The Most Despicable Thing That You Have Ever Done to Save Money

[Deactivated] on 28/07/2016 - 04:20
Last edited 04/08/2016 - 14:36

EDIT: Has someone change his/her name to Burger yet?

I recycle my stamps, I am not proud of it, but I do that. I also squeeze every last drop out of my toiletries. I even cut the bottle and spoon with my fingers the remaining.

There was this guy that posted self made McSpider, because he refused to pay 50c extra.

I know a friend who did as many trips as possible on Monday to save opal fees.

So what is the most embarrassing, despicable thing you have ever done to save money?
Maybe you reuse your underwear? Front to back, inside out…

General Discussion

Comments

    • magic8ballgag on 29/07/2016 - 17:47

      Well, that escalated quickly.

    • fruit on 31/07/2016 - 19:08
      +1

      Link for ring?

  • sraymond on 28/07/2016 - 19:36
    +3

    At a pub back in the 80's we found out the smoke machine mistook two cent coins for one dollar coins. We cleaned all the change out of the bars and even went to the petrol station across the road to get their coins. Ashamed to say we emptied that machine. Even the Ardath and Alpines.

    • silverrat23 on 28/07/2016 - 21:24
      +2

      Ardath

      Now that's a brand I haven't heard in a while.

    • BigTed on 02/08/2016 - 17:05
      +4

      It took me a minute to realise that you meant a cigarette machine and not a machine that produces smoke.

  • devilbabies on 28/07/2016 - 21:35

    giving gumball machines a thump when i turn the handle so i get extra gumballs out of them.

    also, minesweeping drinks and shoring prostitutes.

  • String name on 28/07/2016 - 21:53
    +2

    I have a dual SIM OnePlus2.
    I get buy a new SIM, sign up to Uber with the new number, and use the referal code from my actual Uber account.

    That's up to $40 of Uber credit in two ride for the cost one one SIM :/

    • samojed on 28/07/2016 - 22:37

      wow that is cheeky…
      aren't you only allowed to register 4 sim cards in your name? how do you get around this limitation?
      do you make up a new name for each new Uber account as well?

      • String name on 29/07/2016 - 13:44

        New name, new email and new number :)

  • bargaino on 28/07/2016 - 22:45
    -7

    Slipped RU486 in the girlfriend's drink. Saved about 200 grand.

    • Seiko on 29/07/2016 - 07:23
      +6

      Lol, nearly spat out my aldi muesli.

    • 4892 on 31/07/2016 - 23:24
      +1

      I'm in no way agreeing with your comment/someone doing that as that's pretty messed up, BUT you would have saved far more than 200 grand.

  • megadeth on 28/07/2016 - 22:58

    I DIY'ed replacing toilets in my new property.

    • bargaino on 28/07/2016 - 23:34
      +1

      Whats despicable about that? Or most of the replies?
      C'mon guys, are you all so innocent?
      Nobody ever sneaked into the drive-in? ("whats a drive in?", I hear.)
      Tax minimisation?
      Stealing pens from the office? Hotel soap?
      Multiple accounts in fake names?

      despicable

      dɪˈspɪkəb(ə)l,ˈdɛspɪk-
      adjective
      deserving hatred and contempt.
      "a despicable crime"

      synonyms: contemptible, loathsome, hateful, detestable, reprehensible, abhorrent, abominable, awful, heinous, beyond the pale;

    • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 07:16

      Easy job.

      Done it in two properties, plus you get the satisfaction.

      I've also installed/swapped countless kitchen/ basin mixers and taps. 5 min job if everything goes to plan.

      I'd get a plumber to do it if tradie rates weren't a rip off.

      I've also done some non-legal renovations and repairs. Dodgy work? No. Illegal? technically yes but to same standard as professional.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:21

        I agree with manic, this isn't despicable, this is fair and square. It's the plumber that is despicable.

        Many years ago, I hired a plumber to fix my toilet, he came with his friend, he said in foreign language that I coincidentally understand. He said let's fix the problem temporarily, but let it happen again, so that this idiot (he means me) hired us again. I swear, I haven't been that angry, I threatened to call the police. I said if u don't fix it right, I swear I will sue the ass of both of you.

        • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 09:29

          I would have told them to get the (profanity) out.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:30

          @JB1: I still need my toilet fixed…. They haven't done yet.

        • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 09:32
          +1

          @fm:

          I would have called someone else.

          You know they are dodgy and yet you still gave them your money?

          I know some very good and honest tradies (I didn't say cheap), but unless I can get a referral from someone, reasons like this is why I rather DIY.

        • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:36

          @JB1: I have no option, they got the toilet out already, if I call a plumber it won't arrive same day.
          I let them finish their job (knowing it was half done), then I said I overheard everything, and I will do this and that, and u better fix it again for good.
          Well they look very scared after hearing police etc, and so I guess I believe they do their job after.

        • bargaino on 29/07/2016 - 10:17

          @fm:
          Horrible story. Thats another reason why its a good idea to have a few basic handyman skills.
          Once upon a time, men were expected to be able to do these sorts of things, you'd learn for family and mates. And a little trial an error :)

          When I got a replacement toilet pan and cistern from Bunnings, it came with very thorough instructions. I'd say most problems come from people who don't bother to read the instructions properly before starting.

          I can understand plumbers getting cynical, if they are constantly being called out for trivial jobs like blocked S-bends, changing taps or connecting dishwashers and washing machines.

        • altomic on 29/07/2016 - 10:36

          @manic: this.

          my parents wanted new toilet seats in both bathrooms. they were going to get a plumber to come in and do it (because toilet—> water —> plumber). so I said I'd do it. They bought the replacements at bunnings and they came with thorough instructions. it took less than 5 minutes to install each new seat. my parents were amazed. simple stuff if you take a few minutes to read/google.

        • xcess on 31/07/2016 - 20:23

          @manic:

          why? i would rather do a lot of easy jobs thann a hard job if i was a plumber

  • lostn on 29/07/2016 - 00:10
    +1

    I try to fuse an old soap bar (when it gets too small to be useable) with a new bar. I've never considered it despicable though.

    But now that I've switched to using Dove, the curved shape of the bar makes it difficult to fuse them together. Sometimes I will get some used dental floss and tie them in place to make it easier. Without it, it just slips off, or doesn't stick. Sapoderm has an oval shaped indentation perfect for inserting the remnants of your old bar. As long as it's flat, it's not hard to fuse an old bar onto it. But the curved shape of Dove makes it very hard. Sometimes I'm unable to do it and have to toss it out.

    It's more a matter of OCD than actually trying to get more value out of something. I feel really good when I can pull it off.

    Dove is bad value given how small they are and what they cost, but it's the only soap free bar that I know of.

  • Dr Prepper on 29/07/2016 - 01:23
    +12
    1. "Stealing"thrown out bread or cakes from a supermarket dumpster when I was a kid.

    2. When I was at high school I would keep old cups for months from places like hungry Jacks which had free refills.maccas used to have free drip coffee refills.
      3.Waiting until 5 minutes before lunch ended to ask the canteen ladies if they had food to throw out.

    3. I did my HSC and an entire degree using the computers,printers,internet and copiers at an office I was supposed to be cleaning at night.

    4. Offer to get the coffees for everyone at uni so I could free coffees from my loyalty card.

    6.I proposed to wife with a cubic zirconia had it changed to real diamond after almost 10 years of marriage when she was pregnant and her fingers were swollen.

    • imurgod on 29/07/2016 - 04:09
      +8

      6 wow!

    • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 07:19
      +2

      6- did she know at the time or fibd out?

      • mousie on 29/07/2016 - 09:22
        +8

        Diamonds are intrinsically worthless

        • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 09:27

          So are many things but doesn't mean we don't want them.

        • ProjectZero on 02/08/2016 - 12:44

          Thanks Adam! I still say try explaining that to your SOs when you propose.

        • weskambul on 15/08/2016 - 17:39

          @ProjectZero: Done such, turned out well

        • ProjectZero on 16/08/2016 - 11:08

          @weskambul: hahahahaha you got lucky maybe, shes a keeper… DON'T EVER LET HER GO! =P

      • Dr Prepper on 29/07/2016 - 15:58
        +1

        Nope when she had the youngest her hands and feet became gigantic so she kept her rings and bracelets in her bedside.I took it to a jeweller to upgrade to diamond after 10 yrs of marriage.

        • lostn on 29/07/2016 - 20:11

          If she never knew, you probably didn't have to change it.

        • Dr Prepper on 29/07/2016 - 22:52
          +11

          @lostn:

          dude, i knew though.

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:28
      +1

      4- the HSC, that's really gold, it is despicable perhaps. But it's not so bad, given the good motive. It's commendable.

    • Fizzydrink on 29/07/2016 - 12:30
      +7

      5 mustve been so bad he didnt mention it

      • Dr Prepper on 29/07/2016 - 16:06
        +3

        5.) Ok ok….I ate other people's "garbage" from tables at food courts all through Highscool and uni. Out of habit I still can't walk through a food court without scoping it out for partly eaten meals.

    • FiDad on 29/07/2016 - 12:40

      What about 5? Too despicable to list here?

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 23:20
      +2

      4- what would be despicable is to stamp it yourself.
      I did that with subway, until they stop that loyalty card.

    • Normal-Paper on 02/08/2016 - 09:46

      Wow… You sound like you were homeless as a kid lol

  • Phenotype on 29/07/2016 - 01:25
    +7

    Abuse the 1$ for three months premimum for new spotify accounts. Once it expires, I'd create a new account, use the 1$ offer, then follow my old accounts song playlists.

    • Pootie Tang on 29/07/2016 - 09:03

      Still do that when the offer comes out.

    • fruit on 31/07/2016 - 19:10

      Link?

    • thefud on 02/08/2016 - 22:02
      +1

      Spotify also didn't use to do any tracking of billing.

      I have my own domain where a catch all email address sends to one.

      So I would increment the count by 1. Ie. Month one I was [email protected], month two I was [email protected]

      Every month I'd sign up for a new 'trial' account. Free Spotify for more than 12 months. Since fixed.

  • jo5h89 on 29/07/2016 - 06:12
    +7

    Moved in with the in laws ……

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:27
      +2

      My biggest regret…

      • aaroncmw on 29/07/2016 - 09:50

        when they walked in on us….

        • altomic on 29/07/2016 - 10:37
          +11

          and joined in….

        • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 23:21

          @altomic: they started to smile and offer to be your parents, but no…

  • JimB on 29/07/2016 - 07:14

    Ooops

  • mrluke on 29/07/2016 - 07:35

    Most despicable things to get money happen to you, not from you :(

  • love2buy on 29/07/2016 - 08:55

    Taking more than my fair share of free samples by approaching a different person handing out the samples.

  • Pootie Tang on 29/07/2016 - 09:02

    My mum lives in bali and instead of bringing people back presents I bring back a truck load of toiletries as they ara about 50% cheaper and they always get used!

    • Pootie Tang on 29/07/2016 - 09:04

      Also once ate a cigarette for $5 to get home after my mate lost all his/our money at the casino. Good times ;(

      • Pootie Tang on 29/07/2016 - 09:05

        Also in byron we hate a mate and his nickname was Cravo - so we would go to the woolworths and swap the special tag from one item to another and call it the Cravo special.

  • Draxxx on 29/07/2016 - 09:03

    Back in the early 80's when I was in my single digits and pre-barcode scan, occasionally I'd be allowed to buy a toy at the local BI-LO if it was under a couple of bucks.
    I'd find an item under $2 and swap the price tags on a more expensive toy. Check-out chicks are none the wiser.

    • plmko on 29/07/2016 - 09:33

      BI-LO <—- LMAO haven't seen that in ages.

      • Draxxx on 29/07/2016 - 13:04
        +1

        Took me about 10 mins to remember the name…

      • fruit on 31/07/2016 - 19:11

        Only been gone here for like 2 years.

    • 00 on 30/07/2016 - 17:25
      +1

      That's textbook theft.

    • tatnal on 09/08/2016 - 10:27

      Yeah did the same thing on a tennis racket from k-mart.

  • 50cent on 29/07/2016 - 09:36
    +2

    Buying clothes from Kmart, wearing it multiple times and then returning it.

    • Fizzydrink on 29/07/2016 - 12:32

      i did that once, but had trouble explaining the tipping dollars left in the pocket

  • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 09:37
    +3

    I once purchased a toy that the toy can be taken out of the packaging without damaging the package itself.
    I returned it after I'm bored with it… Full price.

  • Evoque10 on 29/07/2016 - 10:02
    +8

    There was this free twister promotion from KFC about 2 years ago which you only have to show the voucher to get the twister

    So after work, I started walking from:
    1. Myer foodcourt for the first twister
    2. Bathurst St store (2nd twister)
    3. George St Market City (3rd twister)
    4. George St near UTS (4th twister)

    And then the free beef wrap from Maccas came. Did the same thing from Wynyard, Myer foodcourt, Townhall (2 stores), Darling Quarter and finally the one near UTS.

    (^_^)V

    • firedragon on 29/07/2016 - 18:19

      Question is, did you eat them all?!

      • Evoque10 on 30/07/2016 - 00:50
        +1

        Of course!!! :D

  • TrailerTrash on 29/07/2016 - 10:15
    +13

    My biggest haul was using 'olden days' computing tweaks (aka CPU Slowing) to win a McDonald's "Rocky Beach" competition.. 1st 2nd and 3rd place because I wanted a new phone!!

    Each win gave an Ericsson T10 Flip Phone, Rheopaipo boogie board (good one), 12 month supply of Mushroom Record CD's, heaps of vouchers, clothes, McD coupons etc.

    It was McD's first real online presence and their game was online and would ask a series of multiple choice Pop Culture questions. The longer you took to click on the ABCD option, the points would decrease.
    We're talking around 1999/2000, so it was a Flash-based game and running on my Pentium x386 I realised if I ran a CPU slowing .exe, the game would run S..L..O..W.. and give me plenty of time to get maximum points!

    Anyway ran it, nailed the answers, gave my name, my girlfriends name, my mates name and actually had like the top 10 high scores, but that was too obvious so the judges booted a few where I used the same name.. anyway still won Top 3 and shared the goodies around!

    No other comps ever came close to that haul and it was a rush learning all the answers (coz you still had to know the correct responses) and then getting the perfect scores. Fun times and got the phone in the end.. although despicable [I guess] when I look back..

    • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 13:44
      +1

      I loved the T10, which colour was it?

      • TrailerTrash on 29/07/2016 - 14:10
        +1

        Got an Aqua (mine), Pink (gf) and Black (mate) from memory..
        Yeah great phones!

  • cashless on 29/07/2016 - 10:49
    +5

    Sell old apple tech on ebay.
    Peeps actually pay for the stuff!

    • TrailerTrash on 29/07/2016 - 14:11

      And with the dollar the way it is, I actually made a profit on selling my 2 y.o. 3TB Time Capsule!

    • Abaddon on 01/08/2016 - 13:59

      Even with the knowledge that Apple has already cripple/slowdown patched it… despicable (more on Apple than you though)

  • BertieBrown on 29/07/2016 - 10:55
    +3

    In my mind, I think something which should be far, far more financially incentivised in Australia is recycling.

    It's just an opinion, I haven't spend years researching this so don't jump down my throat; I reckon if the government invested more money in buy back programs for recycled goods and more money into developing better technology so that more items can be recycled, because a lot of products can't be recycled at the moment, it would improve not only people's bottom line but also the environment and maybe even create more industry.

    For instance, in SA, we recycle the bottles, but not the caps. Could there not be some way of also recycling the caps too? It's only a small proportion of the overall recycling opportunity but nevertheless, it seems so daft that we can't recycle the lids too.

    It probably sounds far fetched and silly, maybe it is, but it would be awesome to see monetary savings and opportunities generated through recycling, that are currently being wasted, being reinvested into renewable energy funding for households to move towards off the grid energy production.

    I save up all of my bottles and cans, and I recycle them anyway but what if there was an opportunity for the government to provide a small incentive (maybe a slightly lower council rate or similar) provided that you recycle so much per year?

    Seems like a lot of people are being under the pump financially, and there is an opportunity to encourage more people to recycle more diligently.

    Or, am I just a pie in the sky hippie?

    Edit: spelling (*top-too).

    • Shiny Mew on 31/07/2016 - 13:34

      Sadly, the reason other states don't have a buy back scheme for cans and bottles is because of lobbyists for beverage companies such as Coca-Cola Amatil. Despite the benefits of the scheme (most humans are selfish and won't recycle properly without a monetary incentive - see, eg, your average recycle bin, sidewalk and gutter), I believe it requires setup and maintenance contributions from these corporations which they will do anything to avoid.

      • BertieBrown on 31/07/2016 - 16:05

        So in SA do C-C-A have to contribute to the recycling of 10c? I'd always thought it was a govt rebate.

        Yeah, totally agree about not enough people recycling.

      • fruit on 31/07/2016 - 19:13

        Drink manufactures have a financial incentive when it comes to aluminium as it's still as strong and far cheaper to use recycled stuff.

    • Shiny Mew on 31/07/2016 - 13:40

      Very strange that local council kerbside recycling in S.A. doesn't accept plastic caps - have you confirmed with your local council this is correct?

      Portions of council websites are outdated and items accepted for recycling will differ between the recycling contractors for each council. Recycling tech has improved in the past half decade whereby at least in our area they will accept plastic toys, plastic biscuit trays, plastic buckets etc.

    • Brendoo on 01/08/2016 - 09:22
      +2

      In NSW they will be starting the container deposit scheme next year. 10c refund for most drink containers.

      Quote: "Ten cents will be paid for every drink container between 150ml and three litres, and displaying a NSW CDS label, when returned to a depot or reverse vending machine."

      We also now (for about the past year or so) have those new hi-tech recycling reverse vending machines in Sydney CBD where you put in your bottles and cans and also your rewards card and you get rewards for recycling. It's pretty cool. You get movie tickets, transport tickets, things like that. Also has draws for iPads and more expensive things each time you recycle a bottle or can. I've seen the machines at Circular Quay, Wynyard, Chinatown and Redfern, not sure where else they are.

      I remember as a kid collecting aluminium cans in the old "cash for cans" scheme. We'd collect tons of cans and Dad would strap the bags of cans to the roof of the Valiant station wagon and we'd take them to the nearest collection place and get cash. Those places were everywhere, big steel cage trailers throughout the suburbs which made it easy to get to. We used to score some good money as kids back in the day.

      • Shiny Mew on 01/08/2016 - 12:35

        I still do the whole bagging and tagging of cans and drop-off to the local aluminium recyclers once a year. We usually drop off somewhere in the vicinity of 2,500 cans per year crushed using our home-made 'can crusher'. Though, the funds are no where near as satisfying as that which would be offered in S.A…

    • Shiny Mew on 01/08/2016 - 12:31
      +2

      Hi Jawanzar, believe it or not for people in many areas it's quite possible to easily eliminate 95% of one's waste from going to landfill for FREE (ignoring council rates) if one knows where to go.

      One way you and any friends can SIGNIFICANTLY reduce your landfill for FREE is to simply wrap in plastic bags all those scrunchable plastics that conventional kerbside recycling doesn't take and deliver them at the special bins at Coles:

      http://redcycle.net.au/redcycle/locator

      Woolworths has a very similar program, turning scrunchable plastics into furniture for disadvantaged schools, but you'll need to check if their stores in your area participate.

      Insofar as landfill contributions are concerned, I've managed through these programs, TerraCycle special recycling programs (check them out), kerbside recycling, local 'resource recovery centres' (in my area, I can have all my e-waste recycled for free) and compost+chickens to get my landfill-destined rubbish down to about quarter of a plastic bag a week. It's a great feeling, and lamentable more people don't know of or effect these small changes.

  • scrimshaw on 29/07/2016 - 12:09
    +23

    Convinced Australians that we don't need Fiber to the home and that node is good enough. And we can save millions of dollars.

    Plan somewhat succeeded.

    Do I win the despicable award now?

    • Spazzwan on 29/07/2016 - 17:57
      +2

      More deserving of ignorance award.

  • shaiguy on 29/07/2016 - 12:16
    +2

    Amongst other things, I use minions who help me for free and I use my blaster gun at those shooting games at theme parks to win all the prizes including the fluffy unicorn but hey… that's just despicable me.

    Felonius Gru

  • purplelady on 29/07/2016 - 12:27
    +2

    Once I photocopied a whole textbook back in uni. It was a very thick book, I did it for 3 hours at the photocopy store, then even came back the next day to finish copying it. It was expensive back then (probably close to $100) considering I was still a uni student. Thinking back, can't believe I was that persistent to do 6 hours of photocopying! Oh, I borrowed that book from uni friend to photocopy.

    Another time, there was this book I needed to do assignments for the whole term, but after that, I didn't see the value to keep it. So, I borrowed it from library for 2 weeks, then used my mates' library accounts to reserve the book for the next 2 weeks, the next 2 weeks, and so on. Then repeat for the whole term.

  • tingleping on 29/07/2016 - 12:39
    +5

    I was at work last night & made my partner order indian from the shop next door on deliveryhero & deliver it to my work to save $10 on a $40 meal. I thought it was worth it, but he was SUPER embarrassed..

  • brizzy on 29/07/2016 - 13:27
    +3

    back in my uni days i used to live next to coles, I figured out if something weighed less than a couple of grams it was free, so used to "buy" a tiny chilli without stem for free

  • megaclix on 29/07/2016 - 13:39
    +4

    Back in my uni days. Vine ripened tomatoes, when pulled off the vine, looked like regular (cheaper) tomatoes.

    Also, with broccoli, used to snap off the big, thick stem - ain't paying for that.

    • chibbingus on 29/07/2016 - 14:01
      +3

      lol. +1 on the broccoli stem. never pay retail

    • gimme on 29/07/2016 - 17:00
      +5

      lol the stem is the tastiest part of the broccoli. No joke. Just peel it and eat raw or boiled. Much tastier than the flowers. Same as cauliflower or cos lettuce.

      • [Deactivated] on 29/07/2016 - 22:59

        That's true, its good for stock, or blend it and it's good for pasta sauce. It's also has more Vitamins

      • Slippery Fish on 30/07/2016 - 09:25

        Has mowt the nutritional value too.

      • love2buy on 01/08/2016 - 21:49
        +1

        So you suggest to rip off the stems and just buy the stems?

    • bardlee on 03/08/2016 - 12:57

      Ditto did the same and also remove the stems of Mushrooms and you cant tell because they are in a paper bag.

  • fredcoy on 29/07/2016 - 13:46

    I am a hard-core saver but I don't do stupid things.
    What I try to achieve is to cut down on all unnecessary labour charges that we should not be too high.

    • Necessities: I don't really use toilet paper as I use company toilet & shower sometimes.
    • Hairdresser: decent haircut costs $20, u could save up to $200/year. I've been doing it since 2011.
    • Car service: trickier but 10,000 km interval service is easy and maybe save up to $50/service.
    • Eating out: I only eat out when I have time to enjoy the food, the ambience…anything on-the-go, fast food is a MUST-NOT for me.

    The most despicable was probably backpacking time in Europe when I was roaming everywhere instead of paying for accommodation and not having shower for a week!

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