Thursday, October 5, 2017

ENOUGH and when to STOP

I feel like sometimes I should make a post that says "Hello - My name is Cheryl and I am a grocery store addict".  I am not a shopper of other things, but put me in a grocery store and I am in my element!  I love grocery shopping.
I really do wonder at times if it is an addiction or if I could be borderline hoarder!

As far as addiction - MAYBE - but in my own defense I really LOVE getting a bargain or something for next to nothing.  It is very uncommon that I pay full price for anything.
HOARDER - NO I don't ever feel like there is too much - but I DO USE all I buy and I give it away when someone needs it.  So no, I don't think  I am 'officially' a hoarder.

Do I have enough? YES
Do I need to stop?  YES (at least for a while)

I spent a lot of money this week.  Tuesday I spent the day shopping at Rural King and Sam's Club.  Both are fairly far away, yet they are just a mile or so apart - so that was the day to go!

Rural King was a major cat food stock up.  I got 12 cases (24 cans per), so with what I have, I am good for about 4-5 months.  Each month I will continue to add, so as not to get as low as I was.
They also have a spicy meaty snack that G loves.  It's like a bag of little hot Slim Jim's.  They last a long time, so I got 2 bags - we are good for quite a while.

Sam's - well what can I say?  Oh my, there is a reason I only go once or twice a year.  I really do stock up when I go. 
Trash bags - probably good for 1 - 2 years.  Paper plates (for occasions) good for at least 2 - 3 years.  (The last ones lasted 3 years).
Sweetener (Truvia) - probably 6 - 9 months.  Olives a good 6 months.  Baking soda (3 big bags) probably 6 - 8 months.  (I use for cats, cleaning, laundry, etc.)  Pecans - plenty for holiday baking.
Worcestershire Sauce - over a year.
You also see things that you DIDN'T KNOW you needed!!!!!!  Like a bag of Jalapeno crunchy toppers (like onions).  YUMMO!  The possibilities!


Today I went to Kroger - like I really needed to!  I did want milk, bread and cat litter.  I also got Land O Lakes butter 2/$5, and a couple boxes of tea bags to add back in to stock.
I saw a box of Lemon ginger tea bags on markdown ($1.32) which I thought would be great in Hot Toddy mix for colds this winter.  I also got a box of Chai - special blend - tea bags as an adder to nephews gift basket (he loves chai) (2.14).

I came home, and after sorting and putting everything away I have decided I NEED TO STOP FOR A WHILE! 
I have enough meat, veggies, fruits, baking goods, cereals, grains, health and beauty, and home canned stuff to last us for ages.  I HAVE ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do YOU ever get this way?  Do you ever ask yourself - why did I go to the store again?  Why did I spend that money?
Granted, everything will get used - and I am sure you are all the same way.  You will use your stockpile to survive or to help others.  NO we are not wasteful people - but there comes a time when we all need to take a step back.

Now is MY time.  I am going to give it my best shot to stay away from grocery stores for the rest of the month.  I really have no need to go.  We have plenty of milk and eggs and butter.  I still have fresh veggies coming from harvest.  I can make 'different' kinds of salads - no need to add lettuce.  I have meat and other food that needs to be used.
I want to use up some freezer stock - so I will have room in the event that turkeys and hams go on sale in November.  I have no room at the moment.
It is time to use it and be grateful for what I have.  I am sooooooo blessed.

So MY GOAL is to stay away from the grocery stores for the remainder of the month of October!  USE what I have.  Get CREATIVE on recipes and baking.

Maybe, just maybe, I will get a lot of other stuff done.  Maybe I will get creative on crafting Christmas gifts.  Maybe I will get more canning done - using frozen berries for jelly.  Maybe, I will get more deep cleaning and de-cluttering done.  Maybe, we can save a little extra money this month.  MAYBE! 

ANYBODY WANT TO JOIN ME?
WISH ME LUCK!


 

22 comments:

  1. I am joining in with you Cheryl, in fact I started just last week on cutting trips to the grocery store and using the pantry items up...milk and sometimes bread are the stops.

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    1. YAY! Misery loves company!!!!
      we'll have to let each other know how we are doing on Frugal Happenings!
      GOOD LUCK

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    2. Well I made it through the weekend, only buying what was on my daughter's list for an upcoming bridal shower (she is travelling this week, so I shopped and will bake for her). She will reimburse me, very good that one is about it.

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  2. We were going in August like that. September I got a handle on it because we kept spending more than our budget would allow.
    It's hard not to pass up a deal but sometimes you get in there and find things that are not a deal!

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    1. True - I love a deal. But I also need to use some of this stuff up. Shopping from the freezer/pantry will be a DEAL as well!

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  3. LOL; I wish I was as stocked up as you. I keep telling myself I need to get busy and fill up for winter!

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    1. It's taken a long time - but I am good. Just do a little each week. Winter will soon be here!

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  4. I'm the opposite,I want to stock up more since I'm not as well prepared as you.
    Rural King is an interesting store; ours opened in the past year or so, and I like buying dog food there. I always have to go see the baby chicks and bunnies when I am in there.
    Hope you have a great weekend.

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    1. Good luck stocking up - it is a job.
      I really like that store. Ours opened about a year ago as well. They have so much pet food. I always look at the babies as well! It always makes me sad though.
      They have about everything in there.
      Have a great weekend yourself!

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  5. Cheryl, I am kind of doing a modified version of this as you know. There are still some things that I will need to get, like milk and I will pick up sale priced items at rock bottom prices IF I don't already have a good supply of them. Tonight I looked at what we do have an abundance of though and am making plans to use up some of the pie filling and cake mixes that have been lingering on the shelves here. ;)

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    1. Debbie, you have been doing great. I think I am good on everything for the next few weeks.
      I really need to get the freezers down a little.

      Sounds like some yummy sweets at your house this month!

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  6. Well, I hear you. The only things I've been getting lately are my pickling spices and such that I keep running out of, but the rest of the store is calling my name!
    I do go to buy fresh food stuff lettuce, fruits but haven't bought any meat.
    I found a nice recipe for chicken meatballs and now I finally have a use for the ground chicken I bought on sale awhile back.

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    1. Laurie -I hear ya on the store 'calling your name'!!! LOL
      I am determined. Just have been working on changing up my attitude and I seem to be getting a lot done. It's only been a couple days!

      YAY on the new recipe. Let me know how it goes! We may need to share.

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  7. I'm like you, Cheryl. I love to grocery shop. Other shopping not so much, but I do like grocery shopping. I will probably need things before the end of the month, so I won't join in, but I will cheer you on! I hope you have a blessed week. :)

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    1. What is it about a grocery store? Glad someone gets me!
      I'll take all the cheering on that I can get!
      enjoy your weekend.

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  8. Cheryl I hate shopping full stop. The only shopping I enjoy at all is going into Spotlight, your version of Joanne's.
    My name is Jane and I am a fabricholic. This year I have been on a use it up challenge and have only had a couple of very minor slips. If I go into Spotlight I gave myself the rule that I can only purchase what is on the list. This has worked 99% of the time.
    I still have enough fabric in my stash to continue this challenge into next year. I can empathise with your situation, at least a little. Good luck.

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    1. Jane well we all have to be something! Right???? LOL
      I know other gals who love their fabrics and their yarns too. Sounds like you have plenty of goodies to make gifts for the holidays!
      Glad to see others have to challenge themselves too (at times). I don't feel all=one.
      Thanks and good luck to you!

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  9. I completely understand what you are saying. I used up a lot of things in August and spent September working very hard stocking up. You are right. It is a lot of work. I enjoy it, though, but am happy to take a bit of a break from it for October. I haven't needed anything yet in October, but will need some milk in a few days. I will be looking for stock-up prices on butter, etc. and will buy what we need, plus a small Costco run (if there is such a thing).

    I, also, need to start using all those wonderful things I've worked so hard to gather. Planning meals that use what I've preserved is a challenging job and I notice I fall down on that job when I'm too busy. My freezers are needing to be brought down a bit, as well. We did pull out a turkey from the chest freezer last summer, but am sure there is at least one more down there, along with a couple of hams. That is the hardest freezer to organize for me. It's hard to remember what's in the bottom.

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    1. Becky, glad to see I am not alone!
      My chest freezer is awful to be able to find anything in. It is so full. I do have a list, when I tried to sort through it early in the spring.
      I know there is turkey breast in there and maybe a ham (If I remember right).

      There will be baking deals and great dairy deals in Nov. & Dec. Everyone gets ready for the holidays and there sure are some great finds that time of year.
      GOOD LUCK!

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  10. I use those $1 grocery store bags for my chest freezer: ground beef in one, chicken in one, roasts in one, bacon and sausages in one...makes it so much easier to pull out a bag than to root around...use different color bags of course.

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