I spent on average about a half day a week running errands. I have gotten to the point where I make my little circle tour. I go from Sprouts (a store kind of like Whole Foods)–great prices on produce and scoopable bins for black beans, dried fruit, flour, sugar, oatmeat, and stuff like that. But their prices on spinach aren’t so great. For that I hit Costco—and for their eggs and sometimes for the chicken. Drop that off at home. Then to the post office and library and on to the grocery stores closer to my house for the other things I need.
I used to just go to one grocery store for everything. I was tutoring so many hours that I barely had time to do that. In this economy, some of my families have lost their jobs and no doubt their homes. They can no longer hire tutors. So they are cutting back. So, in turn are we. It has become empowering. I am surprised by how much we are saving. For instance 2 weeks ago, Sprouts had peaches and nectarines for $0.67/pound. Safeway and Albertson’s had them for $2.27/pound. We eat a lot of produce in our house—so it has been a lot of fun to dash about a bit.
Since there have been some store closings in the area [we are in AZ, after all] I have gotten a nice start on gift shopping as well. We have numerous relatives with birthdays in the last quarter of the year and there is always Christmas ;-)/
My point isn’t to try to tell folks “uh, use coupons, bargain hunt, uh compare prices”. Rather, my point is that through the loss of some tutoring jobs I have had to get creative. I have had the time to be creative….and our bottom line is not going to suffer nearly as much as I feared. And it is a LOT of fun to get 2.5 pounds of Spinach for $3.29 instead of 1 pound for $5.99! My son needs a lot of spinach—it helps with his lupus.
Instead of being angry about the prices at a particular store, I just go each store for the prices I like. Then I just smile as I walk past all the items that I consider overpriced—cuz I have options, baby! My fear of finances made me creative which inspired me which solved my problem. Turns out I’m happier. I believe things are looking up—yeh, still a perennial optimist.
Believe Anyway 
It’s how our parents and grandparents made it through the Great Depression. Which, I believe the 102 version is hanging over our heads.
Agreed. I think we are already in a Depression–it’s just that we don’t recognize it yet. If we counted all the people out of work that have stopped looking, for instance, the unemployment rate would be much higher. People out here are downsizing like crazy and getting into more affordable homes while the rates are low…they want to be prepared in case they lose their jobs once again.
Thank you for the Kate! It’s refreshing to hear how you got creative, and decided to look at life from a new perspective. You don’t seem stuck to the old ways and this is how you can maintain your optimism.
@Josette—that is right. If you keep pounding your head against a big thick wall all that you get is a very bad headache–you don’t break through. Sometimes I have to take the long way around the wall, sometimes I have to climb it…without my faith and optimism I am sunk. So I try to notice if my optimism is turning my “inner Tigger” into an “inner Eeyore”…when that happens, oh boy am I in trouble :-)! Then I have to reallly make changes!
Kate–nice job! Yes, the phrase “Necessity is the mother of invention” comes to mind. It is soooo true! As lousy as being out of work is (I am too now), it does give me some time to consider and think. That is a luxurious gift to me! I don’t always see it that way, but it is a pure gift.
I have the time to plan my trips and make the most of shopping opportunities. I have the time to make more “takes all day” meals. I have the time to so some reading for fun each day. I have the time to work on a class I am teaching at church. Life is good–stessful yes–but good!
Thanks for helping me think today!
You are welcome. I am really sorry to hear that you are out of work. Having that additional time really puts a new and lovely rhythm to the day, doesn’t it? What kind of work are you looking for, Madeline?