Tuesday Tirade: Shopping. No Sir, I don’t like it.*

I used to shop with a list. I would look in my fridge, freezer, and cupboards, then write down items I was low on, needed, and could use. Now, as I walk through the store, I shake my head at some of the prices—usually in the produce and meat department, and that list is no longer viable.

It angers me that some of the good prices are on the condition that you buy in multiple amounts, otherwise you have to pay the stupid price.

I try to buy fresh and unprocessed as much as possible. Most fresh fruit (except bananas) is way overpriced. It’s a good thing I like bananas. I will buy tomato/vegetable juices in lieu of fresh, and since I use salt sparingly, the sodium content is not a concern. I make my own bread as often as I can and have increased my intake of alternative proteins. I like meat, but I could easily be a vegetarian.

After one trip though the store and coming out with very little—refusing to pay some of the prices, I have decided that my shopping list now reads like this:

Is it on sale?
Do I need it?
Do I really need it?
Do I want it?
Can I do without it?
Can it wait?

Another tactic I use is to take one bag. Don’t use a cart and fill the bag with what you need. Once it is full (or too heavy if you had to buy milk, potatoes and canned beans), you head to the checkout.

You could drive around to find the best deals, but the fuel prices now negate those savings. I’ll only go to places that are on my way when I have to drive, otherwise I’ll go on my bike, limiting that amount that I can carry.

In different parts of the country, and all over the world, other people are facing many of the same issues. Some may have it better (we don’t have that highest gas prices in the country), and others have it worse.

I just want to enjoy an avocado again.

How about a banana?

Yeah, sure. That’ll have to suffice.

-Leon

^{*Name that reference and win a prize (prizes will not be awarded)}

Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, and a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words.

My new book page: http://books.linesbyleon.com/