pls help..helper wasting things

Posted by bloomingsunflower (325 days ago)

It came a shocker to me today....

I do the monthly grocery, to last more than properly for over a month even if we have guest.
Today she told me that rice is finshed, I was shocked as I had bought the rice enough for the whole month..plus my son who takes lunch to school( rice and veggie) had 2 weeks off, that means rice was not cooked for 2 weeks in the mornings.So techinically i shld have surplus of rice next month..but it finished in 12 days what should take a month..

I had no guest in this period of time..I am trying to figure out how it would finish.

Before also she used to over use things and waste..so to avoide that i started making weekly menu ..But am a working woman, I cant possibly do every smallest inspection every time.

I asked her to explain and she has no answer,
" how would I know " says she...I really want to dimiss her but I have 2 jobs so I cant do things myself..

I am confused ..I cant think of any logical explaination myself...

Pls help..what shld I do in this situation...What should I tell/ warn her ...So that I avoid these kind of happening in future...

All help is appreciated

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Posted by Saikunga (325 days ago)

Is she cooking for others or selling the food while you are out?
This has been known to occur.

I too found when I had a helper that things would be used up far more than they should have been - I do think that because it is not their money some are not as careful with it. Believing that you are rich and can afford it.

Posted by cara (325 days ago)

maybe she's just cooking too much, then throwing out the unused rice? in which case, tell her to make fried rice the next day.

we found that in many ways our helper saves us money because she plans menus around what we already have (most of the time, anyway)

Posted by tsuiwah (325 days ago)

Finding a good helper can be a nightmare, but if that is what you are already inclined to do, I would start the process rolling so you have options.

For your own reference, in my family (three adults one kid), we use about two bags (16kg) of rice per month (at least that's what my helper just told me :) )

Posted by bloomingsunflower (325 days ago)

Thanks for all ur replies...

saikunga , so true they think it is not their money..hence electricity, food ....

Cara, I really keep an eye , how much is cooked and used...so chances of throwing is less

Tsuiwah, We are basiccaly wheat eaters, so eat bread mostly...for a family of 3 adults in which i hardly take rice( once in 4-5 days and that too just 2 table spoons), we use 5 kgs. and that 5 kg is finished this time in 12 days...

Posted by tsuiwah (325 days ago)

bloomingsunflower, I was told earlier today by another helper that I ate a lot of rice...so, my two bags per month is probably on the high side...

It sounds like your helper could be pilfering the rice, as crazy as it might sound. As others have said, she could be taking rice with her on her holiday to cook in the boarding house, etc.

Re-reading your original post, I would have a lot of trouble with a "how would I know?" reply from my helper. Next thing you know, your child has a bruise on his knee, and she doesn't know what happened. For example, my helper is smart enough to have the school call us directly if our son hurt himself while at school, because she knows I would never accept a "how do I know?" answer.

Posted by Saikunga (325 days ago)

How do I know? sounds like a strange answer when she is the one who cooks and manages the food...how could she NOT know??

Posted by spare_rib_hk (325 days ago)

My last DH used to be a real waster too!
She cooked too much, threw out any extra food ( although she was told she would have to have it the next day for lunch).
I used to do the shopping for the week, but always found veggies getting spoilt in the fridge...
I found I spent a lot more when she was around, then with my present DH.
Whenever I asked the DH why so much food was being wasted, I never once got an answer, just silence or ' I dont know'!
I am glad I got rid of her in the end. She was a waste of time & money in my home.

Posted by Peggie Wong (324 days ago)

Most DH waste a lot of stuff, especially detergent as they think they can clean-up things easier and at the same time more water is wasted to rinse off the residue. Some may not be beware of their faults and some just don't care as it's not their money, therefore it's really up to us employers to educate them according to each house-hold preferences. Follow-ups also advisable as some say yes to you even when they may not understand what you are saying.

Posted by sunita26 (324 days ago)

YA THAT IS TRUE MOST OF DH DO SAME THING THEY WASTE SO MANT THING I UNDERSTAND AND WHEN U ASK THEM THERE ANSIS HOW I KNOW I AM REALY MAD ABOUT THIS BUT NO CHOICE

Posted by bloomingsunflower (324 days ago)

I have asked her so many times not to waste , explained that it is hard earned money cant afford to waste..but still the same..keeping her has become a necessary evil...I cant do everything myself but at the same time cant close my eyes to the wastage...Its like choosing between devil and deep sea..

I could dismiss her and find a new one, but whats the gurantee that she would be better and plus have to teach all the cooking ..i have already spent so much time teaching her...

I am really in a fix..

Posted by crystal (323 days ago)

why don't you start measuring the rice yourself. She will think you know how much is left in the bag each time.