Yesterday, while talking to DW, I suddenly realized that even after all these years, SHE STILL DOESN'T GET PREPPING. This was shocking to me, as I have been prepping for over 20 years. She says that she understands, and after having prepping save her ass several times, I found out yesterday that she was only pretending to understand my prepping and/or frugality. We were at the grocery store with a limited amount of money, as usual, and she got angry at me for not buying some fancy air-freshener crap at an expensive price. I told her that we needed food more than that pretty container of scented air. I told her that we could get it when we had more money to spend. And come to think of it, this is not the first such incident of this kind occurring recently. And not so recently. I have been ignoring this tendency of hers for a long time. And more often, giving in to it. Now, I am being a tightwad this week for a reason. We only had about $40 to spend on food. Now if we shop wisely, we can get by on $40, and fortunately, we usually have more than that to spend for a week's supply of food. But lately I have been spending more on medicine, and it affects everything in our budget. So what do I do about my newly-noticed shortcoming (mine, not hers) ? I decided to try to explain it again.
I picked up a small jar of peanut butter- her favorite food, I think- and put it in the cart. I said "when we get home, hide this away so you can find it IF we run out of peanut butter someday". Now, I knew that we were NOT out of peanut butter- I bought her some last week. But I hoped she would understand what I was doing. I saw that Spaghetti-os were only 67 cents a can. I put one can in the cart. I bought the other items that I planned to use for meals this week. I told her that some weeks I can only get one extra item, like the Spaghetti-os, and that is what I did. Other weeks, I can afford more. But I ALWAYS buy at least ONE extra item and put it away.
On the way home, I told her that I was just being like a little squirrel. Saving nuts in the spring, summer, and fall so that I would not be hungry in the winter. I said "I'm putting the Spaghetti-os away for winter when we get home. I'm a squirrel." She laughed. I told her that maybe the other animals laugh at the squirrels, but the squirrels did not starve in the winter.
I hope she gets it this time.

It's a female thing. My daughter and I go down the laundry and shampoo aisles, smelling every product. We get really excited over a nice smelling fabric softener or shampoo.
I wouldn't buy one if I only had $40 to spend, but the urge to buy nice smelling things is normal for our gender, I think.
I don't even consider myself a "girly" girl, I don't wear perfume or makeup or anything like that, but I'm a sucker for a nice mountain air, or vanilla plum, or almond cherry, hygiene or cleaning product.
Until we were totally broke, I bought every scent of philosophy shampoo, because I love it when DH buries his face in my hair and sniffs. They have great scents like carrot cake, gingerbread, cinnamon buns, egg nog, hot , buttercream frosting, waffle cone, candy cane, and our favorite, pumpkin bread. $16 a bottle, though! I still have a few bottles put away.

Hmm... who knew ? Thanks for the explanation. I don't understand quite yet, but I'll try to wrap my head around it.

all our soap has more fruit than our fridge! I suppose we could eat the soap if we had too.

men are from Venus,women are from Mars and preppers are in the real world....

I hope this helps...

We all have bills to pay some are a set amount each month.like mortgage,heat,power,water,etc...we all have are our own list of unflexible bills, these are the bills that have to be paid..so take your total income and subtract these unflexible bills, then you are left with an amount for your flexinle bills like groceries, gas for vehicle, etc...

Now lets say your car breaks down or your kids need something, or you need something...well how do you come up with the money to cover those expenses, something has to give in your flexible income and most times for people it is food...


So before any thing happens you are frugal and set aside a few of those extra items like the jar of peanut butter and jam..then all you need for that day is bread, oh cool you own a bread maker and you make a loaf, so now you have a meal,that extra saved money can help for that unexpected expense....

and yes we like to have nice frilly things,but an accointability budget in your household is neccessary...

maybe next week you can surprise her with the sweet smelling spray she wanted...when you have a few extra dollars...be romantic....try to understand her as you expect her to understand you

OK, that is good advice.
Of course I could always tell her to eat the air spray when she is hungry...
I thought that the squirrel story might help illustrate the reason for my "stupidity".

P.S.- since i had a smaller amount of money to spend n food this week, I bought less, but did notice that the price of rice at Sam's club is DOWN a dollar, to $7.84 for 25 pounds. The price of 50 pounds is $14.84 How about THEM apples ! Buy now, if you can- I will next week, I hope the price is the same.

War, i will keep you abreast of when you can get those smelly things cheap or free.
Hope you get the sunday paper or preview for the coupons, you can also print coupons at your local library.
I refuse to pay for any of the nice smelly stuff and I have a lot in one tote downstairs.

But as you know, probably everyone knows, i'm a girly girl.

Thanks, Rubies.

War,
Us girls need something to comfort us when things get bad, I have an old bottle of Chanel #5, I only use it when I really have a real bad day. It makes me all fuzzy inside, it reminds me of a Grandma smell.

Often you hear of morale after SHTF. Maybe surprise her with one, but if you can, add 1-2 to your stash that she doesn't know about.

those perfumes will really pinpoint your location. so make sure that stuff is kept under lock and key.

I'll try to remember not to wear my Hai Karate when out on patrol... ;-]