To think this double strength squash is a bloomin rip off

[Rhinosaurus]

Grrr there on,y seems to be double strength squash in supermarkets now, unless you buy the expensive huh juice squashes. Our kids use just as much squash as single squash despite many many lectures that you only need half as much bloody teenagers

Gone to make oh a nice iced squash with dinner and it's all bloody gone! Only bought two bottles on Saturday as I am on wine not really that bothered

Prisoner That is genius

Tesco double strength lime cordial is gorgeous if its diluted with gin and tonic

Lol well it differs every week, we always have snack tea once or twice a week, ie pasta and pesto, poached eggs and bacon on toast, beans on toast, omelette with filling etc. varies but usual stuff is kids have pizza once a week, jacket potatoes with filling and salad, fajitas, curry and rice, macaroni cheese, usually have a minced based dish like lasagne, chilli or spag bol, yogurt and fruit for dessert, or we have a smoothie maker so use frozen fruit and over ripe bananas and value natural yog or value ice cream for dessert smoothies. We buy the value stuff a lot, we buy as many Bogof as we can esp bread, plus we have a bread machine. Buy one big bag of crisps and 20 ish choc brs, once they have gone that's it till next shop so kids usually save them for packed lunches, always use money off coupons.

I have to say oh is better t the shopping than me as I get seduced by the end of aisle cakes etc and wine aisle I like to buy the kids treats, quite often I just give him the list and off he goes leaving me at home to watch Saturday kitchen to do the laundry......

My dds are only 5 and 3 so I make up their squash, so the double strength one did go a lot further than the high juice one. But they like blackcurrant and the double strength one smells like cats' pee, so for that reason we started buying the high juice one.

Thanks Rhino

I need to sit down and take another look at my expensive meal plan!

decanting amazing idea why have i not thought of this!

My family is 3 adults, one teen, one almost teen, 2 infant schoolers and 1 baby and our food bill is about £80 a week. My budget is £100 but if i go over 75 I am not happy!

Meal planning, making from scratch (including salads) and reconsidering what is actually a meal is in order!

DH loves squash but hates the taste of the double strength stuff so has requested normal strength squash. Was very when supermarkets seemed to withdraw it! I'm not sure it's a rip-off but I do think it's stupid and horrible.

Agree that the asda one is definately stronger. I can't taste the difference with the others. I just buy one and if it's gone it's gone and they have to drink water until the next shop.

Obviously this is a bit late for the OP, but possibly not for others.

Don't buy squash. Or fruit juice.

We stopped doing this years ago (but now are constantly re-filling plastic bottles with tap water for the insatiable DD).

prisoner I too applaud the stealth diluting idea.

Yeah - I buy the 'value' stuff- so not wasting so much £, but it is too strong - and the kids still use as much.

Morrisons own brand squash is still regular concentrate - and you can get all kinds of weird and wonderful e number fillled flavours.

I will be diluting and hiding this weekend when DSC are here.

Mwah hahaha

I have found that the amount a teenager will consume is directly propotionate to the amount of food and drink available. Buy a giant pot of chocolate spread and this will be consumed in the same amount of time as a standard pot - fact.

Ration out, hide supplies and dilute/decant where possible. Buy brand name goods when on offer and when finished refill packaging with value goods (this works very well for cornflakes and rice crispies for example)

DS is only 1 but I am writing that tip down OhChristFENTON

There are wise people indeed on this thread

OhChristFenton - I am learning that rapidly as the current au pair is still a teenager and first time away from home. (DD is only 6). Previous AP was mid-20s and houseowner back home. Then, bills went up slightly (extra salad, 1 packet buns a week, instant coffee) - now I am being eaten out of house and home!!

For example, I bought a load of bottles of coke etc over Christmas on specials, but we'd normally have those spread out over about 2-3 months. They disappeared within about 3 weeks!! And lots of other things too. And she is not great at writing things on the shopping list that she's finished (so on Sundays, the one morning a week I have toast and day after I;ve done weekly shop, pop bread into toaster and find there's no butter left, and I am still in pjs! :( ).

OhChrist is spot on there with regards to teenagers and portions and what is available...