Panic Attacks In The Supermarket

I personally think supermarkets are the best places in the world to budget.

That’s because, when you’re poor, there is no where else you can spend money.

The supermarket is your mall; theme park; and clothing store. Everything you need and can afford is there.

Today I knew I had at least 200 euros in my bank account. It was payday so I was sure I had more. No worries, mate. I look around my kitchen and go head first into the luxurious thought of ‘I don’t feel like anything here.’ I’ll be honest, I had an assortment of vegetables, some potato chips, and some leftover spaghetti sauce — homemade thank you very much.

I decided it was time for a grocery shop.

And I ran out of coffee. That’s usually my indicator of when I need to hit downtown and stock up.

I have plans with friends in the future, rent to pay and fun to be had. The sun is shining and no cares can touch me today.

Then I checked my bank account. It’s pay day today and I felt like adding an extra smile to my dial.

No pay yet.

What!

It also turns out my math is pretty bad. I had 200 euro about a week ago and every time I spent a little I never factored that in.

Uh oh.

That’s ok. I’ve written about budgeting in a grocery store before, that makes me an expert, right? Right?? Right???

I ran through the tips I’ve handed out in the past.

Stew. Eat stew.

Is that it???

I felt the panic in my chest and my legs wanted to run. Should I just go home?

No. I was hungry and even though I’m poor, I need to eat proper meals.

I forced myself closer to the supermarket.

How could I stick to my budget and avoid embarrassment at the check out? How?

That’s when I saw it.

The ATM.

ATMs are a little tricky because they do charge you to get money out but I decided this would be my best bet.

I took about 40 euro in cash.

That was my budget.

I’ll have a rice bowl for dinner that sounds good. And a coffee. And maybe that piece of carrot cake on special.

It came close but the cash budget made everything feel real. For the first time in my life, I stuck to a financial budget.