.

[shortbun]

I think he could have saved a few places like laundry detergent but what size did he buy? We just paid $13 a pie for Christmas at a bakery. I never pay more than $2.50 for tortilla chips but I buy several bags when they are on sale-by demand, all bets are off. How much soda did he buy and did he buy cans or 2liters? I'm guessing cans and again-did you tell him to get what was on sale or did he have a specific soda to purchase? I would have given my husband an A for finding everything and buying toothpast IF we needed it. The benefit of going weekley is being able to buy in bulk when things we use are on sale. Would you have gone to two stores for that short list and for a special event? Tell us how you would have improved this job, OP!

 

[Kellydelly]

My husband would have done the same thing, but it wouldn't have been an issue of price per item. When I send my dh out to get a couple of things for me (we have an Aldis on the way home from his workplace so I ask him to stop there often) he always buys extra crap and spends twice as much as I anticipated. I love having someone else fetch stuff for me when I am busy, but he can't just stick to my list and get out of the store . It is annoying.

 

[stacy347]

What others including me are saying, is that in our area it can't be done, and I am a darn good cook, from scratch as was my mother. Happy it can be done where you are, for most of us, it can't. I wish I could, but it won't happen, not with the prices here. And not with 2 teenage boys around eating me out of house and home.

I don't know about most. It is definitely regional though. We've got family in IN and we are in MI. I could feed my family of 6 (2 adults, 4 teen girls who eat like boys ) on $75/week (with no nasty, prepared foods) in either of these states (and that includes my husband's Coke that he thinks he would die without, LOL). Actually, add OH to that list since I get their ads all the time, and know their prices.

Granted our incomes here are much, much lower than other regions, and the grocery stores price accordingly. But, posters here always act like kids must be starving if their parents only spend a certain amount per week, LOL. There are so many factors that people don't take into consideration.

However, when we went to FL this past summer, I decided to wait to stock up some of our food for our condo until we got there. Holy cow, the sticker shock!! We went to Aldi (which I also use here), and seriously, all of the prices were double or more! Milk alone was over $4/gal and I only pay $2 here. This wasn't even in Orlando or Kissimmee, it was the Davenport area. I shudder to think what the grocery store prices are in the touristy regions.

 

[Srbright]

However, when we went to FL this past summer, I decided to wait to stock up some of our food for our condo until we got there. Holy cow, the sticker shock!! We went to Aldi (which I also use here), and seriously, all of the prices were double or more! Milk alone was over $4/gal and I only pay $2 here. This wasn't even in Orlando or Kissimmee, it was the Davenport area. I shudder to think what the grocery store prices are in the touristy regions.

I would really like to know how you do this? You or any of the other people that can do this. 75$ is closer to what we do but still low. For example, where are you getting $2 a gallon milk? I just pulled this weeks Kroger ad as we live in MI as well:
http://krogermichigan.mywebgrocer.com/Circular/KROGER-492/00492314/Weekly/2/1
And the Kroger brand milk is $2.49 a gallon and that is on sale. Maybe its worth the gas to go somewhere else to shop?

Stacy

 

[msjprincess]

Did you give him all of your rules before you sent him to the store?

 

[richmond282]

OP here. First of all, I posted this on the BUDGET BOARD b/c I thought you would empathize with my hubby spending waaaaay more than he should have and blowing the grocery budget. Apparently, that's not the case. It wasn't even about how much stuff cost regionally, but he knew better and did it anyway. Even he was like (when we looked at the receipt) "What? Bleach was $4? I thought it was $2." etc. So he didn't pay attention to the cost when he put it in the buggy, nor did he look at the price when it was rung up.

He offered...YOU let him go. Guess next time you'll tell him no. Or maybe next time you'll figure in "party supplies/food" into your regular shopping budget.

Yes, I did. I was spending the day cleaning the house. I was going to have to shower, change my clothes, etc. etc. to go. so I did "LET" him go.

In terms of the budget, I had already purchased the portion of hte meal I was to provide (turkey, dressing, gravy.) DH's uncle was to bring dessert and drinks. He called that day and said he was sick and wasn't coming. Hence why I didn't have any separate $ set aside.

BTW, no one ate any of the apple pie at all and only 1 slice of the cherry pie was eaten. I could very well have skipped those and no one would have cared.

Also, even if this is his side of the family it is still your family...after all, you are married, his family is now your family, so I don't understand the mentality that b/c it's 'his' family he has to do the shopping, cleaning....

Re-read. I never said he had to do all of the cleaning or shopping. I SAID he offered to go to the store to get out of HELPING ME clean. I put in about 6 hours of cleaning. (Which is why I let hm go to the store cause I was a dirty mess from all the cleaning. He was not b/c he didn't help me clean.) Do I think he should have contributed to the cleaning effort? ABSOLUTELY. I don't care whose family is coming.

 

[stacy347]

I would really like to know how you do this? You or any of the other people that can do this. 75$ is closer to what we do but still low. For example, where are you getting $2 a gallon milk? I just pulled this weeks Kroger ad as we live in MI as well:
http://krogermichigan.mywebgrocer.com/Circular/KROGER-492/00492314/Weekly/2/1
And the Kroger brand milk is $2.49 a gallon and that is on sale. Maybe its worth the gas to go somewhere else to shop?

Stacy

I try to always get my milk at Aldi (specifically, the one in Woodhaven if that helps). For the past 6-7 months it has been $1.69/gal. Just in December it jumped to $2.09. Still about 50¢ cheaper than most of the other stores.
They also regularly have baby carrots 39¢/lb, potatoes 10 lbs for $1.99, and they regularly have bread less than $1/loaf. They do markdowns a lot as well, then I stock up. Last week they had whole grain bread for 25¢/loaf, and I grabbed 4 of them. Those are the times I wish I had a deep freeze!
I also get my baking supplies there. Flour is $1.69-1.79 for the 5 lb bag. Sugar is always right around the $2 mark for 5 lbs. Big bags of long grain rice for $1.69, etc. Lots of staples for 1/2 the price of the big name stores.

I do not do all of my shopping here, as there are some things I haven't been impressed with (coffee and lunchmeat, yuck!).

Meat is hit or miss for me at Aldi. I tend to get most of mine at Kroger, but once in awhile I will head to Cattleman's Meat and stock up (it's in Taylor, if you are close by). They have some amazing deals if you can buy a huge piece of meat and freeze it! My rule of thumb is that I try to never pay more than $3/lb. for meat. Once a year I will buy a rib roast and break that rule ~ it's just so good!

We don't eat high-end steaks very often, but I do cook from scratch pretty much everyday. The one prepared/boxed food that I buy regularly is the Morningstar Farms chik'n for my vegetarian DD (I always use a coupon from MyPoints). I also make her eat eggs, veggies, PB, quinoa, etc., but sometimes when she misses meat, she has those fake nuggets, LOL.

Just as a for instance, on Christmas Eve we had my ILs over so a total of 8 people for dinner. I made 2 lasagnas from scratch (one with my mom's homemade sauce, and one with a mushroom/artichoke/chardonnay white sauce). The total for both pans, plus homemade rolls was under $20 (I got a sample bottle of wine, because all I need was a small amount). There was enough leftover to feed us all for a second day. So a really good holiday meal with 16 servings for less than $20, and everyone loved it.

Oops, forgot to add in the cost of drinks and dessert to that dinner: $1 for a 2L of Coke, less than $1 for a pot of coffee, and $3 for homemade truffles ($1.29 for a bag of chocolate chips, and $1.59 for heavy cream). Still under $25 total

 

[wvjules]

It sounds like most of the women on the DIS are married to children, at least based on how it sounds like they are treated.

 

[North of Mouse]

OP here. First of all, I posted this on the BUDGET BOARD b/c I thought you would empathize with my hubby spending waaaaay more than he should have and blowing the grocery budget. Apparently, that's not the case. It wasn't even about how much stuff cost regionally, but he knew better and did it anyway. Even he was like (when we looked at the receipt) "What? Bleach was $4? I thought it was $2." etc. So he didn't pay attention to the cost when he put it in the buggy, nor did he look at the price when it was rung up.



Yes, I did. I was spending the day cleaning the house. I was going to have to shower, change my clothes, etc. etc. to go. so I did "LET" him go.

In terms of the budget, I had already purchased the portion of hte meal I was to provide (turkey, dressing, gravy.) DH's uncle was to bring dessert and drinks. He called that day and said he was sick and wasn't coming. Hence why I didn't have any separate $ set aside.

BTW, no one ate any of the apple pie at all and only 1 slice of the cherry pie was eaten. I could very well have skipped those and no one would have cared.



Re-read. I never said he had to do all of the cleaning or shopping. I SAID he offered to go to the store to get out of HELPING ME clean. I put in about 6 hours of cleaning. (Which is why I let hm go to the store cause I was a dirty mess from all the cleaning. He was not b/c he didn't help me clean.) Do I think he should have contributed to the cleaning effort? ABSOLUTELY. I don't care whose family is coming.

Sorry OP, that you got so royally *jumped on* here by most of the posters. I understand where you are coming from. A lot of posters here have *added* on to what you actually said - made you out to be a *brow beater* of husbands, etc.

I've had some on here also that responded to my posts in belittling ways, but there will always be people that feel like what they do is the only and best way. I will continue to grocery shop and prepare meals in the same way I always do, and others can continue to do the same. My dh & I are completely in tune with our entertaining, and never have a lack of family/friends that enjoy sharing with us.

Have a wonderful Happy New Year!

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

It sounds like most of the women on the DIS are married to children, at least based on how it sounds like they are treated.

Yes. Men who are incapable of doing anything without instructions. If they dare to do something on their own, they will be ridiculed and nagged. Myself, I wouldn't do anything, for fear of doing it wrong.

 

[*Seanaci*]

Sorry OP, that you got so royally *jumped on* here by most of the posters. I understand where you are coming from. A lot of posters here have *added* on to what you actually said - made you out to be a *brow beater* of husbands, etc.

I've had some on here also that responded to my posts in belittling ways, but there will always be people that feel like what they do is the only and best way. I will continue to grocery shop and prepare meals in the same way I always do, and others can continue to do the same. My dh & I are completely in tune with our entertaining, and never have a lack of family/friends that enjoy sharing with us.

Have a wonderful Happy New Year!

Just from my observations in reading replies...no one added on to her original post. Several couldn't figure out why she was complaining as they would have spent near the same what her husband did. OP gave more details on what her Hubby bought. That's when others started in on her for not being more specific in her list.

 

[topolino]

OP, if going over budget by only $30 is going to send you on a diet of Ramen Noodles, then you have financial problems as well as marital ones.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yes. Men who are incapable of doing anything without instructions. If they dare to do something on their own, they will be ridiculed and nagged. Myself, I wouldn't do anything, for fear of doing it wrong.

See the "my husband never helps with anything around the house" threads.

Some fail to see the connection.

 

[MolonLabe]

I'm just wondering how you could have paid less? Did your husband buy national brands when you usually buy store brands? Laundry soap could be a small $4 generic or a $20 jumbo size Tide. A couple cans of soup could be two for your family but when my husband buys soups to bring to lunch he usually buys 6 or 8 at a time. I just don't see $76 as high for everything he got.

I'm not seeing it as high either. Of course I'm a husband though, lol.

My wife hates shopping for groceries, so I usually have to go with her... ungghhh, just want I want to do after working all day, go grocery shopping. It takes twice as long as going alone and stopping on the way home.

I don't mind going alone, I prefer it, get me a list and I'm good.. but be SPECIFIC.

We DH's have no idea if you want those chocolate chips to use as a garnish, for cookies or to put into some sort of concoction you read on the internet that takes two pounds of them. ie. chocolate chips 8oz, 16oz ect. If you don't know the exact size, guess or say small, medium large.

Being specific can eliminate all the phone calls or texts.

For me, if I was told to get cat food, I'd be buying a 20# bag. I don't want to be stopping again next week for it.. plus it saves money buying the bigger bag.

Speaking of grocery shopping, I prepare a few signature dishes a year and I need to go out and buy some items for my Turkey Noodle Soup, lol

 

[BeachLove]

OP you would have probably choked me if I went out shopping for you.



The list said:
little wieners (for appetizers in the crock pot) - I'd probably get the most expensive type
1 bag of tortilla chips -$5?
juice - $4ish
soda - $4 each
laundry detergent $15-18
cat food $30-40
pan for the turkey to cook in $10
apple pie $15-25
cherry pie $15-25
couple cans of soup $2-3 each
Toothpaste $4

About an hour, some extra stuff in the cart and $200 later would complete my Target grocery trip. OP don't worry about it and definitely start a party type budget for times like this.

 

[mdsoccermom]

OP, if going over budget by only $30 is going to send you on a diet of Ramen Noodles, then you have financial problems as well as marital ones.

Amen.

 

[Nancyg56]

I live in CT and never could have bought the food on that list for $70. I just got back from Costco and bought a ham and kielbasa for tomorrow's dinner and spent 45 just on that.

I never ask DH to shop for me because he hates it but the rare occasions he accompanied me were a disaster. By the time I gave up trying to shop and just watched him toss necessities (ice cream, cookies, frozen pizza, a bug jug of cheezie poofs) into the cart the bill was wicked high and I had to go back the next day He still has old fashioned ideas about what is "cheap" and what is expensive so he thinks that ground beef and fresh fish are cheap meals. He almost choked when I told him how much the lovely sea scallops I bought for Sunday dinner cost. He thought I should save that and the wild caught king salmon for a Monday night and have a "good" meal on Sunday.

If I had to ask him to shop I would never worry about what he would buy though.

 

[richmond282]

Sorry OP, that you got so royally *jumped on* here by most of the posters. I understand where you are coming from. A lot of posters here have *added* on to what you actually said - made you out to be a *brow beater* of husbands, etc.

I've had some on here also that responded to my posts in belittling ways, but there will always be people that feel like what they do is the only and best way. I will continue to grocery shop and prepare meals in the same way I always do, and others can continue to do the same. My dh & I are completely in tune with our entertaining, and never have a lack of family/friends that enjoy sharing with us.

Have a wonderful Happy New Year!

Thank you! I love my DH very much and I appreciate the fact that he TRIED. I was perturbed that he offered to go to the store b/c he didn't want to clean (this is a reoccurring theme for him,) and in the process he shot the grocery budget. He does our finances and is always complaining about how much stuff costs, etc. so I thought he would be a bit more conservative in his shopping trip.

OP, if going over budget by only $30 is going to send you on a diet of Ramen Noodles, then you have financial problems as well as marital ones.

Wow! Assume much? You don't know me at all.

We have a very strict grocery budget that my DH and I just sat down and discussed last week. He blew most of it on pie no one ate and soda that someone else was supposed to bring and didn't. And, no, I don't really have to eat ramen noodles, but there won't be any fillet mignon either. Maybe no one else is worried about the impending tax hikes we are all going to see soon, but I am.

I'm not seeing it as high either. Of course I'm a husband though, lol.

My wife hates shopping for groceries, so I usually have to go with her... ungghhh, just want I want to do after working all day, go grocery shopping. It takes twice as long as going alone and stopping on the way home.

I don't mind going alone, I prefer it, get me a list and I'm good.. but be SPECIFIC.

We DH's have no idea if you want those chocolate chips to use as a garnish, for cookies or to put into some sort of concoction you read on the internet that takes two pounds of them. ie. chocolate chips 8oz, 16oz ect. If you don't know the exact size, guess or say small, medium large.

Being specific can eliminate all the phone calls or texts.

For me, if I was told to get cat food, I'd be buying a 20# bag. I don't want to be stopping again next week for it.. plus it saves money buying the bigger bag.

Speaking of grocery shopping, I prepare a few signature dishes a year and I need to go out and buy some items for my Turkey Noodle Soup, lol

My DH is not stupid as everyone seems to assume. He knows what kind of juice we drink, what size and brand of cat food we use, and what we needed the supplies for. He just didn't pay attention to the prices.

 

[S. C.]

OP .... I learned a long time ago I cannot vent about anything on the Dis. Some love to tear it in to shreds and turn it into a much bigger problem than it is.

 

[ilovemk76]

Thank you! I love my DH very much and I appreciate the fact that he TRIED. I was perturbed that he offered to go to the store b/c he didn't want to clean (this is a reoccurring theme for him,) and in the process he shot the grocery budget. He does our finances and is always complaining about how much stuff costs, etc. so I thought he would be a bit more conservative in his shopping trip.



Wow! Assume much? You don't know me at all.

We have a very strict grocery budget that my DH and I just sat down and discussed last week. He blew most of it on pie no one ate and soda that someone else was supposed to bring and didn't. And, no, I don't really have to eat ramen noodles, but there won't be any fillet mignon either. Maybe no one else is worried about the impending tax hikes we are all going to see soon, but I am.



My DH is not stupid as everyone seems to assume. He knows what kind of juice we drink, what size and brand of cat food we use, and what we needed the supplies for. He just didn't pay attention to the prices.

But that is exactly what you said in a previous post.

Seriously? I guess stuff where you live is waaaaaaay more expensive than here. I could have bought an entire weeks worth of groceries for $50 w/o using coupons including several cuts of meat. My budget for the next 2 weeks of food is $120. He spent over half of that on "party supplies" (minus the detergent and cat food). BTW, I didn't "send him out", he offered to go so he could get out of cleaning the house for HIS family that is coming to visit. I guess we are eating ramen noodles and PB until I get paid again. Hope his family enjoys the party.