Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

Difficult to answer you there ben because I learned the art of haggling in souqs in Arab countries because it's a way of life there.

In Majorca a few years ago my wife saw a beautiful hand-stitched tablecloth on a market stall that she fell in love with.

The price was 80 euros - at first.

By the time I'd finished we got it for 27 Euros and it was easily worth that - still got it too!

The main thing is always be polite and friendly and never show anger or displeasure, no matter what you get told because that alienates people.

It's persistence that pays off usually.

I once got a discount in a store here where the item was in a sale - usually a case where haggling doesn't work - but the item had damaged packaging which to me warranted a further reduction.

OK, it took me 40 minutes but I got money knocked off in the end!

In the souqs though it was a real challenge because they're the masters of haggling but you soon learn that one simple factor dominates, and that's time.

Sooner or later the winner in the haggling contest is the one that realises his "adversary" is not going to give up and, hopefully, it'll be you that gets a discount because they're losing time haggling with you when there are other customers around!!

If not you can walk away, still on good terms.

Yes, I know that sounds a simplification in the UK but where's the harm in just asking?! stevmk2

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

I might just pluck up the courage and have a go Steve! I don't think the Brits, in general, are good at haggling and it's probably why we pay such high prices - I shall try to become more European

Thank you for answering.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

I'm so embarrased! Your opening piece about the miser could easily be me! We moved up bush to our farm 10 years ago and we are living his life. We have rain water tanks. When they are empty, we walk to the dam. We have no mains water, gas or electricity and no land line. It sounds crazy but we also don't have any bills for them either!. I get up about 15 minutes before hubby and boil a couple of kettles of water for him to wash in. We boil water for everything that needs hot water, dishes etc. Do our clothes at the laundrymat. We mainly run off a generator that charges batteries for electricity then use them at night. My oldest daughter asked hubby a question about her electricity bill and my youngest daughter, 12 then asked 'what's an electricity bill'? We adopted her at 3 and she has never seen a utility bill for anything in her life! Boy is she in for a surprise when she leaves home! I grow as much as I can and sell eggs, vegies and horse manure to people at hubbys work and make about $50 a week. In the beginning people thought we were crazy, but now quite a few of them envy our decision to go loopy. I don't miss the bills and when times get rough I remend myself about what it used to be like. Don't panic, I'm not a greeny, just anti social.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

That's different Troopie, that's your choice and you are happy with it and the best of luck to you and yours, this chap is young and loaded so in my book that makes him a miserable git, a tightwad.
Although on second thoughts, if he wants to be a miserable git he's entitled to be one, who knows he might have a Scrooge type conversion this season and buy something special for his Christmas dinner, not the biggest turkey in the shop mind you, maybe the cheapest rasher, but it's a start.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

That sounds just like a documentary on TV last week "Power to the Pococks" about a Scottish crofting family who lived without mains power. They wanted mains power, but it would have cost £200k to have it installed!

A really fascinating family. (film contains animal slaughter and butchery)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01hgfln

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

I truly believe we've all been 'brainwashed' into central heating, to the point where we think we cannot do without it. This guy is just experimenting with true austerity to see how far it's possible to go. I've also tried it myself although not quite to his standard. A wash-down with one kettle of water off the gas stove is adequate for day-to-day cleanliness, with a good soak in the bath once a week, provided by my 25 year old gas boiler. Washing clothes frequently has become an obsession, when some can be worn for a lot longer than just one day - my washing machine is only used once a month. There are plenty of other ways to save on valuable and non-renewable resources, and any retired people should be at the cutting edge of real savings to show how it can be done, not just playing at it.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

When we lived in our car for nearly a year we found various ways of adapting and living, but I am not sure brainwashed into central heating covers it really, when we were really cold middle of January we dreamed of central heating and it was what really makes us stay here where we have it and not try to move from this flat. I almost describe my feelings about our boiler and central heating as true love !

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

I well remember as a child when I had to scrape the ice off the inside of the window on winter mornings and I'd get dressed under the blankets to keep warm.

Now in my early 60's, I like my home comforts. The house is at a reasonable temperature thanks to a high efficiency boiler and good insulation. I'm sure I could cut down on the bills, but sometimes I think people put more effort into trying to save than they actually do save.

I think I shall put my comfort first - even if it cost a few pounds more.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

I also remember ice on the inside of the windows when I was very young - even though I had a gas fire in the bedroom it wasn't on all night. I think waking up to ice coated windows (indoors) was very common and most of us survived. Would I do it now? Nope.

Re: Frugality Gone Mad or a Good Idea?

We didn't just have ice on the windows but also had an outside toilet. We managed though without grumbling about it. It was what we were used to at the time when we were children. Don't think I'd want those days back again though.