Miss Thrifty

Is it just me, or are door-to-door salesmen multiplying like those half-Orcs in Lord of the Rings? Working from home, I’m finding that the interruptions are suddenly coming thick and fast. Already this week I’ve had a man from Scottish Electricity and a man from E.ON – another UK energy firm - trying to persuade me to change provider.

Of course, their noble efforts were doomed to failure – I have already snapped up the cheapest deal. Although my current provider must be getting cold feet too, in the current climate. They sent me two energy-saving lightbulbs yesterday – to keep me sweet, I’m sure.

I feel mean turning the men away, because it’s a tough way to earn a living in my opinion, but I know that I’ll find the best deals on www.uswitch.com, rather than on my doorstep.

Oh, and I also had a grubby-looking boy turn up on my doorstep, wanting to buy any scrap metal.

I can’t remember having so many knocks at the door. Who is next, I wonder? A dishcloth salesman? A gent shifting encyclopaedias? Are door-to-door sales on the rise everywhere? Perhaps the slashed household budgets and the increased popularity of online shopping for cheaper deals has led companies to reconsider their direct marketing strategies. Either that, or they’re running around like headless chickens.

I’m getting an unprecedented amount of junk mail and sales stuff through the letterbox too. Today I had two credit card offers, some blank cheques from my current credit card provider (gee, thanks guys!) and a colour postcard from the RSPCA (UK animal charity) asking me to “Promise a safer future for Frazzle.” Frazzle is a rescue kitten who was set on fire. I’m not sure there’s much dignity in his name.

I also had a reminder from the National Trust charity(like the US National Parks Service), reminding me that I haven’t renewed our household membership for this year. Hmmm. I love the National Trust and I love what they do – restoring beautiful old houses and lands and opening them to the public – but membership isn’t cheap. For a couple it’s £82 (around $150) annually, with no option to spread the payments. I suspect that with jobs being cut and the price of living rising left, right and centre, the National Trust is sending out a number of these letters right now.