Over the course of my life, I have been teased for being smart, tall, nerdy, organized, loud…and, I am sure, many more things I am not even aware of!  But now I am getting teased for grocery shopping.  Not just for going grocery shopping, but going grocery shopping…let’s say…frequently.  For years I have made grocery shopping a sport, competed with myself to get the best deal possible.  To never pay more than $2 for a box of cereal.  To use multiple versions of the same coupon to stock up on toilet paper or toaster strudel.  To make multiple visits to the same store to bypass store-imposed purchasing limits.  I have been doing this as long as I can remember.  I am only now being teased for it, however.

Sure, those who know me well have heard tales of buying gas only on Sundays and only at Kum & Go in order to secure those multiple versions of the same coupon.  Those who have moved into my innermost of circles have visited the “basement pantry”…more warehouse than pantry.  But I have been selective about who is privy to my grocery shopping behavior.  Why am I only now being teased?

I can blame my new interest in social media for the recent jabs I have been subjected to.  You see, every time I go anywhere, I am checking-in.  And since I have my foursquare account connected to my Twitter account, I am also tweeting these check-ins to my (admittedly not so many) followers.  And this recent influx of tweets from @MCathJack announcing my arrival at the many grocery stores in the area (sometimes three or more visits on the same day, several days in a row) has brought the influx of commentary and quips.

I am not bothered by the ridicule, however; I join in the joke-making, calling attention to the latest string of grocery store check-ins.  Why am I enjoying this rather than skipping a check-in here and there to make my grocery habits seem a little more normal?  Because I am proud of my deal-seeking ways and I want to advertise them to others to encourage them to engage in this behavior as well!  However, I am limited in my ability to really demonstrate the strategies and techniques I use in my sport of shopping.  Why?  Because right now, I can show you when and where I am shopping…I cannot easily demonstrate HOW I am shopping.

Well, at least until now.  With Bawte, I will be able to share with my Bawte friends, my foursquare friends, my Facebook friends and my Twitter followers (if I choose to) the products I bawte on my frequent stops at the grocery store, not just the fact that I was there.  Great deal on cereal somewhere?  I can scan a few boxes and comment on the low price!  Low price soda available one day only?  Scan the code, snap a photo of the sale sign and I can let you know so you can make an unscheduled stop at the store too!  In-store special not advertised anywhere else?  Consider me your source for this otherwise unavailable information. 

I love the idea that with Bawte I can quickly and easily communicate my shopping strategies within my online networks.  I love that others can realize some benefit from my years of bargain-hunting.  And frankly, if I can expose the great deals I get to everyone, maybe that would cut down on the jokes and smirks I have been getting?

So friends and followers, plan on seeing me check-in every Sunday at Kum & Go (at least once) for my free paper.  But soon, plan on seeing that I bawte gas while I was there.  And expect at least five trips to the grocery store each week… the great deals on the cereal, toilet paper, or frozen veggies I bawte to follow.  I will take the gentle ribbing in stride. I have no intention of changing my shopping habits or my social media behavior.  Instead, here’s to sharing with you what I bawte.  I am confident I will “see” you at the grocery store more often because of it!