‘I own 30 pairs of Jimmy Choos’
Model and reality star Casey Batchelor opens up about her love of fine things, luxury holidays, and being picky about peanut butter!
I WORKED ON THE TILLS IN A GARDEN CENTRE
It was my first job and I’d get paid around £30 for the whole day. Then I worked at Tesco on the customer service help desk and earned the minimum wage [around £3.60 per hour].
I’M A MAJOR SNOB ABOUT CERTAIN FOOD!
Generally, I like to mix it up when I go food shopping, I get some branded stuff and some of the supermarket own range, but the one thing that has to be branded is my Sun-pat crunchy peanut butter. It must be crunchy – supermarket own brands just don’t taste the same!
LUXURY HOLIDAYS ARE THE WAY TO GO
I’d definitely rather save up and have a blow-the-budget holiday than a bargain break. If you’re going away and you want luxury, my favourite destination is Dubai. The hotel staff wait on you hand and foot and everything is amazing.
I’M A SUCKER FOR DESIGNER SHOES
But I do tend to wait until the January sales to buy them as you can get them for less than half price! I have a really excessive shoe collection, I can’t help myself. I think I have over 30 pairs of Jimmy Choos alone, and I’ll probably buy another five pairs in the next January sale!
I’M SAVING UP TO BUY A NEW HOUSE
I’m quite sensible with money and am a good saver. I’ve just sold my house, so I’m saving up [money earned from modelling and reality TV shows] to buy a new one at the moment. I’m also putting money aside for furniture for the new house and I want to kit out Florence’s [Casey’s three-month-old daughter] room to be really cute, so it all starts to add up.
MORTGAGE AND BILLS ASIDE, I SPEND MOST OF MY MONEY ON SOCIALISING
I love going out for nice dinners and having cocktails. My partner Dane [Goodson] and I haven’t been on a date since Florence was born [in May], but I think he’s booking a spa weekend soon, so that will be nice to look forward to. Also, Roka in London is one of our favourite restaurants, so I think we’re going to go there for dinner and some Martinis soon!
I’M ALWAYS THE FIRST TO PICK UP THE BILL
I’m quite generous, so when I go out I’m always the one that says “I’ll get the drinks”, or “I’ll get the bill”, I just can’t help it when I’m out with people! I’m a bit soft, and in the past I’ve ended up lending money and never getting it back.
CARRYING CASH IS TOO RISKY
I always feel a bit nervous about having money on me in case there are pickpockets around, plus I hate rooting around my purse for change. Cards are so easy now because you can just use contactless.