Not that my cupboard is bare, but going to the grocery store for some items was a good reason to get out in the 26° cold. I thought about going for another long walk, maybe down to The Mall before the invasion, but decided against it. It really is that cold out there, and the Safeway is only eight blocks away.

This would also be the first time that I’m using my EBT Capital Access Card. Being able to only purchase what I could carry, I knew this wasn’t going to be a big blowout grocery trip. I had run out of sugar for my coffee (thx Beau) and needed some bread (insert 70s hip jive joke). I’d see what else was on sale to fill up my basket. I pictured it being a blizzard-panic purchase: bread, milk, eggs, etc.

After browsing a couple of the aisles it looked as if it was turning into a sandwich run: bread, deli turkey, bread & butter pickles, lettuce. Eggs were on sale so I picked up a dozen of those. I also picked up some bananas to munch on. I noted that skinless boneless chicken breasts were on sale $1.99/lb until Tuesday so I’ll have to go back tomorrow (or later tonight) and stock up on those. Red Baron frozen pizzas were $3.99 on sale so some of those will go in the next basket too.

Slightly embarrassed, I was trying to pick a register that would give me a sympathetic cashier and I wanted to go through the elderly woman’s line but there were too many people. Instead I went through the express lane.

I didn’t know whether to alert the cashier or give them the EBT (electronic balance transfer) card but after I put in my Safeway Club Card # the machine asked for payment options and right there, along with debit & credit was an EBT button. I never knew what that was for but I sure know now. I touched that, the cashier rang everything up and bagged. I’m not even sure he noticed how I paid, as long as the sale rang up and it was “good day” and onto the next customer. Neat, and embarrassment-free.

Purchase: $19.51
Balance: $128.49
Club Card Savings: $5.34 (21% of purchase)