Grocery shopping

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping.

First – let me say that I LOVE shopping. All kinds of shopping. I could be picking up tampons and toilet paper and I will still enjoy the experience. There’s just something about walking through a store with all its millions of consumer possibilities. [Which is a big part of the reason why I have so much credit-card debt.]

In the past, I was very much a ‘relaxed’ shopper. I would wander in, without any list, and just peruse the offerings. Strolling along the aisles, back-tracking and turning around – I could spend an hour or more doing a simple weekly shop. I would look around for ideas for breakfasts and lunches, consider possible dinner ideas, all while actually in the store trying to purchase things.

Thankfully, I’m better now. For the most part.

So yesterday, I sat down and made my list. I was quite proud of myself for thinking through my meal plans for the week and making a list based on those plans. [Such a simple idea, but one I’ve struggled with a lot.] I even wrote up the final copy in the order the items can be found in the store [to eliminate wandering and it’s tendency to produce impulse-purchases].

At the store, I started with the produce. Since it’s a pain to weigh each item and then calculate the total, I didn’t track how much $$$ I was putting in my cart. And since I hadn’t done so with the produce, I also didn’t do it with the other items. Oops.

I was so proud of myself for following my list [mostly], that I decided to check out the seasonal section to see if they had any good deals on leftover Valentine’s candy. And I thought that I was right about on budget, so I had a little room for treats.

Well, they didn’t have Valentine’s candy on sale. But they did have Easter candy. [I know Easter is like two months away, but there’s just something about Almond Joy Eggs and pastel-colored M&Ms.] And I picked up a few.

But at the register – MAJOR sticker shock. I wish I had been brave enough to stop the cashier and say, “I’m sorry, I decided not to get that.” It would have saved me almost $20. But I wasn’t that brave. Sigh.

On the positive side of things, I actually do have a meal plan for most of the week. Breakfasts will be eggs and oatmeal or one-eyed jacks; lunches will be a sandwich [PBJ or tuna] with carrots and Triscuits; grapes and clementines for snacks; and dinners will be tacos, lasagna, or salmon. And of course, I have my new Easter treats to enjoy as well. 🙂

Hopefully next week I can do better. What helpful tips do you have when it comes to grocery shopping?

The Intelligent Zebra