2017 - moving life forwards

coastalchick

11.33/2 in the supermarket!!! Milk (needed), filled pasta (needed something for tea tomorrow night as B out but it was 2 packets for a fiver so better value to buy 2 and freeze 1), jamaica ginger cake (not needed), treacle tart (definitely not needed!!!!).

Other than that, NSD.

Risotto heating in oven and have a sparkling water poured. Going to watch last nights in the dark then have a nice fat piece of treacle tart with haagen daas vanilla ice cream (watched a programme recently which said this was one of the only ice creams which wasn't "chemical", plus we bought it when on offer) and a cup of decaf coffee. Gosh, I'm living the dream!!!

Been told may have to go to london for "several weeks" to work on a case (bear in mind that's not what I actually do any more anyway!!) and was moaning about it - someone said they had thought that was right up my street and when I told them I'd much rather be at home with B and the cat (I LOVE being at home!) they said I went down in their estimations!!! Maybe I am a bit pedestrian!!!!

coastalchick

Yesterday 8.50 on lunch with my maid of (dis)honour. So not too bad and good to catch up/get some plans together!

2.24/2 in supermarket last night as we needed milk (again - I'm convinced B bathes in it!) and cleaning sponges. So not too bad. Then I had some filled pasta from stores as B was out at a dinner (in the nicest restaurant where we live) for work - lucky b*gger!!!! So I've started watching Homeland on Netflix - loving it!

Today I am wedding dress shopping with B's mum and taking her for lunch first. Hoping it won't be more than about £30 in total.

Then said I may do supermarket shop as we have people coming over for BBQ tomorrow. 16 of us including 4 kids so think going to get 20 burgers, 20 sausages and some other joints of meat - we can just cook one per person to start and see how we go and do more if people are hungry. My gay best mate appears put out I've asked people to bring things. Someone is bringing cheese so all I've asked is for the remaining 4 couples to divide up salads/sides, dessert, rolls and crisps/snacks. So it's hardly going to cost them anything when we are buying the expensive part (the meat). We also have already around 18 bottles beer, 1 champagne, 2 prosecco, 3 x white wine and 3 x red wine. We've asked them to bring a bit of booze too. I do love him but he can be a bit mean at times. And whenever he talks about anyone, he always has to drop into the sentence "oh and they've got this huge huge house" or "oh and they are head of everything at (insert name of big firm)", it's like he's only impressed by wealth, or power. Does my head in at times. And am sure he makes it up sometimes too. Anyway.

So made a list for bbq and list for all the other stuff we need for the week. Expecting it to be ridiculous but supermarket does do 12 burgers (good quality) for £10 then has another 20% off today so will be 12 burgers for £8 which isn't too bad. The cheaper supermarket has 6 or 8 (can't recall) sausages for 50p but not sure on quality at that price! Suppose I won't be drinking so that will save a couple of bottles!!!!

Tonight we are going to dinner at place we are thinking of having wedding reception to check out the food. Expecting that to be around £40-50 a head, again, I won't be drinking so that will save. Have got just under £500 to last until 20 August when get paid, to cover food and any other things needed/going out. Hoping to save at least £150 from that to squirrel away

coastalchick

Lunch with MIL2B was £22 so ok. Went wedding dress shopping. Think have found the one but was first one I tried on (tried around 8) so going to go to another shop in a couple of weeks then make mind up!

Shopping (for bbq and stuff for week) was £103. Mightily annoyed that the extra 20% wasn't taken off the bbq stuff (though not sure if it had to say bbq and grill on it) so will clarify. Just need 2 x chicken breasts and some eggs and then that's it for this week so not too bad when feeding 16. Got 24 burgers snd 24 sausages (due to way packs worked) but will probe start off cooking one of each each then see how people go (cos bbq not big enough to do loads anyway!) and so might end up with 8 burgers/sausages left which will do for next weekend's bbq (which we are also hosting!). Also got some red eye pork ribs (2 packs) so should be enough meat. Others are catering for bread, salad/sides, dips/crisps and dessert. Someone else bringing cheese. Got a couple of "emergency" pizzas in case some stay late though we can always order take out I guess.

Dinner was really lovely. We had 2 courses and coffee. B had 2 pints, I just had sparkling water as was driving. Was £85/2 incl tip and think we are going to book that place for the wedding. Amazing sea views.

We are thinking of having free bar (well, up to a limit) but only allowing draught beer, house wine, house prosecco and any soft drinks (coke etc but not mixers) as free. if people want other things (bottled beer, nicer wine, champagne, cocktails, spirits) then they need to pay for those themselves. Do you think that's bad? It's just I know what people are like after a few drinks and even good friends may well take advantage not really thinking. Those invited to the day are already catered for quite well - welcome drink on arrival, half bottle wine per person and champagne for the toast - there'll also always be those who don't drink their share so others can have more.

Need to nip out today and get last couple of bits and also a cover for our kitchen table. Then must clean. Everyone arriving at 3. Am exhausted though!!!!

coastalchick

So we had BBQ and our friends (bar 1) were really generous and brought loads of stuff. 1 couple was rather annoying (and they are not really our close friends) - there were 2 of them plus 2 kids eating (1 9 year old so not insignificant) and they literally turned up only with bread rolls, no booze and then he (as she doesn't drink) proceeded to plough his way through a significant part of our booze supply. He was also the only person not to offer to help with anything during the day whilst he sat on his fat !!!! eating and drinking. He then had the audacity to say I was letting B do everything when I had literally sat down for 10 minutes (on B's orders) after running round sorting drinks, food, putting salad together, sorting out the table etc. He is NOT a friend and we have now decided we are not inviting them to the wedding. He is notoriously tight - one of those who we adjust the bill if we're out as she doesn't drink but he drinks her share anyway and never pays for the kids who have 3 courses each (albeit child meal but still usually at least a tenner) plus countless juices (which aren't cheap). Argggghhhhhh!!!!!

Now have £292.38 to get me through until 20 August including food. This weekend's BBQ shouldn't be as spendy as we still have 8 burgers left, loads of cheese and crisps and enough booze. Plus there are only 6 others plus 1 small kid coming. That's it then, no more entertaining until mid sept and even then it's only 2 of our close friends.

I have been working from home yesterday and today after I went home on Tues pm after puking guts up. There is norovirus going around (which I don't have but don't want to get) and can do my job from anywhere so hence at home (which is quite nice though really can't be arsed!).

In tonight with food from stores (though we have spent a lot on food this week, mainly due to me being fussy). B out tomorrow night so I am going to get my fave take away pizza at lunch so I don't have to go out later and stay in with that and a movie - or actually Homeland - have now watched first 2 series and LOVE it!!!!!

coastalchick

Spent another £24 something in supermarket yesterday - still feeling really queasy so didn't get my take out pizza and ate from the supermarket stuff as couldn't face going out again. Not showered since weds am as feel so sick. Obv have cancelled our bbq today. B putting up new bed which arrived finally when we ordered it in early july! So that was paid for ages ago. Going to try and flog our old bed this pm so expecting at least 150 for that

coastalchick

got £200 for the bed - waaa hoo!!!!

So that can go towards house stuff. Also hoping to hoof off a car battery charger today but that will probs only be £20 so a tenner each for me and B. Bed was all my cash (though in reality will prob go to joint stuff) as it was one I had bought in 2009

stoplurking

Hi Coastal chick

I'm a lurker on your diary, I enjoy reading your updates. Just popping in to say I hope all is well with you and yours. X

coastalchick

Hi SL

Thanks! All good thanks - just not had too much to say recently!

coastalchick

Things have NOT been good on the old cash front recently! Well, I say that, we've no debt, other than mortgages, and we have savings, but not really been able to save much. I allow myself an amount each month to spend which is to cover food, petrol, eating out, clothes, toiletries etc. I like to try to not spend all of that amount and then squirrel away what is left out of the spend budget at the end of the month (to be fair, by this point I've already had 12.5% of monthly gross salary going into pension - I pay 5% and work pay 7.5% - and hoofed away another amount into savings too so can't beat self up too much) but this month I had to top up my NI contributions for the period I wasn't working last year to protect my contribution rates. So that meant I ended up going over what I'd budgeted as also needed a few new items for the wardrobe (which really were necessary as can't get into my work clothes!!).

So, trying to write last month off as a bad month and be a bit more frugal this month. Got paid last Friday and not been too bad since then. This weekend B and I are to dinner friday night but that shouldn't be too bad as neither of us drinking. So may be 20-25 each. Then weekly shop which I will try to cut down. As it's BH weekend I may try to batch cook. Sun I am at someone's leaving do so around £28 for transport, £15 for a gift then lunch etc out though again, not drinking so hoping to limit that to around £25-230 for lunch.

I don't even want to go on sunday. It's the girl I don't like (the one I've written about before) and am missing B's niece's (soon to be my niece) birthday party (not that she'll notice I'm not there as she's 2) but I can't face the fall out if I don't go. At least this should be the last time as she's leaving our neighbourhood for the starry lights of London. One of the girls is then annoyingly also trying to arrange another dinner for her on the BH monday - think that hasn't gone down too well though with most of the others as we are already giving up BH sunday (when most of the other girls were already not keen as means away from their kids) so have put foot down on that one. It's also cost. Where she wants to go is easily 70-80 a head (and I don't mind paying for good food but I don't even think it's good!)

coastalchick

Spent £111.76 in supermarket. Will be split between 2. We spend most money on food. Can't seem to help self! Did a list but ended with "extras" like chocolate flapjacks (amazing) and chocolate. Did get B a couple of pizzas and 2 big bags of crisps as his best mate coming round Sunday to watch the cricket. Pizzas were 2 for £6 and crisps only 93p a bag though. Amazing how it all just adds up! I think if we could cut that bill down then we would be much better off, but as we live offshore, all food is imported so has import costs attached hence shopping is super expensive.

Got stuff to make a raspberry and assam tea loaf though feeling rough right now so not sure if that will happen! Also got stuff to make a lamb massaman curry for tomorrow night - such a lovely recipe for the slow cooker!

We are supposed to be out for dinner tonight, just the 2 of us, but am feeling rough so we might get our usual pizzas from the pizza restaurant which is our fave, which would actually be a lot cheaper than going out for dinner

Had to get some antiseptic for the cat (£5) because he's been in a fight (I think) and appears to have an infected cut!