One of you posted that you limit your dh to one 12 pk of pop a wk. My dh consumes it like water and I don't know how to tell him he only gets 1 a wk., cause he won't know what else to drink (that he won't buy). What do you recommend? I always get anxious when I have to bring these things up cause he's working and paying the bills.

I think the best strategy would be to sit down with him and the budget and go over it together. You are not his mother trying to tell him what he can and cannot have - you are his partner trying to make your household work. Approach it from that standpoint and suggest that one way to save $$ would be to drink less pop. Maybe start with only buying 2 12 packs a week if that is cutting back. Cutting back a little in lots of places helps without feeling too restraining. There's always the health issues of drinking popl that can be addressed as well. HTH

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Better to give your kids the values you have
than the valuables you can't afford.

I know that it may not be pleasant, but the world will not stop revolving if he doesn't get his pop. Buy ALL of your other groceries/necessities FIRST, and then with what money you have left buy pop. If you're trying to cut the cost of your groceries, then my guess is that you're like me, and need to stretch your pennies.. so you won't have a ton of money left over for pop after buying everything else. When he balks tell him "oh well, I couldn't afford a ton of pop this paycheck". Make iced tea and keep cold water in the fridge. Buy juices and carbonated water. DH's mom used to make "juicepop" for the kids when they were little.. half juice, half carbonated water. DH and DS both drink it now. I'd buy the small bottles of carbonated water though, as ours tends to go flat pretty quickly if it isn't drank up quick. But if he's drinking pop like water, he may drink a ton of it anyway.. My DH wasn't addicted to it that bad (like water).. and even though we liked having it around a lot of times, once I told him that I didn't have money in my grocery budget for it, he really couldn't do much about it! What's he going to do but get irritable? In the long run, it'll make him a nicer person without all the sugar and crap in his system.. I know it made my husband more calm and laid back.. who knew pop could do that to you?

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

I guess I should rephrase this or explain myself a little better. He has cut down on pop (went to diet or sugar free or gatorade) but still consumes as much money wise. I guess I'm thinking also of what alternative for him to take to work (works in a factory where he welds so its a little warm). You're right though, the world will not end if he doesn't get it, but I don't want him to buy bottled water or fitness drinks and spend the same amt. of $.
Thanks for all your help

Try the powdered drink mixes and keep a squeeze bottle in the fridge for him to take to work. There are all kinds available...regular kool aid, sugar free drinks, arizona tea, powdered lipton tea, lemonade...really something for everyone. It is cheaper than buying individual bottles of any drinks. You can also just make sweet tea and keep it in a pitcher in the fridge. Just be sure that you keep his squeeze bottle full so he can grab it and go in the morning otherwise he will just stop and buy one on the way to work. Maybe get a case a month of his favorite drinks at Sams Club as a special treat if he sticks to the bargain and takes his squeeze bottle every day.

My dh loves the powered drink mixes, so I buy the ones from Walmart and have them on hand for him. He makes up a pitcher a few times a week. CAn you buy the 2 liter bottles of soda? I guy 2 a week, they are only .58 at Walmart for the Sam's Choice brand. We have cut WAAAAAAAY back on our soda consumption as well, not only is it not good for you, I was drinking a 2 liter bottle in like 2 days. Now we keep it on hand for a change on occassion and for parties and guests.

I was gonna suggest ice tea as well, OR ice coffee?? Just make a pot of coffee and chill it, that is still much cheaper than buying all that soda.

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan8.Samantha7,Cameron4

Do you have a Brita water filter? Buy a 6 pack of bottled water at the $1 store and refill the bottles with Brita filtered water. It tastes just like bottled water, and you just use your tap water. We use ours nonstop. Fill it 1/2 way with water and set it in the freezer at a 45` angle so it freezes diagonally. Then fill in the morning with more Brita water.. it'll be nice and cold ask he drinks it. Buy him a waterbottle carrier that insulates it as well, and he'll likely remember to bring the bottle home for the next day. (My mom does this all the time for her job.) Check out your local $1 store or BigLots for juices or flavored waters. They're often a lot cheaper there than at the big supermarkets or Walmart. If he HAS to have his gatorade or pop, get some coupons and buy when on sale so you're not killing your budget..

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~~Amanda~~
Mommy to one Little Man (3 1/2 yrs old), FINALLY expecting #2!!! (due around Memorial Day 2009) *adoption has been put on hold*

that was me...i simply told my husband it was to expensive to be buying endless cases of pop...we compromised at one case a week if i had my way it would have been none lol...dh also works in a factory(it is not as hot as your dh's job) my dh brings water bottles(i bought one pack i soak and rewash them at night) and fills them at home and then uses the individual store brand crystal light packets if he wants flavor. at home he drinks water crystal light(i can make 8qts for cheaper than pop and it is better for us than pop). and sometimes we do koolaid but that has alot of sugar so that is not very often. i do buy gatoraid when it is a loss leader and also sunny delight you can get cheap on sale i then poor into his water bottle(i get the huge container when on sale)...maybe you two can strike a compromise about the pop...

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I only buy pop when it is $4.00 a case or less. which is not very often. I do stcok up when it is that price but I usually can only buy 4/5 cases. that must last and since we each drink different type of pop he only gets half that allotment. we have both cut down. I would give him a thermos with cold water and use the powder mix like the other ladies have suggested.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

My dh cut out pop all together. Unfortunately for our budget he replaced it with Fruit 2 oh which is much bettr for you but more expensive!!! I still buy my diet pop (about 12-14 cans a week) but I buy off brands like the Target or WalMart brand.

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