this wasn't in the plan |but life is still pretty good

Today, I took last week's grocery ads out to the recycling box (our groceries sales run Tuesday to Tuesday around these parts) and noticed that I missed some great deals last week.  Cereal was on sale for $2, which isn't fabulous, but I had coupons I could have used which would have made it more fabulous than anything I've seen in the past six month.  Flour was on sale for $1.50.  I can only hope that it will be cheaper come baking season, but probably not.  I know I missed other great prices, but I couldn't bear to look any longer.  But, oh well, life goes on.  It's been over a week since my last grocery store trip (minus The Tall One's milk run last night) and missing that sale was probably a good thing since I imagine I would've found lots of other things besides flour and cereal that I would have "had" to buy.

As a result, I'm rethinking my grocery strategy.  It seems that currently, I've programmed my brain to think that grocery shopping must be done once a week.  Which means I must go soon!  But I really don't.  The pantry is full and the refrigerator is full.  I'm sure I could find a handful of things we are low on, but considering chances that I get out of the store with just those few things are slim, I'm better off just staying home. 

So currently, I think I have to go to the store, so I check the ads.  I find great prices on things we "need" and add them to my list.  I get to the store and find things that should have gone on my list but didn't and throw them in the cart and soon my trip where I was going to spend less than $20 has me spending at least $50. 

I've heard it before, but I really think the best strategy is to focus on what we already have, but always be on the lookout for sales on staples.  I've often wondered how that's different from shopping the ads and basing a menu on what's currently on sale.  I think it's different because it will cause me shop less often.  If I can plan a week's worth of meals with what we currently have, then why go to the store?  Of course I might miss out on sales.  But I'll also miss out on buying the extra stuff that we probably really don't "need", and that's definitely good.