Am I Doing This Right?

Is it better to shop at Big Y and use coupons or to shop at Aldi's?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Big Y!
Big Y has sales to go absolutely bananas over! Buy one, get one or two free makes me feel like something has been accomplished.

I pack up my girls with just enough necessities to last one week on a deserted island

Organize coupons in a haphazard style (cramming into used envelope works)

Shove everything into an already overflowing carry-all

Make sure kids are wearing enough clothes to avoid stares from "got it all together" moms in store

Quick memory review of when boas, plastic Tinkerbell heels, sparkly tiaras and tutus over jeans became acceptable out of the house attire

Realize she is four and if you start to question her you'll never get out of the house

One fast glance around the kitchen to assure conscience nothing has been left on that will leave your home a smoldering mess upon you return

Let dog in or out according to his sporadic whims of that exact moment

Buckle up car seats and we're off!

Shit! You're still donning ten year old yoga/sweat pants, husbands flannel top complete with unidentifiable baby stains, tired old smelly Uggs, not a spec of make-up to cover signs of aging and your hair looks like it hasn't seen a salon or a brush for that matter in a very long time

Sigh...

Too bad, hopefully no one will be looking or recognizing you

15 minutes later...

Grab loudest, heaviest carriage equipped with giant red germ harvesting plastic car attaches to front

Pack in kids

Take out coupons

Begin to shop

Beg four year old repeatedly to remain in the vehicle at all times

8 month old begins and finishes first bottle only to begin wailing approximately three aisles before you are ready to choose the slowest line for checking out and which is only calmed by being held
So now you are pushing, begging and carrying your load

One mind numbing hour later your total is...fulfillment!

Once you've loaded kids, groceries and self back into car...
Horror strikes!

At this point you have about five good solid seconds before your four year old starts questioning...EVERYTHING!

Would I have gotten more food for my buck at Aldi's? Did I buy things only because I had coupons for them? How long will my husband rub his superior shopping skills in my face this time?

Hmmmph!

Next time I am going to Aldi's