Oh the dreaded grocery shopping

Yum, all the fresh veggies and fruits! I had to do some grocery shopping today and walked up and down our local grocers fresh foods aisle for about 15 minutes debating on which foods I was going to purchase and ultimately bring home. Most of our food I have been getting on the perimeter of the store, you know, the area where most of the "good for you" foods are kept instead of wandering aimlessly up and down the canned/boxed food aisles. Oh sure, I go down those aisles if we need cereal or pasta, but I really try to keep us with the fresh foods. I always have a goal on what I'd like to spend in the store, but I have yet to actually meet that goal. Today I was hoping to keep it at $100 or less, however; 2/3rds of the way through the check out, I decided that if I could keep it under $200 then I'd be happy. So, I'm glad I upped my limit, made me less disappointed when I left. 

Have you noticed that the cost of groceries and household supplies has risen lately? If not, I suggest you start paying closer attention to the things you buy. Keep track of what the cost was today and in another couple months, double check that cost. I guarantee that you'll be paying more money for the exact same item and maybe even getting less for more money. The economy is in the tank, the cost of everything is going up, yet our paychecks are not getting larger. I know that my own paycheck has definitely gone down because the hours at work have been cut. It's at times like this that I'm glad my husband has a job and he makes decent money, because if we had to rely on MY check...we'd be screwed, royally. 

Sure, there were some things in my cart today that weren't grocery items, but they were items needed at the house. Shampoo, conditioner, tooth brush, household cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, etc. I think if I could have just purchased groceries then my total would have been less than my first goal. It's the "miscellaneous" items that really jacked the cost up. I even buy store brand cleaning supplies and it doesn't matter. Store brand vs. name brand...they are both expensive. Maybe if we all wrote enough letters to corporations saying "Hey! Our paychecks aren't getting larger here! Lower your prices, please" then we might see some kind of resolution. ~ And if we all believe that, then we all are sharing some kind of happy pill and have become delusional. 

So now that all the groceries are put away and I have cajoled the pre-teen daughter to sweep the floors, I believe that I'll go mop the floors. Maybe even clean up the garage. Okay so maybe not the garage today, but it will be done soon!