Steps taken by Posters to avoid being ripped off

[Murra]

Nothing like a good ole recession to nourish the soul! A day in the wood with the kids - how lovely! Before you know it, parents will be re-learning how to communicate with their kids and with reduced labour, will be rescuing them from 24/7 creches!

[Odyessus]

I boil myself an egg for breakfast, then use the same water from the saucepan for my tea. And the little drop that's left over, I use to work up a lather for my shaving.

Only go for a dump in work, save a fortune on bog roll.

A whole egg for breakfast? Hot water? Sheer bloody luxury!

[Odyessus]

I've no heating in my bedroom, and never had. A simple hot water bottle does the trick.

Hot water bottles? Electric blankets? Bedroom heating? What wimps!

I use none of the above, and sleep naked summer and winter. About one minute after I'm under the duvet I'm as warm as toast. I recommend it.

[toxic avenger]

I use none of the above, and sleep naked summer and winter.

My eyes, Dear God, MY EYES!....

[Conor]

Reduce your calorific requirement by thinking less.

[dresden8]

I'm just curious as to how P.ie users are taking steps in these times to avoid being ripped off - maybe post up examples here?

To start - I have a Sharp Photocopier/Printer/Scanner.
Irish Office Stationery Company charges €140 for a replacement Sharp Toner Cartridge
Local Office Supplies Company would take the Cartridge, refill it, send it back and still charge €100 for the pleasure.

I got two bottles of Toner from the US on ebay, with a funnel, wipes, etc, postage included all for $90 (less than €75 maybe?). Just simply opened the cartridge with a screwdriver, put in one bottle of toner, put it back together, slot it in and it works perfectly with clean copies good for 6000 more. The other bottle of Toner will allow 6000 more copies. This is the equivalent of having two new Toner Cartridges.

To summarise;

Office Stationary Co - 2 Toner Cartridges = €280
Local Supplies crowd refilling = €200
US Operation on eBay (which looks like it's done from a HOme Address) = €90 all in incl postage

How could you realistically go for either Irish operation in these times

Bloody minimum wage!

[Oppenheimer]

Well, this thread asked for it.....

Save a fortune on laundry bills. Give your dirty shirts to Oxfam. They
will wash and iron them and you can buy them back for fifty pence.
J B Cartland, Brighton.

Domestos is an ideal substitute for Blue Curaco, and far less pricey.
It gives any cocktail a bit of "oomph."
James Francis, East Glamorgan Hospital.

Make cheap but effective baby rattles by gluing a lollipop stick to an
empty matchbox, then filling it with ten woodlice.
Ms. G. M. Dowd, Wigan.

Cant afford contact lenses? Simply cut out small circles of cling film
and press them into your eyes.
D. Stokes, Middlesex.

Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to
the object you wish to view.
S Goldhanger, Fulchester.

Avoid paying tax by going to work in a politically unstable Middle
East country inhabited by religious fanatics. Ignore British
Government advice to leave when a war looks imminent, then moan a
few weeks later when bombs start going off and there aren't any
planes home.
S Goblin, Middlesex.

Don't buy expensive "ribbed" condoms, just buy an ordinary one and
slip a handful of frozen peas inside it before you put it on.
D Duckham, Didford.

[Outlander]

The current crisis doesn't mean you should stop entertaining your kids.
When I was a kid in the 70s, my parents would take us on day trips at least once a week. No, not Mc Donalds or some bistro, but a drive in the car into the wilds. My mother would've prepared a picnic, / a few sandwiches, biscuits, and a flask of tea, and we'd eat al fresco weather permitting or in the car if need be.
Cost=maybe 10 euros today for petrol only.
We just have to adapt and use more imagination.
One good thing about todays climate is the lack of people looking down on others who are frugal.

Oh the nostalgia. Sitting in the car with the flask of tea, looking out at the sea and the lashing rain while the windows misted up.

Leaving a food parcel on the auntie's doodrstep every Saturday morning. She wouldn't open the door. It was never spoken about.

Ah the nostalgia...

[Pauli]

I took the most important step in improving my standard of living and quality of life some time ago. I emigrated in 2005. My biggest regret is not doing it sooner.

[goosebump]

Control your motoring costs.

Never put more than €10 worth of petrol in you car.

Simple really.