Before I write too much, I'm going to apologize in case this is sort of all over the place.
This has been a spendy month. It's not like we went out and bought anything new and exciting, but it just seems like we were buying and buying. We had a couple of big bills plus a grandchild's birthday. However, we also were hitting some sales on groceries and stocking up after using some of the items.
Today, we went to County Market near us. Not sure if there are many or any where you live, but it's a small chain. And they had a few things on sale like canned vegetables...3 for $2. So, basically 67 cents a can for the store brand. That's cheaper than Aldi so I felt that was a good deal. There were a couple of items that they had digital coupons as well and an item or two that we needed that this store only handles. We spent $55 but saved $11.98. I'm keeping a spreadsheet of how much we save on digital coupons, paper coupons, and sales. Last week we saved over $33 in coupons and sales at Kroger. We are trying to eat at home and I'm trying to buy loss leaders and stuff on sale. So far this year we've saved $238.70 in coupons and sales on groceries. However, I still feel like grocery prices continue to rise a nickel here and a dime there and if gas prices increase, I'm afraid the prices will continue to go up.
One thing I have been doing is using grocery apps where I scan my receipts and earn credits toward cash cards or gift cards. So far I've gotten $20 in gift cards and have another $10 coming. I use 5 apps regularly because they will take about any receipt. I also use Ibotta, but they have so many items I don't buy and Checkout 51 is limited,but I still check. These gift cards take a bit to earn, but I figure businesses are already buying my data, I might as well get something from it.
One thing that concerns me is the food supply chain, mainly because of the price of gas and how that effects transportation. Are you or have you been stocking up on things as they go on sale just in case? Or, are you thinking that the price of gas will go down and we won't have this worry?
March 23rd, 2026 at 09:21 pm 1774300911
March 24th, 2026 at 04:55 pm 1774371307
But for now, what concerns me is that killing the Ayatollah is akin to killing the Pope. For the Iranians, there is no higher insult than to kill their top spiritual leader, one that wields so much power, even the Iranian president bends the knee and is indebted to.
And yet, Israel and the US not only killed him, but in the process, turned him into a martyr and rallying battle cry. As we can all see, they are serious this time, from closing the strait of Hormuz to launching and revealing their ICBM capabilites that were beyond most intelligence estimates.
Will this crisis come to an end anytime soon? Not so long as Trump is in charge, whom Hegseth is requesting $200 billion in war chest to fight Iran, a confllict that Trump himself stated as "very complete". Not when ICE is still running amok, and is now told to run the security checks at airport because the Democrats was willing to fund TSA, just not ICE, but Trump decides to say no to the whole deal.
All this, by the way, is completely preventable, BUT here we are, and where we are is not a pretty sight. But to end on a more positive note, even this will have to pass eventually. I think that can only come from Israel and the US apologizing and paying compensation somehow, though can you imagine either one of them doing so? But yeah, hopefully come this midterm, we will have a blue turnout to counterbalance all this insanity from what has to be the most asinine administration I have ever seen in my life.
March 25th, 2026 at 12:17 am 1774397834
March 27th, 2026 at 01:42 pm 1774618945
Prices could normalize in an instant, but who knows whether or when that might happen? I tend to think it won't happen because we all know Rump is a stubborn fool and elected leaders need to save face. We've likely been sucked into yet another quagmire that will claim still more American lives, and for what, exactly? Yet again, we are also stuck paying the price for the whims and capriciousness of idiots in office.
Rump supporters are still willing to look the other way or deny he's doing anything wrong. Why is it so hard for people to admit they were wrong? Even if they can't admit it, I hope they will vote with their conscience at the ballot box.
March 27th, 2026 at 03:55 pm 1774626930
Mumof2, sorry places are running out of gas.
Tabs and Suem, glad you are stocking up as well when stuff is on sale.