A Four Hundred Year-Old Tree and More...

It was my midweek foray for groceries and other necessaries. My first stop is generally a produce stand in what was once a field of groves. Thinned by overdevelopment, these have given way to a large covered roadside shed that shares space with a huge four-hundred year-old oak tree along with a barbecue stand which is usually shuttered by early evening. What was once old Florida grove land is now surrounded by a major multilane road that can take you from northwest to northeast county and the mass of traffic and build up surrounding my alma mater.

I've become a regular and earn a happy greeting from those who stock the bins and work the register. The fruit and vegetables, some of which come from this family-owned garden, are fresh and priced more cheaply than my local Publix, our largest grocery chain. I enjoy scouting the bins and being able to buy one of something should I choose. One can also buy eggs, milk, and a variety of other cold items. They always have displays and the aisles are easily traversed because the floor beneath the shed is concrete, so my wheels do not typically get stuck.

My favorite thing about the place other than the fact that it still exists, is the tree in the parking area. The other is a huge gourd prominently stationed at the entrance.
From here, I usually make my way to the Aldi just a couple miles up the road. I've shaved a good forty percent from my weekly spend this way and while the store is smaller and doesn't carry my cat's food, for example, the major chain I was using previously does not offer savings or a credit card with which I can save throughout the store. For this, I visit Target.

I'm always attuned to any specials or organics at Aldi and always go with a list, as I do at Target. The sticker shock I've experienced at other stores and the fact that my cat's food is now often more expensive than my own are two reasons I made this change. The other is literal change that over the last year has added up, enabling me to pay off holiday and other debt more easily. I've also developed a pantry and freezer so that what I generally buy is all fresh. Tonight, I had four frozen items, milk, peanut butter, cheese and a few other things for under $30 and my produce from the stand was $8. I paid my phone bill of $50 at Target and got some cat food and two other items for more than double what Aldi cost. I'm still trying to figure out how to lower my phone bill and broadband cost but so far, no luck. I've always been frugal from necessity. Now, it has become ingrained.

 My weakness has always been books. I've gotten rid of a lot of these and now read from a Kindle on to which I can download books from my local library system, a habit I've gotten away from in favor of buying from Amazon. Since my Kindle now holds almost two hundred books, I'm instituting a buying fast until all are read. This won't prevent me from using the library or creating a wishlist or digital TBR pile. Another thing I can do is utilize a small, independent used bookstore in my neighborhood. I purchased gift certificates for the holidays from there and all were appreciated and have been used. The owner uses a point system for books that are bought and then brought back once they have been read so that avid readers can keep books circulating and come back for more and the minimalist in me appreciates the re-cycling aspect of this.

Happy week, everyone!