* Message forwarded by Carol Shenkenberger via Telegard 3.09.g2-sp4
 * Originally posted in area FIDONET Memories
      Original to : All
             From : Carol Shenkenberger
          Subject : Teaching Shopping (fwd)
        Date/Time : Sun 01 Aug 2004  1:38p

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 * Message forwarded by Carol Shenkenberger via Telegard 3.09.g2-sp4
 * Originally posted in area Fidonet Cooking
      Original to : All
             From : Carol Shenkenberger
          Subject : Teaching Shopping
        Date/Time : Sat 31 Jul 2004  1:27p

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I may not have mentioned it, but I've been teaching Charlotte about
shopping ¨sense.  This past month, I stepped it up a bit and it's starting
to work.

Now Don, he's the 'grab this as i know what it is' and never thinks really
to ¨see if there's a cheaper alternative that's just as good.  I've known
this ¨since before we married and he's not much better at it now
.  He also ¨seems to think price checking is sorta embarassing
somehow although he does ¨enjoy the benefits.  Coupons?  Heaven forbid he
actually would use one!  (He ¨secretly saves a few for me though when he
runs into them).

Charlotte is getting the basics down though.  She even understands that
¨sometimes the more expensive thing is just better but that when it doesnt
¨matter, to try to other cheaper one and test it out.

This time (just got back from the commisary, I'd mentioned we were getting
low) ¨we *started* at the popsicle/treat area and I let Charlotte just look
and check ¨prices.  The limits were simple.  Whatever we found we could get
cheaper, those ¨pennies added up to a treat at the end of the shopping trip
on that isle and if ¨enough, she could have it.  (if you sense a slight
setup here, you are right).

Ok, no 'savings' possible in the fresh fruit and veggies area but I did
agree ¨that I'd kick in any small difference in pennies because she knew
the canned ¨veggie green beans were alot cheaper than the fresh. When we
got to the sliced ¨samwich cheese, I let her explore and she figured out
why I get the Kraft Delux ¨(pre-sliced but not pre-wrapped).  It's so much
better that stateside it ¨normally costs more but here, it's 5cents
cheaper.

When we got to the canned veggies I started to reach for a can of
potatoes.. ¨Realize the kid was on a mission...  She ran back and grabbed 2
regular ¨potatoes (each a can worth in flesh) and we guestimated we'd saved
75 cents.  I ¨asked her about fast cooking, and she paused.  'But Mom, you
always have them ¨ready from the little baby crockpot so they are just as
fast this way'.  Point ¨scored!  I added only 1/2 though as i was only
going to get 1 can, besides, ¨there is the cost of the foil wrap .  We are now up to 38 cents.

Getting through the canned veggies had us have a little mini-argue.  She
wanted ¨credit for getting cut beans (cheaper) but I asked her is she
really liked ¨those better than the whole ones that look so much nicer? 
(Mommie scores).

Unfortunately, the other side of that same isle is cerals.  (Charlotte
scores ¨and gets what she wants even if it is a bit more, no cost deducted
from her 38 ¨cents of course as Mommie isnt *that* evil!).  Charlotte
rebounds though wehn ¨we get to the pop-tarts.  She likes 2 types and one
is 2cents cheaper.  She's ¨now at 40 cents.  

Next (same isle, back to the cans) is the mushrooms.  Don likes these but
¨always gets the glass jars.  Charlotte checked, noted I get the cans.  I
ask ¨her why, and she (Tadtadasa!) notes they are both 4oz, but the cans
are 10cents ¨cheaper.  Ok, 50cents is her balance.

Along the end of that isle, is part of the cooler section with
¨eggs/milk/margarine.  We didnt need eggs and it's a 'all the same' thing
¨anyway, but Charlotte scores on the milk.  The brand we usually dont get
¨(normally slightly more expensive) is 78cents lower than normal for a
75cent ¨savings this week.  This gives me a chance to remind her of
expiration dates ¨and why we alwasys check that frozen meat bin and such...
 She notes this milk ¨will expire in about 10 days.  She will finish this
amount in no more than 5 ¨days.  75 cents credit to Charlotte who now has
1.25$

Small battle ensues.  She wants to claim the price difference between real
¨butter and margarine.  Butter has dropped slightly but is still at 3.43lb.
We ¨get some margarine at 59cents and I credit her 20cents.  She's at 1.45$
(still ¨not enough but can cover a few things).

We get all the way to the last area with the frozen bread.  She score
18cents ¨for 2 loaves of 'that no name bread' over the wonderbread.  1.63$
on ¨Charlotte's card now.  She's getting a little desperate as she wants
something ¨that costs over 2$ when low and behold, she actually catches me
out!

Yup!  I was looking over the frozen fish as I found Zatarans Gumbo rice and
was ¨out of fish.  While it's a little unfair to claim a win over me just
looking ¨and not getting to the next door 'yet', Charlotte got me!  She
found the ¨catfish nuggets first at same lbs and 1$ cheaper.  It's not
fair!  ;-)

With 2.63$ on her account, she got the bomb popsicles.  I got 'Don' the
¨snickers frozen treats (6 of them in the pack, 3.43$) (smile).

Want audacity?  Charlotte wants the 14cents change back from her bomb-pops
as ¨starter money for the next trip!  ARGH!
                                       xxcarol

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 ! Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)
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-!- Telegard v3.09.g2-sp4
 ! Origin: SHENK'S EXPRESS, Sasebo Japan 81-6160-527330 (6:757/1)
------------------- e n d  f o r w a r d e d  m e s s a g e ------------------

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