Sabrena the Frugal Shopper

Sabrena Jones

On her way to the grocery store

Sabrena Jones was born in Mobile, Alabama. At the age of ten she moved to the suburbs of Michigan where she still resides. Her mother Betty and Aunt Gloria raised her and provided anything that she needed. If not for these two wonderful women she would not be the women she is today. Her aunt and mother taught her the ways of a frugalist.

Her mother cared for her and her sister without any government assistance, until her younger brother was born and during this time they would only receive WIC. Growing up her mother was always able to provide more than enough food for the family. She always cooked enough for if someone would come over and also to have leftovers. Now as an adult she says, “I am only able to provide for me and my family. I never invite anyone over for dinner because I need the food to last so I can provide for my family.” Sometimes she even finds herself with less on her plate so that everyone can eat.”

Sabrena is now married with two daughters and she finds herself having to provide for six people every day. Things get harder and harder as weeks pass and with some prices changing in a day it makes matters even more difficult. So as time go on she learns more ways to save money on food and everyday household goods.

Before she leaves the house to go shopping for anything she goes through a long process just to save money. The first thing she does is write a list of food, and household items that are needed. She even clips coupons for extra savings. Then she spends a lot of time looking through Meijer, Kroger, Walmart and ALDI sales paper, so that she can compare prices and see which stores have the best buy. She figures out which stores she will be going. It is not out of the ordinary for her to go to two or more stores in a week. Because many of the stores she shop at are close to her home she saves money on gas when going to the supermarket. She says “I save on time and money by leaving my children at home also I prevent from going away from the task at hand. She sets a dollar limit on how much she is willing to spend and stays close to that amount.

With dramatic change in prices it is more difficult to buy enough food for her family. So when she goes to the supermarket to buy items she has many choices to make because there is never a set value on items. When she had to buy apples, onions, milk and eggs she is left with a very annoying task to complete. She remembers when “apples use to be 99 cents per pound, good bread was two dollars a loft, and when milk and meat was half the prices that she are pays now. “ She says that even finding certain items at the grocery store is difficult because the shelves are never stocked. She is even forced to go without something just to buy more of another so that there will be enough.

In the grocery store Sabrena complained about how the prices for

butter and juices have went up and the dates that where on the

containers and how much of these items are on the shelf

versus other things that she need that this store did not have.

She provides for her family without no government assistance and she believe that, “going hungry is worse than not having a place to live.” The fact is the Government cannot provide for everyone so many people who need help are left to care for their family alone. The family may have an income but it is not enough to provide for everyone in their household. While it may be difficult to provide adequately for her family she is making it and doing a good job at it. She knows that it is difficult for other just like her so she helps them in any way that she can. When there is a promotion at the grocery store she donates not thinking about how she could have used that money to buy more food for her family. Rather it is donating money or even her time; she does what she can hoping and praying that things will get better for everyone in these times of misfortune.

Sabrena cooks breakfast lunch and dinner for her children

everyday. This afternoon she cooks a chicken omelet

with tomatoes green pepper scallions and onions.

Sabrena Jones is a frugalist with an edge that cannot be beat. She lives her life for her family making sure they have everything that they need. She spends her leisure time clipping coupons and looking through sales paper in fact she enjoys this more then watching television. Sabrena looks constantly for a deal and a sale which makes her frugal.