Kristen B’s Kroger Trip 6/1

First shopping trip of June and y’all, I was coming in HOT.

Literally and emotionally.

First, I had to throw away half a pound of turkey because it went bad before we could finish it. Which turned me into a rage filled dragon.

MR B: What do you want to do for lunch? The turkey has gone bad.

ME: ROOOOOOOOAAAAAARRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH.

It started as a roar, ended as groan.

Then, we decided to go grocery shopping after the Glass Slipper’s last soccer game of the season (Go Lions!) and the Sun finally decided to come out for once. I guess it also felt like a rage filled dragon because those rays were beating down on me like ROOOOOOAAAAAAARRGGGGGHHH.

We get to Kroger and I’m running on rage adrenaline and Vitamin D, bagging my produce at lightening speeds, tearing through those aisles like I was on the ‘Price is Right.’ And here comes my sweet little Glass Slipper, who just scored her last goal of the spring, all Disney princess eyes and hopeful little voice. “Mama, can I have some green apples, please?”

“NOOOOOOO” roars the Mombeast. “We have a ton of red apples from Costcoooooo.”

The look on her FACE, y’all. Sadness, with a touch a resignation, “Yes, mama. I’ll eat the red apples.” And then my HEART. Suddenly, the flame that had been driving me just poofs out, and I’m left starring at this little girl who just wanted an apple. In that moment I had to ask myself, what kind of family did I want us to be? Did I want be the kind of mother who denied her child a specific fruit, just because it didn’t fit in with her shopping list and she was a little salty about some old meat? Or did I want to be the kind of mother, who, if able to grant simple requests, did so with joy? I could feel the metamorphosis from dragon back Mama slowly begin as we rounded produce into the deli.

While waiting for the cold cuts, Mr. B spoke up. “Hey, that chicken parmesan you made last week was so good. Do you think you could make that again?” On the tip of my fire breathing tongue was this response: “Nope. Parmesan is not on sale and I have other plans.” But then again, I had to ask myself, did I want to be the kind of wife who held her husband’s menu hostage, or, when given the opportunity, did I want to thank him for complimenting my hard work by making a meal he enjoyed? I hightailed it back over to the cheese, where parmesan was still not on save, but Piave was, and close enough. My wings are shrinking, my claws aren’t quite so sharp, and Chicken Parm is back on the menu.

The Piave, the green apples, and the chicken didn’t necessarily put me over the top, but I did have to shift some things. There was a tense moment where I had to decide between Gouda and tomatoes. You know who won that face off, don’t even front. But it was a surprisingly easy sacrifice to make. I want to be the kind of homemaker who provides delicious meals for her family in the most cost effective way, of course. But I don’t want to become a monster who roasts them if they ask for something. I don’t want to be a food dictator.

On the drive home, I was musing over how the food you buy is not the only reflection of you evident from a grocery trip. The way you buy it, the heart behind the choices you make while purchasing, those are on display, too. I bought three different kinds of milk this trip, y’all. For three specific needs in my family. And that’s the kind of shopper I want to be. The kind of shopper who listens to the desires, not just the needs, of her family. The kind of shopper who might be a literal hot mess, but was willing to go the extra mile, if she could. The kind of shopper who was less scaly monster and more courageous knight. Protector of Fruit Lovers, Provider of Delicious Meals, Conqueror of Milks.

• Avocados (3)-$2.07. In store sale, $.69 a pound.
• Bananas, 1.58 lb -$.93.
• Blueberries, 18 oz-$3.99.
• Ben & Jerry’s, pint (2)-$5.23. But 5, Save $5 makes them $2.99 each, stacked with a *Digital Coupon* for $.75 off 2 Ben & Jerry’s pints. Makes them $2.61 each.
• Boar’s Head Sandwich Pepperoni, .75 lb -$7.01.
• Boars Head Smoked Turkey, $.75 lb-$7.89. Cold cuts will be the death of me.
• Granny Smith Apples, 1.11 lb-$2.21.
• Green Grapes, 2.37 lb-$2.35. $.99 a pound!
• Green Beans, 1 lb-$.99. In store sale, $.99 a pound and I measured the perfect pound. Triumph!
• Green Leaf Lettuce, 1.18 lb-$1.99.
• Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 4.31 lb-$8.58.
• Honey Bunches of Oats (2)-$2.98. Buy %, Save $5 made these $1.49 each.
• Kroger Cream Cheese, 2 pack-$1.79.
• Kroger Milk, .5 gal-$.88.
• Ken’s Simply Vinaigrette-$1.49. Buy 5, Save $5!
• Mangoes (4)-$0. Okay, so there was a kerfuffle because the mangoes were on sale, $.69 each. But mine rang up as like, organic pears, which was not correct. After some register confusion, they just gave them to me free!
• Piave Cheese-$2.49.
• Private Selection Wheat Bread-$1.99.
• Private Selection Angus Steak, 1.95 lb -$9.78. In- store sale, $4.99 a pound.
• Red Leaf Lettuce, 1.11 lb-$1.88.
• Robusto Gouda-$3.79.
• Silk Almond Milk (3)-$5.97. $1.99 each with Buy 5, Save $5!
• Sweet Baby Ray’s Wing Sauce (2)-$1.98. B5S$5 brings these to $.99 each.
• Strawberries 2 lb-$2.99.
• Vidalia Onions, 1.58 lb-$2.04.
• Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, Ibotta ($.20 Off Any Item), CoinOut

                                       Total Budget: $85

                                       Total Spent: $82.86

                                       Total Saved: $39.63

                                       Rolled Over to Next Trip: $2.14

What does your shopping trip say about you? What kind of shopper do you aspire to be? Is it hot where you are? Let me hear it 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!