Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think dh has no clue how much things cost. Does yours?

189 replies

Idbeloveandsweetness · 29/05/2013 09:29

I went shopping to tesco last night and as usual spent around £100 for three of us to last us just over a week. Dh can't understand how I'm spending so much but he will only eat brand names products (don't get me started) and good meat and fish.

I gave him a little quiz on the current cost of items in the shops. Here are his answers:

1st class stamp: 25p (60p)
2 pints of milk: 50p (90p)
loaf of bread: 60p (1.20)
2 chicken fillets: 2.00 (5.30)
Six free range eggs: 90p (1.70)
Jar of coffee: 1.00 (2.50)
Washing tablets: 1.00 (4.00)

No wonder he thinks I'm spending a lot! He has no idea! Would your dh / dp know? I think dh may have to do the shopping next week!

OP posts:
trikken · 29/05/2013 13:15

Dh is a manager in a supermarket so knows better than me. We are both quite good at being thrifty though and don't mind eating value stuff

Snorbs · 29/05/2013 13:24

I do all the shopping and I'd struggle to name the actual price for many items. I take note of prices for comparing different brands and I know roughly how much I spend a week but I couldn't tell you how much I pay for Sainsbury's own-brand free range eggs.

Quenelle · 29/05/2013 13:24

DH would probably know because he often does the shopping. His trouble is he does it at a sprint, never browses, so misses the bargains.

I have sought out the good value items in Sainsburys and educated DH to buy them now. Many branded goods are a huge waste of money. How is a value kidney bean worse than a branded kidney bean?

I prefer to buy value where possible and use the money I save to buy higher welfare meat and wine.

FannyFifer · 29/05/2013 13:28

Fucking hell £800 a month on food shopping.

ihearsounds · 29/05/2013 13:30

Only thing I know the price of is the chicken, and you are paying too much for it. For £5.30 I get 5 large breasts not the little things the supermarkets sell.

We both do the shopping. Whoever is free when we need meat will go to the butchers, and will pick up fruit and veg. In between we will both add stuff to the trolley for home delivery.

I am shocked about only one person do the shopping. Seems wrong really. I even send the dc's out to the shop. If people are prepared to eat then they should be more than prepared to get out and buy stuff when needed...

Calabria · 29/05/2013 13:41

My husband does the grocery shopping. Sometimes we do it together but mostly I leave him to it.

He did kick up a stink when I put some expensive hair conditioner in the trolly last week. It was 3 for 2 but still a tenner! But DD has fine, bum length hair and it's me that has to comb it!

Tapirbackrider · 29/05/2013 13:53

I do the shopping list & menu planning, dh does the shopping and bargain hunting. He regularly takes ds with him and they're both far better than me at getting everything for a good price.

He used to complain like fuck about the price of the weekly shop, but not anymore.

elliejjtiny · 29/05/2013 13:57

My DH does the food shopping so probably knows the price of food better than me. However he thinks I can get a decent bra for £2, haircut for £5 and don't get me started on bus fares or tampons!

Oldraver · 29/05/2013 14:14

OH used to be very spendthrift when I first met him as his priorities where very different... He did once go out and buy a £4.00 pizza, a Dolmio jar to pour over (boak) and some expensive deli meat and cheese for topping. The pizza cost about £10...He has learned. We've also had a spell of really having to cut back.

1st class stamp: 25p (60p).........45P
2 pints of milk: 50p (90p)...........4 pints for £1.00 from Aldi
loaf of bread: 60p (1.20)............£1.08 from the bakers
2 chicken fillets: 2.00 (5.30).......£3.40/ 2for £7.00
Six free range eggs: 90p (1.70)...£1.00 from the egg house
Jar of coffee: 1.00 (2.50)............£3.85/ £4.00 for 200g on offer
Washing tablets: 1.00 (4.00)......£7.00 for a big box, though we buy powder

LondonMan · 29/05/2013 14:23

How is a value kidney bean worse than a branded kidney bean?

Funnily enough, DW has bought Asda value kidney beans in the past, and they were completely inedible. No matter how long they were cooked they remained crunchy and hard.

worldgonecrazy · 29/05/2013 14:25

DH is quite good with food prices, but useless with house prices. He will see a million-plus house and say "Why don't we buy that one?"

Justfornowitwilldo · 29/05/2013 14:34

I have noticed raised eyebrows over the cost of a weekly shop but he's never said anything. I don't think he's fully taken onboard the rise in food prices over the last three years or so. He would quite happily spend £30 four times a week but is shocked by a shop that costs a penny over £100. This is one of the reasons that I manage our finances.

Justfornowitwilldo · 29/05/2013 14:35

Free range chicken costs more.

Quenelle · 29/05/2013 15:01

Funnily enough, DW has bought Asda value kidney beans in the past, and they were completely inedible. No matter how long they were cooked they remained crunchy and hard.

Try Sainsburys Basics instead. 19p and the only difference is that some of them aren't whole.

Choccywoccydodah · 29/05/2013 15:04

£5.30 for 2 chicken fillets?? I pay £3.99 per kilo (frozen)
And I get 4 pints of milk for £1!

MisselthwaiteManor · 29/05/2013 15:08

Mine knows the cost of things but his problem is that he doesn't seem to care. If he does the shopping I write the price next to everything to keep him in budget or he will grab whatever is closest no matter the cost. I would not tolerate him moaning at me about what I've spent on food though, he eats it! I'm not his servant or his accountant.

BackforGood · 29/05/2013 15:11

My dh is pretty aware of the prices, but I honestly don't see a problem with an arrangement whereby one partner tends to do the shopping as one of their 'jobs' each week, that some people seem to be horrified about.
£100 a week for 3 of you is considerably more than I spend for 5 of us (and 2 dc eat adult sized portions, and then some), but, if you have the money in your budget, then I don't see the problem.

ReindeerBollocks · 29/05/2013 15:15

My DH has no idea about basic food costs. He still thinks he'd be able to cook a big spag bol for 19p ( like he did when he was a student).

It's normally not an issue as I do all the shopping and cooking. It works well until the bugger tries to accompany me during the weekly shop, then I turn murderous with his 'how much' statements every five flipping minutes.

On the other hand I've no idea about our gas/electricity costs, because DH deals with that instead. It suits us.

StuntGirl · 29/05/2013 15:28

Of course he does. We both do the food shopping so we're both perfectly aware of how much things cost.

seeker · 29/05/2013 15:45

As I said- I do wish somebody would invent feminism........

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 29/05/2013 16:05

DH does the majority of the food shopping in our house, so yes he does know how much things cost.
I put him to the test and got:

Stamp: 60p
Milk 89p
Bread 1.45
Chicken £3.99
Eggs £2.00
Coffee £1.89
Washing tabs £1.99

And tbh that sounds about right for where we shop, Aldi and value items are in that list I think.

fluffiphlox · 29/05/2013 16:06

oldraver where are you getting your first class stamps from? Do you have 'connections'?!

loofet · 29/05/2013 16:13

My DH knows more than I do. I just pick up what I need and what brand i'm used to but he's more sensible and tries to look for ways to save. Without his input I easily spent at least £20 more. I couldn't tell you the price of most things tbh, I never take notice

topbannana · 29/05/2013 16:19

We order our meat from an organic box company which costs a little under £50 a fortnight. DH is unfazed by this (as I suspect he has no idea how cheap the cheap meat is to have any frame of comparison)
He was however aghast (and aghast is not too strong a word to describe his reaction!) when he found out the latest Waitrose order was £100. TBH it's not normally anything like that but we had family over.
Occasionally he will splash something around and I will say "careful, that cost X" He will then eye it with great suspicion as though it has just bitten him, all the while muttering "X? I just can't believe it!"

elinorbellowed · 29/05/2013 16:30

My Grandpa was a miserly old soandso and never gave my Grandma enough for the weekly shop. She just told him that sanitary protection was 4 times the price to make up the difference, knowing he'd never check that price.
DP knows as he does the shopping as often as I do. If he didn't, he still wouldn't question how much I'd spent. BTW, I buy free-range eggs at farm gates and the local grocers/market stall and they are £1.00 a half-dozen. They are never that cheap in supermarkets and have practically no food miles. Of course I realise that's only possible out here in the sticks.