I am pretty good about staying in my budget and not spending money, but not when it comes to grocery shopping. I have no desire to buy shoes or clothes or make-up or get my hair or nails done (my kids say that my neighbor looks prettier mowing her lawn than I did on my wedding day -- and it's true), but I have no problem at all spending tons of money on food.I've tried all the tricks. I'm no longer allowed in those wholesale discount warehouses. I go in for a gallon of milk (or two gallons, you can't buy just one) and I come out with $200 worth of stuff! I try shopping only around the perimeter of the store (only fresh products, no mixes or frozen dinners), and I still buy too much. I've tried using only cash. I've tried not going to the store while I'm hungry. I always fail.
So what has worked? My daughter, Frances. She is one of those by the rules, color in the lines, don't go against the grain type of people. Most people can't bring their kids grocery shopping because they fill the cart up with candy and cookies. Not Frances.
She makes sure that I use only the small grocery carts (so I can't fit so much food in it). She makes sure that I don't buy any chips or unnecessary food. I tell her my budget and she adds it up as we go and even makes sure we account for tax (yes, our state charges sales tax on food).
Even when we have a few dollars left over and I ask her if she'd like a treat like a carton of ice-cream, she says, "No, save the money."
So far, it's been working. Frances, head of our very own Foodland Security.
4 comments:
Frances is and always has been amazing. She was a domestic goddess from the get-go, wasn't she? I seem to remember that she got a thrill from cleaning house and organizing as a very tiny person. Does she hire out? Now that she's good with math too, I could really use her help.
GEO -- I actually went grocery shopping sans Frances today and I was so tempted to go over my budget, but then I was afraid she would find the receipt.
I'm obsessed with saving money on groceries. I'm one of those freaky coupon ladies. I've got it down to a science, but when you can get $360 dollars worth of groceries for $62 dollars its worth the hunt.
I love the blog by the way. I have felt a huge urge to stop buying things and simplify my life. Now I know I'm not the only one who hates commercialism.
MONICA -- Oh, you're my idol. I always try to do the coupon thing and I don't quite get it. All the tips say to go to stores that double coupons and I don't know of any around me that do that. It seems like the coupons are only for name-brand stuff and even with the coupons, the no-name brand stuff is still cheaper. You'll have to impart some of your wisdom to me. PLEASE!
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