Friends Are Expensive

DundeeDoll

Two times recently (both times visitors were childless men with good salaries used to finer living) i did diy pizza with toppings in chinese bowls, bases cheese and tomato frozen pizzas from l!dl, extra cheese and salad. Good fun and very cheap

pigpen

You don't know what their finances are like, they might secretly applaud you for standing up and relieveing them of having to fork out money they don't have spare.

[Deleted User]

Friends who behave in such a rude manner as to dump you just because your broke aren't real friends Real ones are the one who stick together, and help each other, be glad you find out your true friends before you waste any more time or money on this selfish bunch.
I have few friends, but many acquaintances and I value the good ones, and just nod at the rest to be polite.I have probably about five good friends whom I have known for well over 40+ years and they are the ones I care about and who care about me.We have gone through good and bad times together and can still laugh about what life throws at us.Folk who only want to see you because of how much is in your wallet are far too shallow to be called friends, be glad you don't have to put up with them anymore .
There is an old saying 'What goes round ,comes around' hopefully they won't have to learn the hard way about money.I value my friends a great deal as at my age I go to more funerals than weddings sadly, but I make the most of the good ones and ignore the rest
I think a games night is a great idea andscrabble or cards are quite fun.My late ma-in-law often had a housefull sitting round her table as she hated t.v. and even the kids joined in with Newmarket.We all had a little pot of pennies that she kept in the cupboard and if you got knocked out you had to make the tea :) or wash up.We had some smashing nights years ago and the kids loved being part of a loud noisy family.On Sunday afternoons when I go to my youngest DDs house we usually play scrabble of cards with her four boys and it is great fun and they enjoy a break from their computer games We never force them we just sit in the dining room and the lads sort of drift in and say 'can we play' Going back to old fashioned family life is a great thing for children as its building their memories for when they are older

Muppet81

colinthecockrel wrote: »

This is a great thread, and has made me want to start inviting friends around more and not worry about how perfect my menu is! I worry that it's not quite good enough, but like many of you have said, friends are (hopefully) coming to spend a nice evening together, rather than judging the food/drink, etc. I'm much happier cooking good, regular meals, than anything fancy. Thanks OP.

I am so happy to think that I may have actually had a motivating effect with my post.

Go for it Colinthecockeral and I hope you have some enjoyable times. I always think that happy times spent in the company of friends are the very best of times and lovely to look back on. Using some of the ideas suggested here, hopefully, mean that we do not break ourselves in the process.

Oh ... forgot to mention that OH makes his own beer which is a help. Not too much success on the HB wine front but beer goes down well.

Nottoobadyet

Just tossing my two cents in - we've started having movie nights at mine. We have a projector but you could use a TV if thats what you have. Just costs us the popcorn and a few bottles of lager, people bring their own drinks as well. Sometimes we go crazy and scale up to a BBQ.

I have the benefit of being quite young so few of my friends can cook - so if I bang out a lasagna or meatballs or whatnot they are as happy as can be, and we usually have leftovers to see us through afterwards. Some "exotic" dishes like shakshuka cost hardly anything to make, and are a huge hit.

Muppet81

Nottoobadyet wrote: »

Just tossing my two cents in - we've started having movie nights at mine. We have a projector but you could use a TV if thats what you have. Just costs us the popcorn and a few bottles of lager, people bring their own drinks as well. Sometimes we go crazy and scale up to a BBQ.

I have the benefit of being quite young so few of my friends can cook - so if I bang out a lasagna or meatballs or whatnot they are as happy as can be, and we usually have leftovers to see us through afterwards. Some "exotic" dishes like shakshuka cost hardly anything to make, and are a huge hit.

Had never heard of Shakshuka so had to Google it. Sounds wonderful so have printed off the recipe. Thank you

maman

kettlenic wrote: »

If your friends live locally then do a travelling supper (would be better in the summer!!) you start at one house for starters, walk to the next house for main and then another house for dessert. its fun!!

I think they call that a 'safari party'. I saw a play once based on it.

Your post reminded me of our family. My DD1 suggested a few years ago that we stop buying Christmas gifts for adults. Her main reason was to stop people buying 'stuff' but it's been brilliant. We also suggested the same to some friends of ours and they were delighted. Obviously everyone saves money but it also takes the hassle away.

I know that sounds a bit OT but I just wanted to illustrate that while you might feel a bit embarassed at bringing it up others might welcome ideas that you see as money saving but they see as a welcome change. Also, not everyone is as wealthy as they may seem up front. It was called 'fur coat and no knickers' when I was a (sniggering:)) child.

Floozie

paddyrg wrote: »

Go back to simpler foods - you may find other friends are also feeling the pinch and will welcome the opportunity to end the arms escalation of dinner parties. Cook less fashionable meat cuts, knock up a trifle, forget about starters etc. Wine boxes are often cheaper than bottles, and there are perfectly drinkable ones or people can bring their own. You can suggest car sharing/splitting a taxi maybe as well.

The thing is in this age of 'food pr0n TV' people forget the most important part of the meal is the sharing of it. It's got out of hand, most people actually rather like a nice bit of fish done simply as opposed to knowing the host has bust a gut trying to emulate TV cooking. You can make tasty noodle dishes for next to nothing - everyone will be impressed and you'll save a mint ;-)

I agree with having people over for a simple wholesome meal which can taste a lot better than expensive restaurant food. What about something like a big shepherds pie with proper mince bought from a butcher or a steak and ale pie using braising steak. follow this with a trifle or a crumble made with apple and raspberry and Cornish icecream or some homemade custard.

Muppet81

maman wrote: »

I think they call that a 'safari party'. I saw a play once based on it.

Your post reminded me of our family. My DD1 suggested a few years ago that we stop buying Christmas gifts for adults. Her main reason was to stop people buying 'stuff' but it's been brilliant. We also suggested the same to some friends of ours and they were delighted. Obviously everyone saves money but it also takes the hassle away.

I know that sounds a bit OT but I just wanted to illustrate that while you might feel a bit embarassed at bringing it up others might welcome ideas that you see as money saving but they see as a welcome change. Also, not everyone is as wealthy as they may seem up front. It was called 'fur coat and no knickers' when I was a (sniggering:)) child.

Most of us did agree last year to knock Christmas gifts on the head but said we would still buy for birthdays but with a strict £5 limit. Must say that it helped a lot last Christmas. There were two of the group though who really did not want to agree to a Christmas pressie ban as they love choosing what they see as suitable gifts for people. Not that they are always as suitable as they think but they would be horrified to know that.

short_bird

Muppet81 wrote: »

all dressed in 1940s clothing (we do reenacting as a hobby) it was wonderful.

Fantastic hobby but that's not exactly cheap these days; from my observations, the price of vintage anything has gone through the roof:D