£108 on his soft drinks every month

[Rainbowsworms]

I've been going through our expenditures today after realising how much money was going out of the account every month. I haven't kept a close eye on outgoings - I will own that. I have ADHD and it's not my strong point.

I have calculated that DP is spending £108 per month on his drinks alone.

He refuses to drink water/juice/cordial and moans when there's no fizzy pop, so he insists on buying a big bottle of lemonade from the corner shop most days at £2 a go, so thats £60 per month.

If that wasn't bad enough, he has atleast one Monster energy drink every night. They cost £1.60 so £48 per month.

£108 per month on fucking drinks.

AIBU to think that is bloody ridiculous.

@Hooplahooping last year I did loads and loads of reading/listening to podcasts about UPF. I cut down a LOT last year on them, for health, weigh loss etc, but was still drinking loads of Diet Coke and also using artificial sweeteners in coffees etc. I knew I was addicted and I just knew I needed to quit. So Jan 1st this year I just decided to cold turkey. It was hard, and the first few days I had awful headaches but I genuinely don’t miss it now and I was SERIOUSLY addicted- think 4/5 cans a day. 😮 Good luck if you do quit.

It's so expensive now.

I drink Pepsi max and DH drinks come.

I just calculated that is about 130 quid a month 😮

COKE. He drinks coke 😑😂

I’m not a fan of fizzy drinks but surely it’s hard to find a drink with actual sugar in nowadays? Everything seems to be ‘sugar free’ that I see. I enjoy an annual Coke and I have to hunt out a real one (I mean annual too lol!) So the comments on health might not be relevant and the affect on teeth, unless sipped continuously all day, might not be so that bad?

cost wise @Rainbowsworms you need to go to Farmfoods. There are crates of soft drinks there and huge boxes of Walkers crisps. To balance that out, I also recommend the frozen Edamame and okra - it’s not all processed trash in there.

@Moveoverdarlin 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Please tell me this is a joke…

I wouldn’t let my kids drink 6 bottles of pop in a year! An occasional fizzy drink for a special meal out is all we allow (and thats pretty much the attitude of friends too). Special occasions only.

Water (or squash if they have a real issue with water) is all kids need. There’s a reason schools only allow water for kids.

Omg his teeth!!!!

It’s a lot of money and I hope he’s looking at dental payment plans because eventually those drinks will cause tooth decay.

🤣😂🤣😂🤣

I stopped drinking Monster (and all 'diet' drinks) when I realised it was linked to the UTI-type symptoms I kept getting. Maybe a man wouldn't be so affected, but that stuff is full of chemicals that do odd things to the body. Doesn't he have endless wind from all that fizz?

I'm going to focus in on these Walkers crisps for your DS, as I understand that the autistic mind wants what it wants! And I'm going to tell you generally to

*
stay out of the corner shop - they are the most expensive places going
*
(apart from tourist traps, but that's a whole other story).

I am a mystery shopper and price collector and can tell you the following

• Walkers are MUCH cheaper in bulk
• they are in that category of foods that are on special offer in supermarkets half the time. Stock up while they're on offer!
• they are sold in Lidl for less than most supermarkets
• check the weight of the bags - there are LOTS of different sizes.

If I had an autistic child who ate Walkers as one of their main food groups I would email the company to ask where you can buy in serious bulk (and/or find a friend with a Macro account).

And I'd be pointing out to DH about the corner shop thing. If he resists, I'd be buying in bulk myself, hiding them and selling them back to him maybe slightly cheaper than the corner shop. (Addressing the health thing where you can as a separate issue).

Hope some of these help!

@Isitautumnyet23 Firstly, I said "we", not just "they". Secondly, you know people are "kids" until they are 18? Mumsnet is mad.

Well not any more he doesn't, does he? He needs to learn how to budget to accommodate his addiction.

Does he have ADHD too? Aside from how unhealthy he will be making himself, he'll be worsening any adhd problems too with all that sugar.

I'd be saying no to the card. Does he earn a lot less than you?

And does he know you can get decent lemonade at Tesco for 35p?

The money is the least of the dink problem. Think of all the litres of chemicals and cr@p he's putting in his body each month. Drinking himself to an early grave

Buy bulk and try to save ? To be honest my opinion if it’s unreasonable or not depends on your financial position . If you guys are struggling and cutting back to pay basics then yes it’s to much but if you are ok then I would see it as a daily expense

I’m sorry, it’s out there now.. 😂

I spend more than that a month on alcohol. Each to their own poison imo.
Plenty of people spend more than that a month on cigarettes or tobacco.
Unless you are really short of money, he is an adult and an adult can choose their ‘drug of choice’.
Your dh choses pop and energy drinks, there are much worse choices out there.

It's not the healthiest thing in the world but it's also not the worst thing either.
It all depends on if he (and the family) can afford it.
If fizzy drinks are his only "vice" and everything else functions normally and within budget then a little over £100 pcm seems generally okay to me.
Plenty of people spend the same or more on coffees throughout the month or going to the pub every Friday.
While it's not ideal to spend that when there's water in the tap, I also wouldn't beat a grudge if DH used his money on a similar thing.

I'd buy him a soda stream and a bottle of lemon oil.

Good lord, what would you consider excessive then?

In general ya it's a lot on fizzy drinks but it's not the worst thing - bar the monster that stuff is terrible. But if he's using your money that's not fair!

I agree with the joint account for joint expenses I have a joint revolut. All our bills come out of there, I also have pockets set up for various things we need to save for (christmas, birthdays, holidays, misc, rainy day)

BUT do you think he'd just lash into the joint money given a chance?

Are some posters missing that this complete goon is helping himself to the OP’s bank card to buy all this shit because he’s rattled through his own £800 disposable (leftover after bills) in a week and a half?!

Aside from the money aren't you worried about his health? He must feel awful drinking that rubbish every day.