How I'm Wired

Today was a day of running.  I have been conent to be mostly "working" at home this week, but today I needed to run.

One of my passions is to minister to the people right here in my own neighborhood.  The opportunities are endless and I have been able to build many relationships.  With this in mind, I volunteered to coordinate a block party for our neighborhood that's being held this Saturday.

The only problem is I cannot just go out and buy stuff.  Even though it's not my money, I feel instinctively obligated to get the best price on everything.  This can equate to substantial running around, but it wasn't too bad.  My one moment of angst was at the Dollar Store.  Now some people think, 'The Dollar Store?  What's to compare?  Their price is always the cheapest--one dollar.'  Unfortunately this is not always the case.  Yes, their items are one dollar.  But how much or many items are you getting for that price versus going to a grocery store?  With this in mind, I grabbed the ketchup and mustard off of the shelf, a tug-of-war going through my brain.

"This is ridiculous!  Just get 2 bottles of ketchup, 2 bottles of mustard, and get out of here!  You've been shopping all day and you're tired."

"No.  Do you see the measly amount of ketchup and mustard that you get for a dollar?  You can get twice the amount at Price Rite for just twenty cents more."

"But then you have to stop at one more store before heading home.  C'mon, just grab it already."

"I...I can't.  I'm putting it back.  I'll just go to Price Rite.  It's just up the street from here."

"What's wrong with you?"

"I sometimes wonder myself."

Yeah, these are the things that go through my brain.  It's just how I'm wired.