This is a story about groceries. I promise.
At the start of the school year, we had some drama in our house. My middle girl, my feisty Frying Pan, was feeling out of sorts. The Glass Slipper was off at Kindergarten, and that full day school experience overshadowed the Frying Pan’s three days a week, 2 hour long preschool days. Plus, now instead of being at school all day like her cool big sister, she was stuck home most of the time with mom and the baby. Was any four year old ever so ill treated?
About a week into the semester, we were eating lunch one day when a cat appeared in our backyard. Reader, I have never seen a cat like this. He or she was a gray, with a pattern of white, gray, dark gray, almost like an ombre coloring. This cat had triangular tufts of fur at the side of his/her face that instantly reminded me of this guy.
I’ve never seen such a cute cat in all my life and y’all, I am not a cat person. Or a dog person. I’m barely a people person.
“Mama, look! That cat wants to be my friend!”
And it seemed like he/she did, because he/she got right up to our dining room window and seemed to peer in the house. My formerly grumpy little girl ran to the window and put her hand to the glass. And I will be darned, but that cat put her/his little paw up.
Thus began the relationship between my Frying Pan and Sparkle. The Frying Pan decided that Sparkle would be her name, and of course like with a name like Sparkle she was a she. Sparkle did not show up on an kind of schedule. Sometimes we would see her every other day and sometimes we wouldn’t see her for a week. But what was most special about Sparkle is that she only came around during the afternoon, so the only child that saw her was my Frying Pan. She finally had something all her own. When the Glass Slipper would come home with tales of kindergarten, the Frying Pan would graciously listen before launching into her own tale, “well you know what, we saw SPARKLE today.”
This is a story about groceries. I promise.
Months go by, and in March we find ourselves sheltering in place. Now all the kids are home all day, everyday. And this time it is my Glass Slipper who is sad, who is missing school and opportunities and feeling left out. What does my Frying Pan say to her? “Don’t worry sister, soon Sparkle will come and she’ll cheer you up.”
“Who is Sparkle?”
“Sparkle is my secret cat. She’ll come see us soon.”
AND AS IF ON CUE, Sparkle saunters into our yard. Both girls run to the window, where the Frying Pan introduces the Glass Slipper to Sparkle. Now they’re all friends together.
Sparkle watching then became a family sport. Everyone kept their eyes peeled for the gray beauty. And as the weather got nicer, Sparkle turned up more frequently. Until one day we were all outside, enjoying the rare Midwestern sunshine, when Sparkle leaps over and fence and lands in front of us as gracefully as an ice skater. She practically curtsied.
Both girls hold out their hands, tentatively, hopefully. Sparkle circles them a few times, and then rubs her beautifully silver head against the Frying Pan’s hand. Each girl is allowed one pet, and as swiftly as she came, Sparkle leapt out of sight, over the fence, to wherever cats go when they’re being cats.
While washing our hands (because magical or not, she’s still a free range cat) the Frying Pan burst into tears. What if Sparkle has no food? What if Sparkle has no people? Who will feed her? Mama, you have to look for cat food at the grocery store.
Yes, my beloved child. I will wander our grocery store looking for cat food for a cat that is not ours! Because the cat got you through some rough times. I would get the moon for that cat!
I told you this was a story about groceries.
- Avocados (4)-$4.50. *Digital Coupon* for $.50 off 3.
- Bananas, 3.23 lb-$1.91.
- Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, pint (2)-$5.48. *Digital Coupon* for $1.50 off 2 stacked with the $3.49 sale price made them $2.74 each.
- Blueberries (2)-$5.
- Boar’s Head Pepperoni, 1 lb-$7.21.
- Cadbury Eggs (4)-$2.16. I’ll keep buying Cadbury Eggs until they’re all gone.
- Clementines, 3 lbs-$3.99.
- Creamette Pasta (3)-$2.75. *Digital Coupon* for $1 off three.
- Gala Apples, 5.11 lb-$6.59.
- Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 10.23 lb -$20.36.
- Kroger Cheese-$3.99. Still missing the sweet prices on Costco cheese.
- Kroger Heavy Cream-$2.19.
- Kroger Pasta-$1.
- Kroger Sausage, 1 lb-$3.49.
- Kroger String Cheese-$3.39.
- Mangoes (4)-$5.
- Mission Tortillas-$2.29.
- Monterey Jack Cheese-$5.24
- Private Selection Marinara Sauce-$2.99.
- Private Selection Bread (2)-$3.98.
- Private Selection Wildflower Turkey, 1 lb-$7.94.
- Red Grapes, 4.81 lb-$4.76.
- Red Leaf Lettuce, .69 lb-$1.17.
- Silk Almond Milk, .5 gal (2)-$5.98.
- Simple Truth Baby Food Packets (7)-$8.33.
- Top Sirloin Steak, 3.5 lb-$17.76.
- Vidal Onions, 2.57 lb-$3.06.
- Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, CoinOut
We’re officially at the point where we have used up our entire grocery budget for the month. Each month’s budget is $98. I’m already over that from the last two trips. But, because the world is a crazy place right now, we’re putting the overages on our credit card, which we will pay off with cash from one of the untouched budgets at the end of the month. So don’t freak out when you see these numbers. I promise we’re okay. :) .
Total Budget: $-6.22
Total Spent: $140.61
Deducted from Other Budgets: $146.83
Except. I didn’t actually get any food for Sparkle.
A chance overheard call one evening led Mr. B to suspects she is actually a neighbor cat named Kit-Kat. We’re following up on that lead. What is the etiquette on feeding a cat that may or may not have a home. But it got me thinking. Those of you who buy cat/dog/bird/snake/rabbit/hamster food, how’s that going? Are you seeing the same shortages we are with people food? Are prices going up? Tell me all about it!
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!