Groceries or Hoarding ?

 I admit that groceries are becoming a problem. In part, I can't buy lunch at work. I tried that and every place within a reasonable walking distance a burrito, a sandwich, a salad costs $18 to $22 each and adding a drink can add $5 to your bill so while spending $8 for coffee was high my budget went out the window with lunch. 

Talk about Stealing your lunch money you decide to bring you lunch with you so that means that you have to go to the grocery store and buy groceries. Once you buy groceries you have to prepare the food and you have to bring a container with you to bring said food or wrap that precious sandwich. 

Alas, I have to shop but what to eat and menu planning and time I have to eat are well a work in progress. I went to Trader Joes and was dismayed at the receipt because I forgot I was in Campbell where the tax rate is 10% that is 80 cents to my $8 spent. I started to look at the tax rate and coupons that I get or membership I have through Amazon. 

Getting a deal is important but why doesn't the peanut butter and jelly last more than a week ( Do I really have to start measuring how much I am using - that is another story ). How much butter does one person need and is that too much tuna for one person or not enough? 

I was starting to go a little nuts when I realized the tax rate in San Francisco was a full 1.25% Less than Campbell and true its 50 miles north of where I was but, I would be saving money! Now, picking up a can of chili and butter and cheese was nothing I could do it on my way home. Oh and did I mention the coffee situation ? I needed coffee at home too.

I am seriously worried when I don't have all the spices for air frying chicken thighs. 

I am a little worried I had to get pasta so I got one bag but then there was a sale so I picked up some more pasta before I knew it I had four different types of pasta including pot sized spaghetti ( short spaghetti) then I saw that dried beans are on sale so I picked up some more beans ( red and black again ).

While I am spending a bit much I am "saving" because I have realized while I am spending a budget I might have too much. 

Yet, in the current the climate that beef stock is at its lowest level since 1929. Folks that is the Depression. Fruit takes time to grow and vegetables need to be canned.

There I am starting at my freezer all 36 cubic inches. I am begging it to take one more bag but then the freezer won't close. So, I had to cook that family size bag of spinach. I added that spinach to everything soups, a bed for chicken or salmon, and eventually I was just eating it because I got the family size that was on sale. 

I do recommend that you buy an extra can of soup and

your stash and learn how to can or store fruits. Also I recommend to learn to drink cold brew coffee - at least during the summer- I admit I do a french press and some ground coffees are just okay but can turn into a great cold brew because I use a lot of the cheap coffee it lasts a whole week if you are able to stop drinking it ( I was a little jittery ). 

To wrap this up I am shopping 50 miles away to save a lot of money on taxes ( up to $5 ), next I am getting a little extra a can of soup, an extra container of butter when I can and dried beans are an absolute pantry staple, Canning is next but Cold Brew Coffee is saving you money a lot.