My shopping habits are like Lay’s potatochips.

    Like the old potato chip slogan, “You can’t eat just one,” it seemsI can’t buy just one thing.

    It’s not that I have some great desire to spend more money. I guessit’s more a matter of making my time in the store worth mywhile.

    Think about it. First, you make the effort to drive to thestore.

    (One may think getting dressed to go is the initial step, but I’mgoing to let that be a given in this discussion. And besides, frommy experiences, appearance was not on some shoppers’ minds whenthey ventured out the door.)

    After arriving at the store, you take the time to search outwhatever it is you’re looking for.

    Given some retailers’ penchant for relocating things, this byitself can be a challenge worthy of multiple purchases – possiblyof the same item. You may not find it again!

    Then it is on to the checkout lanes.

    Anybody ever feel like this is a game of roulette?

    “Lane 4 only has two people in line. Maybe that one.”

    “Oh, look. Lane 8 has just one person. Nevermind. That buggy isloaded down with the week’s grocery shopping.”

    “Let’s try the express lane. Uh oh, looks like that person’stesting the 15-item limit.”

    For me, it really doesn’t matter which lane number I bet on to bethe fastest. If I’m in a hurry, it’s going to be the slowest oneand I’m going to lose.

    Speaking of the express lane, I’ve often wondered whose idea of”express” is 20, 15, or even 10 items.

    To me, express is, say, five items.

    And if you buy two bags of chips and four bottles of Dr Pepper,that counts as six. You’re over the limit and need to move out ofthe express lane.

    Anyway, back to my purchasing patterns.

    Some things just go together. Buy just about any handheldelectronic gizmo and batteries are going to be needed, so it makessense to get those two things at the same time.

    If you’re getting a loaf of bread, whatever’s going between theslices probably should be bought then as well. Peanut butter -crunchy, of course – is my addition of choice.

    But what goes with a pack of baseball cards? Or the latest DVDmovie? It doesn’t really matter, I’ll find something.

    Back in my high school General Business class (is that course evenstill offered today?), our teacher talked about “impulse”items.

    These are items, typically not too expensive, that are placed nearthe cash registers so that shoppers can buy them “on impulse.”Candy bars and single-serving bags of chips are historicallyimpulse items.

     Lately, though, I’venoticed the variety of items at the checkout lane has expanded. AndI’ve succumbed to the impulse.

    A couple of months ago, I saw bags of Acai Berry chews at thecheckout.

    The writing on the bag said the chews provided a boost of energy. Ithought I might need that on some don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bedmorning, so I tossed a bag next to the only other thing I wasbuying that day.

    Well, after going through that bag and about half of another, I nolonger have that impulse. But the store got its $3.50 a bag, so Iguess it’s happy.

    More recently, I saw small packs of iPad screen cleaning wipes.They were two for the price of one, so I had to take that deal.

    I still haven’t used all 20 wipes. But I have them if I needthem.

    That tends to be a characteristic of my “extra” purchases. I maynot need the item now, but I’ll have it in case I ever do.

    And at least I will not have stood in line just to buy one measlything.

    That’s all for now.

    Write to Managing Editor Matthew Coleman at P.O. Box 551,Brookhaven MS 39602, or send e-mail tomcoleman@dailyleader.com.