I went to the grocery store today for what I now like to think of as “Adventure Shopping” since you just never know what you may or may not find (ahem, TP).
Everyone copes with the unknown in their own way and apparently for me it includes breaking all my grocery shopping rules.
Under normal circumstances, I am an orderly, frugal shopper. I go to the store 1x a week with a menu planned for the week, a list in hand, and a budget in mind. I don’t like wasting time, money, or food so this is how I do things to be as efficient as possible. I generally just buy what I know we need for the next week or so. Budget and space do not really allow for a lot of “stocking up”, so it’s not a thing I generally do. I always go to Aldi first because you can get so much more there for less. I don’t buy name brand unless the store brand really doesn’t cut it (I’m looking at you, pizza rolls).
Under pandemic circumstances though, I have thrown all these things out the window. My lists are haphazard wishlists – because maybe there is chicken, but probably not. There is no menu plan because who knows what I will find and also the lack of evening commitments and no work commute means I don’t necessarily have to plan so far ahead. I am ignoring my usual grocery budget. (To be fair, we are spending much less on gas for vehicles and not eating out at all, so I guess we are just spending that on groceries now). I bought actual Oreos 2x and they weren’t even on sale! I bought Easter candy just to eat, not for Easter baskets. I bought things I don’t even need yet. (Not hoarding anything, but definitely bought a little extra of things I know we will use regularly/quickly since I’m not sure if I will find them the next time I am out).
And then there’s the kind of random stuff. I bought cornmeal. Why? Because maybe I’ll make something with it? Our game closet is a makeshift pantry of the random/extra items that don’t fit in our actual pantry. Today, I went shopping on a WEDNESDAY (not my grocery day) for a week of groceries and I didn’t even go to Aldi first, I just went to Food Lion like a person who doesn’t even have an Aldi quarter in their car.
But I mean, everyone’s a little off right now. The extras and little treats bring some joy and pleasure and a sense of novelty to a stressful situation. The full pantry lends to a sense of security (at least food security). This is just what’s happening right now and I’m giving myself some grace.
I’ll let you know what happens with the cornmeal.
