Credit Crunch

[Sarah9]

It's been revealed that hard-up Brits are being forced to take drastic measures in the wake of the credit crunch

A new report says four in five us are now relying on 'stealth saving' to survive the credit crunch.

Hard up Brits are turning sneaky to cope with the soaring cost of living, according to new research.

Dodging rounds at the pub, re-using unwanted gifts, raiding hotel rooms for freebies and 'borrowing' neighbours' wireless internet are among the shameless tactics being used to beat the credit crunch.

Has the credit crunch put a strain on your purse/wallet yet?

[redcrx]

no

[Ethel]

No

[natalie_1982]

Not yet, well no more than usual anyway!

[Sarah9]

lucky you redcrx, some people are finding it really difficult and are needing to watch the pennies.

Top money-saving tactics include:

Using money off coupons (67 per cent)
Re-using unwanted gifts (30 per cent)
Stopping tipping (23 per cent)
Dodging rounds and cadging fags and drinks from friends (15 per cent)
Taking items from hotel rooms (12 per cent)

[nogginthenog]

As bob dylan once said �When you ain�t got nothing, you got nothing to lose.�

[Ethel]

Well I always use money off coupons, I never tip, and I've always recycled unwanted gifts, so no change there.

I've never stolen from hotels or cadged though

[natalie_1982]

Maybe i am justa tightwad but I use money coupons anyway, and if I have to shop in a big chain I make sure it is one where I can get the points back (nectar, tesco cards, boots card, etc) and buy items that are on offer in bulk. But surely most of that list is just common sense? And rather than dodgin rounds and cadging fags why not try sticking to buying / smoking your own and not being caught up in rounds in the first place?

[Sarah9]

I always pinch the soap/shampoo/conditioner sachets from hotel rooms, i have a bit of a collection now.

[redcrx]

going to pub isnt a necessity, same with smoking so dont see why scrounging should be a top tip for saving.

[redcrx]

the small toiletry bottles are charged for in room cost, thats fair enough.

[Sarah9]

I know what you mean natalie_1982. I use coupons all the time and I'm often trying to find new ways to save money. The list is just common sense. I took it from GMTV this morning.

[redcrx]

though you have to ask how many people who are scrimping and saving will be going to hotels dont you lol

[cassa333]

I heard of a programme or article that someone tried to live on �1 a day. They managed it for a while but only by going to eat at family and friends houses and stealing loo rolls from public toilets etc and getting clothes from jumble sales as the charity shops were too expencive.

If you have to resort to stealing then in my opinion, you have failed to live on the �1.

[Tom Braider]

The credit crunch hasn't affected me yet - to quote Seasick Steve, "I started out with nuthin' and I still got most of it left".

[4getmenot]

ha ha yes I just have to steal shampoo from mums. lol

[droopdrawers]

Iv'e had a similar discussion elsewhere on these lines.

I came up with a few answers to save a few pennies...every penny counts so here are a couple of tips.

Turn the clock on the cooker off
Turn the clock on the Microwave off

As i said,only pennies but you might think of more now.

Share them with us all please.

DD

[ll_billym]

I've thought of another one droopdrawers.

Remove / unplug all clocks and use your mobile phone clock. If you don't have a mobile turn the smallest alarm clock you already own back on.

[Poppetchops]

No, because we have always been careful with money by eating home-cooked food, not wasting gas or electricity and if we want something we save up for it. The momentum of the so-called credit crunch is being kept going by the press fuelling panic. You will notice that the financial news is now being presented in a format that is very easy to misunderstand by the uninformed. The "credit crunch" is a huge irregularity started by banks lending money they haven't got to people who haven't a hope of paying it back plus a low mentality public whose avarice and stupidity have compounded it.

[Pudcat]

How right Poppetchops is, He/She has put it all too clearly.
Basicly it is g
Greed and the Attitude that it is the done thing to Keep up with Jones it one form or annother,
and the Banks and like bodies encourage people to do this.