Grocery shop, this week, was complex.

Out the gate, we had $11.00 off. But it had to be this week. $5.00 off a $40.00 order, $2.00 off meat and 4 dollar coupon doublers (limit 4 to a household).

We were balancing the Car Show and the Grocery shop. With a large shop and then managing the scooter, decided to do the Car Show and then the shop on Monday. Weather changed our plans.

We get the circular on Thursday. Bruce takes the running list and checks it against the circular, circles things of interest. After Bruce goes to bed on Friday night; I go through the coupon box, get rid of anything expired, check and highlight the circular for any special promos. Saturday night I go through the circular in detail and start to prep the list. Sunday paper brings more coupons which Bruce cuts and then I finalize the list. I write this only to advise exactly how long this process takes. This week-4 hours.

Last weekend, with the new routine and me having to work Saturday, I tried to short cut. And of course, Bruce was a pill. So that won't happen again. If you decide you are going to do this, whatever system works for you must be maintained.

We are to the point now where if it is not close to free, we probably don't need it. Once you get your pantry in good order and this takes a good four to six months, inventory control is easier. Plus we had the menu changes and that added time for Colleen to get us on the right meal planning track.

Our store drives me crazy. They are trying to compete with layout and design of other stores in the area. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is walking around looking up to the signs for direction. This is very hard on Bruce and I. Me pushing him, pushing a basket and everything moved around. Our list is set up to aisles, but when the store constantly changes that - much more difficult. I am looking up trying to read the signs and Bruce is putting on the brakes trying to avoid other shoppers - LOL.

We get through 90% of the list because he loves this: loves making choices. He is helping more with the cooking, flavoring. Wants to have an input. Then I set him off to the magazine section. He goes alone in the WC. Can sit for hours browsing through Car Magazines. I can regroup and figure out what we missed.

I remember one TV show where the husband says to the wife, "this is all well and good, honey, but I need something I can eat." And that was certainly true this week. Lots of snacks - probably because kids are going back to school. But I like having some back up here, some choices for Bruce. Kellogg's ran a special 3/$9.00 - large 17oz boxes and if you bought three, got $3.00 off on milk. Of course Bruce also had three coupons for each of the cereals. P&G buy 5 of their items, get $5.00 off. Toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant - but also all with coupons as well as the sale price. Free dip with the coupon, but if you read labels you will find that there are healthy choices you can add with potatoes or as flavoring, not just for chips. And again, this is Colleen's direction - looking for healthy flavor additives rather than snacks.

We had done the Farm Market - local produce - on Friday, so were set with fresh fruits and veggies. I prefer helping the locals if we can. Meat is the other issue. We can always get Sausage buy one, get one, but with Sue's advice, if we see Australian lamb for less than $7.99 a pound, stock up. And that was also on sale for $5.99 a pound. Lamb chops on the grill - one of our new favorites!

The things I can not seem to get a handle on is the Depends and the Cat Litter. Friends do save their Depends coupons for me, but it is hit and miss. If I buy a carton at BJs, I can use up to four coupons. Cat Litter is also cheaper at BJs, but I never seem to be able to find a coupon. Kira is clawless in the front and really can't use anything that clumps. So it is the cheapest kind anyway and maybe that is why no coupons.

Other than milk, fresh produce and meat; we are set for at least three months. When we can finally get the wedding cake top out of the freezer in December, time to stock up there. LOL. Points for gas now at $1.20/gallon off. Wish I had another driver, so we could fill up both vehicles. Will have to talk to some people at work.

$180.00 before savings - $60.00 plus tax after. He did good. Debbie