I waited a little too long to update my budget spreadsheet this month only to discover on Tuesday night overspent my usual grocery allowance by $36. And I still had a week left in the month. D’oh!
Rather than panic, I decided to take the Not Go To The Grocery Store For A Week challenge. Usually when I do this, I plan to head so this time, I thought I was really going to have to rough it. (Warning: do not attempt this without a moderately stocked pantry.) I kept a notebook in the kitchen in here are some of my observations:
Hmm (with background sound of rustling bags)….I have oatmeal! Morning one with no milk, bread, juice, cereal, pork product, or fruit. Oh well at least I have coffee, I thought. Moving to coffee bag over in my pantry, I rediscovered some hidden oatmeal. Adding golden raisins and brown sugar, I felt far from deprived.
I really want a pizza. Right. Now. I kept craving food I didn’t have in the house this week. (It probably didn’t help that I was recommending restaurants to tourists this week.) I decided I wasn’t giving in. I had food and I didn’t need to buy more food. Guess what? Most of my cravings passed in a couple of hours.
Tap water was so boring… until it met this lime! Thursday, I felt weak and was tempted to bring all my bottles and use a deposit money to buy my usual bottle of seltzer water. Then I realized that I was being ridiculous (and cheating really) and turned on the tap. Hey, there’s water in there! I found an errant lime in the fridge to jazz it up. Not exactly the same as my usual fix but equally hydrating and tasty enough for me to sip.
Part two of this fascinating series tomorrow!