An empty grocery list

I looked through the food ads tonight. These are delivered every Wednesday, and generally it is quite the production to go through them.

I sit with notepad and pen in hand, and go through each ad, writing down anything I might want to buy, and how much it is advertised for at each store. I have a different piece of paper for each store, so that, when something is advertised at two stores, I can then cross off the store that has it cheapest. (OK, I admit it, I usually need a calculator, too, because I am never sure, off-hand, if 3 for $2 is a better deal then 3 for $5.)

Once I have gone through all the ads, I spread out all the little pieces of paper and I make up a menu for the week, using things I know I have on hand and the things on sale.

Then, I make up an actual grocery list of everything I need, and put the price & store for advertised items. I get a bag and put all the ads in it and my list, because No Frills will accept the advertised pricing from other stores.

Then, I go through coupons, and pull out any that are for items on my list, and any that "I should use because they are expiring." On my list, I put a C next to the items with a coupon.

Like I say, it's quite the production. It doesn't get any easier when I am at the store, trying to set things on the counter but having to keep together at the back those items with better pricing at other stores.

Every so often, though, a week like this one comes along.

Sure, we'll need a new loaf of bread before the week is over, since there's only a few slices left. And although we have plenty of lunch meat, I just used the last slice of cheese.

But in terms of dinner, I made a menu completely from items I have on hand. And in terms of the ads, I went through every one and wrote down nothing at all.

It's nice to skip the production of it all. It is even nicer to know I won't be spending much money at the grocery store this week.

Yet, somehow, whenever this happens, I feel guilty.

"I must have been in a mood when I went through the ads, surely there are deals in there. I should look through them again."

"I'm overlooking SOMETHING. I must be. He's probably out of . . . ."

I go in the kitchen and I open the pantry. I mentally go through the day.....breakfast items ? Yes, there's pudding cups for me and Nutri-Grain bars for him...plenty of both. Snacks? Yes, he has a large container of trail mix and I am still living off the apples I got in Massachusetts. Plus I there's grapes and Laughing Cow cheese in the fridge. Lunch? Well, you already said you needed bread, but, plenty of mayo and lunch meats. He still has chips left. A few cans of soup. There's frozen pulled pork left still.. . ."

I spend more time feeling wrong when there is nothing on the list then I do actually making the list other weeks! When the pantry turns up full, I start wandering the house. Laundry detergent and bleach. Paper towels and toilet papers and toothpaste and shampoos.

Certainly there is something I could buy?!?!?