PENNY PINCHER
I’m an extreme cheapskate – I wash my dishes in used bathwater and brew coffee in a SOCK
Scroll down to see Michael's bizarre hack for saving money on soap
AN EXTREME cheapskate has revealed the insane lengths he goes to to save cash.
He brews his coffee in a used sock, and washes his dishes and laundry in his used bath tub.
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Michael McSurley spends all of his free times inventing ways to save cash, and has managed to reduce his spending to less than £800 a month.
The IT worker, 40, loves to start his day with a coffee and has created a DIY coffee filter using an old sock.
He wraps the sock over a paper cup and then places coffee grounds inside it.
Then he pours water through the sock, creating a filter.
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Speaking to TLC's Extreme Cheapskates, Michael's mother Judy McSurley said: "I think he's probably the cheapest person I know".
His father, Don added: "I have to agree with that".
Penny pincher Michael doesn't see the point of paying for shelves, so has attached a few milk crates to the walls instead.
The Tennessee native never throws away anything that he thinks could possibly be fashioned into a money-saving contraption, and thus, generates only one bag of rubbish a week.
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He has created a utility belt out of cardboard and duct tape, and wraps rubber bands around his soap dish, to keep his soap levitated in the air.
"It lasts double the amount of time it normally would last", he said.
We’re a cheapskate couple and share a toothbrush and floss to save cash - we even plan to get buried in the same coffin
"I probably save 80-100 dollars a year on soap alone".
To save on his water bills, Michael reuses the water her washes his body with in to wash the dishes, do his laundry and even flush the toilet.
"I think it's gross", his dad said.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle - but fortunately it's pretty straight forward to change supplier - and save lots of cash.
Shop around - If you're on an SVT deal you are likely throwing away up to £250 a year. Use a comparion site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals - meaning you'll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch - When you've found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information - which you can find on your bill - to hand to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you payAn up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won't be interrupted in that time.
"It's like taking a bath and washing your dishes in the bathtub with you".
He also collects rainwater by placing a variety of containers outside and hopes to one day have his water bill reach zero.
Michael connects the rainwater containers to the inside of the house using hoses and pumps, however, he has not thought about what he will do if he doesn't get any rain.
Mum Judy said: "He's very thrifty and I love him.
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"He comes up with great ideas".
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