#3 Goes Shopping



He knew the drill.  "Over there by the flowers!"

 #3 is feeling so much better and so we went shopping tonight!  Tomorrow his challenge will start at breakfast, so he gets to enjoy one last dessert with us. 

His meal plan was interesting.  #3 is my pickiest eater, but also likes a few things no one else in our house likes.  He likes plain foods and he will eat some foods every day if you let him.  Every day at school, he has a plain cheeseburger.  I was pretty sure he would have the most money left because he wouldn't want condiments and other extras.  One interesting thing he wants with his dinner is celery dipped in peanut butter.  I was shocked one Thanksgiving to discover he likes celery.  Another day he saw a grapefruit a neighbor had dropped outside and he asked, "Is that grapefruit?  I love grapefruit!  I tried it at school."  I had no idea.  This is my kid who exclaimed, "I told you I hate juicy meat!"  I made the most delicious rosemary garlic pork roast.  It was so moist, but he was repulsed by it. 

We were in luck!  A peanut butter sale.

#3 wanted Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but the Fred Meyer brand was 50 cents a box.  Then he saw some canned macaroni and cheese, which was $1.50 each, but he didn't have to buy butter with that.  The butter was $2.99.  He kept his eye on the prize, wanting lots of money to spend on treats next week. 

I stepped on this calculator today because it was in the middle of my kids' bedroom floor, but amazingly it still worked.

My husband grew up on "macaroni and tomato juice".  I can't bring myself to eat it, but all of my kids like it.  He adds cheese too, but #3 said he could go without it for the sake of saving money.  This will feed him for at least four days.  The other few days he will be eating 89 cent "spaghetti rings" with his celery and peanut butter.  He bought a box of brown sugar and cinnamon oatmeal for $2.59.  It has 10 pouches, so he can eat that all week for breakfast.  That was his most expensive purchase.

He really wanted to have oranges with his lunches and last night I saw them at QFC for 88 cents a pound.  I thought it would be worth it to buy them there.  #2 spent half of his leftover money on a pack of gum to chew during the MSP next week (state testing) because they say it helps you concentrate better.  He cracks me up.  At QFC, he found Toblerone bars for a dollar each.  That was $1.99 off the regular price.  He also pointed out some Fuji apples for 78 cents a pound.  "That's a good deal!" 

See how happy he looks?  Wait until you hear the grand total. 

#3 spent $20.89!  He has $12.11 to spend on whatever he wants.  He's hoping he can find a cheap movie and buy candy.  He has some birthday money to add to it. 

Now comes the hard part.  #3 asks me on a regular basis, "What's for dessert?"  "Since when is dessert a regular meal?" I ask.  He has a major sweet tooth.  He had one last bowl of ice cream and asked if he could have two scoops instead of one.  "No!" I laughed. 

Milk, celery, peanut butter, bananas, canned mac and cheese, spaghetti rings, oatmeal, oranges, and macaroni and tomato juice.  He'll be in Heaven not having to eat any of my "disgusting" food.  I'll be in Heaven not hearing him complain about what's for dinner.  But the thought of eating what he's eating makes me want to hurl.