Real-life MMD: Should I secretly switch my husband's Shreddies to save cash?

MrMoaks

Secretly swap them for a period of time and keep the money you have saved in a secret place. When there is a substantial amount of money there then do the big own up and give him the money to buy himself something nice, this will show him the value of making a change.

svmitche

If this is the only thing he won't swap then I think you're pretty lucky - personally, I feel like a bit of a cow for swapping some of the few things OH won't compromise on, so I just stock up on the branded item when it is on offer. You're not saving as much as going non-branded, but if he's happy to swap other things I think it's fair to give him one thing.

If you want to play tit for tat, tell him that you'll buy that one branded item, but there's one thing of yours that you will buy to the level you like as a treat for you.

iclayt

I think you should confess, with a jovial smile and attitude, and say you just did it as a gentle joke to see if there really was a difference for him - acknowledge that yes, sometimes you can tell a difference between two similar products, but as he didn't mind the cheaper one does it bother him if you continue to buy it? Perhaps when real Shreddies are on offer you can 'treat' him to a box of the real thing, or mix them half and half with the cheaper one.

My dad always knows when mum has put cheaper cornflakes in the Kellogg's box that month, without fail, but he doesn't tell her he's twigged. He dutifully eats them (it's just cereal after all), while she merrily thinks she's duped him again and treats him to the real thing next time - et voila, domestic bliss.

tallgirld

This is soooo funny!


I mean come on how much money are you really saving by feeding your husband no name Shreddies?


Just tell him. He may still eat them and be surprised that they taste the same.

magentalady

I'm in two minds about this. I think we all have our little things that we get attached to which don't necessarily make sense, and if he's determined to have own-brand Shreddies, for whatever reason, then I think he should be allowed to have them. I really don't like the idea of 'tricking' your partner out of something that they want.

Not quite the same situation, but I used to live with some flatmates who insisted that butter and margarine tasted the same, which they most certainly don't. I can't stand the taste of margarine, but these people were determined to make me eat it because they thought it was stupid to buy both butter and marge in the weekly groceries when 'there's no difference'. It was such a silly thing but it got very, very annoying. I'm an adult and if I want to buy and eat something because I prefer it, I'll do so - I don't have to explain my choice to you!

Then again, it definitely feels like a worthwhile exercise to show someone that there really isn't a difference between a lot of the supermarket and branded stuff, as a lot of us get hung up on labelling when there's no need. So I think that, if I were in your position, I'd feel OK about giving him the supermarket stuff as an experiment for a week or so, but would then want to come clean and give him the choice about whether to continue. I have far too much of a guilt-prone conscience, even over the silliest of things, to be able to continue tricking someone indefinitely.

Also, just because he hasn't piped up doesn't necessarily mean that he hasn't noticed any difference. He may have been thinking that there's something a little different about them, but hasn't immediately thought to accuse you of swapping the boxes (because why would he?)

clarryd

Coffee is not the only thing he is a brand snob about, but I would not try and give him the cheap beans. It must by Heinz Baked Beans and he can tell the difference he says its the sauce thickness, taste and the colour.

Coffee is one thing to save £3 but it's not worth changing the beans as we don't have then that often and he can tell.

Cloudane

Yeah I've just started taking coffee black when it's from the bean, and already if for example someone gave me Colombian instead of Malabar I'd soon tell, hah. To say nothing of instant (which IMO tastes like tar without milk+sugar, at least the Kenko I have does).
It's quite interesting actually; I'd probably equate it to discovering good neat single malt whiskey after spending years drinking Bells+coke. I can tell I'm going to become a coffee snob.

I've had some cereal from Lidl etc that's been obvious in its difference from Kelloggs, but actually preferred it in some cases.

ollybass

reluctantworkingmum wrote: »

I got fed up with OH sneering at my own brand baked beans so made him do a blind taste test on them - damn it - he chose the Heinz. So when they are on offer I stock up - rest of the time he has the cheaper ones and moans!

Doing a blind-test with just TWO options ( I assume) isn't a convincing result from the person being tested as there is a 50% chance of success by the peson. The more reliable way is to have,say, SEVEN options. Then tell the person to say which he/she prefers - tell them that there are TWO different brands but don't say how many of each .. (could be 6/1 or 5/2 or 4/3 etc.) Then see if they can put their money where their taste-buds are ! !

simon_the_saver

Do a test with multiple own-brand plus Shreddies. Mix up the inner bags in the outer boxes, and let him pour. Agree in advance he will continue to eat his favourite choice. You hold the key to which product is in which box... But don't tell him about past deception

simon_the_saver

BTW - my OH is also a brand snob, but only for other people. V happy to eat Basics/Value for most things, but the 'better' own-brand comes out for visitors :0