Perfect cut...
I can't say that we were POOR growing up, we probably were but it didn't always feel that way. Erin and I always got new clothes for Christmas, we didn't get the new wardrobes twice a year like some friends but we were a little spoiled by Grandparents. We never went hungry, we always had a place to live, pets, and a car that ran most of the time. It wasn't a luxury household, but if nothing else Mom and Mark always made it seem like things were ok. When I was young I might have wanted to do more or have more, but I can say I know we were doing better than some. There were times though that I remember the bill collectors calling, and that we couldn't go to certain grocery stores. I remember occasionally having to run things back to the shelves in the grocery line. None of the staples, just the extras, the chips, the cereal. It wasn't unheard of. My Mom never seemed embarrassed, not to me, she just put back what she needed to.
This came to mind for me the other day. I had checked my bank account before I left for the grocery. I knew exactly how much I had, so when the total started to creep closer and closer to that amount, I looked to the back of the cart. Chips, gone, baking chocolate, gone. I knew I had two coupons, and I had a good idea of what it was going to be but I waited, a bit nervous. For some reason, putting stuff back before it is rung through is less of a big deal...dealing with the voids is a bit more, it holds up the line, people start to wonder what is going on. Total after coupons...$123.70. Total in bank account $132.00.
There are days when growing up without money comes in extremely handy. For example...when your muffler falls off and there is no way you can afford to fix it. Duct tape a coat hanger and a bean can...its virtually a new muffler. Need a five dollar dinner that feeds four? Meatballs and rice...one box of Rice-a-Roni, one can of tomatoes, and whatever ground beef fills in the other three dollars. (Still one of my favorite dinners on the fly) Keeping the frivolous stuff at the back of the cart is a learned skill as well.
It also lets you know what to cut, and not worry about cutting it, and to say, "Well hey, I may be broke but I've got a wonderful home, loving family, and a full fridge."
More on Not Quite Set
This came to mind for me the other day. I had checked my bank account before I left for the grocery. I knew exactly how much I had, so when the total started to creep closer and closer to that amount, I looked to the back of the cart. Chips, gone, baking chocolate, gone. I knew I had two coupons, and I had a good idea of what it was going to be but I waited, a bit nervous. For some reason, putting stuff back before it is rung through is less of a big deal...dealing with the voids is a bit more, it holds up the line, people start to wonder what is going on. Total after coupons...$123.70. Total in bank account $132.00.
There are days when growing up without money comes in extremely handy. For example...when your muffler falls off and there is no way you can afford to fix it. Duct tape a coat hanger and a bean can...its virtually a new muffler. Need a five dollar dinner that feeds four? Meatballs and rice...one box of Rice-a-Roni, one can of tomatoes, and whatever ground beef fills in the other three dollars. (Still one of my favorite dinners on the fly) Keeping the frivolous stuff at the back of the cart is a learned skill as well.
It also lets you know what to cut, and not worry about cutting it, and to say, "Well hey, I may be broke but I've got a wonderful home, loving family, and a full fridge."
More on Not Quite Set
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