This post has been rolling around in my head for almost two months. Today, Money Saving Mom is sharing her financial goals and is hosting a linky, so I decided now was as good a time as any to write it.
Her goals are lofty, mine really aren’t.
I’ve been irritated since learning that my normal shopping routine was going to be interrupted this year. See, I live in Small Town, America, where competition is minimal and so grocery stores don’t feel the need to do crazy things like run fabulous sales or double coupons. But two years ago I started going on Wednesdays to a Bible Study 30 minutes away, where the town is bigger and they have the good grocery stores. My routine was to go shopping on those days, hitting all the great sales and generally saving tons of money.
But this year my daughter is taking a dance class. I chose the dance studio because it is known for keeping things appropriate and it has daytime classes. When I looked into it last year, there was a class for her age on Thursday mornings.
But somehow, this year, there is only one daytime class and it starts 45 minutes after my Bible Study ends. So, she changes into her dance clothes, we start driving, and there’s no time for any quick shopping trips.
I’ve been alternately pouty, mad, irritated, resigned, and despairing over it. (Yes, I’m dramatic.) I just so dislike having my fabulous routine interrupted.
But that’s life. I’m not going to sacrifice this special year with my daughter for my own love of free tuna.
I have to adjust. And in all of my despair, I somehow had forgotten that when I first started couponing, I didn’t go to the big stores, but saved tons shopping loss leaders here and working the CVS and Walgreens games.
So what’s my big fat financial goal? Get the most out of our grocery budget while using the resources I have . . . and enjoy the challenge.
My plan:
- Stick with cash. Rather than using my debit card and keeping a running balance in my head (which never ever works so I don’t know why I keep thinking it will), I’m going back to the envelope system for groceries.
- Play the drugstore games again. I’ve gotten out of the habit, but we’re starting to run low on toothpaste, so it’s time to start again anyway. With the big stores available to me, I had stopped analyzing the drugstore cereal, granola bar, and peanut butter type deals.
- MENU PLAN. Really, planning a menu automatically saves money. Although I’ve been doing well with menu-planning since realizing how much of a difference it makes in my quest for order in our home, I now need the double benefit of saving money.
- Be aware of the really big sales that are worth a special trip. 30 minutes is too far to justify driving weekly for a few dollars in savings, but if the savings are significant, I can make a special trip.
- Be content. We may run low on fruit snacks this year, but we’ll live.
Go check out other’s financial goals over at Money Saving Mom.
Feeling your pain. I also live in small town America. Must go 45 min to a good grocery store with amazing deals. Doesn't pay to go to often. Cheap Groceries vs. Whole tank of Gas? I now wait till really big sales and buy tons when I do go. You will adjust. I have almost caught on to small local store dairy and produce mark down schedule.It is slowly working me into a decent and affordable routine. GOOD LUCK Dana
Great plan! I have gotten out of habit of playing the drug store game too. However, as soon as I am done with school (5 more weeks), I will be back in the game! 🙂
I know how you feel, I live 30 minutes from the nearing big town and I can relate. Have you heard of http://www.angelfoodministries.com ? I've found that in the area that I live it is much cheaper to use that. I just got mine today and for what I ordered I only paid $104. It is enough for my family for nearly the whole month. Any one can order, you just have to pay for it a month in advance.
I've been off my drugstore game, too. I need to get back to it. It's such a fine line between those free deals becoming clutter and being truly useful for me, though.
You guys are very lucky in the States when it comes to couponing and cvs deals. In Canada seriously we dont have that option. I wish I read about your awesome shopping trips and I am envious. I do cut coupons when I can find them and use them but nothing compared to what you guys have readily available.
I am envious but do the best I can !!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Diane, there was a blogger at the Savvy Blogging Summit who has a "deals blog" in Canada. It's http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/
Thank you for this kind of important write-up! I also have got a webpage and i am questioning, where can i download this kind of great theme like your own?