Budget Babe and More

It's cool this evening.  There are fewer moths fluttering around my lamp.  Chuck is curled up, dozing; but I can tell by his breathing that he isn't asleep, yet.

It has been raining on and off all day.  The coolness helped me with today's long run.  I only had to do nine miles as my training stint for the upcoming Utah Marathon (yes, I'm running a marathon, because I'm dumb); but it was a hilly 9 miles.  One of those roads that you think is just a LITTLE hilly until you actually are running on it, and then you know the truth.  And the truth will make you puke.  Or want to, at any rate.  I looked at the various dead squirrels and the dead deer by the side of the road and thought, "That looks appealing.  Maybe I'll just lie down here, too."

I was not keen to do the run, but I was very keen to get the exercise.  I have been plagued lately with dreams of ballooning fatness.  I had another one last night.  I just got fatter and fatter; my fat would fill my arms; I had to squint to see over my plump cheeks.  Chuck watched from the dream's sidelines, disgusted at my hugeness. 

We went to see Hope Springs tonight.  It was funny, but I found it vaguely depressing.  Was that me, before, when I was married?  Not exactly, but partly.  I remember perishing for affection that way.  Do I worry that my new relationship is going to be like this?  Not exactly, but partly.

Pondering the future of my relationship may have been the low point of my day. However, I did manage to leave Chuck out of it.  I have made an appointment with a therapist for relationship counseling (yeah, I know, it should include Chuck, but I think the poor guy has had to listen to my unburdenings enough already.  We can pull him in later, if he likes.)  I hope it helps.

The high point of my day was going over to the home of another couple who live in the neighborhood and asking them if they could join us for dinner tonight. They couldn't - they had other plans.  But we had fun chatting and getting to know each other.  They are long-time acquaintances of Chuck's, but they have never hung out socially.  I plan to do something about that.

[Wow.  Sudden downpour.  It sounds LOUD on this barn roof.]

Since it is the first of the month, it's time for....

BUDGET BABE!

This month's big question is about booze.  How much is reasonable to spend on alcohol?  Is it a grocery?  Here in Utah, you can only buy weak beer at the grocery store.  Everything else has to be purchased at a State Liquor Store.  Is it a grocery if we get it at the grocery store, but booze if we buy it at the liquor store? 

I am the buyer of alcohol, because it is a consumable.  According to the rules that Chuck and I have come up with for living together, consumables are my purview.  Here is what I have come up with for booze rules:
1.  Weak beer, purchased at the grocery store, doesn't count;
2.  If I manage to earn more than I spend by at least $1,000, I will spend $200 at the liquor store;
3.  I will take a trip to the liquor store on the first of each month, and what I buy on that trip is our allotment for the month.

Gray areas / difficulties:
1.  What if we drink up all the wine before the end of the month, and then we have a dinner party?  I will need to buy wine for the party.  I can hardly say, "This evening will be alcohol free, because we have run out of wine for the month."  Yes, people always ask, "What can I bring?" and wine is always nice.  But as a host, you can't assume that the guests will supply the evening's alcohol. 
2.  If is is delicious and in the house, Chuck will consume it.  Rationing doesn't work well for him.  So the stock-up idea may not work. 
3.  The reason that I am able to save $1,000 is because I am living in Chuck's house and not paying rent.  I am in charge of a number of household expenses, but given the amount I am saving by living with him rent-free, what do I owe him, as far as the wine rack is concerned? 

My LDS friends will not have a lot to say on this topic (except that booze is expensive and unhealthy)  (I know, I know, but I like it), but if any of the rest of you have good advice for budgeting for booze, please let me know.