AIBU to wonder how we spent so much doing nothing?

[coulditbeme2323]

We were all exhausted this weekend, and literally didn't move further than 1 mile from our house.

How is it possible to spend so much money going nowhere and doing nothing?

First rule of MN; people don't like being called out, or caught out, on MN...😂

i think it’s just a bit painful to read for a lot of people to read when you don’t consider a lot of these things ‘treats’. For context, I’ve not eaten out since December, and that was a cheap lunch. I also haven’t bought a takeaway coffee in my recent memory. I’m a single wage mum and any spare money I have goes towards a holiday for them in summer, and Christmas and birthdays.

I didn’t have them this weekend, so I spent zero. HOWEVER! I did have a fantastic day off hiking and,
as it wasn’t my turn to drive, didn’t even use petrol.

I think your life sounds fabulous to be honest, but maybe it might be worth reframing brunch out,
etc, as treats then you might enjoy them more? Maybe set a monthly budget for ‘treat’ money which it could come out of?

Ohhh, I was reading this post with interest, not really understanding fully it's point or what the woe was.

But, I get it now after reading the above.

I think you're coming to realise that eating out all weekend and coffees out (etc) have become so expensive, that it has to be seen as a treat now.

You've never had to think of this before as the cost never bothered you.

We don't know if you're a spender or saver, or really your view on money.

Me? Id rather have things in the freezer and the makings of a salad - still something quick and not alot of time preparing than spending X amount on take aways. I'd prefer to save or spend the takeaway money on something more worth while to me.

So, if something is worthwhile, the cost doesn't really matter, as much. But if it's not worthwhile, it becomes a pain point.

So, maybe you don't actually like spending on takeaways etc. Maybe something/mindset has changed.

This Is the 3rd post on Mumsnet where I realise I don’t have a lot of money… (first was a thread on Xmas cheese board being nearly £100 and wedding outfit (guest) being £750…

I could never blow that amount of money one weekend as it’s more than half my budget for food / petrol / things kids need / entertainment. And I think I am fortunate to have disposable money…

Something far more interesting than buying 3 kids books in a charity shop & a chopping board in TK Max.

🙄 so is the mortgage, the utilities, insurance 🙄

but we are discussing what was spent this weekend & that was not.

These things probably don't seem like treats because you do them so often. They just become normal and it's harder to value them.

If you did them less often, you might appreciate them more and they might seem more like treats. Sometimes having less/ consuming less can be more satisfying.

Anyway, that's not what you asked, OP!

Greggs doughnuts are delicious.

I reckon the OP is on the wind up.

But what did you do with the £50 butcher’s burgers and chicken breasts? Scatter them for the peasants?

We had a pottering weekend too. We spent £35 on a sushi takeaway, £4 on a bus to a friend’s house and £10 on a bottle of cava to take with. That was it outside of normal bills and food. Very relaxing.

Well you didn’t ’do nothing’. You went to swim practice and had coffee. You did an online shop. You went out for another coffee the next day. You went to Boots. You went to TK Maxx. You had takeaway. You went to a charity shop. You went out for brunch. You picked up donuts. How is that ‘doing nothing’?
It IS a lot of money spent on food though.

yes because they don't eat Sunday nights or all week. 🙄🙇🏻‍♀️.

You did a lot at the weekend.

Eating out has become your normal but it IS a treat and a day out, regardless of where you go. Going to swimming lessons then eating out would definitely be considered a day out by my kids for example.

You were exhausted after a long week, we're all exhausted after a long week and it's be really easy if you have a very high income to just eat out for every meal. But that's the answer to your question, you mindlessly are out and at no point considered the expense and thought, dyou know I could make bacon rolls at home for fiber and have decent caffetiere coffee.

Which is fine. It's all fine and choices and based on I come but you genuinely seem surprised you spent so much money. You spent that money on luxuries. You have choices. Spend the money and accept it's a luxury rather than moaning about it (I have weekends like this and I genuinely think, 'Iam so lucky I can afford to take my kids to a decent softplay that does good coffee and get m us lunch out so they are excercised instead of wrecking my house and I can read my kindle for an hour'

Alternatively I also have weekends where I pack picnics before we leave the house, I make plans around popping home to make the kids a sandwich lunch between Saturday club and trips to the park or whatever rather than pay a fortune for a cheese toastie in a cafe.

You seem to think you've not real control over what you've spent or that you've done nothing at all. Doing nothing properly for a weekend for us would involve taking the kids to their pre paid sports clubs, eating all meals at home and entertainment being dog walks, local playpark, crafts in the house etc. sometimes if we'd had a weekend like that then on the Sunday night we'll actively realize we've not spent much and we can not bother to make dinner and instead order a takeaway. I'd feel a bit rubbish if I ate out as much as you have and spend as much and not really feeling anyone has benefitted but I wouldn't wonder how it's happened I'd think about whether I wanted to change it.

It's possible to have a busy week and be exhausted and still cook etc at weekends many people have hugely demanding jobs that don't pay well and no option but to still feed themselves at the weekend. You are very lucky. That's the bit you're maybe missing

When I’m tired I find it easier to make cereal/soup/sandwich rather than go out. That’s a crazy amount to spend in one weekend on eating out! You could have gotten away with the food shop, a coffee and a take away. But everything else was crazy!

So you spent money spending money?

I get this, we’d had a really busy week and a very quiet weekend. Still spent £50:at local shop to get stuff in to feed in laws on Sunday, £75 to fill up car, DH bought some t shirts, socks and new dog walking trousers, £200. Bumped into friends while walking the dog and ended up having a drink buying a round, £30.

'everything else was crazy'

the only 'else' was brunch at BILS.

'crazy' 🤣🤣

Have I been?

No - I don't think they are treats - that's the point!

I know - I went into a book shop to get second hand books for my kid - and people going on like I had a private shopper at Selfridges!

Our family do this really weird thing - where we eat Monday - Friday as well.

Was a shopping board crazy?

A chopping board for veg and a couple of second hand kids books, and I am all of a sudden Kim Kardashian!

But feeding 1 toddler isn't equivalent to feeding 2 primary aged children & a teen.

shes not saying she can't afford it, she's simply saying such ordinary things have become expensive & she was surprised at how much it added up to.

Yeah, that isn't what people are going on about at all.