Indulging My Champagne Tastes on a Tap Water Budget

So, I ran through our budget the other day. Having the roof repaired, the car repaired, a new water heater installed, 4 new tires put on the car, an unexpected medical bill paid, and a lost pair of glasses replaced, all since December, has put our budget in a tight bind. But I refuse to live like a pauper. If all I can afford is tap water, well, then, I'm going to make that glass of tap water taste fantastic!

Yesterday, I made myself a wonderful pot of tea, using a tea bag that I received free in the mail, a while ago (a Twinings offer). I also made another batch of dark chocolate almond bark, using chocolate chips and whole almonds from the pantry (yum!). In the evening, I packed a dinner and met one daughter on campus, and the two of us had dinner and a show. My other daughter was able to score two free tickets to the production she's in and gave them to daughter number one and I.

And today, daughter number one and I are going to the Seattle Art Museum together. It's the free day for the month, so no cost on admission for either of us. There are tables just outside the cafeteria there, for us to have a nice lunch together; so I've packed us a bite to eat. My daughter had to visit an art museum this week for an assignment, and she has the morning free. This worked out well.

My glass of tap water is tasting might fine, today.

Have You Noticed This?

In the last few years, many holiday or summer foods have gone on sale a bit more in advance of the holiday/season than in years past. It happened here with eggs, this year. Instead of the week leading up to Easter, eggs were on sale two weeks before Easter at one store, then not on sale in that week when they've traditionally been.

Ice cream is seen as a summer food, in many places. It's not at all summer here, yet. We won't have summer for another month. Yet, Fred Meyer advertised a bunch of ice cream products for a 4-day sale this week, long in advance of when most in my area would be buying a lot of ice cream. The Party Pails (1 gallon) were on sale for $2.99 for four days. The sale overlapped with Senior Discount day, so for me, the Party Pails were $2.69. Two years ago, we bought a Party Pail, "on sale" in summer, for $3.99 (regular price is $5.99). The $2.69 price was too good to pass up. I bought our summer's supply of ice cream, 4 pails.

My guess is the marketing works like this -- in the shoulder season leading into the traditional season for a product, retailers lure you into buying their product, with a low price. You use that product, and enjoy it. Then when the real season hits, you are hooked on their brand for that product, and you repeat purchase at a higher "sale" price. That's just my guess. I've seen this with a few other seasonal or holiday items.

Or, maybe I'm just really cynical.

Back to the ice cream. Even if it turns out that all summer long, Fred Meyer advertises their Party Pails at this same low price, I won't be out any money. I seriously doubt they would put this on sale for any less than what I paid yesterday. I did the math. The typical brick-style container of ice cream weighs 48 oz, or 1.5 qts. A Party Pail contains 2.666 of that size container. At $2.69/Party Pail, my cost per smaller 1.5 qt container is $1.01. I never see ice cream on sale for that price in my area. So, I know I got a great deal.

Of course, all of this ice cream isn't even for me, sadly. I can't eat this stuff in servings more than a spoonful. But my family will love it.