I’ve been reading that people don’t really multi-task well. I sometimes think I can do several things at the same time, but I can’t. This Walmart shopping trip proves that.
I had an appointment and thought that I’d swing by CVS to pick up a few needed items on the way home. While this seems simple, my mind wasn’t on both tasks. Did I grab my coupon binder on the way out the door? Nope. Did I even think about it? Nope.
When I realized that I’d forgotten my coupons, I knew that Walmart would be the cheapest place for me to get what I needed. (Insert an extreme rolling of the eyes here.) Unfortunately, this trip ended up costing me…. a lot. Here’s what I ended up with.
I’m not even going to share my total with you. Let me just say that this
Walmart trip cost me MORE than this trip from Target:
Compare the two pictures, and you can see why I was so disappointed in this trip! I ended up having to buy name brand cocoa powder, because our Walmart doesn’t carry store brand cocoa! Emma wanted to bake a cake and have ice cream with it. Of course, there’s no Kroger brand ice cream at Walmart, so that was also more expensive. And we even ended up grabbing two drinks at the checkout. Oh my!
No coupons…. Not a one. I would have liked to use coupons…. But they were at home.
I’m chalking this one up as a shopping fail. But I’ve learned my lesson. If I’m going to try to accomplish multiple tasks in one day, I’ve got to set myself up for success. Had I put my coupon binder in the van earlier in the day – or at least put it with my purse – I would have been able to do my CVS shopping as planned. With the Extra Bucks I had, I would have spent less.
Is it just me? Can you multi-task? Or do you get distracted and only do each task part way?
This post is linked to:
:: Friday Finals hosted by Southern Savers
:: Super Savings Saturday hosted by Money Saving Mom
:: Shopping Superstars hosted by The Thrifty Mama
I’m sorry you had such an expensive trip, I am not good at multitasking too many things. But if I know the night before I have to do something the next day I try to prepare by putting items in my purse that I need, i.e. coupons, paperwork etc. Look at it as a learning experience!!
Thanks for the encouragement! I’m usually good about getting everything together ahead of time, but not this time! We were running late, and I ran without my coupons. Definitely a learning experience! 🙂
I used to think I could multi-task…i.e. talking on my cell phone while shopping and checking out with coupons. I quickly learned that I was setting myself up for failure in those circumstances and made a new rule: leave the cell phone in the car when I go in to a store!
Ohhhh… That’s another great example. If I don’t pay attention, I end up not having my coupons scanned or something like that. I’m with you!!
Wow, a picture is worth a thousand words. I sometimes let coupons expire or forget to give them to the cashier. Just shake it off and don’t beat yourself up over it.
Just comparing the Walmart trip to the Target trip made me semi-sick. The good thing is that the feeling I had will help me remember to bring my coupons from now on. 🙂