a surprise

A couple of days ago I cleaned out the drawer containing receipts I have been saving. I always keep my grocery receipts so I can tally the month and look at my yearly totals and averages. Apparently I didn't do much except plan a wedding since last November, because the receipts were quite stacked up in my skinny little drawer. What amazed me was how much I spent in some months, and more surprising was how many trips I made to the stores! I live close to Costco and go about 2 or 3 times a month - mostly for the great produce, chicken, and bread. We don't buy any junk food from there. I also go to a regular store for all the other stuff I need. I have planned menus and shopping lists for YEARS, and my spending seems under control, I thought. But adding up the number of receipts (=trips to a store) I have some self control or planning to improve. But Days Grocery is just three minutes away! Adding all the trips together some months I had 12 - 18 receipts!! (=trips to a store=spending $$) Yikes! I am going to try to plan even better, have stuff on hand for special events ( like work parties, family dinners, etc.) and go to a two week menu (buy more, shop less often). Every time I go to a store I always buy more than the items on the list or what I need so it adds up. It is a good exercise to see what you spend on food some months, because it makes you more careful, thrifty, and creative the next month. Just don't wait 9 months before you do the tally, like I did recently. I have kept track of our food spending since 1992! Since that time my household has changed sizes several times, and now it is just me and Clyde. The challenge has begun...