Smart shopper .... 'NOT'

     Somewhere along the road of life I was elected to be the
grocery shopper of the family.  I'm not sure how or when that
happened, it just slowly evolved I guess.  As with all of my
duties I accepted it graciously.   Reluctantly of course, but
graciously non the less.  At one point and time I believe I was
fairly efficient at the task.  Any more , not so much. 
    Living in the country and working downtown for most of
my life it seemed natural for me to 'swing by' the store and
pick up needed items on the way home.  I always considered
myself a thrifty shopper.  I knew which store brands were good
and which ones to avoid.  Seems that now days when prices are
higher and money is tighter I've lost that ability.  I just run
willy nilly up and down the aisles loading the cart with whatever
suites my fancy at the time.   Once.. just once I would like to go
in and pick up what I need and be able to come out with less than
a hundred dollars worth of groceries.  Tonight for example we
decided to have one of those frozen pizzas that are not delivery ..
you know the ones ,with the self rising crust.  Big mistake sending
me to the store hungry on a rainy evening after being stuck in the
house all day with no snacks.  I did however avoid the snack aisle
but in my defense everything looked so good in every other aisle.
    I blame two things on my overbuying.  The first thing is their
sale strategies.  This ten for ten dollar thing has to stop!  I love
cream cheese on my bagels in the morning.  I don't however need
multiple packages of it staring at me every time I open the fridge.
(no .. I didn't buy ten, three seemed sufficient at the time)  but that's
leads me to the bread aisle where , you guessed it, bagels are on sale too.
Imagine that !  Fill the cart !   The other item that lures me in is
the soda aisle.  First off we drink very little 'pop' in this house.
Unless it is in the fridge yelling my name every time I open the door.
A twelve pack is quite sufficient.  But wait.. they are four for twelve
dollars !  That will last forever !  (we all know better).  load 'em up !
Some marketing major is sunning his/her self on a beach somewhere
for thinking of this ploy !
     The other problem I have is the dreaded chain reaction shopping.
I will be cruising the store looking for needed staples and BAM I
spot the apples.  my eyes see apples but my mind sees apple dumplings
off to buy cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, pie crusts etc   cha ching !  Well
what is a dumpling without ice cream...Need to pick up milk ?  mmm
chocolate milk is on sale.. haven't had that in a coon's age.  And on and
on until I can't push the cart.  
   I think .the only way to break this is to leave my wallet in the truck
and take in maybe ten dollars.     HMMM I wonder if Krogers lets you
run a tab like the old days...