Dave Ramsey is Dreamy

I am so totally in love with you, Dave Ramsey, in a strictly platonic and financial sort of way…

Today I did something I have not done in 19 years of marriage.  It may seem like no big deal to some, but for me, it was epic.  For reals.

I went to the grocery store with cash.

Crazy times here in suburbia.

No, but really, for the first time in 19 years, I grocery shopped without my debit card and used cold hard cash, instead.  Yes, my debit card equals cash in that we don’t spend more than we have, however, the act of using cash weighs more heavily as it leaves your hand and is placed into the hand of another.  Jason and I are doing "Financial Peace University" and I'd say we're on our way!

I spent $88.56 at the first store, handing the girl five 20-dollar bills.  At the second store I spent $20.09, handing the guy a twenty-spot and a dime.  I was even kind of giddy.  My friend, who I’ve told you about before, was at the next register.  I said, “Hi Friend!  Guess what I have in my wallet?!”  She said, “Cash?!”  We squealed and the guy checking out my groceries just thought I was a desperate housewife.  As if!

I have to tell you what all I got for $20.09 at Natural Grocers.  I was going in there for two loaves of egg free gluten free bread from "Outside the Breadbox", however, you know how that works, even when Dave Ramsey is sitting on your shoulder…the almond milk was a dollar off and I remembered I needed corn for popping.  And on my way to the check out, there it was!  The DOLLAR BIN!  And by “dollar bin” at an organic grocery store, I mean, they put as much borderline produce in a bag with a tie and call it a deal.  Here’s what I got out of 3 bags, aka, THREE BUCKS!!!!

• ·       9 avocados
• ·       13 Roma tomatoes
• ·       1 lime
• ·       1 small bunch kale
• ·       2 yams
• ·       1 butternut squash
• ·       1 Pink Lady apple
• ·       1 peach
• ·       3 heads Romaine lettuce
• ·       1 bunch dandelion greens
• ·       1 bunch Swiss chard

I got home, whipped up some guacamole with 4 of the avocados, 3 of the tomatoes, and the lime (plus stuff I had already).  After peeling the yams, I threw them in the steamer so they’d be ready for Ryan tomorrow for lunch.  The butternut squash joined the one I had already in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour while I went with my friend to a free Zumba class.  Then, when I got home, I chopped up the apple from the BARGAIN BAG, an onion, some celery, and spices and sautéed them with the squash in chicken broth while Jason cleaned the heads of Romaine and threw them in the salad spinner.  After I pureed the soup ingredients in the Ninja, we sat down to a VERY CHEAP AND DELICIOUS BOWL OF SOUP AND PLATEFUL OF SALAD.

And guess what?  I came in WAY under budget!  We'll have money for groceries next week ;)