Blame it on the Rain (Check)

I hate rain checks.  I hate it when my local store runs out of stuff that's on sale.  And my local store runs out of sale items a lot.  It's almost a bigger surprise when the store does have the items I need than when it doesn't.  And when my local grocery store is out of a particularly good item, I get a rain check.  At  Pick N Save, rain checks are only good for 2 weeks, which means that I generally have a well-intended, long-forgotten and ultimately expired pile of rain checks in the bottom of my purse.

This morning after sledding, I dropped Scottie and the boys at home so the kids could eat lunch before Grant's nap.  I wanted to run to the store to use a rain check for the chicken thighs that we loved (and were cheap) the week before.  It was too valuable a rain check to forget about.  Then I remembered that it was also double coupon day and if I could get my order up to $25, I could double 5 coupons and I had a sweet coupon for soup.  As I looked around the kitchen for things to add to my grocery list, it dawned on me, "Make up your meal plan for the week, dummy!"  So I did.  It was easy and it only took a few minutes.  Then I went to the store, bought what I needed, and realised that I had actually bought the majority of our meals for the next 2 weeks!  Scott was impressed, but not as exalted as I felt.  I totally wanted to give myself a high five, which of course, I did.

Here is the highlight of my shopping trip:  Oatmeal was on super, super sale.  And if I bought 5 items from a list (including oatmeal), I'd get a free carton of orange juice.  Since the items were things I already intended to buy, free juice found it's way home with me.  Connor was so excited for the rare treat of juice (and juice at dinner) that he promptly spilled his glass.  He was devastated, but the juice was easily cleaned up and his glass quickly refilled ('cause it was FREE!) and all was right in the world again.     

I'll still need to buy a few groceries this week: Aldi for a few staples like cheap carrots, low price bananas, pasta sauce and milk, and Walgreen's (who knew!) for eggs, but I've got almost everything I need for our next 45 meals!  That seems so far away and so relieving.  I'll also have to do some additional shopping for the Book Club I'm hosting on Thursday--can I be a gracious host on a $40 budget (including wine)?  I can't believe that 2 days ago I was in turmoil over what to feed my family and now I feel like a ton of stress has been washed away.  I blame it on the rain check.     

Here's what we ate today.

Breakfast
- SKC&G Oatmeal with Brown Sugar
- C&G Bananas & Milk
Total $1.05

Lunch
- C&G Leftover Pizza, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Milk
- S&K 1/2 of a BOSS Sandwich
Total $3.73

Snack
- G Milk and Yogurt
Total $0.44

Dinner
- SKC&G Lemon Chicken Thighs, Acorn Squash with 2 Tbsp Margarine and 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar, Mixed Vegetables
- C&G Milk
Total $3.11

Dessert
- S&K Cereal
- C Cookies
- S Tea
Total $0.37

Total Spend $8.70

Tomorrow, Who's the BOSS?