Last week, I went on a JOURNEY, y’all.
I started as a grumpy dragon, and ended as a warrior in touch with my family and all things groceries. Tears were shed, lesson were learned, lives were changed. Also, groceries were bought.
This week’s episode of your fave show, ‘A Woman Buys Food Every Week’, is a little less “big season opener” and a little more “middle of the season, just killing time.” No great special effects or big revelations. No daring sword fights or princes in disguise. Just a woman. Buying food.
But also thinking, because grocery shopping leaves some room for a little bit of pondering, a tiny smidge of soul searching. Specifically, I was thinking about why the turkey being thrown away turned me into a jabberwocky. It is no secret I hate to waste food, but I think deep down everyone hates to waste food. What is it about me, specifically, that wasting food drove me to the dark side?
After much wandering the meat section, I think I have an answer. I have two food philosophies that are at the core of my shopping habits, but the two philosophies are at war with each other. When one wins, I still count it as a victory. But when neither win, it is a complete loss, an apocalyptic event, hide the kids and the valuables, brace yourselves, Maleficent is coming.
Philosophy 1: I want to have enough food on hand at all times, so I can be hospitable whenever the need arises. This is a legacy of my stepmother, the hostess with the mostest. Everyone thinks their mom throws the best holiday parties, but for my stepmom, Christmas was all year, baby. There was always a ton of food in my house. Whole drawers devoted to snacks. Sweet snacks, savory snacks, healthy snacks. Fruit bowls on every kitchen surface. Popcorn fell from the sky like snowflakes.
My place was the first spot we hit after school because my friends knew my stepmother hooked us up. All their wildest snacky dreams came true at my house. And beyond snacks! I have a very clear memory of my stepmother making Stovetop stuffing for a friend of mine at 3:30 in the afternoon. That’s the kind of house I’ve always wanted. The house where every one is welcome at every meal, and in between meal. A house of plenty. Come in, and know me better, man.
Philosophy 2: After graduate school, I spent a summer interning with an educational theatre group in Poland. I lived in tiny apartment in the arts district. The fridge in my apartment was smaller than what you see in most dorm rooms. I couldn’t understand how this could be, and asked a co-worker what I was supposed to do with my food. His response? “Eat it.” Um, what? Turns out, most people had refrigerators this size in their homes. Which they barely used, because they usually didn’t have leftovers. But how??? I was increasingly desperate because I had been in Krakow three days and eaten nothing but Pringles from the convenience store down the street.
Come to find, people went to the market every day. Usually on their way home from work. They picked up what they needed for dinner and breakfast the next day, and that was that. What was an American used to shopping at Costco to do? When in Rome, I guess.
I went to the market every day after work, just like everyone else. I bought meats and vegetables and cheese (you know I bought cheese) in portions just enough to last me through the next day. I never threw anything away and I never had to suffer through Pringles for dinner again. I loved it. I loved the daily trip to the market, I loved the freedom that came with not worrying about leftovers. I loved that I could try new foods every day and not fear being saddled with a food I hated for a week.
Both these philosophies are lovely, even if they’re not exactly made to co-exist. But maybe they are. Maybe the episode with the turkey was a failed attempt, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get it right one day. I mean, I have the rest of my life to perfect grocery shopping. Both goals are worth working towards: be a home where table is set for all, and be a home where nothing is wasted or taken for granted.
- Bananas, 1.64 lb -$.97.
- Blueberries, 18 oz (2)-$4.98. In store sale, each $2.49.
- Blue Cheese, .25 lb-$3.77.
- Boar’s Head Sandwich Pepperoni, .75 lb -$6.83.
- Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 5.04 lb-$10.03.
- Kroger Milk, .5 gal-$.79.
- McCormick Organic Chipotle Chile-$7.49. Worth every cent.
- Pork Loin, 3.31 lb-$6.59. In store sale, $1.99 a pound.
- Private Selection Ice Cream, 16oz-$1.50. *Digital Coupon* for $.50 off.
- Private Selection Wheat Bread-$1.99.
- Private Selection Honey Turkey, .5 lb -$4.23.
- Roma Tomatoes, 1.42 lb-$1.41.
- Robusto Gouda-$3.79.
- Sweet Baby Ray’s Hot Sauce-$0. FREE with *Digital Coupon*.
- Thomas’s English Muffins (2)-$2.79. Buy One, Get One in store sale.
- Top Round London Broil, 4.35 lb -$13.01. In store sale, $2.99 a pound.
- Watermelon-$3.99. In store sale.
- Vidalia Onions, 1.85 lb-$2.39.
- Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, Ibotta ($.20 Off Any Item), CoinOut
Total Budget: $87.14
Total Spent: $74.47
Total Saved: $35.95
Rolled Over to Next Trip: $12.67
Way under budget. Must have been all that pondering.
What’s your food philosophy like? Did you inherit it from your parents? Your grandparents? A European nation? Tell me your thoughts 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!
Charity Walker says
I am totally with you on the hate of waste and yet want to be the house that has all the treats. I am still working on the balance as well. However, I tried to limit the more perishable items to what we will consume this week verus getting way too much. Sometimes, when all four of my nieces visit and the neighbor kids sometimes we run out of perishables like fresh fruit and vegetables. But I try really hard to prepare for the week. We May substitute in some frozen if needed. I tend to keep a pretty stocked pantry
Kristen says
It’s such a fine line, right, Charity? Still, it sounds like your house is the cool hangout house if the neighborhood kids are coming over!