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Original poster

Help with shopping when I've got to carry it

26 replies

StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:05

I drive but don't have my own car. I share my mums but usually on Saturday she drives to here and then I drive us (me, DD and her) shopping. Today she's decided she's far too ill to go and might need the car to go to the doctors when it goes on her chest so when I've gone round to borrow the car the keys have been hidden so only she can use if she absolutely needs to go to OOH (I've pointed out I pay my own insurance, half the MOT, 2 new tyres a year, and I put more than my fair share of fuel in and my DDs car seat is in the back, plus I'd drive her to OOH if needed but she won't hear it she absolutely needs the car apparently).

I have no food in. Have put in an online shop in but as she's just me and DD I never spend the minimum £40 to get free delivery.

Nearest shop to me is a tiny convenience type shop that just sells bread milk and sweets, so I've got to walk to Aldi which is 2 miles there and 2 miles back.

I will have DD in the pushchair as she doesn't walk far and I need 7 days worth of meals, plus milk, bread, nappies (DD is toilet trained but not at night time) and cat food. I will also have to carry a bag with 2 changes of clothes in as there's no toilets along the way for DD to use and she can't reliably manage that long in pants.

I have a box of fish fingers, some chips and a bag of mixed veg in the freezer. In the fridge I have 2 eggs. Cupboards are the normal dried pasta/rice, cereals, couple of tins of beans and soup.

It's the middle of the month when I usually do my big freezer shop hence no frozen meat/fish.

What can I get to feed us for 7 evening meals that I can carry home easily? I will have space for plastic bags without tipping the pushchair cereal will do enough for breakfast and DD eats at Nursery for lunch so I can make myself manage on two meals a day

OP posts:
Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:07

2 plastic bags on the pushchair without tipping it

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 12/01/2019 11:13

Can you hold out until tomorrow to get the car and go shopping then?

4forkssake · 12/01/2019 11:13

Tell her to stop being a child. How long are you likely to be? An hour? By the time she argues with you hiding the keys, you could've done your shop & dropped the car back off. She's not going to be able to just go to the doc when she decides she's ill enough, surely she'll need to make an appointment. So she can work round you having the car surely (& like you said maybe you could take her to the docs if necessary). Where's the spare key? I'd be demanding to have that if the car is part yours.

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Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:16

I don't even know if there is a second key, will ask for it when I can.

She's got flu, so she won't get in to see a Doctor anyway, but is insisting that she has the car "just incase". I've come home as I don't want to argue with her pettiness. I'll have words when she's "better".

OP posts:
Reaa · 12/01/2019 11:17

If you can afford it then I would do the min £40 online shop for delivery this evening (if using Tesco)

Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:17

Knittedfairies I have no nappies or cat food so need to go today either way.

OP posts:
Franheaton · 12/01/2019 11:17

She is being silly but that said, if you normally would do your big freezer shop now and also you need nappies, cat food and all the other stuff, surely that would come to £40? I don't get why you don't just do that, although you do need to talk to her about how what she's decided has impacted on you.

Knittedfairies · 12/01/2019 11:19

If she's got flu she is in no condition to drive anywhere.

PoptartPoptart · 12/01/2019 11:19

How long would it take you to drive to the supermarket, do your shop, drop the shopping home and then take the car back to her? An hour? Maybe 2 at most?
Seriously, your mother is being selfish and ridiculous. The car is half yours. Unless there is something else going on here? Does anyone else borrow the car?

LostInShoebiz · 12/01/2019 11:20

Why not do your big freezer shop online and meet the £40 minimum?

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 12/01/2019 11:21

Spaghetti has small packing density.
As do tortilla wraps instead of bread.

Jar of pesto and some cheese?

I'm trying to think what I got in Aldi last time.
Plums were cheap.

If I had a chest infection I would relish being driven to OOH rather than driving myself.

Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:22

I'll try and do the shop online, I usually do it across several shops as it's cheaper but for now I'll have to manage.

OP posts:
Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:23

She's got flu/a bad cold, not doubting that but she always says "Oh it'll go onto my chest" but doesn't she's not prone to chest infections or anything.

OP posts:
LadyGAgain · 12/01/2019 11:25

Walk there and taxi back? 2 miles should be less than £5?

adaline · 12/01/2019 11:26

Just get a taxi home. I did it all the time before I learned to drive.

MyDcAreMarvel · 12/01/2019 11:27

Iceland I think is £35 free delivery order online £25 if you go to the shop yourself.

Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:36

There isn't an iceland

Won't I need a carseat for a taxi?

OP posts:
Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:36

*There isn't an iceland nearby

OP posts:
Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:42

Nobody else drives the car but mum tends to think it's hers more than both of ours as I only use it if I have to as I don't mind using buses/trains etc when I can.

OP posts:
EggysMom · 12/01/2019 11:46

www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules/when-a-child-can-travel-without-a-car-seat

Taxis and minicabs (private hire vehicles)
If the driver doesn’t provide the correct child car seat, children can travel without one - but only if they travel on a rear seat:

and wear an adult seat belt if they’re 3 or older
without a seat belt if they’re under 3

Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 11:51

Thank you, good to know

OP posts:
WitchDancer · 12/01/2019 12:00

I would pop a nappy on the little one, get a good size rucksack and some decent shopping bags for the handles on the buggy and go for it. You'll have room under the buggy so you'll have enough carriage for a lot of shopping

GemmeFatale · 12/01/2019 12:02

Would a friend or neighbour give you a lift or babysit so you can taxi back without worrying about the car seat? I’d be happy to do it for someone in this situation.

I’d also be cancelling my half of the car bills. Apparently it’s only there for you to drive when it suits your mum. You’re already paying twice (once half the car cost then again for all the public transport). You can pay to have a lot of shopping delivered/taxis home with the saving you’ll make.

Original poster
StartingRightNow · 12/01/2019 13:30

I did it, didn't take as long as I thought.

Had no nappies at all so couldn't put her in one, but it's ok.

We walked down. And I got all the stuff for 3 days of meals, plus nappies, milk, and bread into one bag for life. Cat food and a few other bits like wipes under the pushchair.

Bribed DD to stay in her pushchair with crisps.

She did have a little accident but could have been much worse.

And Yes I think I will be cancelling paying for the car, the few times I've needed it I could of managed with a taxi/lift from friend if I'd had DDs carseat.

OP posts:
Knittedfairies · 12/01/2019 13:52

Good for you. I think you're right to stop paying half of a car you can't use.