Quarterly Buying: Brilliant or Bogus?

So, I have this harebrained idea I've been tossing around. I'm wondering if quarterly shopping would be profitable to me in terms of both time and money. At first, I was thinking just of my typical Target trips, but then I started thinking that maybe it would work for groceries, too. Here's how I think it would work:

• Make a "standard" list of all the things I normally purchase during the year other than clothing, furniture, etc. So, napkins, shampoo, cleaning products, make-up.
• For the first "quarter", I'd have to make an inventory of all of those items and then decide what quantity of each needed item to purchase.
• For later quarters, it would be a matter of monitoring how much I've used and purchasing anything I'll need for the next three months.

Eventually, I would fall into a rhythm where I would know what quantity I need to buy. In the past, I've been very against bulk buying because of limited space. However, quarterly buying seems like perhaps a happy medium. The groceries would be tricky, but I could at least stock up on dry items and maybe frozen items, too. I'm going to have to buy produce on a weekly basis anyway.

I'm hoping it would save me time because I'd only have to do major shopping 4 times a year. And, I'm hoping it would save me money because perhaps the items I buy more than once a quarter, I could buy in multiple and take advantage of a deal.

Anyone out there that's tried this?

Successes!

Success #1: I changed my headlight today. And, I didn't even call my dad for help or advice. Oh yeah!

Success #2: I ran 3.2 miles this morning! Yippeeee! I am so excited. I've been hovering between 2.5 and 3 for a while now, but today I did it. Part of it is just making sure I run a big enough route to be that long, but also, feeling good enough to keep running that long is quite an accomplishment. Yay! That was longer than the 5k I'm going to run in November. My goal is to be able to run five miles by that point. Then, I'll probably just maintain the distance and try to get a little more speed. It just seems so crazy to me that I am able to run that far. I'm the girl accused of cheating on the one-mile run in the fifth grade. Anyway...

Various and Sundry Thoughts

1 - The fact that my middle-aged stats professor drinks juice boxes in class is awesome.

2 - Today, I drove by that tuba-playing guy on Braddock Road again. Hilarious! Also, his tuba has a license plate that reads "TUBA"

3 - Last night I followed someone whose plates read, "CMYKRGB" I thought that was pretty dorkily awesome, too.

4 - I FINALLY got back on track with the Bible reading plan today. (Our church is doing a year-long reading plan called From Garden To City) Today's reading was Proverbs 3-4. Wow... that's some challenging stuff. This passage has a beautiful contrast between seeking wisdom and the value and glory in that and yet not resting on your own wisdom. It's pretty profound stuff. Proverbs 3:7 particularly hit me-- "Do not be wise in your own eyes." How often do I pat myself on the back for how very wise and astute I am!? Ahh... but to seek after a higher wisdom. Humbling, terrifying, but yet exciting.

5 - I've been working out a lot (for me, at least) lately and I'm starting to feel perpetually achy and sore. It's a good feeling, but for the first time in my life, I kind of want a massage. Ack! I do NOT have room in my budget for another luxury item!!

A few random updates

• Today, I ran 2.8 miles. I'm getting there. I was hoping it would be 3mi, but when I got home and tracked it, it was not. I can almost taste the 5k!
• I got a new shiny computer. yay.
• I do not enjoy the discipline of studying. I'm not doing so well with the transition back to school this semester. Oh well... it will happen.

Yesterday....

I saw a giant green John Deere tractor going down 8th Street here on the Hill.

Hilarious and Bizarre.