Aug. 18, 2009 - Tightwad Tuesday - Grocery Shopping
This may seem so basic for many of you, but for others who go to the grocery store without a list, perhaps this will make you think again.
- PREPARE YOUR MENU BEFORE YOU GO! (I cannot stress this one enough!)
- Make a grocery list as you prepare your menu.
- Take the list with you when you go shopping.
The grocery stores have many end-caps where they like to tempt you to buy things you don't really need. By keeping a list in my hand, I am focused on my list, NOT on their tempting offers. This allows me to spend LESS when I am grocery shopping.
I have taken a spiritual principle and put it to work in the grocery store. The Bible mentions several times about walking straight ahead and not looking to the left or to the right. I often use this principle at the grocery store. For instance, let's say I need some sugar or flour. They are both down the baking aisle, which is FILLED with tempting goodies. While I walk down that aisle, I am often quoting to myself, "Look straight ahead. Do not look to the left or to the right." I have VICTORIOUSLY made it out of that aisle MANY times without giving into the temptation of buying sweet treats that we don't need. 
In the early evening hours, DH will start looking for things on which to snack. I can't tell you how many times he comments, "There is nothing in this house to eat!" Yet, dd and I will say, "YOU are the one who always wants to snack on junk food, yet you tell us we need to eat a healthier diet. WE aren't the ones who bring the junk food home. We bring home things that are better choices. There are plenty of things to eat for snacks. You just don't want to eat them." 
DD and I have learned to curb our appetites where sweets are concerned. When we go to the store, if I do get sidetracked by the tempting items, dd will gently nudge me and say, "Mom, keep moving. We don't need that." I love it that dd is learning those principles early in life. She is a very good shopper, and knows how to look for the best deals. She is more a of tightwad than I am, so whoever marries her one day will get a very prudent wife! 
Here is a freebie for high school students. It is a financial course:
http://www.actuarialfoundation.org/programs/youth/BuildingYourFuture.shtml
Comments
Aug. 17, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by blestmom
Good for you and dd snacking healthier...I wish I could get my dh to do that. Sorry to hear about you having to put down your cat...that's always a heartbreaking thing to have to do.
Blestmom
Aug. 18, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by AnnieKate
Try tempting your hubby with something healthy that doesn't taste healthy. He might like homemade popcorn with various spice blends. Or zucchini chips, which we just tried and which are YUMMY! I just posted about them. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/ReviewsAndMore/718332/
Annie Kate
Aug. 18, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Linda
I'm so sorry to her about Sammy!!
