Outrage for Spouse 'Going to Bed Hungry' as Mom-in-Law's Cooking Is So Bad

A post about having to eat food prepared by a mother-in-law who is a "terrible" cook has gone viral on Mumsnet.

In a post shared on Mumsnet's Am I Being Unreasonable (AIBU) subforum, user Peewee94 said: "Me and my husband are currently living with his parents while the sale of our property completes" and are "incredibly grateful to [the] in-laws for giving us a home" during this period.

The couple, who are paying money towards bills and food during their stay, was told that "due to energy price increases ... the oven will only be used once a day from now on, so all family meals will be prepared by MIL [mother-in-law]," who the user said is "a terrible cook."

The original poster said: "I went to bed hungry last night as I couldn't manage the sauceless spag bol that had BACON in it (oh the horror)!..."

With the energy market disrupted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy prices have soared to levels not seen in decades, the World Bank reported in June 2022. According to the international financial institution, crude oil prices rose by 350 percent from April 2020 to April 2022.

The U.S. residential electricity price was predicted to average at 14.6 cents per kilowatthour (kWh) in 2022, a 6.1 percent rise from 2021. "Higher retail electricity prices largely reflect an increase in wholesale power prices driven by rising natural gas prices," the EIA explained.

According to the U.K. Parliament House of Commons Library, monthly rises in gas and electricity prices in the U.K. in April 2022 alone were "by far the largest ever recorded on a series" since 1988 and "the annual increases to April 2022 were also the largest ever recorded on a series" since 1970.

The user in the latest Mumsnet post said the couple previously cooked their own meals, separate from the parents-in-law "due to differing tastes."

The husband thinks his spouse is "being dramatic," but the user said: "I don't think I should have to force feed myself food I don't like and didn't ask for or go to bed hungry when I am in fact an adult capable of feeding myself (if only I were allowed to use the oven).

"Should I tell the in-laws this arrangement isn't working for me? How can I do so tactfully? This is their house and their rules after all. Or should I just shut up and eat what I can as we will only be with them for a few more months?," the user asked.

Several Mumsnet users showed support for the original poster. Some suggested the user offer to cook more often or pay a higher amount towards bills to help cover the rise in energy prices in order to be able to use the oven to cook.

User Trisolaris suggested "Offer to pay the extra costs for the oven to go on more? ... just increase what you give them for bills to cover it."

10HailMarys agreed, stating: "The in-laws are obviously worried about energy costs so if you want to cook separate meals, offer to increase your payment towards the household bills."

Nsky62 said the user should "offer to cook more. Often."

User Rinatinabina also suggested taking "in turns to cook" but noted it is a "difficult one because they are doing you a massive favour ... can you eat bits of the meal and then make a sandwich later? I'll be honest, if I were your MIL I'd feel a bit hurt."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of this case.