14.85 and counting

Of all the paths taken to 21 dollars spent on food and drink, mine is probably the least healthy. Before going to Giant Eagle last night, I decided what my general eating regiment over the next week would be: cheap cereal for breakfast, no lunch, cheap food for dinner, two 2 liters of Sprite for drinks and a box of Cheez-its for snacks. I wasn't quite sure what I would get for dinner, except I wanted to spend 15 dollars or less total at the grocery store so I could have enough left for a couple cheap fast food meals at Taco Bell. I would up getting a gallon of milk, a giant sized box of Honeycomb ceral (3.19), the Cheez-its, and two Sierra Mists (1.34 each, Sprite was 1.89). Finally, I discovered a meal for quasi-dinners: a "Tina" bean burrito for only 56 cents! (I got 5). 14.85 all told.

I think I got through the hardest part today: my office had a celebration for a coworker going on maternity leave and they brought in chocolate chip muffins, which are one of my all-time favorites and which I normally domineeringly consume without allowing others their rightful share. I showed remarkable restraint for me by eating only one of the six. I calculated the percent cost of one at 75 cents, and decided to forgo one of my fast food meals. That actually brings down my total expected expenditure to only roughly 20.00, so I decided the balance will permit me to finish the 1/5th of a gallon of milk I have remaining from earlier (no need to waste a perishable) . I'll keep my options open on how to spend the remaining 25 cents or so I should have left...

It does make you think about those who actually have to do something like this as a constant necessity, instead of a singular experiment.

Andy