Making a virtue out of frugality.

Allegedly Princess Diana used one of those gadgets to press the little bits of soap into new bars! But perhaps her soap was so expensive not one scrap could be wasted phoenix

Perhaps eccentric, not ill
Are we allowed to be eccentric?

Well, rosequartz you live and learn! (that's re the Diana thing!)

Oh yes. That flippin' soap thing. My father used to do that so we had a stripey mix of Lifebuoy, Palmolive, Camay and Imperial Leather. You couldn't work up a lather no matter how hard you tried and that stick on label from the Imperial Leather clung on until the bitter end.

I use Imperial Leather - but I take the sticker off while it is new!

I do not think having children others worrying about you is a sign you are mentally ill. I worried about my uncle and he did suffer from depression after his wife died, but his frugality was life long and arose from a deprived and difficult childhood and continued in his Care home.

His depression had cleared by then and he had no other mental impairment but the staff had to tell me when he needed new clothes or toiletries because he was quite content wearing underwear and night attire that was shredding and sweaters with the elbows worn out. When I got him clothes I always took all the paper labels off and gave them to staff so that they could quietly replace old with new.

The lady in question is around 67/68 and appears to be in full possession of her faculties-just very peculiar behaviour!

Fair enough!

I thought the label on imperial leather was to rest the soap on so it never goes soft. Still love that smell.

That's what I thought too, rockgran - I remember the advert!

SIL likes that soap so we keep some in - I rest it on its label and DH keeps turning it over again.

My father gave Scrooge a bad name but he was a good father in his own way. Both my DH and myself believe money is for enjoying but one of my daughters is very careful about money. She finished university with money in her bank account even though she did not work at all in the six years just relied on us and her grants.
Two of my grandchildren are also money conscious and now when I give them money I tell them that they have to spend it not save it.
I believe it's somehow in the genes.

My dad became more frugal with age, and it did become a bit obsessional and dangerous. They had centra heating with a hot water boiler- but he would put a huge heavy old-fashioned aluminium pan on the wood burner in the kitchen, and would then carry it across to the sink to wash-up- it weighed a ton and I was terrified he would drop it and burn himself- but there was not talking to him- he would not stop.

He would also insist on going on the roof to clear the snow- I made him swear he would not do that again, when I visited when he was about 93. He waited till I had gone- and no sooner had I rounded the corner to go back to airport, he was up there (as reported by the next door neighbour).

He also keep all the left over bits of soap- we found 100s when we cleared the house.

He was very fit, and continued to cross country ski until he was 94- but would not change his boots and bindings to safety ones- lucky he didn't hurt himself badly- and of course would NOT use the mobile phone we had bought him- as he would go through woods and totally isolated areas- same for mushroom hunting. Had he ever twisted his ankle or whatever- it would have taken days to find him. So yes, it can be dangerous and put a lot of pressure and worry on the family too.

I am quite keen on recycling or reusing stuff if I can - I enjoy crafts that make a virtue out of recycling but I think there is a thin line between being frugal and inventive - and just being a batty old lady. I sometimes try to see myself through the eyes of others and realise I could easily become bonkers. (Maybe too late!)
I've just been out for lunch and a good shopping spree so I think I'm safe for now.

Brenda. Your point about it might being in the genes could be right.

I hate waste and am a very 'devoted' recycler and composter. But what I am talking about goes far beyond that. I have sworn to my daugthers that I would never ever make them worry about me because of my reckless and dangerous behaviour- and they are instructed to remind me if if I forget - I've suffered too much due to this constant worrying. Dad and I got on so well, but he was reckless and got worse as he got older. Living abroad, it gave us nightmares and worries we just didn't need.

If I didn't like wasting food I would be a lot slimmer

That's wrong, isn't it!! I mean if I didn't worry about wasting food I would be a lot slimmer

Trying to get my head round that, rose... and failing!

x posts!

This is where we need a 'delete' button!

Otherwise we remain for ever on the www labelled 'numpty'