Grocery Budget

You
can tell the budget shoppers from the whatever-I-want shoppers by watching
their grocery behavior. The budget
shoppers have a list (this is true of compulsive planners too) and a pen in
hand, furiously scribbling with every selection.  They are so engrossed in calculating
price-per-pound comparisons, coupon searching and tabulating that they're likely
to run you over.  The budget-blind
shopper, however, is carefree, tossing items two-handed into the cart. If they're shopping hungry, there might even
be a second cart. I used to make the
mistake of thinking the budget shopper had limited means, and the impulsive
shopper was rich, but as I have been both of these types (and even the
compulsive planner), I realize now it has a lot less to do with funds than
state of mind. Sometimes all that
tallying is just too much. Other days, I
think it's a miracle the bank lets me have a checkbook because no matter how careful
I'm being, the clerk announces an absurd total. Maybe they just toss out figures at random like some sort of grocery
lottery. Whatever. I'm no longer boxing myself into a grocery
type. Some days I shop with calculator
in hand, sometimes not. I like a little
adventure in my life even on grocery day.