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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

and tight about my Xmas food shopping?

82 replies

Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:06

I was called stingy today!

My total food delivery for the Xmas, including dinner for 12 and 8 bottles of wine, comes to less than £150. That includes "normal" food for my family of 8 for 4 days. Her exact words were "OMG how stingy, Merry Xmas Ebeneezer!"

My "friend", well, friend of a friend really, kindly informed me that she was spending over half that just on the turkey and that if she only spent what I am spending then it would be "total crap".

Thanks for that.

We dont have masses of money
I wont go into debt for the sake of one day
Our meal will be huge, lots of lovely leftovers for boxing day and taste delicious. It is all homemade from scratch, including stuffing, pigs in blakets etc and the pudding (homemade mincemeat icecream). It will have all of the trimmings, a nice big tea and plenty to drink. I have just managed over the years to get my shopping bill for a good healthy diet, down to the bare minimum. Our weekly shopping bill is never over £80 and tbh I have heart failure if my main shop is over £60! I top up for milk bread etc at the corner shop.

So does it really matter what it cost? And we are having chicken after a family vote 2 years ago where we all agreed we dont really like turkey anyway :o

OP posts:
Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:08

This has really got to me.

I dont spend alot on the kids at Xmas either as they get so much from family. They get a main gift for about £30 - £40 each and stocking fillers. I spend more on their birthdays.

I am now womdering if I am being tight and giving them a crap Xmas :(

OP posts:
Kova · 14/12/2011 21:09

She's an idiot.

Christmas dinner is just a roast with a few extras, I can never understand why people spend hundreds, it's silly.

hiddenhome · 14/12/2011 21:09

We don't have much money either and I certainly won't be spending any more than £150 on food next week. That'll include pet food and basics too. We're just having a chicken on Christmas Day as there'll only be four of us.

Your friend is being rude by saying these things to you. Don't take it to heart Smile

scentednappyhag · 14/12/2011 21:09

YANBU or tight. Sounds lovely, and to be honest, I think turkey is overrated too. My grandad and I usually end up with duck while everyone else munches on turkey Grin

WorraLiberty · 14/12/2011 21:10

So does it really matter what it cost?

No, of course not.

So why have you let the remark get to you? Xmas Confused

herbietea · 14/12/2011 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Collision · 14/12/2011 21:10

Who cares what she thinks?

Who cares if your kids hate Xmas dinner and would rather have egg n beans!!

She will be the one in debt and you won't be so do not stress about it and have a lovely time with your family.

If you had spent £400 she would have had something to say!

familyfun · 14/12/2011 21:11

xmas isnt about the bloody dinner, you are not being tight at all, ignore your friend.

Kova · 14/12/2011 21:12

And you are right spending what you can afford, the kids will have a blast either ways.

I wonder how many kids will be having a crap year because their parents have gone stupidly overboard on a load of shite, the majority of which won't even be played with.

AdditionMultiplication · 14/12/2011 21:12

Our Christmas week shop is coming in at just over £80. :) Have a lovely Christmas!

inmysparetime · 14/12/2011 21:13

Well, superscrimper Christmas is on channel 4+1 right now, and the lady on it is "only" spending £50.
It's just a roast dinner, no need for all the trimmings! Just pick the ones you like and can afford, and if anyone moans, they'll be making it next yearWink.
As for your friend, more fool her spending a fortune on food for the bin (or the waistline), you can spend yours enjoying your family insteadGrin.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:13

I dont know Worra

Normally I just shrug this sort of thing off and have a laugh about it later, but for some reason it has got to me a bit. I am uber sensitive at the moment for other reasons, so that might be why.

OP posts:
thepeoplesprincess · 14/12/2011 21:15

I don't understand how people spend hundreds either. We don't eat more than usual at Xmas- we just adjust the balance of proper food with shite- and a roast is a roast. I do buy booze that tastes of nice instead of paintstripper, but that's about it really.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:16

Funnily enough, I just watched that Superscrimper and wondered

a) why did they need gammon AND turkey on the same plate?
b) why didnt it occur to her that if she left off the gammon she could have had a pile of pigs in blankets
c) chipolatas are a rip off, buy normal sausages and twist them in half and make your own
d) dont buy crackers, ask for them as a family gift. I did this with my aunt who bought us a box of biscuits each year which we never ate. She loved the idea and does it for everyone now!
e) her mother must have had a bloody good war if that was her idea of rationing!

I feel better already :o

OP posts:
sleepevader · 14/12/2011 21:16

Silly Cow!

I'm with the it's just a roast crew!

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:16

Princess most of the extra money is on "tastes of nice" wine tbh :o

OP posts:
FredFredGeorge · 14/12/2011 21:17

How do you spend more than 150 quid on a roast dinner? A 12 person free range decent turkey is only going to be 60 quid or so? spuds, veg, gravy, stuffing etc. another 10 or 15 quid at the most, so you've only got half way there, now of course you can easily spend another 75 quid on wine, but you're not a scrooge if you get a 6 quid bottle each to get it up to the 75 maybe an alcoholic

Bonkers. YABU.

Notcontent · 14/12/2011 21:17

People seem to go a bit mad at Christmas time and spend just for the sake of spending.
In relation to food, it really doesn't have to be expensive if you ar making home made things. Most people just seem to buy heaps of ready made stuff, much too much, and throw away most of it...
In relation to presents, in my experience children just lose interest if they get too much stuff.

mumnotmachine · 14/12/2011 21:19

I never understand why people spend so much on a Christmas Dinner, it is as other people have said a roast dinner.
My turkey is a freebie from Iceland courtesy of Sun Perks
I will buy usual veg so no extra expense there (although will be trawling the supermarkets at knock down time so who knows what else we will have!)
The only addition to our usual roast is sausages wrapped in bacon.
Other than that the "extras" I will buy is a bottle of Pepsi, and one of Lemon Tango as dd doesnt like coke, a 4 pack of beers for OH, some peanuts and a small gammon joint.
I cant afford to be lavish (unless its reduced)

BlissfulMistletoe · 14/12/2011 21:20

It crazy what some spend on Christmas, I think they are bu to spend so much that alot goes to waste

thepeoplesprincess · 14/12/2011 21:21

Well more do you need? Bottle of decent red and a bag of Kettle crisps (A quid in Sainsbogs atm)

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:21

That £150 is 5 days food for 8 people plus and extra 4 people on xmas day. I could never dream of spending £150 on one meal even after a lottery win!

OP posts:
mumnotmachine · 14/12/2011 21:23

I know people who are going out to Christmas lunch at £60 per PERSON!!!!!
I wont spend that on the shop for the whole week!!!

Jajas · 14/12/2011 21:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:23

DH just said (he knows her) that she is probably just trying to make herself feel better that she cant cook and she knows that I am "fucking brilliant" at it!

He has been the worlds biggest wanker this year, see relationships, but I have to admit that I do love him for that comment!

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