to be absolutely bloody furious with my DC?

[VelvetSpoon]

Came home from work at 6 to find the fridge wide open thanks to either DS1 or 2. The contents were warm, meaning it has clearly been open all day. So have just spent the last 45 mins chucking the entire contents of the fridge (maybe £60 worth at a guess).

This is a fortnight after DS2 left the freezer open all night and I had to throw everything out.

Both deny it was them, neither has apolgised or gives much of a shit. I have cried because its money I can ill afford to waste, let alone that as I don't drive it is hard work restocking the fridge in one go.

They are 14 and 11 btw, so not babies.

[HildaOgden]

I'd be pissed off too,especially as it's the second time.

I'd send them both to the supermarket with a list to re-stock.With a very firm warning that if it ever happens again,you're selling their playstation/phone/whatever to pay for it.

[LadyPessaryPam]

I would feed them really boring cheap food for a while and blame it on the fact that all the food spoiled. They might get the message then.

[Smartiepants79]

If you are quite sure it was one of them I would feed them on beans on toast for at least a week and not replace any food that you would normally buy just for them!
Do they get pocket money, if so, use it to buy more food.

[BreasticlesNotTesticles]

I would be pissed off. I agree, send them both to restock, and punish both of them, stop pocket money or treats perhaps?

[CwtchesAndCuddles]

Was there really nothing you could save? Chucking everything seems extrem couldn't you have cooked some of it?

How old are your ds, it sounds like they need to learn the value of things. Basic rations until they learn..............

[Fleecyslippers]

Put a lock on it. Once is forgiveable. Twice just means they don't give a damn.

YANBU

[ll31]

throwing out everything is ott... annoying tho it is...

[DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow]

YABU and very silly to have chucked away the entire contents of your fridge, most of it would have been ok to cook and re-chill or use up in some way.

[VelvetSpoon]

It was definitely one of them. When I went into the fridge this morning (and closed the door) there were 2 chocolate bars. Both have now gone. Its only me and them in the house.

There is no way they would go to the supermarket for me. I have told them them they can live on toast til I have time to go myself. They don't get pocket money so I can't stop that.

[wiltingfast]

Agree I wouldn't have been so hasty to chuck stuff out! There's v little in my fridge that would have been irretrievable. Leftovers should go I guess or be eaten that night. Milk will probably go off fairly quickly after getting warm but otherwise? Veg surely ok, fruit ditto, cheese ok, butter ok... Wine defo ok ;)

[Pancakeflipper]

Entire contents? Cheese? Butter? Yoghurts? Any salad veg stuff?
I might have thrown out meat stuff but I would have kept the rest.

Get a fridge alarm thingy. And one for the freezer.

[Tee2072]

Well, if they want to eat they'd better find a way to go to the supermarket for you.

Sounds like they know who is in charge at your house and it's not you.

[Leithlurker]

In that situation and knowing for absolutely certain it could not have any one else, no friends round, no work man in, no neighbours popping round, DH/DP, only the 2 DC's as possible culprits. I would impose the same punishment on both. So both lose screen time, or miss one activity in the next week.

The waste is bad enough, the loss of money is certainly going to be hard to get over, the extra money spent just adds to the misery. For me though the lack of respect for everyone in the house, plus the lack of honesty for not owning up is what the punishment is for.

[VelvetSpoon]

I wouldn't have taken a chance using any of it tbh. The food was warm to the touch and meat/fish was starting to smell bad. I'd rather chuck it than risk being ill.

[Goodadvice1980]

Padlock on the fridge - taht'll learn 'em!!

[hatgirl]

The food was warm to the touch and meat/fish was starting to smell bad. I'd rather chuck it than risk being ill

if thats really the case then you could probably spend some money turning the heating down! food in a fridge not shut properly shouldn't go off/ that warm that quickly even if it was ajar all day!

[Goodadvice1980]

D'oh - that'll ....

[hatgirl]

*save some money!!!

[idshagphilspencer]

You can make them do the shopping you know....you are the adult in the house. No shopping equals no food.

[complexnumber]

Agree with hatgirl.

Are you sure you needed to throw everything away? Or were you just trying to make a point? (Understandble in the circs.)

[RedHotRudieParts]

You were being ridiculous throwing all the food away.

[ClippedPhoenix]

I have to own up to doing this myself a few times. Never threw anything out though just shut the door

[Startail]

eBay is your friend. Around £12 will get you an annoying alarm that goes bleep if the fridge gets slightly too warm.

We have one, it pleases DH and drives me nuts when putting shopping away.

[CremeEggThief]

I feel for you, OP. It's the "don't care" attitude that hurts most, isn't it?

Have they got any money, i.e., savings or birthday money that they could use or you could take to pay for basic provisions for the rest of the week? Could it be ordered online?

[Greensleeves]

I wouldn't punish both of them. That is really unfair to the one who did nothing wrong.

Agree with plain food and no treats for a while though, because that is the natural consequence of having to waste so much food (I also find it confusing that £60 worth of food could go off in a day)

Why won't they go to the shop for you? What would happen if you gave them a list and told them to go to the supermarket? Mine wouldn't be pleased, but if I told them to go, they would go!