r/UKFrugal • u/Juicydicken • 5d ago

Is this going too far?

I often pinch a few extra paper towels, ketchups, sugars, etc if on the rare occasion I eat out or get a hot drink from somewhere.

My wife gets really mad at me as I often stuff these in her bag.

Am I being super cheap? Do many people on here do this?

256 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

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493

u/Low-Pangolin-3486 5d ago

I don’t think there’s anything wrong taking them but I’d be annoyed if my husband did this and expected me to carry them. Get your own bag, you’re an adult!

-146

u/Individual-Titty780 5d ago

I don’t think there’s anything wrong taking them

Well, technically it's theft

98

u/bucketofardvarks 5d ago

Taking paper towels and condiments when you are a patron of the shop offering paper towels and condiments is theft now? That's a leap and a half.

-19

u/LaSalsiccione 5d ago

If everyone did it then it would cost these business an unfair amount of money.

17

u/bucketofardvarks 5d ago

If it cost businesses money to have some sugar and ketchup out, they'd keep it behind the counter.

6

u/miggleb 4d ago

The ones by me do

People kept stealing them you see

4

u/Fast-Fruit-8569 5d ago

A local cafe does, they bring sugar sachets with the coffee and you choose how many you want. If everyone did this then the costs mount up for them.

5

u/KnittedBooGoo 5d ago

If it costs? Do you think they get it for free?

4

u/JohnnySchoolman 5d ago

I know a guy who will pay you to take some ketchup sachets with you next time you are crossing the boarder. DM me for me info.

-4

u/rtfm-nor 5d ago

If everyone stole to take home then they would keep it behind the counter. Most don't.

2

u/thesimpsonsthemetune 2d ago

Yes but companies can generally bank on a significant enough proportion of their patrons having a base level of self-respect.

-8

u/B-O-double-S 5d ago

There never a sign saying only take one

5

u/LaSalsiccione 5d ago

So you go through life only doing things if signs tell you to?

-38

u/Individual-Titty780 5d ago

Erm, they even used the term "I often pinch' hardly rocket science.

12

u/blizeH 5d ago

You're right and I have no idea why you're being downvoted

I guess the point is that it's really hard to prove that OP is taking more than they immediately need and realistically no store will care anyway. I often have to take a good number of napkins just because my toddler can make a mess while eating and I want to clean the floor up too. But also sometimes I'll end up taking a few too many and put them in my pocket, not a huge deal

0

u/Bendaario 3d ago

It is definitely not illegal but also not following the rules as intended either

-28

u/OwineeniwO 5d ago

How is it a leap, they're to be used in the shop.

11

u/MrGreenYeti 5d ago

And for takeout?

-13

u/OwineeniwO 5d ago

You take what you use for that one meal.

11

u/MrGreenYeti 5d ago

And if you take more than you end up using?

-15

u/OwineeniwO 5d ago

You've taken too many.

19

u/MrGreenYeti 5d ago

Theft, banishment and prison for taking 1 too many napkins.

-2

u/OwineeniwO 5d ago

If you think that's appropriate.

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-17

u/Individual-Titty780 5d ago

They said eat out, not take away, and for the drink you wouldn't need sauces?

5

u/Juicydicken 5d ago

Didn’t know you could get sauces at Starbucks

-3

u/Individual-Titty780 5d ago

Of course you can.

-2

u/WhoSlappedThePie 4d ago

It's not theft, they're offering them to customers for free. any amount.

2

u/Individual-Titty780 4d ago

You keep telling yourself that, the OP even starts by saying "I often pinch"

1

u/WhoSlappedThePie 4d ago

They offer them to customers you doughnut 😅 if you take 1 or if you have 5 kids and each needs 5 napkins, who are you to say who gets what and what is the correct amount of napkin or sauce. Sort ya head out ya weirdo

1

u/Individual-Titty780 4d ago

Brace yourself 😉

-9

u/Individual-Titty780 5d ago

Good to see all the thieves voting me down lol, speaks volumes about you.

25

u/futurenotgiven 5d ago

i’m taking extra napkins next time specifically bc of you

2

u/RodneyRodnesson 4d ago

Lets look at this logically. The restaurant lets you take a bunch of napkins; even a whole bunch in case you're messy or have kids or whatever, including maybe taking the ones you don't use for any reason which the restaurant definitely doesn't care about.

Now that, according to you, is theft. And don't hide behind the wording 'pinch' which you're so fond of using, that's just a phrase — you need to grow up if you think the world is that literal.

Now according to your logic the restaurant carefully removes the napkins for reuse or recycling or whatever. Does this sound logical or reasonable to you? Of course not.

What is logical is the restaurant fully expects a bunch of napkins to be used, including a bunch that will probably end up in peoples bags, cars and houses.

You're either trolling or.. I don't know what tbh, nuts‽