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Original poster

Valentine's meal deal...people have become so shameless.

297 replies

surrealpotato · 13/02/2026 22:17

AIBU to think that people have become shameless, selfish and greedy?

I noticed the Asda Valentine's meal for two offer earlier this week: starter, main, two sides, pudding, and a bottle of wine, all for £12 quid. Amazing deal really and a nice idea for a night in together.

Went back today to get it... Absolute hoards round the fridge, loading their trollies with multiples meals worth, everything times five or six... scrambling for all the best dishes. By the times I got to the fridge there was hardly anything left.

Am I being unreasonable, or have people always been like this?? I'd be embarrassed to do that, but no-one seemed to care.

OP posts:
TimeForATerf · 14/02/2026 08:34

Surely yesterday wasn’t the first day it was on the shelves, I saw the meal deal in Tesco early this week so plenty of time to buy too I’d the rush.

Edited to add, and you can guarantee there will be various oddments in the whoops fridge on Monday.

Nonononever · 14/02/2026 08:32

I cannot fathom getting this worked up about a flipping ready meal deal. It's ridiculous.

Vse500 · 14/02/2026 08:29

Firefly1987 · 14/02/2026 00:31

Just a mini one! It's hard when you're someone who doesn't always think about themselves 100% of the time shrugs

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Last one on the shelf… except there’s a crate full in the warehouse out the back that then get put on the shelves 🤣 hardly a moral dilemma

Allergictoironing · 14/02/2026 08:29

But yep, it does feel a bit wrong when you know it is all going in a freezer and wont be used for its intended purpose (Valentines meal).

So does that make me immoral when I stock my freezer up with items which are only on sale usually at Christmas time? You get things like party foods, stuffing flavours, desserts etc then that you can't get at other times so I make the most of it when I can. But as it's only sold at Christmas, will the food police come after me if I cook my favorite pork, sage and caramelised red onion stuffing in February, or serve up the canapes which you can only get in December when I have family round at Easter?

MoiraPlunkett · 14/02/2026 08:12

We bought one last year and it wasn't very nice.

ThatCyanCat · 14/02/2026 08:09

Westfacing · 14/02/2026 06:23

Remember the M&S heart-shaped Love Sausage a few years back

Marks & Spencer's heart-shaped Love Sausage for Valentine's Day

"Love Sausage"??

Too - many - responses...

daisychain01 · 14/02/2026 08:09

Went back today to get it... Absolute hoards round the fridge, loading their trollies with multiples meals worth, everything times five or six... scrambling for all the best dishes. By the times I got to the fridge there was hardly anything left

exaggeration for effect?....

Confused460 · 14/02/2026 08:08

LadyCrustybread · 13/02/2026 22:47

Asda is a shop. They sell things. They don’t limit things because they want to sell them… they don’t care who buys them so long as they sell. Theyre not a charity and people can buy whatever they want.

This! They are aiming for zero stock by the end of today. Good business!

MaRhodes · 14/02/2026 08:05

You aren't in traffic.
You are traffic.

TorroFerney · 14/02/2026 08:05

Vodka1 · 13/02/2026 22:47

I think its because it was put on social media that asda were allowing people to buy 2 mains instead of the bottle of wine.

2 mains 2 sides and a pudding for £12 is insane these days

thats probably it then, it’s opened up the deal to people who dont or can’t drink. Good marketing , especially in an area where you’ve a good chunk of people whose religion means they can’t drink.

ThatCyanCat · 14/02/2026 08:03

Popcorn76 · 14/02/2026 07:40

If people think these ready meals are good value they need to consider how shops can afford to sell them at such cheap prices and still make a profit. In a ready meals the actual food cost will be 40 to 50% of the sale price so the ingredients will be rubbish and it will be high in salt, sugar and flavourings to counteract the poor taste. If you look at the nutritional information a single meal deal can add up to more than 2000 calories and 2 x daily allowance of saturated fat. It is no wonder so many people are obese.

We've lost sight of what a normal loss leader looks like these days.

(Thank God we'll never lose sight of our superiority complex!)

BitterlyLemon · 14/02/2026 08:01

I wondered why people were staring at us yesterday. I went to load up on the m and s meal deals 😂

I think it’s because people are skint and going out less so spending more attention on good deals for meals at home

CommonlyKnownAs · 14/02/2026 07:51

ParmaVioletTea · 14/02/2026 00:18

If it’s a good deal, why shouldn’t people buy it?

After all, you wanted to buy it.

Yes, I don't understand why it's more shameful and greedy for some customers to buy a product than others.

BlimeyOReillyO · 14/02/2026 07:48

WhySoManySocks · 14/02/2026 07:41

I got two from M&S because my son wanted to try Beef Wellington and I can't be arsed to make THAT from scratch. The four of us (!) ate both meals (!!) yesterday (!!!) - do you think M&S police will come arrest us?!

Yes I do!

Pack your bags and absconded to another country, you’ve used those meals not for the right intentions. You’ve also involved your child in this crime.

I bet you were one of the hordes and I bet you were scrambling for the best dishes (not just picking up the one you wanted!) actually scrambling!

And remember it’s not just police, it’s M&S police!

Tonissister · 14/02/2026 07:47

Wakemeupinapril · 13/02/2026 22:29

Maybe they are all cheating bastards??

That made me laugh out loud. Like the vicar of Dibley Christmas lunch - rushing from home to home rustling up romantic dinners six times over.

Ninerainbows · 14/02/2026 07:43

Popcorn76 · 14/02/2026 07:40

If people think these ready meals are good value they need to consider how shops can afford to sell them at such cheap prices and still make a profit. In a ready meals the actual food cost will be 40 to 50% of the sale price so the ingredients will be rubbish and it will be high in salt, sugar and flavourings to counteract the poor taste. If you look at the nutritional information a single meal deal can add up to more than 2000 calories and 2 x daily allowance of saturated fat. It is no wonder so many people are obese.

Here we go, another one barrelling in without reading.

Do you reckon they put extra sugar in the steaks, haddock and lamb shanks?

AngelinaFibres · 14/02/2026 07:42

surrealpotato · 13/02/2026 22:32

Bradford, unfortunately.

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Oh dear

WhySoManySocks · 14/02/2026 07:41

I got two from M&S because my son wanted to try Beef Wellington and I can't be arsed to make THAT from scratch. The four of us (!) ate both meals (!!) yesterday (!!!) - do you think M&S police will come arrest us?!

Popcorn76 · 14/02/2026 07:40

If people think these ready meals are good value they need to consider how shops can afford to sell them at such cheap prices and still make a profit. In a ready meals the actual food cost will be 40 to 50% of the sale price so the ingredients will be rubbish and it will be high in salt, sugar and flavourings to counteract the poor taste. If you look at the nutritional information a single meal deal can add up to more than 2000 calories and 2 x daily allowance of saturated fat. It is no wonder so many people are obese.

WhySoManySocks · 14/02/2026 07:35

Wakemeupinapril · 13/02/2026 22:29

Maybe they are all cheating bastards??

😂😂😂

MaryBeardsShoes · 14/02/2026 07:23

Haffiana · 13/02/2026 23:37

I would like to think that if my partner had just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour I would not EVER use it as an excuse to make a post trying to belittle someone on MumsNet.

And that if I did, that I would apologise.

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Jesus Christ Haffiana, let’s hope you never find out!

101Alsatians · 14/02/2026 07:17

surrealpotato · 13/02/2026 22:35

I managed to get one together but ended up with two potato based sides to a potato-topped fish pie as they were the only sides left. Not ideal, but I'll do some veg myself.

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You are so brave. What an ordeal 🤣

Boomer55 · 14/02/2026 07:12

hopes2409 · 13/02/2026 23:06

Boo fucking hoo my partner just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and likely wont make next valentine

yes i am harsh but please stop wasting your time worrying annd moaning about this shit

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Sorry to hear about your husband. All take care. 🌺

Freysimo · 14/02/2026 06:54

LlynTegid · 14/02/2026 06:47

People taking advantage of something that is, or that they think is, a good deal. Nothing bad in that.

Why they are on a low income, if they are, could be something you have contributed to, say by not voting or supporting the Tories in many elections.

Deleted

newornotnew · 14/02/2026 06:54

Mumtobabyhavoc · 14/02/2026 02:03

It is turning the convo to them, though.

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Their point was both fair enough (in response to the non-issue presented by the OP) and understandable (in light of their own situation).

If an OP wants only validation rather than a range of normal human responses, they should vent to chatGPT which will tell them they are quite right and only getting potato side dishes is a terrible cross to bear.