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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£3 for a bloody ice cream!!

333 replies

Ilovegreentomatoes · 22/08/2021 17:12

Live in south east not sure if that has any relevance. Just doing some walking and stopped of at an ice cream van.Got a small ice cream (one scoop) and been charged £3! Am shocked. Not brought an ice cream from a van for years but are these the prices? And if so how do families with kids afford this?.
Maybe I was just ripped of but AIBU to think things like this are ridiculously expensive and how does a family with a couple of kids afford things like this?

OP posts:
ToykotoLosAngeles · 22/08/2021 17:35

I live in the South West and a tub of Marshfield Farm ice cream is pretty much £3. About the same as a Costa latte.

Lollies are cheaper!

LynetteScavo · 22/08/2021 17:37

An ice-cream is a treat.

Both my lernte had professional jobs - there were four children. We only got an ice cream in the last day of the holiday, back in the 80s. We certainly didn't get an ice cream every time we went out for the day.

Original poster
Ilovegreentomatoes · 22/08/2021 17:37

Maybe I'm just out of touch!

OP posts:
234Pepperplant · 22/08/2021 17:37

“I guess the bigger picture is low income families should get more help or prices need to be more realistic in relation to what people earn.”

I’m not disagreeing that low income families need more help, but I’d be directing that help towards housing costs/standards, childcare costs, healthy food, educational opportunities, access to healthcare etc. I’m not really interested in equal opportunities ice cream vans. Ditto the hand wringing about the price of zoo tickets a few weeks ago. Some nice luxury things aren’t affordable to everyone, I’d rather worry about everyone having access to reasonable basics.

FlibbertyGibbitt · 22/08/2021 17:38

My dad would say 60 shillings ! 🤣

lannistunut · 22/08/2021 17:39

@Ilovegreentomatoes

I get angry that in London and south east things are triple the price but wages are not necessarily better.
Think a lot of people in SE feel aggrieved - it is similar around many big cities, high wages for e.g. bankers, low wages for the staff in industries that they use e.g. cleaners, waiting staff. UK is worst in Europe for this form of inequality.
InFiveMins · 22/08/2021 17:40

I get what you are trying to say OP and I agree. £3 for a scoop of ice cream is ridiculous, £1 is about right for what you got and prices many people out of being able to treat themselves/their children.

earthyfire · 22/08/2021 17:41

People pay it... so they'll charge it

Kanaloa · 22/08/2021 17:41

Ice cream is a luxury though. I do see where you’re coming from with the south being unfairly priced without wages reflecting this, but ice cream isn’t a big problem. You can buy a box of ice creams or ice lollies in Iceland or herons very cheaply. Yes, you might not be able to afford expensive ice cream from a van, but that’s a treat that not everybody can afford.

SupermanWithTheGreyHair · 22/08/2021 17:41

I feel more sorry for what the cow had to go through so you could have an ice cream, than I do for you paying £3 for it. Don’t buy it, problem solved.

QueenBee52 · 22/08/2021 17:42

Pure CON

its ice cream ...

yes you are being ripped off.. but as this is standard .. then everyone is being ripped off ...

Being the standard doesn't make it less of a rip-off

Original poster
Ilovegreentomatoes · 22/08/2021 17:42

Nmw should definitely be £10.50 + to deal with the real cost of living.

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 22/08/2021 17:42

And if you’re on a low wage you need to be aware of that and think ‘okay that’s an expensive van, I’ll get ice cream from McDonald’s/supermarket instead where it is cheaper.’ I say that as the mum of a low income family. I frequently have to make choices to buy things within our means/save up for treats because we couldn’t afford it otherwise.

BillinaTheChickenQueen · 22/08/2021 17:42

When we were on a lower income we popped into a shop for ice creams as they are cheaper.
Also the “Mr Whippy” style ice creams are much cheaper than the scoops of flavoured ice cream. £3.00 sounds like what I would expect to pay but then I also live in the SE .

CakeandGo · 22/08/2021 17:43

I’d expect a flake for £3.

QueenBee52 · 22/08/2021 17:43

@SupermanWithTheGreyHair

I feel more sorry for what the cow had to go through so you could have an ice cream, than I do for you paying £3 for it. Don’t buy it, problem solved.

besides being milked... what does the Cow go through ? 🤔

Nsky · 22/08/2021 17:44

I’m sure the less well off would buy a pack from supermarket, that’s what folk do

leafygarden42 · 22/08/2021 17:44

@Ilovegreentomatoes - I don't think you are being unreasonable.

£3.00 for a standard scoop of icecream IS a rip off.

If it was in a waffle cone with plenty of icecream/toppings/ etc maybe not so much. So what if it's a treat, that doesn't mean it has to be rip-off expensive!

grapewine · 22/08/2021 17:44

I remember growing up in the 80's in a low-income family. Days out and ice creams were a treat, and the ice cream came from the freezer when we got home and not the ice cream van.

But we had clean clothes, food, and a secure home. Perspective is a wonderful thing.

QueenBee52 · 22/08/2021 17:44

@CakeandGo

I’d expect a flake for £3.

and raspberry sauce 🤣

JanisJ · 22/08/2021 17:45

Ha! Come to my town, you'll easily pay £4 plus for an ice cream in a cone.

leafygarden42 · 22/08/2021 17:45

If you're in the middle of London ie Covent Garden etc, yeah - you expect to be ripped off , as there are probably very high overheads for the shop etc.

Marmelace · 22/08/2021 17:45

@Ilovegreentomatoes

I guess just feel sad that is the way it has become.An ice cream out shouldn't be an unaffordable treat for a low income family it just highlights how bad it is.
It was an unaffordable treat for my low income family in the 70s, nothing has changed.
NothingEverChangesButTheShoes · 22/08/2021 17:45

This reply has been deleted

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Tereseta · 22/08/2021 17:45

We were a lowish income family growing up in the 90s and ice creams from the van were a rare treat. My mum used to go to a nearby shop and buy a pack of lolly ices instead and that wasn't everytime either.
Don't think relative prices have increased that much. £3 is upper end from a van though.