Family Budget Challenge - Day 4

I knew it was only a matter of time when the $20 a day budget our family is trying to live on would yield a bit of public shame. One thing my husband and I have done since embarking on our “Mom’s Family Budget Challenge” is let our friends & family know our spending goal, so they are not surprised if it seems like we are being a bit “cheap” (we of course don’t see it this way - we just see it as us being more fiscally responsible). But we don’t make a public announcement when we go shopping that we are trying to get by on the $20 we have in our wallet that day.  You wouldn’t think other people would even necessarily know this - at least not until you are at the checkout counting pennies, letting the clerk know you need your 5 cents rebate per cloth bag you brought, and yes, sometimes saying “Oh, I am sorry, I must have miscalculated, but could I please return those pears?”  This is exactly what happened to me yesterday. I didn’t feel humiliated, but I also didn’t exactly feel vindicated either. The long line of customers behind me looked on annoyingly, as I handed back the pears that I thought were on sale. I was wondering if someone was going to offer me money as I looked at my total of $20.14.  I couldn’t believe it. $20.14?  I already had the attendant take the pears off the bill.  Did I even have the extra 14 cents? I wasn’t sure I did. How did the total get to $20.14?  I thought I weighed everything, accurately calculated prices in my head, and I thought the bill would be about $16.14 not $20.14.  By chance I had exactly 14 pennies in my purse, and I counted them out thanking the heavens that I had my cloth bag with me - because I needed that 5 cents rebate. As I ashamedly left the line I ignored the gazes/scowls behind me and intensively studied the receipt.  Where did I go wrong? And there is was - screaming from the receipt “MISTAKE, MISTAKE, MISTAKE” - the blueberries were coming in at $3.99 each.  I couldn’t believe it, as the sign clearly read “Buy one get one free.” So with a struggling toddler in tow, I returned to the service counter for the second time this week and inquired about the berries. After seeing the ad in the circular the attendant seemed puzzled too, and called the produce department asking “What the heck is the deal with the blueberries - why aren’t they ringing up properly?”  She mysteriously replied “Oh, really?” Of course my paranoia set in as I thought her response might have something to do with me (like “watch out that lady already has gotten four dollars back from us this week when we mis-charged her for her apples”). But my fears were abated when she informed me that “Those berries are buy one, get one free - but only if you spend $40 on certain brand items such as Wishbone dressing.”  $40 on Wishbone dressing? You have to be kidding me. I looked at her and simply stated “Really? Wow, could I return the berries please?”  With almost eight dollars back in my pocket, I walked out feeling a bit more triumphant than I was feeling five minutes ago and with new knowledge about our budget challenge: saving money is a lot of work, and doesn’t always feel good.