My Dad.
he works on a tip and like my Mum is a product of the post war make do and mend mentality.

I was once broke and in proper need of a new mobile phone. The next day he came home from work with a working nokia and sim for the network I wanted.

What happens is this, when they go in of a morning, if anyone is after something, the word gets around and everyone keeps an eye out. Apparently one guy "specialises" in sim cards and he has an old tobacco tin full of them.

Then there was the time that management told him that there would be no Christmas bonus one year. Oh no! he thinks.

So he gets hands on an old rubbish bin, remember the round ones anyone? So he sets about looking after the furniture being bought into his yard and takes the time to take out EVERY brass upholstery tack from every single piece of furniture that comes his way and puts it aside in the bin.

Around comes Christmas and he sells the tacks for a fair amount of cash for scrap metal. Apparently that was the best bonus he got in a long time. Genius.
(lympicita_ie, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 1:41, 3 replies)

Great work!
I like it. Have a click.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 7:00, closed)

That doesn't sound like being mean or miserly
Those are just great examples of people being innovative when they don't have enough money.
(EuroSong I love horse meat: best of all the animals, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 7:19, closed)

Not giving a Christmas bonus,
that was miserly of his boss.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Sat 25 Oct 2008, 13:35, closed)