tighta$$ rituals

Donaldhump on 02/01/2016 - 12:02

curious for ideas/tips

everymonth i do the following to save money, want to know if any others to do:

buy $400 of woolworths vouchers through racq get 5 percent off, so pay 380…. this is for our groceries.
look in ozbargain for online codes for woolworths for $10 off etc.
get petrol at woolies caltex get 4c off plus another 4c off a litre for spending $5 or more. i always get 3 milks for two dollars each, no brainer, i get the 3rd milk for 50c basically.

any other montlhy rituals/etc i could do, or others do.

am going to investigate cash rewards…
currently have no cc as i blazed through loads last yr for a holiday, so qantas points are on hold for the moment.

General Discussion

Comments

        • kachao on 12/01/2016 - 10:54
          +1

          @kuhari:

          Most of the times you get $20 for 2000 points if you buy Mix branded clothes as compared to usual $10. Last time, I redeemed my 10000 points for $100 to spend on Mix clothes. Returned the clothes same evening and got credit note of $100 to spend on any coles product. I think its a system bug which Coles is not aware of.

        • kuhari on 14/01/2016 - 17:31

          @sunnybal: Wow! I thought I was doing pretty good with the free nappies, I could have been doubling them! Thanks for the tip I will be trying this! Have had to take a lot of the mix clothes back before anyway coz their sizes are different..

  • nanonoise on 03/01/2016 - 15:18
    +1

    Never realised that NRMA has the 5% off gift cards. Good idea really. Would probably help budget groceries spend as well if you stick to value of cards each month.

    • iSamurai on 03/01/2016 - 20:24
      +2

      Not just NRMA, but RACQ, Cashrewards (ww only), AGL and Cycling Australia membership (both Coles and ww) also provide gift cards at 5% off.

  • WaywardOne on 03/01/2016 - 15:43
    +2

    I often buy in bulk or buy gift cards at a discount. The problem with these two strategies is that it reduces your personal freedom. It is now a race against expiry dates :D

    I check ozbargain several times per day. It has me "doing things" that most regular folk don't bother with:
    - Signing up for free trials (but cancelling before any fees accrue)
    - Joining a bank for the freebies, then closing the account
    - (My personal favourite) Combining offers (eg. a % off sale + cashrewards, or a discounted gift card + rebate)

    Ozbargain hasn't made me happier as such, it's just made me less happy to be paying retail prices

    • iSamurai on 03/01/2016 - 20:37
      +1

      I usually just buy a weeks worth of gift cards in advance… Don't need to buy in bulk leave that money in your savings account or offset account. AGL/ambassador card usually email the gift card in about three working days, whereas Woolworths through cashrewards takes about a few hours only.

      Pay for your ww gift card using the CommBank Amex (that comes with a home loan package, of course) and earn points (that's about another 1.7% back in gift cards) and get 55 days interest free.

  • FisSort on 03/01/2016 - 17:03
    -3

    Collect condiments and sauces from fast food outlets eg. Salt, pepper, tomato sauce and use those at home and work.

    • Skinnerr on 04/01/2016 - 04:29
      +1

      Stingy =/= frugal. Salt is 80c at a supermarket for christ sake.

      • zerocents on 04/01/2016 - 19:45
        +1

        Yeah, but I do enjoy collecting random sugar packets from everywhere I travel to use at home

  • FatBlanket on 03/01/2016 - 18:17
    +11

    The effort some of you put into being frugal would be better spent earning money. I don't make any extreme sacrifices because its unnecessary. We are lucky to live in Australia. If you can't run your air-conditioning or have a light on then you're just lazy or have 7 kids. Even the disabled can enjoy such luxuries. I've read on these boards people driving two hours to save 30 bucks. That I can't understand. I get the best price on what I need with the smallest amount of effort possible. That's why I'm on ozb. Or am I being harsh?

    • Donaldhump on 03/01/2016 - 19:30
      +6

      there comes a point where it becomes stupid….there must be a formula… time and money
      i got a mate who would sit at an airport for 6 hours to save $20 than fly earlier on a connecting flight

      people who wont watch tv or use an air conditioner, might as well live in a caravan park.. and spend all spare time fishing…

      i guess im just after instant ways to discount price

      one more tip

      always do a dump at work..

      • dtc on 04/01/2016 - 13:39
        +6

        take all of your rechargeable electronic devices into work (phone, tablets, iPod etc) and charge them. No point using your own electricity

        Dental floss can be used multiple times. Just leave it by the sink. You can easily get over a year with one box

        Frozen toothpaste sliced makes cheap after dinner mints

        If you tell a female in the family they are overweight, you will save money on food

        Flowers from the cemetery to make said females let you out of the doghouse

        Separate the ply on your toilet paper and its twice as long. Although keep in mind that in India they don't use toilet paper at all, so if you are trying to decide how to use that bucket of water collected from the shower

        Also, more seriously, if you run a disposable razor blade backwards up the inside of your forearm, it will sharpen it up (stropping it). You can triple the time until it needs to be replaced

        • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 14:08
          +1

          i always charge my phone at work….. i like ur frozen tooth paste idea….

        • cisco on 04/01/2016 - 22:58
          +1

          Then why not re-use the condoms. Wash and recycle

        • Ughhh on 04/01/2016 - 23:02

          Another one for ya, wear underwear 4 times/days by reversing, then flipping. Save energy and water on washing.

        • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 15:03

          @Ughhh: why wear undies?

        • Ughhh on 05/01/2016 - 16:48
          +2

          @unclesnake:

          Isn't it cheaper to ruin your undies than pants? Unless your next question is, why wear pants

        • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 17:41

          @Ughhh: i was about to say that….. there was a guy on extreme tightass show who didnt wear undies, it is pretty gross, but awesome for ur sperm count

    • Chef-Johnson on 03/01/2016 - 20:41
      +2

      agreed. more to life than saving a few quid. We run the con and fan nearly every night in summer, pc left on 24/7. eat the best beef going, buy tenderloins instead of breast. I guess it's balance. But not using con, fans, lights, filling up extra fuel in cans. pftttt

    • [Deactivated] on 04/01/2016 - 03:41

      Totally. How much is some people's time worth?

      Time is a depleting, invaluable resource.

    • outlander on 04/01/2016 - 11:06
      +5

      Well, thats the beauty of life. Theoretically we're all different, so we place different values on things. Air conditioning is important to me because I crack in the heat and can't think, so I'd rather pay the $5 in electricity cost that waste that entire day in a mental fog. For others the heat is invigorating, so air conditioning is an unnecessary expense.
      Driving long distances or waiting for long times for small money seems ridiculous to me, but thats because thats dead time to me. If you can figure out a way to use that time, for study or entertainment or sleep, it might work out for you.

      But you can definitely go to far. One of my siblings thought it was a money maker to take ketchup packs from fast food places and squeeze them into a bottle. When I worked it out, you only have about 2 seconds to spend on each packet, and your still only breaking even with just buying a bottle of ketchup. So I threw them away.

      In the end, the only point of saving money is if you have a better use for it. Too many people end up like my nan, scrimping and saving for a lifetime only to blow it all at the pokies.

      • canleyheights on 04/01/2016 - 11:37

        took words right out of my mouth.

    • watwatwat on 04/01/2016 - 19:33
      +1

      You're right. The guy in this thread who fills up jerry cans of fuel in his car to save a dollar (sounds really safe if you get in an accident) or the guy who turns the lights off etc is really something special.

      It's about smart spending whilst minimising wasted time.

      • inherentchoice on 05/01/2016 - 13:38

        I was the one to mention turning lights off, and I said as much as practicable. It takes no time.

        Buying discounted gift cards and hauling Jerry cans every month takes time.

      • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 15:04

        nothing wrong with turning lights off, makes sense

    • dbun1 on 05/01/2016 - 19:50

      I'm with you on this.
      Some of the things that I read people doing to save a buck on here is ridiculous to me - but to each their own.

  • belongsinforums on 03/01/2016 - 21:54

    Get your fruit and veges from one of those fruit shops that sell in season fruit very cheap. Buy home brand where possible. Exercise outside instead of paying for gym fees. When on holiday, stay in cheap places and use your holiday budget to enjoy great food instead

    • Skinnerr on 04/01/2016 - 04:31
      +2

      Just bought a year gym membership for $200 that is far beyond anything you can do for free, thus saving money on buying equipment.

      I agree with the spending money on activities rather than accomodation. You can sleep comfy when you at home, dont need a fancy marble bathroom on holiday imo unless you have money to burn.

      • DingoBilly on 04/01/2016 - 11:17
        +1

        $200 for a 1-year gym membership? Damn that's a good deal…. I thought mine for $500 was a steal.

      • cisco on 04/01/2016 - 23:00

        Did you claim it through your health insurance?

        • Skinnerr on 05/01/2016 - 07:43

          No, was the derrimut 24/7 deal that was posted a few weeks ago.

  • Thenarrator on 03/01/2016 - 22:51
    +2

    i do casual event work in the weekends.. 20 bucks an hr for say 4hrs shift doing nothing but handing out flyers etc.. rather than thinking of ways to save money, think of ways to increase your wealth so you can earn more and spend more :)

    • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 10:31

      id love one of these jobs, how do u get one… where is it at

      • Thenarrator on 04/01/2016 - 12:43

        do a search for limelight events

  • Ninjassmileinthedark on 03/01/2016 - 23:06
    +2

    We have a bucket in the shower to collect the liters of water we run waiting for it to heat up (it helps that we have a flexible hose shower head). We then put that clean water in to the washing machine as part of the next load. Not sure how many dollars this saves but it would add up over the year….we just got sick of wasting all the water down the drain.

    • GameChanger on 04/01/2016 - 00:01

      That sounds ewww loll

      • Geewhizz on 04/01/2016 - 07:19
        +3

        Why? It's perfectly clean, drinkable water, same as what comes out of your kitchen tap.

      • Ninjassmileinthedark on 04/01/2016 - 08:45

        We just catch the cold water from before we start washing

        • GameChanger on 04/01/2016 - 10:12

          Could you explain this a bit more?

          Confused how you have clean water from a shower.

        • nanonoise on 04/01/2016 - 10:54
          +1

          I think the key thing, they are catching water BEFORE they are having a shower. Just a bucket of clean water.

        • Ninjassmileinthedark on 04/01/2016 - 12:29

          @nanonoise: yep… We just catch the water running while we hold our hand under it waiting for it to warm up. Then we take out the partially filled bucket of clean, cold water and have our shower. Later we use the collected water in the washing machine.

        • mmd on 05/01/2016 - 00:43
          +2

          @Ninjassmileinthedark:
          That water can also be used to water ur plants, wash ur dishes/car

    • hongas on 04/01/2016 - 14:45
      +1

      I have been catching bath water (clean cold water) in the bucket to water the vegetable garden.

      do you think that putting that water in the washing machine and leaving it causes rust in the washing machine?

    • watwatwat on 04/01/2016 - 19:37
      +2

      Ok, this is my new favourite post in this thread because it completely silly/pointless lol. Let's be generous and say your bucket holds 20 litres of water; according to Sydney water prices, you would be saving 4 cents.

      A big big big big amount of effort to save…. $4 a year if you wash your clothes twice a week.

      • mmd on 05/01/2016 - 00:46
        +2

        You also contribute to the environment/society, by wasting less water.

        • watwatwat on 05/01/2016 - 07:54
          -4

          No, that is not contributing to society. If anything it would be better to waste the water so you pay and support the economy.

          From an environment perspective, it's pointless. Quit being selfish and just have your shower with only a bucket of water and a sponge lol.

        • dbun1 on 05/01/2016 - 19:52

          Environment, yes. Society, no.

        • mmd on 06/01/2016 - 03:00

          @watwatwat:
          To the person who negged me, you must live a town where there is an abundance of water.
          In WA, the water corp (body who controls water supply) heavily advocate the wise use of water.
          We have sprinkler bans here i.e. you can only turn on your sprinklers on specific days depending on your house number.

          From an environment perspective, it's pointless. Quit being selfish and just have your shower with only a bucket of water and a sponge lol.

          I would if i could, then i could reuse the same water everyday :P
          Not sure what my work/ other half would think of it tho :(

          To help society:
          If everyone chips in and become more water wise, there will be water for everyone for a while.
          As population grows, and the assuming the same rainfall yearly, we will eventually run out of water. How to solve the issue? Make water expensive or reclaim water ——> Yikes

          Here you go :)
          Catch the cold water
          While waiting for the shower or bath water to heat up, capture it in a bucket, it's precious water that can be used on the garden or pot plants.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 03/01/2016 - 23:35
    +1

    Wow, you lot on another level. I only sell trading cards/skins/costumes on steam to add subsidy my gaming purchases.

  • Ughhh on 04/01/2016 - 00:01
    +3

    Pretty sure there is already (an old) thread that's about the same thing.

    I remember one person stealing toilet paper from shopping centres, another risking burning his house down to save a few bucks, one showering using dishwashing detergent, then another who almost lived an amish life.

    • Skinnerr on 04/01/2016 - 04:29

      Yeh I remember a guy called realfamilyman or someshit who i named realfamilytightarse cos he gave his kids oddjob haircuts at home and bought powdered milk instead of real milk and drying out teabags to reuse to save a measly amount.

      I get called stingy by some of my friends cos I dont spend copious amounts of money on food when im out like they do, but this made me feel like a spendthrift by comparison.

      • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 11:08
        +1

        Paddered milk costs like the same as buying long life milk for $0.90 a litre, yes I've compared the savings

        • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2016 - 17:14

          And tastes terrible. I did it overseas when fresh milk cost about $5 a litre and I was single and saving up.

        • strikerzebra on 11/01/2016 - 17:15

          @tightwad:

          You know what is also terrible, water on your cereal, I ran out of milk last week and was too lazy to go shopping so had milk on my cereal for 3 days

        • [Deactivated] on 11/01/2016 - 17:21
          +1

          @strikerzebra:

          Been there. Custard powder. Yoghurt.

          Solution: Stockpile UHT milk like a US Doomsday survivor.

  • fantafox on 04/01/2016 - 00:25
    +4

    Purchase goods on one credit card and get it refunded onto a debt card. Pile up reward points. If they ask for the card you used for the transaction say the account is now closed. They cant get out of refunding money because you closed a credit account.

    • DingoBilly on 04/01/2016 - 11:16
      +1

      This seems like fraud in some way, if you're suggesting to specifically go out and buy things just to get them refunded in order to accumulate points, but I'm not sure of the legality of it. Anyone care to chime in?

      • fantafox on 04/01/2016 - 15:51

        Cba, nab, westpack and anz - 30 billion profit last fy .its hardly taking candy off children. But good question. I believe its legal as store policy allows it.

      • ronnknee on 04/01/2016 - 15:51

        It'll be a huge hassle to buy and refund things with intentions of earning points for free. Credit card points have very little cash value, only about up to 2% I reckon. If it's considered fraud, then I'd say it's very petty fraud.

      • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 16:04

        not illegal, if one decides to return an item even before buying, that has to be proven… refunding money is a consumber right, and if the medium that it was bought on is no longer available, it needs to be refunded to another medium… and post refund interest (which currently sits at 8.5%) should, but rarely is applied caused by delay

    • ronnknee on 04/01/2016 - 15:48

      They cant get out of refunding money because you closed a credit account.

      I haven't had an issue but I guess they can always refund it on a gift card. It would be inconvenient but hey, at least you'll still get the points haha.

    • Thenarrator on 04/01/2016 - 18:44

      LMAO.. sick.. have you been doing this mate?

  • Cluster on 04/01/2016 - 01:47

    The biggest tight arse behaviour I ever saw was from a family friend. She would go down to Adelaide's central markets at the end of the day and buy up crates of vegetables and fruit that were unsuitable for sale the next day. She would then haul boxes of product on to buses and take them home (2 bus trips required, one ticket). Sometimes she boasted about making the driver wait until she hauled all the boxes onto the bus.

    She did this for years as she was unemployed, and then purchased a two story McMansion. We suspected an inheritance had to be in play there somewhere, as the extreme tight arse behaviour and then purchasing an expensive property didn't quite match.

    • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 11:07

      What do you do with boxes of vegetables, did she run her own soup kitchen or something?

      • Cluster on 04/01/2016 - 13:27

        I think the idea was to make fruit into jams and vegetables into pies and other food for her family. That way the almost expired food would last a lot longer.

    • Thenarrator on 04/01/2016 - 18:46
      +7

      normally rich people are the ones thats normally tightasses.. the mediocre ones are the ones that buy branded things.. millionaries wear kmart shorts and sandles..

      • mmd on 05/01/2016 - 00:49

        +1, part of the reason why they're rich.
        Ppl in less well suburbs have higher disposable incomes - not tied to house/boat mortgages.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/01/2016 - 09:29

    Walk around the city asking everyone for a dollar. It accumulates fast!

    • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 10:27

      i got a pound once for giving directions to a hospital, when i was walking to the train station at 4am… i greatfully accepted.

  • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 10:33
    +1

    i always do my morning dump prior to a shower, saves on toilet paper…. and i only flush on brown

    • kuhari on 04/01/2016 - 19:41
      +1

      Why the negs? Thats his 'unique' way on saving toilet paper Haha Every square counts lol. Thats hilarious.

      If its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down! haha

      • SupeNintendoChalmers on 04/01/2016 - 20:31
        +5

        spread your cheeks really far apart- this way you may not even need to use TP.

      • apey2000 on 04/01/2016 - 22:56

        I used to do the no flushing thing, but realised I probably spent more money in cleaning the toilet than I saved by not flushing. The 'yellow' leaves stains in the bowl which then have to be cleaned more frequently than a regularly flushed toilet.

        • kuhari on 05/01/2016 - 09:53
          +2

          Personally, leaving a brew in the toilet is not my cup of tea.

          I think the cost of flushing a toilet far outweighs leaving your pee in the toilet, it is worth paying for, not to mention the possible health concerns with what you could potentially be breathing in when you walk past the toilet.

          However thats just me, and each to their own.

          Happy brewing, or happy flushing! Whatever way you swing.

    • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 10:30

      FML like i was serious

      • kuhari on 05/01/2016 - 10:36

        lol I know u were joking, but there are many who do it.

        • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 10:39

          sure when i was single, sometimes i would… now id be paranoid id leave a nugget in the plug…..

    • moo on 05/01/2016 - 10:42

      LOL. Imagine the shit dripping down your legs when you shower.

      • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 10:43

        we have all been there:) …. i like no wipe wonders the best

    • dbun1 on 05/01/2016 - 19:55

      Given how little water a modern day loo uses per flush, it's hardly worth brewing your piss for the sake of a few measly cents.

      • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 20:16

        american toilets fill up the rim, thsts why i reckon their in drought

        • dbun1 on 05/01/2016 - 20:29

          Oh yeah - I've come across these sorts in Asia too.

          Nothing worse than a turd floating around tickling your bum while you're doing your business. Worst design ever!
          The only benefit is no skiddys on the bowl I guess??

        • Donaldhump on 05/01/2016 - 20:34

          @dbun1: my turds touch the water before they have snapped off

  • Damnsmart on 04/01/2016 - 10:55

    I managed to save like 150k QFF points & XXk flybuys by getting few different Credit Cards with QFF/flybuys bonus points, used those points to get my woolworths/coles/westfield gift cards, only thing is….my VEDA credit rating is broke, cant get anymore CCs now :-(

    • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 10:56

      yeh i like them too, i am having a year off, my credit rating blows a$$

      • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 11:06

        What is your rating? Mine is like 600 or something

        • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 11:16

          dunno the exact figure, i knew i didnt qualify for a home loan, until i got rid of some, i had too many applications in a year, and abnout 25k in credit cards….i got rid of 24k worth…

          what is the rating scale, is there anyway to find out exactly, a website?

        • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 11:19

          @unclesnake:

          Apparently it's 0 to 1000, anything below 500 means you your credit rating is shit and the banks belive you are very likely to default, the two sites below give you a free credit score in a minute or two

          https://www.creditsavvy.com.au/
          https://www.getcreditscore.com.au/

        • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 11:25

          @strikerzebra: 555, man thats not a very good score… its stupid it basis your credit score on how much credit you have/had, not how much you defaulted.. i never once paid back late

        • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 11:39

          @unclesnake:

          Yeh it's a stupid system, basically the older you are and the longer you have had credit for the higher your credit rating will be, mine has been 621 for like 12 months even after cancelling credit cards

        • Damnsmart on 04/01/2016 - 13:21

          when my last CC application got rejected, i requested VEDA report to see what it looks like….its a complete piece of crap!!!, they just record the details of who requested for your file access and $$$$ amount if applicable (i.e. if your $3000 credit card is approved it shows $3000 against that inquiry, if its rejected it shows $0)

          when i spoke with the guys, they said "too many recent credit applications show that particular individual is likely to be default on the near future payments, based on this assumption your application may be rejected"

          other than that, i dont see any rating numbers on VEDA report….i.e. xxx

        • Looking4Bargians on 04/01/2016 - 16:19

          Mine is 803…

  • congo on 04/01/2016 - 14:09

    IMO trying to generate more wealth is better than living your life on a tight ass budget. You only live once. Use your energy, Time and brain power to think of ways of making money. I believe that if you think hard enough, opportunity will come.

    • b-radicool on 04/01/2016 - 14:15

      Sorry mate but you're on the wrong website.

    • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 14:15

      any tips… other than going to work and trying to minimize costs / investing what spare change u have left over

      • congo on 04/01/2016 - 15:05

        I recalled that there are 4 ways of generating wealth, namely:

        1. Properties
        2. Business
        3. Shares
        4. Can't remember :-(

        Business would generate the most wealth (if your company goes public) but you would need a great idea or product. And you will probably need to work your ass off (no social life) for at least 2-5 years. You would also need to enter the market at a time when your product or services are needed. If too soon or to late, you will go bust.
        Shares would generate a lot of wealth as well, but you would need a **** large amount of capital and a lot of financial intelligence.
        Properties (through capital growth, not yield) is an obtainable option, but you would need to wait for the Property market to drop. Buy close to the city in Sydney or Melbourne. Buy ones that needs a bit of work, so you can renovate or do DA.

        If you are are at uni, pick a thesis topic that you can continue to work on, and build a career and business on.
        I made that mistake :-(

        • strikerzebra on 04/01/2016 - 15:51

          You forgot the concept of compounding your wealth, even if you invest smart with small sums of money your wealth will grow over time.

  • ronnknee on 04/01/2016 - 15:19

    currently have no cc as i blazed through loads last yr for a holiday

    Uhh… It sounds like you're in a credit card debt and possibly incurring interest.

    Your bigger priority is to be more financially sensible and not to be subjected to credit card debt that cannot be paid off within the interest-free period. Learning to be tight is fine but I just think you have other priorities. I'm making assumptions but I hope you're not in this kind of situation.

    • Donaldhump on 04/01/2016 - 15:24

      i have no c/c i had lots of them last yr to get the qantas points…. for the record i work in banks, i know the concept of interest

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