You fool, you idiot!

[coulditbeme2323]

There were a couple of threads on MN yesterday about what posters spend their money on. One was about a slice of cheesecake in London and the other the cost of a toastie in a Garden Centre.

Neither items were cheap, but I thought there was a lot of rude comments such as "only idiots pay that" or "you fool."

Now MN is for debate and there is nothing wrong with disagreeing, but is name calling really fair just because people choose to spend their money on different things.

I'm increasingly amazed about how normal swearing is regarded now.

I was shocked when I moved to my present home to hear my neighbours using the f word and swearing at their very young children. I found it really distressing. I now read on another thread posters actually thinking it acceptable to swear at and use the f word even to babies.

Sweariing and being unpleasant seems endemic in everyday life so I suppose the fact it features so much on MN shouldn't be a surprise. But that doesn't make it any more palatable. It just contributes towards the general unpleasantness of life today.

Not the point of the thread I know, but I live in a holiday area and know quite a lot of people who run businesses in hospitality and times really are hard. It's unlikely that even places that are charging high prices are making huge profits. The cost of ingredients, fuel and employing people have all shot up and rent and business rates are really high in some places. I was talking to a friend who runs a cafe recently and she was saying how difficult it is to walk the line between charging enough so that you're actually making a living but not so much that you don't get enough customers.
There are other reasons too, like difficulties recruiting staff, but it's a tough business to be in at present. I can think of half a dozen independents that have gone under in my area in the last year or so and even big chains are struggling. People often say "I could make this at home for a half the price" but of course the whole point is that you're not at home and you haven't had to make it, serve it, clear up, wash the pots etc - you are paying for more than the ingredients in your dish. Yes, prices are high at the moment and eating out has become more of a luxury for most of us, but on the whole I don't think owners are ripping us off and living a life of luxury because we are "fools" to pay their prices - not where I live anyway.

Why is it priceless? remember the young woman that died on a flight because the sandwich had something in it that she was allergic to and wasn't on the food label? Yeah really funny that was.

Ok, and that is fine, again we all make choices based on likes, dislikes, finance etc.

Agreed.

Imagine having so much passion about whether someone chooses to buy cheesecake at a garden centre or take sandwiches on a day trip.

Exactly, there are numerous reasons why someone could be taking a packed lunch. To be looking down on people who do, or sniping about it, is rather ridiculous, imo.

Maybe it's a case of wanting to eat something edible rather than the stuff peddled on the budget flights at whatever the price.

Same here on buying food.

If I'm going to eat a sandwich, I'd much rather make it myself than pay 3/4/5x the cost of ingredients to eat it fridge cold from a supermarket or queue for half an hour to have it in a museum/NT cafe.

But if I have a rare opportunity to try something from one of the world's greatest chefs and I can get that for 'only' £19 then sign me up. Because I was too young and poor to eat in El Builli when it was open and Tickets went bust before I got the chance to eat there, but now I can buy his cheesecake in London.

But on the other threads, the foolish/idiotic part is either not looking at prices and later complaining something is expensive, mindlessly buying shit basic food and overpriced coffee and complaining it's poor value for money or trying to use the flagship item from a fancy Michelin starred chef's cafe as an illustration of the CoL crisis. How do people get significantly into adulthood and have apparently not realised this?

That young woman had purchased the sandwich at the airport, not on the plane.

Indeed!

I can't wait to go back to London to have another £19 slice of cheesecake!

Flask and sandwich brigade 🤣 nothing more depressing than people doing this on a day out. I get that at a place like this it’s a bit overrated but most days put have good menu and part of the experience is eating out and not waking up packing a whole meal out.

The toastie one was asking opinions on whether she should have spent that much or not. In that situation, I think she should be prepared for people to think she was an idiot.

Same. We have regular hospital visits and I always let my DS choose what he wants in Costa afterwards. I know it’s a waste of money but he likes it and we have a nice chat before going back to school.

Some things are about more than the price you pay for them.

ER three I usually take sandwiches if out for the day .Had chemo and only allowed to eat certain foods .Has stuck somehow and find it better than a crowded Restaurant and often little choice .Will normally have a cake tea later in the cafe

Was it your thread then?

Well working in aviation i can say that i most certainly would and do take my own food on the plane instead of eating the pure ( expensive) crap that they serve! If you daw the state of the ovens and galleys you most certainly would prefer to eat your own food!

Where is this cheesecake? I want to give it a go…🙈

Some people really do struggle financially. Nothing wrong with taking a flask and some sandwiches if that saves them sone money.

I bring a picnics and loads of snacks to theme parks/zoos etc as it’s preferable to long queues with whiny, hungry children. Always get ice creams though.

This was expensive? | Mumsnet
I got in first but the OP was '£32 😬 for a quick bite to eat...'. No mention of meeting friends or anything.

No she shouldn't have been prepared for people calling her an idiot.

She should have been prepared for people saying that's a crazy amount of money to spend, they would never do so etc. But not name calling.

Cheesecake yes, toastie no.

Cakes and bubbles. Do it!

I think this is a good balance. Spend on a treat, but also save where you can. My ex-inlaws used to spend an absolute fortune on days out, but they had the money for it. Absolutley zero savings in their bank account, but that was their choice I guess