If you were to meet me in real life (remember meeting people in real life?!?), there might be some things about me that would surprise you.
For starters, I am short. The thing about my height is not that I am exceptionally or remarkably short. Indeed, I am not even the shortest person I know. The interesting thing about my shortness is how it seems to take people by surprise every time they realize it. When I meet people who know me predominantly from the internet, one of the first things they say to me is, “You’re shorter than I expected.”
And it’s true! I am shorter than most people expect, my own family included. When I returned home from college one Christmas, we were barely out of the airport parking lot when my father asked, “Have you always been so short?” Sometimes my husband will come upon me trying to reach something he absentmindedly put on a high shelf and remark, “I always forget how short you are.”
It might also surprise you that I am far more of an introvert than someone who writes about her groceries on the internet has any right to be. If you were to come upon me in the grocery store, and casually remark about the weather or the price of onions, I would do my best to keep up with the conversation, but it would be a struggle.
When we moved to the Midwest, one of the biggest culture shocks was how chatty everyone is. You cannot be standing, or sitting, in one place too long in the vicinity of a Midwesterner before they inevitably start a conversation. For YEARS, this took me surprise. Strangers would just start talking to me and I would stare at them like a deer in headlights. If my friendlier and more socially flexible husband were there, he would take over as I slowly looked for a way to convince my body to collapse upon itself like a dying star.
It’s not that I don’t like people, or appreciate a friendly chat. No, the problem is actually the third thing that might surprise you about me. Or maybe not, if you’ve been reading my posts the last few years.
I cannot make a quick decision to save my life.
Every decision is subject to the same rigorous, pondering, examining, critical process as every other decision. The decision on sending the Glass Slipper back to school is just as momentous as how many packages of chicken buy. Conversing with strangers gives me anxiety because it takes me just as long to decide on my reply as it does for me to figure out with hotel I am staying in for my 2021 Disney vacation.
Imagine then, if you will, my nightmare shopping scenario: Needing some Baking Powder that is only available on the top shelf. That I cannot reach. And being terrified to ask someone for help. And then dithering in the aisle for A FULL TEN MINUTES not being able to decide what to do. And then trying to use a pie pan to pull the baking powder towards me, not succeeding, the momentum of my own body knocking me backwards and then someone turning the corner into my aisle, catching me in a crouch as I try to stop myself falling to the ground, all the while holding onto a pie pan over my head. You know, like people do.
With this man’s eyes on me the entire time, I put the pie pan back, got my cart, and sped down the aisle, eyes averted, trying to move my head in such a way that my hair covered my face.
I did not get the baking powder.
- Activia Yogurt, 4 pack-$.99. Mega event savings took off $1.
- Angus Steak, 4.76 lb -$28.52. Steak, you guys! There is steak under $10 a pound. This is the purchase that put me over budget and I literally have not had beef in months so I regret noooooothing.
- Avocados (5)-$4.45. In-store sale for $.99 each stacked with *Digital Coupon* for $.50 off.
- Bananas, 3.08 lb-$1.69.
- Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, pint (2)-$6.98. In-store sale.
- Blueberries, pint (2)-$4.
- Boar’s Head Pepperoni, .1 lb-$7.12.
- Fuji Apples, 3.87 lb-$4.99.
- Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 14.66 lb-$29.19.
- Honey Bunches of Oats (2)-$3.58. Mega Savings event brought it down to $1.79 each.
- Kroger Milk, gal-$2.49.
- Mangoes (3)-$2.97.
- Merry Estate Gouda-$6.46.
- Private Selection Bread -$1.99.
- Private Selection Honey Turkey, .75 lb-$5.62.
- Red Leaf Lettuce, 1.54 lb-$2.60.
- Roma Tomato, 1.77 lb-$1.75.
- Simple Truth Baby Food Pouches (4)-$4.
- Strawberries, 2 lb-$4.
- Yellow Peaches, 2.66 lb-$2.63.
- Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, CoinOut
Total Budget: $96.21
Total Spent: $125.02
Deducted from Next Week: $28.81
Not surprising? That I went over budget. That one week of being under budget was nice while it lasted.
What’s one thing I would be surprised to learn about you? Have you ever embarrassed yourself at the grocery store and fled the scene, quickly and quietly? Share in my embarrassment down in the comments!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!