Grocery shopping is not gonna be fun this week.

**AnW819** · 10-20-2010, 04:26 PM

Sigh...I have to spend a lot more than I normally do. We are out of everything. Things that we should not be out of that I just bought are gone because dad, dads fiance, and brother were here this weekend when we were in PA and we come home to a lot missing.

I have nothing to drink but spicket water which is nastttyyy here, zip lock bags are REALLY needed, aluminum foil, trash bags, dish soap, laundry soap, shampoo, paper towels, eggs, milk, butter, bread, and the list goes on and on.

Its not going to be a good grocery week at all. I am thinking $150...but then again it will be $150 now, and prolly not much the next weeks after.

**frugalfriend** · 10-20-2010, 04:40 PM

Ashley, I know you probably hate to ask, but can your dad help to replace some of the items that are missing? It's not your fault they ate/used your stuff and now you're out.

**AnW819** · 10-20-2010, 04:47 PM

No, I can't. As much as I wish I could, and I wish he would...he seems to think he never eats or drinks here (which he does, all the time) and it would cause a fight. Plus, I had to borrow money from dad two weeks ago anyway and he would be like uhm, no, you owe me money, ya know?

**lisaflex** · 10-20-2010, 04:55 PM

just an fyi - Aldi's bread is just fine. dd eats a peanut butter sandwich on it every day and has not complained. she used to eat it on HomePride wheat - now we use aldi's whheat bread

**pollypurebred39** · 10-20-2010, 06:49 PM

Ashley, for the time being can you just treat this like a roommate situation? When I had roommates I used to store all my dry goods in my room in cardboard boxes in my closet. 1 was for things like shampoo, toilet paper, etc., the other was for things like pasta, canned goods, bread etc.. The rest you'll need to leave in the fridge, but just keep that to a limited amount. It really was the only thing that worked when I had roommates, the women left each others things alone, the guys did not.

**Contrary Housewife** · 10-20-2010, 06:54 PM

Another thought, how much do you *really* need *this* week? How much of it is on your list simply because you are out of it -- but maybe you won't NEED until next week? It happens to me too, suddenly it seems like we're out of everything all at once, but after thinking about it a while, I can push some of it back a week or two and spread the costs out.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 10-20-2010, 07:08 PM

I think you guys need to ask them to replace the items they used. It's only fair. If it was me, I'd have locked away everything I bought. If it was more than your dad, I'd tell them they can either help replace everything or don't bother using the items you bought.

**Momto5RN** · 10-20-2010, 07:10 PM

when my son lived in a house with 3 other guys the guys werent much of an issue but friends they had over often helped themselves to things without asking esp if he was hoem for the weekend.

he kept bottled water in his car trunk put a few at a time in the fridge so it all didnt dissappear .
he kept canned goods- jar and packaged goods under his bed or in a storage bin in his room .
if its not out where they can see it and assume its community property less will go missing .

**Momto5RN** · 10-20-2010, 07:11 PM

i need to be a big shopping trip mainly because i havent for a few weeks - i get to do it for 7 LOL

**Libby** · 10-20-2010, 07:17 PM

Can you buy generics or $1 store version of what is needed for now buying only what is needed for this week?

**AnW819** · 10-20-2010, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by lisaflex

just an fyi - Aldi's bread is just fine. dd eats a peanut butter sandwich on it every day and has not complained. she used to eat it on HomePride wheat - now we use aldi's whheat bread

Aldis is quite far from me and Shop Rite bread is $1 so I am not to concerned about bread! Thanks for the heads up!

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

Ashley, for the time being can you just treat this like a roommate situation? When I had roommates I used to store all my dry goods in my room in cardboard boxes in my closet. 1 was for things like shampoo, toilet paper, etc., the other was for things like pasta, canned goods, bread etc.. The rest you'll need to leave in the fridge, but just keep that to a limited amount. It really was the only thing that worked when I had roommates, the women left each others things alone, the guys did not.

I really have no room, in my room for anything else. I even have my cats locked up in my room. And the problem is not the dry food so much, its the stuff in the fridge. Dad will even grab DHs razor from the bathroom and use it in the shower! I say dad did u use the razor that was so and so? He says yeah why is the bad? I say well it was not new so you had to of known it was one of ours...ugh!

Originally Posted by Contrary Housewife

Another thought, how much do you *really* need *this* week? How much of it is on your list simply because you are out of it -- but maybe you won't NEED until next week? It happens to me too, suddenly it seems like we're out of everything all at once, but after thinking about it a while, I can push some of it back a week or two and spread the costs out.

I really need all of it this week. I really needed all of it LAST week. I am trying to be really frugal about it and there is a lot more stuff that I need that I scratched off the list that can wait, but whats on there now is what I do need.

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

I think you guys need to ask them to replace the items they used. It's only fair. If it was me, I'd have locked away everything I bought. If it was more than your dad, I'd tell them they can either help replace everything or don't bother using the items you bought.

I wish, but its really not that easy. He does not realize they will drink a whole container of OJ, or my whole 2ltr of ginger ale, and then the worst part is, they do not even clean up their cups or plates or trash. They leave it for me. Loose loose situation. For some reason as soon as dads fiance comes over (who is not here to often) she goes right for the kitchen and looks in the cabinets. Dad never has gone grocery shopping in all the years I have known him. Nothing in their is his, its all ours. It drives me nuts.

Originally Posted by Libby

Can you buy generics or $1 store version of what is needed for now buying only what is needed for this week?

I almost always buy store brand if its cheaper, and everything on my list I need for my meal plan and for this week. Ugh

**pollypurebred39** · 10-20-2010, 07:52 PM

I think I might make room some how, some way. If you can't keep them out of your things, then you've got to keep your things from them.

I would NOT buy many perishables at one time, and I'd start being really selective about what perishables I did buy. Example. If I wanted chicken salad for supper one night next week, I'd buy canned chicken & bread to keep in my room and just keep the mayo in the fridge. I'd buy canned fruit instead of fresh, again the canned would go in my room, I'd buy powdered creamer to keep in my room instead of liquid creamer that goes in the fridge. I'd find a way to keep my stuff out of their hands if they refused to respect me by keeping their hands off what they didn't pay for.

You're not left a lot of choices. If they won't replace it, or pay up for what they use you can either keep your stuff put away where they can't get it, or every single day go shopping and only buy what you need for 24 hours time.

One thought, you could always keep your stuff in the trunk of your car. fairly soon it will be as cold as a fridge outside, round the clock and you could even keep perishables in there.

**2ndGenGranola** · 10-20-2010, 11:05 PM

Instead of eggs, I'd buy egg replacer. It is good for baking/pancakes/etc and you can keep it in the room. I'd omit the milk and butter. Like the others have said, I would find a way to keep it in the room.

**Luckybustert** · 10-21-2010, 12:43 AM

I wouldn't ask them to replace things, but I would eliminate purchases of things that are WANTS and not NEEDS. For example, I also love ginger ale, but it's a want. I don't have to have it, and if I need to cut back it'll be one of the first things to go. Same thing with the OJ. Juice is good, but expensive for what it is, and maybe I could get a bag of oranges and eat the fruit whole instead of buying the juice. Have you tried using a water filter? Can you use dishtowels or wash cloths instead of paper towels?

**flashyMcGee** · 10-21-2010, 01:16 AM

Originally Posted by AnW819

Dad will even grab DHs razor from the bathroom and use it in the shower! I say dad did u use the razor that was so and so? He says yeah why is the bad? I say well it was not new so you had to of known it was one of ours...ugh!

I wouldn't think that is very sanitary. I sure wouldn't want to sure my razor with my mother.

Are you near at Rite Aid or Walgreens? There $5/$25 printable cpns floating around online. I'm sorry you'll be going through a difficult streak this week.