Well, we knew that when we moved to Calgary we'd have to be a little conservative. As much as I wanted that new dining room table (still using a fold-up one) and some more fun baby paraphernalia, they would just have to wait. And that was totally fine with us. We knew that sacrificing now to be able to pay off the student loans from acquiring four degrees would be worth it in the long run. We knew we'd have to be wise in the entertainment and dining out department. But certainly we'd be able to buy chicken and vegetables. But then we moved here and BAH! We feel like we need to take out a mortgage to buy groceries!
We used to be able to go to the store and with a tinsy amount of conservation, could walk away with a cart full of groceries for $70 or less. Now we feel like we're scrimping and saving and if we walk out with less than $100 spent, we feel like we made off pretty dang well. My favorite are the conversations we have in th grocery store. I walk through the dairy aisle and seriously have cravings for cheese. Why cheese?!? Because it's so blasted expensive!!! We continually comment on how expensive it is, Brennan reluctantly says, "we can get some if you want it. We're just going to have to get over the fact that it's expensive here and move on." I, in a very pioneer-ish, self-sacrificing tone say, "No, I can do without it." Same happens in reverse as we eye cottage cheese and sour cream as we continue on our way through the dairy aisle. Blasted cheese! I think about you all the time now.
But, the fun thing is that I feel like I'm finally learning how to be thrifty. Don't get me wrong, we weren't BAD before, but we weren't terribly good either. Here are a few of the fun ways that we have found to save money:
* buying unsliced bread: You can buy a big bag of four unsliced loaves from the Real Canadian Superstore. We just bring it home, individually wrap them, freeze and store! The best part is that you get to slice your own bread!!! It feels like you've just made it homemade (as a side note, I wouldn't mind making my own bread but it's so much cheaper to buy it this way than it is to make it)
* going car-less: Sometimes this makes me feel like a hobo but then I remind myself of the environmental, economic, and health benefit afforded in this choice. Economically, no car = no gas, no insurance, no registration, and no car payment...not to mention repairs and maintenance. We've even considered not getting one at all because we seem to be managing just fine without one.
* bye-bye cheese: Well, we really do buy it from time to time but when we do, we buy it in a slightly bigger block, shred, and freeze. I guess there aren't a TON of health benefits to cheese so that's fine. It's just so tasty...
* significant reduction in eating out: this one is best facilitated with the lack of car. When you can't drive to a restaurant, you're less likely to go. Plus, the few times we do eat out now, it actually feels like a fun treat.
* free entertainment: The library system here is amazing! We used to rent a movie from Red Box or fork out for a Netflix subscription, but now we have this amazing library system with tons of DVDs for a free date night.
* cloth diapers: okay, this was a little bit of an investment upfront but now that the investment is made, the money saving can begin! Thank you for all utilities included so I don't even have to worry about the difference in doing extra loads of laundry.
With all this being said, I think I'm going to miss random strangers offering to buy my ice cream because, "you're a starving student. Let me get that for you." (no, it really has happened!) Now that I'm really living the life of a student, I sure wouldn't mind someone offering to buy my eggs!
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