Does hearing about other people's expenditure ever get you down?

birkee

Just look at her, and say:- "you must be a really unhappy person, to try and belittle others".
Or, just ask her if she has marriage problems. Somethings making her lash out, and it's not because she's happy with her lot.
It's either the above, or she's one of those really nasty people that defies explanation.
This is one time I'm with teenagers, their response would be "whatever!"

LillythePink

Ok, what items was she taking the mickey out of?

It will probably be jealousy as you said, that you have the skill and inclination to make food from scratch and actually think about what you are going to prepare - rather than her, who probably takes out some frozen ready meal and chucks it in the microwave or sticks on chicken dippers and chips for her children night after night.

Lucy1010

ColleenPamela wrote: »

Today I was writing a shopping list at the end of my shift and someone came in and started taking the mickey out of some of it. She then told me that she spends £800 a month on food, for her, husband and two children. I spend a tenth of that, and she couldn't believe it. She seemed to think I must live off rubbish to be able to do it. Just made me feel so low, all that money equates to a month's wages for me...

Anyone ever feel like this? I know it's probably just a tinge of jealousy but I can't even begin to fathom that amount of money right now!

I am assuming she must be the size of a house if she gets through that much food! Don't be envious, there are so many people on this forum struggling to buy anything other than milk and bread, you'll feel wealthy in comparison

dlb

I have had this too, it used to bother me to the point of when i saw the people that had commented in a shop i would pick up expensive items and put them in my basket!! How silly was i !!!

I soon became thick skinned to it, as clearing my debts was/is more important, and teaching my children the real value of money.

Iv had comments such as what do you live of soup and beans on toast?
Theres no way you can feed 6 on that!
Was called Tescos Value Queen by a certain nasty person!

I have 2 adults, 4 kids, 3 of which a strapping teenage lads and eat like theres no tommorow and 5 pets, and with help from this site and planning i can shop per week for around £80-£100...less if its atight week.
I just think how lacking in knowledge this people are..they obviously havent found Moneysaver yet! lol;)

Be proud of the fact you have control of your money as others have said these people are probably pre LBM..or just jelousy of your planning skills.

yorkiepud_2

I'm on NMW, working pt and getting tax credits. I have friends who are always skint and complaining and yet I know that they take home twice as much as I do and with overtime sometimes more. Sometimes I really have to bite my tongue but at the end of the day I know I'm pretty close to clearing my debts (with the inspiration from MSE posters) and theirs are still racking up. I've also realised that it's not what you spend, or even where you spend it - I've embraced Old Style - I'm happy and so are my kids. Nothing else matters and certainly not the opinion of people with more money than sense.

Butti

Hi ColleenPamela,

We are only hearing things from your side, but she sounds like a complete cow. Spending that much money on food, like others have said, is nothing to be proud of (the Career Development Loan people expect me to live on £20 a week!)

But you don't know the reality of her situation. You don't know whether she lives in credit or debit, whether she has £10 k in savings or £100 k on credit cards. You just do what is right for you.

If you have any doubts look up tolip. He had an extremely well paid job (anagram of his name) and had about £105k on credit cards. He woke up and with a bit of concentration and a few good career choices he cleared it in a few years.

Don't worry about this woman, she is trying to wind you up, and succeeding.

B x

barbiedoll

There's nothing to be proud of in spending £200 a week on food. Her family are probably throwing away at least a quarter of that, if not more, unless she really is the size of a house! :rotfl:

But seriously, people like her, with their over-packaged, out of season food and their wasteful habits, are the ones who are ruining the planet. The only people who benefit from her reckless spending are the directors and the shareholders of her local supermarket. More fool her!

If she is as "lovely" as you say, she's probably lying anyway. She may well have a cupboard full of Tesco Value baked beans and Poundland toilet rolls in her bathroom! :rotfl::rotfl:

tallyhoh

I bet she's in debt!

Mids_Costcutter

I'm very impressed with anyone that can spend £80 / month or even less on food for two. That definitely deserves some praise!

UK households do waste 25% of all the food they buy, though I'd bet that of those replying to this thread it's a lot less.

BOBS

What do they eat ?? I have a husband 3 kids of my own and childmind 4 more - and of course the dog and we eat really well on £100 a week - and that includes toiletries and cleaning products !