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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this really enough food? Fed up of DH’s tightness

262 replies

ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 19:55

To give some background, I live with DH and our DD. We have two sons who are at Uni and will be returning to ours ahead of the weekend for Christmas.

For the first night they are back, we thought it would be good to have party food so DH went out to get this earlier. We are both busy the next two days so this was the only opportunity - we also live very rurally so can’t just pop down the round for a shop.

He has come back with the following:

-2 lots of ‘3 for 2’ party food so 6 in total - things like breaded prawns and spring rolls. Not massive portions at all
-Two share bags of crisps
-Olives and a small pack of antipasto (salami etc)

Now, both DS’ are 6 foot plus rugby playing young men. They eat us out of house and home at the best of times. DD is really slender but has a healthy appetite too.

I don’t know what DH was thinking - I’d clearly said to buy double that amount of party food. Having discussed with him, it comes down to money which is ridiculous. He earns six figures which is complimented by my own salary and we have ample disposable income.

He maintains its sufficient food for the 5 of us. AIBU to disagree?

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 17/12/2025 21:44

No not enough food.
Bulk out with two or three fresh baguettes, butter, cheese, meats.

Welikebeingcosy · 17/12/2025 21:43

ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:39

He is tight with money these days unless it’s to do with his (outing) hobby.

Show quote history

that sounds pretty selfısh...sounds like he didn't want to share his money for a nice christmas meal as it wasn't his idea.

snugasabug75 · 17/12/2025 21:40

We are having picky bits for Christmas Eve. I've ordered 10 party 3 4 2, 2 packs of chicken goujons, bread rolls, ham, turkey slices, pork slices, beef slices, cheese, pickled onions, picked cabbage, beetroot, coleslaw and crisps. (And probably some other bits over forgotten!).

There will be 4 of us- ds25 and ds20 will demolish the lot!

Original poster
ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:39

Wowthatwasabigstep · 17/12/2025 21:31

How miserly, he needs to go back and get the rest of it and also add some type of pudding.

Is he always so mean with food and money?

He is tight with money these days unless it’s to do with his (outing) hobby.

OP posts:
Willyoujust · 17/12/2025 21:38

Personally I think you’ll nibble your way through that early evening for a starter then get a takeaway around 8pm! 🕗

Wowthatwasabigstep · 17/12/2025 21:31

How miserly, he needs to go back and get the rest of it and also add some type of pudding.

Is he always so mean with food and money?

Poodleville · 17/12/2025 21:31

That was daft of him!
Could you ask your sons to pick something up on the last leg of their journey back to you?

ThePerfectTimeToPanic · 17/12/2025 21:30

havingoneofthosedays · 17/12/2025 21:28

Has the willowy daughters made an appearance yet

Not quite, but daughter is slender…obviously.

MySilentLions · 17/12/2025 21:30

Of course it’s not enough food. My DH and Uni sporty son could easily polish that off between them and be asking when’s dinner half an hour later.

anyone who says it is enough, hasn’t fed an average teen sporty lad. Or the lad is always buying their own food on top cos they are starving.

Spookyspaghetti · 17/12/2025 21:29

Good opportunity to teach DSs some independence before they turn out like DH. (Tongue in cheek) Get them to bring a platter or bag of snacks each. It can be a new Xmas tradition!

havingoneofthosedays · 17/12/2025 21:28

Has the willowy daughters made an appearance yet

justaddittothelist · 17/12/2025 21:28

ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:22

I’ve just shown some of the replies to DH - he at least seems to be accepting he got it wrong. He hasn’t got a solution yet though.

How are your sons getting home? Can they not bring food with them?

Original poster
ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:27

Caiti19 · 17/12/2025 21:26

Would be cheaper to make a meal that would satisfy? A curry/lasagna/shepherd's pie that can be made in advance? I think you can spend a fortune on bits without anyone actually feeling satisfied at the end of it.

I think you need to RTFT. Now!

OP posts:
FurForksSake · 17/12/2025 21:27

Should have gone to booths and got a massive salad and a chicken to roast, would have fed you for a week. No need to eat again till Christmas.

Caiti19 · 17/12/2025 21:26

Would be cheaper to make a meal that would satisfy? A curry/lasagna/shepherd's pie that can be made in advance? I think you can spend a fortune on bits without anyone actually feeling satisfied at the end of it.

Rainbow1901 · 17/12/2025 21:26

If you usually prepare food from scratch would your store cupboard stretch to making cheese straws, red pepper hummus, sweetcorn pancakes or frittata/quiche lorraine/ spanish omelette? That would pad it out for the hungry lads. And maybe some sort of pudding or cheesecake.

Welikebeingcosy · 17/12/2025 21:25

Can you get the boys to grab some more bits on their way home from uni and get the dad to stick some money in their account for it.....? That's barely any food for 4 and especially for a home from Christmas meal. I would probably eat about half of that myself over a nice pre-Christmas evening and I'm a 30-something female. I honestly can't stand tightness when it comes to food, so I salute you if your DH has form for this.

JustMe2026 · 17/12/2025 21:23

So you got 6 lots of the party foods plus the rest erm that would be enough for us and our 4 oldest

CombatBarbie · 17/12/2025 21:22

hyggetyggedotorg · 17/12/2025 21:16

Are you deliberately misunderstanding me or just enjoying being awkward?

I was agreeing that without those things it was insufficient.

Show quote history

Not at all..... shes asking if its sufficient. Its not but the way you worded it seemed like you were saying "oh just add xyz" when the whole point is, xyz doesn't exist.

Original poster
ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:22

I’ve just shown some of the replies to DH - he at least seems to be accepting he got it wrong. He hasn’t got a solution yet though.

OP posts:
Incelebration · 17/12/2025 21:21

Fridgemanageress · 17/12/2025 20:01

i don’t know. Maybe he is going to do some rice salad, pasta salad lentil salad to compliment it all

That's a reach!

Original poster
ChristmasfoodQ · 17/12/2025 21:21

PyongyangKipperbang · 17/12/2025 21:16

We are rural and Dominoes still deliver here. Clearly there is rural and then again, rural!

Show quote history

Yeah, without being outing we are very much in an outpost in the DNorth!

OP posts:
MrsKeats · 17/12/2025 21:20

ColinOfficeTrolley · 17/12/2025 20:03

Who the flip wants lentil salad at Christmas?

Not me 🤮

Sally2791 · 17/12/2025 21:20

Nothing like enough!

Growlybear83 · 17/12/2025 21:20

I think this is barely enough for a starter, let alone a welcome home meal for your sons. I’ve got a similar amount in my ocado shop next week for just me and my husband for our Xmas day brunch. 😆

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