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25 Morally Grey Survival Hacks From the Recession That Turned Millennials Into Financial Moguls
Sooner or later, we all learn that money doesn’t grow on trees. More times than not, it happens when we’re left to our own devices to care for—as well as pay for—ourselves and/or others. That’s when we also learn just how expensive some things can get, and just how important saving money is. (A penny saved is a penny earned, after all!)
One woman, a TikToker going by the name of ‘juliaa120230’, has recently gone viral for her tips and tricks regarding money saving, some of which might be considered rather…unconventional. Or even unethical or unhinged.
But if you want to learn more about Julia’s—as well as other netizens’—money-saving hacks, scroll down to find them on the list below. And if you feel like sharing the best tricks up your own sleeve, feel free to do that in the comment section.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Sometimes when I email compliments to companies they send coupons for freebies or discounts.
Babs McGurk 8 months ago
This also works if you have a legitimate complain about a product. A few years ago I purchased some microwave popcorn, and one of the bags was rancid. I emailed the company to let them know so they could pull that batch, and they sent me several coupons as well as 4 boxes of various microwave popcorn flavors. I don't see this as a 'morally gray' area at all.
Philly Bob 8 months ago (edited)
I love cheese balls. (cheese covered corn balls) and had bought a new "barrel" of them. When I opened them, they smelled like plastic... chemical like. They even slightly tasted off. They were OK but not anywhere near what they should have been. Called the company and they sent me 4 coupons for cheese balls! I love this company's products in general so... (Utz, if you must know!)
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Bananaramamama 8 months ago
My sister taught me this when we were both out on own for the first time. You catch many flies with honey.
Glenn Cuneo 8 months ago (edited)
I called up Clorox on their 1-800 number one day. They transferred me to a scientist who was wearing a white lab coat (I asked). I asked about how they manufactured the splashless bleach. I got 6 coupons good for 6 gallons! Back in 1998 I wrote the wd40 people complaing about loosing the red straws. Three days later I got a bog of 100 of the straws. I still have about 20 of them left.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I called McCain's after me and a friends found maggots in their frozen orange juice. Gave them all the info. We didn't get anything in return for compensation. Not even a coupon. Just "Thanks. We'll look into it.". I give reviews and comments all the time. Never got anything back. Never crossed my mind I would. Companies are stingy af, imo.
Margie Ang 8 months ago
This could also happen if you contact them reporting problems in their systems/ Web pages/ apps. I got a coupon for pointing out an issue they hadn't caught before releasing it on their app.
RELATED:
#2
College move out days have the best free dumpster stuff.
LooseSeal's $10 Banana 8 months ago
I worked in the maintenance department as an undergrad and the stuff I'd find in the dorms was crazy. Sure you had your condoms and dildos and s*x stuff, but kids left TVs, designer clothes, unopened cleaning supplies and toiletries, half full cases of beer. Some we'd take, some we'd donate, and some we'd trash. Spent two solid weeks going through dorms.
Elio 8 months ago
I cleaned the dorms one summer (do not recommend) but I got a bunch of free stuff. Like a bunch of those fancy glass plant watering things. I gave them to my grandma.
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Michael Largey 8 months ago
At the local university, you can dump all your stuff on move out day at the stadium. It's sold and the money goes to charity.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
On five separate occasions, I've left an old couch next to a dumpster near student housing. All five times, I checked back the next day and there was a crappier old couch sitting in its place. Recycle local!
Panda Bear 8 months ago
I remember in college all the freshman would throw out these really nice futons
Jenn C 8 months ago
One dorm didn't have carpet, so a guy would sell rugs on campus. End of the year he would collect them from the curb, clean them, and sell them back to the same students the next year.
Shaggy 8 months ago
Buddy built lofts in the fall, Just 2x4's and plywood, but Took them back in the spring on move out day. Pretty good side gig in the 90's.
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#3
Goodwill and thrift in the rich areas. They say it gets distributed but it does not.
Cindy Brick 8 months ago
This isn't "morally grey" -- it's just true! One of the best thrifts in Colorado is in Douglas County, one of the wealthiest counties in the U.S. (Treasures in the Park)
Binky Melnik 8 months ago
Not everyone understands everything, nor do many have good comprehension skills. It’s “morally gray” to someone who doesn’t know what the phrase means,
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Huddo's sister 8 months ago
The thing is (well where I live) the price goes up. It might be a brand name that you get for 1/3 of the new price, but the overall cost to you is higher. Does a brand name really mean that much? I am happy to spend a bit more if the quality is better, but a lot of the time it isn't. A $3 shirt that lasts me years but isn't brand name is a better choice for me.
Little Bit 8 months ago
A couple of years ago, a charity shop near to where I live was displaying a pair of designer jeans and a pair of (I think) Nike trainers in their window. They were quite well worn but the price tags were about £5 less than what it would have been to buy them new. Needless to say, they were there for weeks. Sometimes you can get fantastic bargains in charity/second hand shops but other times they demand ridiculous prices.
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Chewie Baron 8 months ago
Yeah, there’s an Oxfam (UK Charity) shop in Notting Hill which often gets donations from all the trendy clelebs who live in the area. Some of the pickings in there are unbelievable.
Shaggy 8 months ago
Can verify, but Golf equipment in AZ follows the same thread. Every single goodwill we go to has a "Golf department." or somesuch. I guess people pass and the relatives do not know what they have. Got a set of carbon clubs last year for 20 bucks, Custom Putter for 5 and a bag for 10. I don't golf, but am trying, but to rent clubs, at the local course, was $75 per round.
#4
I took all the textbooks out of donation bins at move out and sold them. The signs said they wouldn’t accept the books so I figured better in my pocket than the trash. Also dumpster diving veteran
Sapna Sarfare 8 months ago
another way for me is i get books from resale sales (second hand book sales). i have got some amazing books for dirt cheap rates. some i keep while others i sell to another such second hand book sale and make some money.. i can even buy books if i want. of course these sales dont have new books. but with money saved, i can buy new books
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Thrift stores often sell books at well below the specialist rates. They pick up on first editions and rare books quite well, but things like old auction catalogues from top-end salerooms, jewellery or furniture books and suchlike can make surprising amounts. A local auction house has a specialist fine jewellery sale once a quarter, and a stack of 10 hardcover books on jewellery can regularly make £500-600. The same in their objets de vertu (little knick-knacks in silver and precious metals) or furniture sales. Finding the right market can make all the difference.
Binky Melnik 8 months ago (edited)
“things like old auction catalogues from top-end salerooms, jewellery or furniture books and suchlike can make surprising amounts”: 😳 Really? To whom? Do you know? I spose there’s a niche for everything, but books which are essentially sales aids is NOT something I ever imagined having much value, unless it’s a catalog of items belonging to someone like, say, Andy Warhol. You know: The kindsa things it’d be interesting to see. Still, that’s the kinda thing I’d like to look at once and then hand back. It takes all kinds, doesn’t it?
Load More Replies... #5
ALSO call your phone company or internet and say you want to cancel, if they try to get you to stay, say ok if you lower it to $x a month, be strict though!!
Featherytoad 8 months ago
I did that with Spectrum, and they didn't believe me, so I went and got set up with another company, and when I called Spectrum to cancel, then they wanted to keep me with a lower rate. I already had all the equipment set up that I would have had to send back.
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Another Panda 8 months ago
Not actually morally grey. Companies pull all kinds of immoral pricing plans for profit, as the consumer, you are demanding the price be put back down where it belongs.
Kat Alison 8 months ago
Exactly. These corporations don’t hesitate to fvck us over and price gouge us. I say, give it right back to them.
Load More Replies... Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Not just your phone company. Any subscription servide, household bill, insurance, etc. It will take a little time, but keep pushing until you get transferred to customer retention and then you will be able to get the genuine rate rather than the sucker's rate. Be calm, polite, and firm, but only the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
nottheactualphoto 8 months ago
When I actually did want to cancel, the first thing out of the guy's mouth was "I can give you a 15% discount."
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I do this often when my deal is about up. I can usually get them to sweeten another deal. Personally, though, I hate the hassle of switching, but the regular price for internet and home phone is getting way too expensive for what it's worth.
Lez Be Honest 8 months ago
I just did this with Sirius Radio. For the first year, I paid $4.99 a month. Then my year was up, and it changed to $27 a month. I cancelled it and first they offered me $17.99 per month, and I said no, then they offered $6.99 per month for the next year.
#6
Instead of paying to go out, go to art gallery shows and drink free wine and eat free snacks
Ron Man 8 months ago
What art gallery has free wine and snacks? I'm thinking this person is someone who believes things in the real world work the same way they do on TV.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
All of the ones around here will provide champers and nibbles if you go when an artist has a show. You can get drinks and candy just for showing interest in an artist's work if you make the right noises.
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iseefractals 8 months ago
lol just no. My wife went to uni for a fine art degree....and that led to her (and thus me) having to attend multiple galleries per month. For three straight years. The amount of self congratulatory pretension, the ongoing chorus of artists and attendees trying to wax poetic about mediocre derivative drek, as they try to conjure up something that "sounds!" insightful. Art is wonderful, artists are just the absolute worst.
#7
Lots of tools have lifetime warranties like Craftsman, Dewalt, um, and I think rigid is another good one. But they have lifetime warranties so you can just take them right back to Home Depot and exchange them right then in there.
Bananaramamama 8 months ago
This will often work with certain car maintenance items like brake pads, calipers, batteries and filters. If you are trying to keep your beater car alive (which there is zero shame in) and doing your own maintenance/minor repairs it's a good idea to ask about the warranty.
Ace 8 months ago
'Consumables' like brake pads will never have any sort of time-based guarantee, the other stuff should have guarantees, but not lifetime ones. Batteries, for example, will always have a finite lifespan; filters and the like are regularly replaced as part of a vehicle's service schedule, so again, no way can you just use them and then get them replaced for free.
Load More Replies... Forrest Grump 8 months ago
Harbor Freight Tools offers a lifetime replacement warranty on hand tools. They say you need proof of purchase. But I have returned broken or worn out tools without a receipt. As long as it looks like something they sell, they will give a replacement.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
There was a DC motor drive radial arm saw I once owned. Some minor part broke. I contacted the company to order the part and they told me to immediately destroy the saw. It has a major motor bearing failure that can cause the blade to come off at high speed and k**l you.
#8
In the winter, after you cook something in the oven, leave the oven door wide open and it's like Free heat
Binky Melnik 8 months ago
How is this something people need to keep asking? You *do* understand that not everyone grasps English idioms, or they don’t read properly, they misunderstand, they have memory problems, it’s “morally gray” to them, or they’re not very bright, right? When one asks for submissions on Reddit, you’re gonna hear from ALLL of those kindsa people. Do you not remember kids in school not answering questions properly? If you can’t, maybe you can just accept that there will be errors made by the general public. If you REALLY need to know, drop a note to the OP to ask, as we can’t tell you what they were thinking.
Load More Replies... Clarissa 8 months ago
The heat goes into the house if the oven door is left open or closed. Same a.ount of heat transfer. You just feel it more with the door open.
GenuineJen 8 months ago
And with the door closed there's no risk of my cats getting in a hot oven.
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Alice Landers 8 months ago
Obviously pets & children is an issue. You do not need to leave "door wide open" a slight crack will accomplish same thing.
Forrest Grump 8 months ago
Leaving the oven door shut will also accomplish the same thing. Or do you actually think excess heat energy will stay inside the oven forever?
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Surly Scot 8 months ago
It's fine if it's an electric oven, lots of people do this in Scotland.
Load More Replies... Forrest Grump 8 months ago
OMG. This one has been on Bored Panda many times. I will give my usual response. There is no perfect insulation. Excess heat energy will continue transferring through the structure of the oven until the oven interior is the same temperature as the room in which the oven is located. The effect is EXACTLY the same regardless of whether you leave the oven door open or closed after cooking. You do not get any "free heat" by leaving the door open.
Another Panda 8 months ago
I’ve been told by an engineer that this can cause thermal shock to your appliance. You’re better off leaving it closed after use and letting the heat dissipate slowly.
Forrest Grump 8 months ago
I don't think it is just a coincidence that the people who say "The heat will be wasted if you leave the oven door shut" are the same people who can't get a good-paying job.
#9
Getting chickens to save money on eggs. I cannot emphasize this enough. Chickens are expensive. Their feed is expensive. If you don't have a big yard where they can forage and Take care of themselves. Chickens are going to cost you so much more money long term than paying for eggs at their inflated price.
Bananaramamama 8 months ago
I literally did the math on this out of pure curiosity when egg prices went up. It is definitely not cheaper lol. Also, not all hens will lay consistently and they do eventually stop laying as they age. So you still have the expense of care long after that
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
It depends if you think of your chickens as pets, or if you treat them as livestock that have to pay their way. If a chicken is not producing, you have the option to have an expensive pet chicken, or a nice chicken dinner. This is not abúse of an animal, this is the way it has always been. If you cannot live with this then you definitely should not be eating shop bought eggs, because those chickens have endured far, far worse.
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Uncle Panda 8 months ago
FWIW, it also takes regular, disciplined effort to have a steady supply of eggs. You have to 'train' the chickens and yourself to a regular practice.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I remember when this was encourage to have urban chicken farms, or something. People were actually doing this and it wasn't going well for them or the neighbours. They can be loud, smelly and require vet care.
#10
I know a lot of people who turn off their HVAC system when they leave to go to work for the day because they don't wanna heat their house or cool their house when it's empty. Your HVAC system is going to have to work so hard to come back up or down to temp when you get home. Doing that is going to cost you way more money long term. Same exact thing goes for the water heater. Do not turn it off just because you don't need it.
iseefractals 8 months ago (edited)
This is nonsense. And exceedingly wasteful. 1) heating an area and cooling an area are NOT equal asks. It's easier and cheaper to heat a space that is cold, than it is to cool a space that is hot. 2) Aside from numerous stringent scientific studies, all concluding that you will always, always, always save money (and the planet) by not running your appliance when you are NOT THERE TO ENJOY THE BENEFIT. 3) Electricity prices fluctuate in many, many, many area's....based upon the demand being placed on the grid of that particular area. Energy prices are cheapest between 8pm and 6am, prices shoot up between 6 am and 5pm.....and skyrocket further between 5 and 8pm. The best thing you can do in terms of cooling, is to drop your thermostat to 60 at night. Aside from the fact that it literally help you sleep better, it's easier on the system as their is less heat to overcome, and it's cheaper. Invest in blackout curtains, and provided you have decent home insulation and insulated windows...
iseefractals 8 months ago (edited)
your home will maintain a comfortable temperature, for the majority of the day. Having a smart, programable thermostat means you can set the system to boot on for an hour or so IF NEEDED before the late afternoon price hike. Technology Connections over on youtube detailed this process several years ago. Aside from that many, many homes OVERSPEC their AC. Under the assumption that higher capacity = better cooling. NO. That results in the unit overcycling, which damages the oil pump in the unit, which at best increases the need for maintenance. The existence of smart thermostats makes this theory really easy to test as they can track energy prices at any given hour of the day along with the consumption over your HVAC system. Besides all that, the entire reason that mini-splits have been the standard in most of the rest of the world, and are finally beginning to penetrate north america is the fact that it is INSANELY WASTEFUL AND EXPENSIVE to heat or cool rooms that YOU ARE NOT IN.
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Ace 8 months ago
I switch mine off (in four holiday rental apartments) if they're going to be empty for more than three or four days. Energy savings on that timescale are minimal, but I just don't like to leave them on when they're not in use.
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Roxy222uk 8 months ago
I'd like to see the maths on this. Like how long does it need to be off for, for this to be true? Also, is this based on modern engineering? Some people still believe this about car engines but as long as they're off for longer than ten seconds you've saved more fuel than it took to restart it. Sorry, this sounds like a myth until there's evidence.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago (edited)
I think the usual statement is that it's a zero net gain because you lose the savings reheating or cooling the house again. I went to a tankless boiler for hot water, in part, because it bothered me to hold 35 gallons of hot water in a 55 F basement for a 10 minute a day shower.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
The secondary benefit of a tankless hot water heater is the shower never runs out of hot water. Some days, I have to make the decision to get out several times before it happens.
Load More Replies... Forrest Grump 8 months ago
There have been studies done on this. In fact, I just saw one in the news a couple weeks ago. Turning the HVAC down a few degrees while you are away does reduce the amount of energy (and therefore the cost) for heating or cooling your house.
StrangeOne 8 months ago (edited)
I keep mine on because I love the feeling of coming home to a toasty warm/refreshingly cool home, and I know my plants are not going to suffer throughout the day. I also live in a winter climate, where temperatures can plummet to below -20C. My dad woke up freezing one morning and the toilet water was frozen because his heater went kaput.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
It is 100% incorrect. See iseefractals very clear and helpful explanation.
Load More Replies... #11
1) dumpster diving furniture 2) get a serving job and eat leftover food 3) get a library card
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Be very, very careful with dumpster furniture. Bedbugs are on the rise in a big way, and once they've infested your home you're in big trouble.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I don't even participate in the citywide curb side "yard sale" event we have every year because of that risk. I don't even feel comfortable buying furniture or even electronics from people off of online marketplaces. It's not just bedbugs you have to worry about.
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Barbara Deskins 8 months ago
just because you work in a restaurant does not mean you get free food
#12
Create an email address specifically to share with family members for sharing streaming services memberships like to Sam's Club, anything like that that cost money on a monthly basis that you can share with your family. That way there's never any back and forth about can you check your email for the code? I just had it sent to your email. Blah blah blah. You don't have to worry about waiting on other people. It's just always gonna be there.
#13
Find out when the rich neighborhoods have their trash day and then drive through the night before to pick up everything that the rich people have decided is junk but can actually be resold for a lot of money. Or just keep it for yourself. Of course that was the mid 2000, so adjusting for today's standards. Infiltrate their Facebook groups, find the neighborhood Facebook groups, and keep alerts on for when somebody posts curb alert. Because usually it's gonna be something nice.
Becky Samuel 8 months ago
Be aware of local laws before doing this. Just because something is on the curbside does not necessarily mean that it is fair game. There seems to be quite a bit of white privilege assumed in this too.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
That is very true. We have bulk trash pick ups, but you have to call to request for the pick up and there's a pick up and dump fee you have to pay. If the item is not there upon pickup, there goes the person's paid fees, and a waste of time for the junk people.
Load More Replies... #14
If you get an email about buy three bathing suits, get one free but you've already got 10 bathing suits, you aren't saving money by getting a free bathing suit. You are spending money on 3 4 bathing suits that you didn't need in the first place. It's a waste of money.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 8 months ago
Who the holy hell has 10 bathing suits? Who can afford to buy THREE bathing suits at once?! I have TWO that I've owned for probably the last 15 years XD (Though to be fair, I don't go into the pool often, as I live in SoCal and will die in the sun.) But still, who needs to own THAT MANY bathing suits, even if you swim/go to the beach often?!
Roxy222uk 8 months ago
I know, such a weird example, although I do know what they're trying to say.
Load More Replies... Ace 8 months ago
Well duh! Anyone who's taken in by that sort of offer is beyond hope, IMO. (Unless it's for something they need to purchase regularly anyway, of course, but it's difficult to imagine how it could apply to bathing suits.)
Pencil 8 months ago
I just did a buy three get one free deal the other day. But it was for canned tomatoes not swimwear. Lol.
Load More Replies... #15
Hand washing your dishes instead of using the dishwasher. The dishwasher is going to save you more money long term because it's going to take far less water and it's going to take far less energy to heat up the water.
keyboardtek 8 months ago
The Bosch dishwasher we recently bought uses only one gallon of water!
Upstaged75 8 months ago
I have that same one. I'm too lazy to wash dishes by hand. :)
Load More Replies... Jaya 8 months ago
I don't know what it's like in other countries, but where I live water is cheap, so this isn't gonna make a lot of difference financially. Using the dishwasher so that you have extra time on your hands, and working 1 extra hour in that time (if your job allows that) makes way more difference than the couple of cents for water.
Liz Downing 8 months ago
Not just saving on water bill. Saving on energy bill to heat the water. And just saving water in general.
Load More Replies... Featherytoad 8 months ago (edited)
Dishwashers don't work for me. I live alone, and I would run out of everything before I get a full load. I do rinse the dishes in cold water, but I don't know how much this saves, if any.
Brian Droste 8 months ago (edited)
Only if you have a full dishwasher. Puttting a few dishes in the dishwasher and constantly running the dish washer , then it is going to cost more than handwashing.
Ron Man 8 months ago
This actually isn't true. And you should be washing your dishes in hot water in the dishwasher too.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Dishwasher typically use water that is heated with hot elements, then super heated during drying. In the end, they are more sanitized than if handwashing. People generally don't wash their dishes at near boiling point temperatures. The dishwasher also uses less soap per gallon then people use to handwash. I've seen people pour soap onto a scouring brush. There are people who have this belief that if they don't see a ton of bubbles in the water then there's not enough soap. I could go on. We really don't know how to properly clean our dishes. At least I don't get the soap taste on my dishes anymore. I also use way less soap. I buy a pack to last a month. We used to buy dish soap every week or so.
Load More Replies... sfgothgirl 8 months ago
You should run the water till it's hot before you start your dishwasher
Another Panda 8 months ago
Actually, this will waste money. The dishwasher is usually only connected to the cold tap, and has its own heating system. If you run the hot water in your sink, you are literally running money down the drain.
Load More Replies... #16
Anytime you're out to eat somewhere, grab extra condiments, bring them home, put them in your fridge. Forget they're there until you need them later.
Brian Droste 8 months ago
I would still forget them and use the regular containers of condiments. Then they would eventually go bad.
Uncle Panda 8 months ago
When we cleaned out my dad's house, the bottom layer of his huge sauce packet drawer had almost completed the transmutation to diamond.
Roxy222uk 8 months ago
TBF, this is more of a morally grey tip than many on the list. However the result will be what has happened where I work. The sauces are now behind the counter. We offer them, and give one of each they want. If they ask for more they get more. Just by not letting people thoughtlessly scoop up handfuls was shown to reduce losses by a considerable amount in the trial stores.
Mary Kelly 8 months ago
i take them, but i give them to a food bank...ketchup and soy sauce can make a tasteless meal better
#17
I was in college. I went to as many free events as possible. Food was ALWAYS provided.
BookFanatic 8 months ago
Same. College kids are always hungry and always appreciative of free food.
Rosecat 7 months ago
In the university I attended, you were entitled to free food at the campus "restaurant", as long as your family's annual income was below a certain amount. Well, my parents' incomes combined didn't even reach half of the limit, so I got my card and ate free breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bus fare was half as a student, it worked perfectly.
Lyone Fein 8 months ago
If you live in a college town, most of those events are open to the public.
#18
switch car insurances every 6 months (actually call an agent though) because they have “competition” price deals and you could keep getting cheaper and cheaper car ins everytime
Pandemonium 8 months ago
30 years ago USAA took such good care of my wife after a nasty car accident. I said I'd never switch and I haven't.
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DeoManus Argentem 8 months ago
Just be aware, it dings your credit score every time you get a new quote, at least it did for me last time I was curious about switching carriers. Do this a few times shopping quotes and it starts to add up (US, obvs).
Upstaged75 8 months ago
That's a huge pain in the butt! I have a policy through Progressive where my rate keeps going down the longer I go without a ticket or accident. I'm a safe driver so it's pretty low right now. And no, it's not the one where you plug something in to your car.
Pferdchen 8 months ago
The commercials here say you can participate if you have a family member, such as a parent, who served. I think I'll call, but I'll feel kind of off trying to benefit from something my father did 80 years ago.
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#19
Measure liquid laundry detergent with measuring cups. Don’t just pour
Boris Long-Johnson 8 months ago
Me - the “measuring lid” just gets messy unless you clean it and I can’t be arsed.
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Bananaramamama 8 months ago
You actually can get away with using the measuring cup but using less than "recommended"
Soosh_tr 8 months ago
Use the new dry soap sheets. No soap waste, no soap residue and no mess.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
I like the Nature's Clean ones. They're the only ones that don't make us itchy in our clothes.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
Use the measuring cup in the cap, but using about 1/2 the recommended amount gets my clothes just as clean.
Philly Bob 8 months ago
You can also use less than what they "recommend." I use like 2/3rds less and stuff gets just as clean and rinses out better. I've seen a load of appliance YouTube vids where they suggest this.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Use way less soap than what the bottle says to use. You're not supposed to see a lot of suds in the water, especially for front load machines that don't use so much water. Otherwise, you'll end up with clothes that still has soap residue and that won't feel good on your skin.
#20
Cut your sponges in half.
Philly Bob 8 months ago
Buy the cheap 6 pack of sponge / scrubbies at Dollar General for a buck. I bought like 8 packs and when i use one, I run it through the dish washer. After like a week I just toss it.
Roxy222uk 8 months ago
While I'm pretty paid back about most things people consider 'yucky' washing up sponges will rapidly be colonised by bacteria in that moist, often warm, food source. Pack up one or two food poisoning bacteria and a day later, hey presto, rubbing disease over your crockery and cutlery.
#21
when you are bored make sure the offers on the app for fast food/ restaurants are a better deal than coupons you get in the mail or a promotion they are running.
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 8 months ago
my mother has several emails and has signed up for rewards for every single email. she even set the birthday deals to the birthdays of friends and family so we can get birthday deals almost year round. its kinda nice to be driving around on a road trip and get a notification from del taco saying happy birthday to so-and-so, and rewarding us with a free meal. it might be considered cheating the system a bit, but i get a small cotton candy milkshake from dutch bros for free every couple of weeks so im good
#22
get a part time job at a fast place. when they toss food, workers can get it. i worked at panera and quiznos and when food exspired, employees slpit the left overs.
StrangeOne 8 months ago
One Timmies location I worked at let us do this. But it was done in secret because it was all going in the trash at the end of the day. (This was in a mall. Not a 24/7 location.) After a while we got sick of donuts and muffins. We did give a majority of the stuff to a lady who worked for a homeless shelter.
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 8 months ago
Unless he's okayed it. When I worked summers at a restaurant, you could make yourself anything you liked on your meal break. If you wanted steak every day, it was fine with the boss. Very low employee turnover.
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Toothless Feline 8 months ago
Many bosses will treat this as theft. Absolutely make sure it’s okay with the store manager and the regional manager before trying it.
#23
Thrifting during Feb-March, when the most elderly people pass away. 😩🙃
Michael Largey 8 months ago
This aasumes that the heirs clean out the house right away. Doesn't usually happen so fast.
Erin Van Atten 8 months ago
It depends. My grandmother rented, and it had to be cleared out within a month for new tenants. In the Netherlands, she rented via social housing.
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Gingersnap In Iowa 8 months ago
When I was thrifting on a weekly basis I noticed that right after income tax returns, people would donate really good furniture bc they bought new.
#24
if ur a college student join a club, or start a club and ask for funding. we’ve been buying dinners for all our friends for weeks and writing them off as “marketing meetings”
Hirtir 8 months ago (edited)
The IRS has strict rules about what can and cannot be written off, and at what percentage. If you get audited you can get into deep sh!t for tax fraud.
Hmmm hmmmm 8 months ago
I don't think they mean written off in tax purposes just paid for by the college
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#25
Get a folder to save all your receipts in, especially ones for bigger purchases. And then if that big purchase goes on clearance at a later date, buy it and then return it with the old receipt and then you'll be able to pocket the difference.
sfgothgirl 8 months ago
For many places, if a certain amount of time has passed, returns won't be allowed, and that receipt's not going to help you
StrangeOne 8 months ago
Huh? When stuff goes on clearance it's often a final sale, no returns.
Ace 8 months ago
The fact that some places in the US seem (from what I read) to allow returns of obviously well-used items is insane. In the UK and much of Europe you won't be able to return stuff unless it's actually faulty when you first start to use it, or if you're lucky, in some countries, for a very limited time after purchase if it's still in its original packaging.
DeoManus Argentem 8 months ago
If you bought it with your American Express and it goes on sale or gets cheaper, they'll credit you the difference - one of the many perks. You only have 90-120 days iirc, though. Now, makes me wonder... does it work on groceries or gasoline? Hrm, that'd be crazy awesome.
Leah C 8 months ago (edited)
Or just do what my dad did. He bought something on sale and had to return it without a receipt. He insisted on the sale price but the cashier kept saying she had to refund him the regular price. He was insistent. She was insistent. (Don't try to do this as a way to "make" money because they will keep records and most places don't take returns without receipts)
#26
Go to the brand websites for all the products you consume (Cheez It, Windex, etc). Find the Contact Us page & fill out the form w/ a complaint about the product…they send u coupons for free products.
#27
Find a nearby hotel that offers free breakfast. Walk in, go up the elevator to the fifth floor, go back down to the first floor and go get your breakfast. Nobody's paying that close of attention to who's actually a guest and who's not.
Awkward lady 8 months ago
...or they ask for your room number. Not worth it, guys!
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Koalalover 8 months ago
Yes, they are. Most hotels in UK require you to give your name and/or room number
Kris 8 months ago
The Hamptons by Hilton that iv stayed in was just across from the bar and no one asked me for my room number/key or anything.
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liam newton-harding 8 months ago
Welcome to 2025…where most hotels have you swipe your key card to gain access to your floor…and have done for a few decades.
What do you think ?
Mike F 8 months ago
Hey, our governments do it so turnabout is fair play! 😂
Load More Replies... Alice Landers 8 months ago
I stopped reading after first few and came to comments and I'm glad you agree. : theft and fraud
Adam Belaire 8 months ago
I'm surprised nobody mentioned about getting a Costco membership, going in and going from sample to sample. I've seen a few people do that. Irritates me because they're in the way, but I guess it is a way to save money if you are happy to snack.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
At least they actually paid for the membership.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
This isn't about "morally grey," this is all about theft and fraud. No morals involved.
Portentia9 8 months ago (edited)
Ahhh, theft for the lazy and dishonest. What a very telling generation of the, ahem, future. With the exceptions of dumpster diving as that has always been a thing, but I agree with the risks of bringing home bed bugs and such. We would hit the wealthy neighbourhoods when I was a kid (70s-80s). They are the most wasteful and tend to redo their houses seasonally.
azubi 8 months ago
I guess times are tough when so many people share tips on fraud and theft. If we don't like that, we'd better not allow that much inequality.
Portentia9 8 months ago
It is has been common knowledge that the wealthy are the biggest thieves and cheapskates, particularly when it comes to complaining to get things for free. These are "tips" most likely written by people from well-to-do backgrounds.
Load More Replies... Lyone Fein 8 months ago
There is a big difference between dumpster diving and stealing from a hotel.
Mike F 8 months ago
Hey, our governments do it so turnabout is fair play! 😂
Load More Replies... Alice Landers 8 months ago
I stopped reading after first few and came to comments and I'm glad you agree. : theft and fraud
Adam Belaire 8 months ago
I'm surprised nobody mentioned about getting a Costco membership, going in and going from sample to sample. I've seen a few people do that. Irritates me because they're in the way, but I guess it is a way to save money if you are happy to snack.
Snazzy Smurf 8 months ago
At least they actually paid for the membership.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 8 months ago
This isn't about "morally grey," this is all about theft and fraud. No morals involved.
Portentia9 8 months ago (edited)
Ahhh, theft for the lazy and dishonest. What a very telling generation of the, ahem, future. With the exceptions of dumpster diving as that has always been a thing, but I agree with the risks of bringing home bed bugs and such. We would hit the wealthy neighbourhoods when I was a kid (70s-80s). They are the most wasteful and tend to redo their houses seasonally.
azubi 8 months ago
I guess times are tough when so many people share tips on fraud and theft. If we don't like that, we'd better not allow that much inequality.
Portentia9 8 months ago
It is has been common knowledge that the wealthy are the biggest thieves and cheapskates, particularly when it comes to complaining to get things for free. These are "tips" most likely written by people from well-to-do backgrounds.
Load More Replies... Lyone Fein 8 months ago
There is a big difference between dumpster diving and stealing from a hotel.
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