Week 2 of the Challenge

Well, there was an interesting change that occurred in our home between weeks 1 and 2. My girls started brainstorming ways of maximizing their savings during their upcoming Week 2 grocery trip. Their strategy was impressive, albeit somewhat humorous. They decreased what they ate and offered to cook so they could control the amount of foods used. They visited the local stores' online sites to check the cost of various foods in the pantry and fridge, opting to eat only those which were cheaper to replace.

Saturday morning arrived and they sat to create their menu and shopping list. We were running low on meats and frozen veggies. We needed bread. We needed milk and produce again. Cat litter was running low and the girls launched an internet search to find the cheapest, most absorbant brand on the market to compare against the brand we've always used. Not naming names here, but one of my daughters who prefers only the most expensive shampoo suggested she might like to try the store brand this week. I actually witnessed an argument erupt between them over which was the better deal...buying a name brand product with a coupon or store brand without.

Now let's be clear here. They were ONLY trying to maximize their profit, remembering my offer to let them keep whatever they saved. But, so what? They were learning such an important life skill...frugal living. Whether they were doing it as teens to make a profit or as adults to pay a bill, they were strategizing ways of stretching their money. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed watching them in action!

Sunday afternoon, they headed to the store with their list, their $112.27 in cash (M's allowance had been deducted), and their zeal. They did great. Came home with a full week's worth of groceries and, as they showed me proudly, $12.34 to spare.

Very cool, yes? Well, life isn't always so smooth, as we adults know so well. That evening we were leaving for church and A discovered a flat tire on her car. She turned to me and winced, "This is an incidental, isn't it?" It almost hurt to have to nod my head 'yes'. We knew it would cost $10 to repair her flat, having had to repair a flat on my husband's truck a few weeks ago.

Final profit: $2.34. The girls chose to roll that into the next week's budget.

Stay tuned. By Week 3, things were looking up for the girls. But there were still some valuable lessons in store.