With brief thanks to the Almighty, son has returned to Uni. There are some heavy duty exams on the horizon so I spent a long time creating a ton of home cooked food for him to take back and freeze. On the wish list was "Bolognaise and soup". I bought a heap of leeks and potatoes for that old favourite. Son looks puzzled. "Oh just tomato would be great, thanks." Grr. So, many hours of slaving over a hot stove later, it was all stacked in the fridge ready to go. Then we had a chat along these lines:
Son: actually mum, I need a bit more stuff. At chance I could borrow your credit card for a Tesco shop?
Me: er, well okay. But can you make sure you buy own brands not branded goods? It makes a huge difference to the cost....
Son: er wot? Oh yeah, suuure....(looks disinterested)
Fast forward several hours. Son has trekked to supermarket and made several phone calls in the process among the lines of "where's the bread?" (same aisle as the eggs) and "can I get any beer?" (no). He returns home, shoves a ton of food into the fridge and leaves the rest in bags by the back door, ready to go. I take a little look. Then I take a closer look. Then I look at the till receipt.
This is son's idea of buying own-brand goods:-
I attempt to remonstrate with him. He looks puzzled, then bored. I give up.
Some time later, we get an email. He sends us a link to a video which (he says) is a hugely accurate vignette of student life. Made us laugh - enjoy!
Son: actually mum, I need a bit more stuff. At chance I could borrow your credit card for a Tesco shop?
Me: er, well okay. But can you make sure you buy own brands not branded goods? It makes a huge difference to the cost....
Son: er wot? Oh yeah, suuure....(looks disinterested)
Fast forward several hours. Son has trekked to supermarket and made several phone calls in the process among the lines of "where's the bread?" (same aisle as the eggs) and "can I get any beer?" (no). He returns home, shoves a ton of food into the fridge and leaves the rest in bags by the back door, ready to go. I take a little look. Then I take a closer look. Then I look at the till receipt.
This is son's idea of buying own-brand goods:-
I attempt to remonstrate with him. He looks puzzled, then bored. I give up.
Some time later, we get an email. He sends us a link to a video which (he says) is a hugely accurate vignette of student life. Made us laugh - enjoy!
By my count I'm still using over half of those expressions. No proof needed how down I am wiv da kidz then...
ReplyDeleteU an me den Mace!
DeleteYour home made soup sounds lovely CQ...aren't kids ungrateful....as for the shopping, well my husband and I take our daughter around the shop and as I am putting in own brand and essentials he is encouraging her to throw treats in to the trolley....chocolate, booze, cakes, make up.....anything she wants. He tells me 'We have one daughter...she works hard and if I want to spoil her I will...' so what can you do? . That video is great too.....maybe we don't prepare our kids enough?
ReplyDeleteI think I need to educate him better Libby. Or insist on accompanying him on the next shopping trip and embarrassing him into buying the cheaper stuff!
DeleteThat video is so typical indeed. No one has recognised the need for forward planning, if they know what it is... and everything is Someone Else's Problem. Yep. I managed to avoid households like that, thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteIf your son is very tall, it might be a long way down to see the own brands tins etc kept just above the floor. And bending down is sooo tiring. :)
Sarah - I pretty much avoided those households too but then I think girls are generally tidier and better planners than boys *shameful sexist face*. He is a six footer, so maybe your theory is right or maybe he just cba to look hard....?
DeleteCan't believe he bought Snap Pots baked beans rather than cans! How much more expensive must they be haha!?
ReplyDeleteWill have to show the video to my son later, he'll like that!
Oh yes - none of them have any idea of thrift. Apparently the video is very realistic - I'm sure Rory will enjoy it (and probably Dougie too!)
DeleteOh I must be a university student too. My husband tells me every week that the branded goods are the same but cheaper but I just love to see that blue for Heinz - what a retail sucker I am!
ReplyDeleteJody, you must meet my kids....
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping my girl will be better prepared for thrift, though I won't buy anything but real Heinz tomato ketchup either... perhaps I'd better show her your post!
ReplyDeleteYes HF, I can forgive the ketchup because cheap stuff really is rank. I have to admit that I am also a toilet paper snob! I think son is quite frugal when it's his money he's spending though....!
DeleteBy the way, we are having a beer pong party (fund raiser for the school, yes I know) and wanted to send this Youtube vid to the other organisers for inspiration, can't seem to track it down...
ReplyDeleteJody, let me have your email address and I can send you the link. Fascinated to know what a beer pong party is! X
DeleteOr email me at curryqueen101@gmail.com ...
Delete