]

  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 ...

 

[Nords]

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.

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...

 

[Spanky]

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.

Spanky

 

[parnass]

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.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

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.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

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

JG

 

[Mr._johngalt]

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

 

[Mr._johngalt]

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

 

[unclemick]

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

Scott - 1000 sheet rolls - for 'a luxury wipe' on special occasions.

 

[bruce1]

I'm not cheap! I just get a lot for my money.

 

[unclemick]

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!

 

[Beachbumz]

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

This could probably make for another thread, but several years ago, I went over to a client's automotive shop, when I was leaving, I found three crisp $100 bills on the ground. I told him about it and no one ever claimed them. 

A few weeks ago, I was in the casino on a cruise and saw a slot machine with 2 credits on it, which is fairly common, of course I walked over to play them and looked in the tray and it was full of quarters, Over $10 worth! Of course, I put those back where they belonged.

Finally, last Sunday, I walked down to get a paper. I put my 6 quarters in the machine and pulled the handle and it didn't open. I was {briefly} pissed. I hit the change button and out came 9 quarters, woo hoo. Just for the heck of it, I hit it again, and out came another 3 quarters. I put 6 in again and the box opened...free paper! 

I've thought about setting up an account to track 'found' money, it would be interesting to see how much you find in a given year.

Beachbumz  8)

 

[ag4gt]

I do A LOT of tinkering and fixing things. I use pennies for washers. Before you get all excited, think about this. In many applications I need a very tight fit for a washer, either the hole in the center must fit the screw exactly (commonly called a “fender washer”) or I need a washer where the hole is off center. Many of these washers are just not available at any price and when they are, they may cost 10 to 25 cents EACH. Sooooooo… for 1 cent, I get exactly what I need, and I don’t even have to go hunting for it.

 

[TromboneAl]

In my younger days I was watching a windsurfing competition in Hawaii, and it was very windy.  I had previously stuffed some bills into my pocket, and at the competition, when got something out of my pocket, 4-5 bills came out and blew away across the front of the other spectators.

I've never seen a crowd so electrified.  It was like " MONEY! MONEY!" and everyone was running around trying to catch it.  I don't remember what happened next -- but I think it all blew out to sea.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Jeez John, only 3 sequential reposts to yourself this morning? You tired or running out of things to say?

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Oh yeah, one other thing John. If you do ever decide you'd like to see your wife naked, let me know.

I'll send you some pictures.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

Jeez John, only 3 sequential reposts to yourself this morning?  You tired or running out of things to say?

Running out? In your dreams

JG

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Must say I havent ever had you, or anyone else from here, in a dream.

Probably a good thing.

 

[Mr._johngalt]

Must say I havent ever had you, or anyone else from here, in a dream.

Probably a good thing.

Agree!

 

[MJ]

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.

In my youth, I spent a week in Athens. Some of the male Athenians would throw their drachmaes in the street see if the backpacking tourists would pick them up. I didn't mind to pick them up since 15 drachmaes would buy you a nice tasty souvlaki.
Currently $1 = 270 drachmaes

MJ

 

[Scrapr]

ESRBob said
Toilet Paper?  That's an easy one.  Go to Costco and get their huge case of house brand tp

Aint that the truth? I heard an economist talk about his wife going to Costco to load up on TP. To go along with the other 14 cases of TP in the house. Just couldn't pass up a bargain. Costco must buy TP by the ship load.

Speaking of found money ny mom walks early every morning. As she is walking she picks up money, check the phones for change, and collects pop cans to return for a nickle. You might think that this would be pocket change (so to speak). Well, she takes this money and buys each grandkid a savings bond. I think the 3 of them get about 20 bonds each Christmas. She has my boy checking the phones at the airport, restaraunts, etc. Our family thinks grandma should license her route. It is very profitable. She even has a route in Palm Springs. (thier 2nd home)

Maybe that is my Plan B. After I beg on the exit ramps. lol