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September budget challenge

Posted 09-02-2009 at 05:43:06 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

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After working on the Stockpile Challenge 3 months in a row, I went from barely making my $60/wk budget to spending less than $30 week, and my average savings went from 79% to 92%!

Starting out the month with:
CVS $21.74 gc + $16 ecb
Wag $4.05 gc
Tom Thumb $2.78 gc
Kroger $4.50 oyno
Braums $5.92 gc (they carry fresh groceries too)

$10.48 in grocery frees that expire in Sept.

$5.xx in PP
I have been transferring my PP funds when I get close to $20 I transfer $15, leaving <$5 for buying coupons if I need to. This money comes mostly from doing surveys.

My new goal is to spend under $40 a week, counting all groceries, HBA, pet food, baby needs, OTC meds, first aid, cleaning, paper products, etc, etc, etc. But not counting eating out, that will come from my entertainment, since usually the request comes from DS or DH (when he buys). I am also counting money spent on newspapers, I have not always counted these.

However my ultimate goal is to spend as little as possible, rather than what I used to do- oh, I only spent $55? I can make one more trip!

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1. Sept 1 CVS Milk $2.49 bandaids from $ section Bayer meter $14.99 - free coupon = $3.49 on GC + earned $5 ecb for meter, $1 for milk Sept 2 CVS (again) Kids pain reliever $4.49 thermometer $5.29 bandaids from $ section Bayer meter $14.99 - free coupon - $10 ecb = .81 on GC + earned $5 ecb for meter I used $10 ecb and spent $4.30 on my gc, but I came out with $11 ecb, so net cost was $3.30 on my gc. However, my kids were sick, and I have lots of family that can use the meters. Newspapers $2.50 Total spending for September: $2.50

   Posted 09-04-2009 at 05:07:51 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

2. I can't believe I went 4 whole days without shopping! That is a record... the longest I've gone without shopping in 2009 was 3 days. Sept 6 Kroger 6 Dannon light & fit 6pks $1.88 - $1/1 insert 6 DanActive 4pks $1.88 - $1/1 insert 6 Dannimals crush cups 6pks $1.88 - $1/1 insert 2 El Monterrey Torpedos $2.49 - 1/1 mailer and $1/1 insert 3 Barilla picollini pasta $1.39 -.50 insert, doubled 3 Barilla whole grain pasta $1.39 -.50 insert, doubled 3 Bounty paper towels $1 -.25 insert, tripled 6 Sandies cookies $2 -1/1 peelie 2 6ct english muffins $1.79 - free meal deal for buying sandies 2 6ct raisin boxes $1.99 - free meal deal 2 Kroger yogurt 6oz cup .50 - free meal deal 2 gallons Milk - free meal deal 2 purex laundry detergent $2.50 -.35 insert, tripled 2 clorox bleach $1.99 -.50/2 doubled, - free clorox wyb 2 purex (store instant discount) 2 soda water 2liters $1.42 Roast $2.50 Doritos $2.18 lay's chips $2 oj $1.50 - $1, $1, $2.50 oyno = $35.90 Total spending for September: $38.40 Savings: 283.14 88% Savings

   Posted 09-08-2009 at 06:18:46 AM by Cynthiabutterfly Updated 09-08-2009 at 10:54:00 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

3. 	Sept 8 Mailed Dannonomics offer Received $11.99 rebate Total spending for September: $26.41 Savings: 283.14 88% Savings
   	Posted 09-08-2009 at 06:21:55 AM by Cynthiabutterfly Updated 09-09-2009 at 05:25:30 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

4. Sept 9 Kroger 2 cans Mighty dog .69 - free coupon Eggs - Free kroger homemailer Maruchan Yakisoba .99 -.50 insert, doubled 3 Mission tortillas $1 -.55 insert 2 Nutripals 4pk drinks $5.22 -3 insert Dole pineapple $1.45 -.50 doubled (from a H&G magazine) 3 Bounty paper towels $1 -.25 insert, tripled Peanut butter $1.12 Lettuce .87 Bananas 1.91 = $10.95 CVS 3 PC 14lb cat litter .69 -1 ecb = $1.16 on GC Total spending for September: $37.36 Savings: 332.15 90% Savings

   Posted 09-10-2009 at 04:48:14 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

5. Sept 10 CVS 5 PC 14lb cat litter .69 = $3.73 on GC Sept 13 I was in need of some essentials, and had a Target gc, so I made an unplanned shopping trip: Target 5 Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal $2.88 -1.50 vocalpoint mailers + $5 gc for next purchase Up & Up contact lens solution $2.94 - .50 CRT Mayo $2.94 Ramen soup $1.37 Margarine $1.02 Salsa & Queso Dip $2.69 (DS's request for Nachos) - $10 gc from Juicy Bunch = $8.86 Total spending for September: $46.22 Savings: 400.93 90% Savings

   Posted 09-14-2009 at 04:47:46 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

6. Sept 14 Target Nutripals 4pk drinks $4.99 -$3 insert 2 chef michaels canned dog food .84 -bogo Target q, - bogo mfr q 3 Market cat food .49 - $1/3 blinkie Bounce dryer bar $3.79 - $1.50 Target q, - $2.50 mfr vocal point q = $2.38 on Target GC Kroger 3 bounty paper towels $1 -.25 tripled 4 Dannimals drinks 6pks .50 mgr markdown 4 Eggo waffles $1.65 - 1/2 4 apples $.99 - $2 off fresh fruit wyb 2 eggo waffles 4 apples $1 - $2 off fresh fruit wyb 2 eggo waffles 6 keebler cookies $2 - (1) $1/2 peelie 2 gallons milk free wyb keebler cookies (store promo)- $2 off milk wyb 2 keebler cookies from Kellogg's bts booklet 2 english muffins 6ct wyb keebler cookies 2 free raisins 6pk wyb keebler cookies 2 free Kroger yogurt cups wyb keebler cookies 1 gallon milk $1.79 - $2 off milk wyb 2 keebler cookies 4 Mission tortillas $1 - (2) .75 blinkies (2) .55 insert Charmin 4pk toilet tissue $1.88 -.25 (from parade mag) 2 Dole tropical fruit salad $1 -.55/2 insert -.17 tax = $14.82 CVS 2 Dyna Pep energy drinks $4.99 ea - (2) $5 ecb (adjusted down) = $0 OOP + earned $9.98 ecb I forgot my other Kashi cereal coupons at home, so I plan to make one more trip to Target, possibly today if the weather (and my sanity) permits. Total spending for September: $61.04 (still under my $40/wk budget) Savings: 474.82 89% Savings

   Posted 09-14-2009 at 10:49:34 AM by Cynthiabutterfly Updated 09-15-2009 at 06:22:57 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

7. 	Marking the half-way point in the month with: 1 free dog treat coupon I need to use before it expires next week CVS $9.98 ecb + $16.04 gc WG $4.05 gc $0 RR Tom Thumb $2.78 gc Braums $5.92 gc $10.XX PP $100.36 in free coupons in my possession ($30 worth is non-grocery) Total spending for September: $61.04 Savings: 484.80 89% Savings $86.97 under budget for September
   	Posted 09-15-2009 at 06:34:43 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

8. Sept 15 Albertsons 6 Horizon milk singles .88 -$1/3 = $3.28 oop $7.92 for booklet of stamps Received $3.03 rebate for Gerber sips TMF BTW, DS took one sip out of this, and refused to drink it. I got the vanilla. I thought, "how bad could it be?" and took a taste myself. It was like nasty watery powdered milk. The other two from the pack are still in my fridge, I dumped the rest of the first one into a smoothie and gave it to DH, LOL. Total spending for September: $69.21 Savings: $490.02 88% Savings

   Posted 09-16-2009 at 06:34:57 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

9. Sept 17 Needed oil and diapers, so made a lunch run: Kroger Comforts diapers $6.49 - 10% kroger discount - $3 peelie Comforts 80ct softpack wipes $1 - 10% kroger discount Kroger bag cereal $3.19 -.50 sc, - 10% kroger discount -.50 store coupon mailer Vegetable Oil $2.11 4 Dentyne Gum bogo $1.29 - bogo blinkies Nutripals $5.22 - $3 insert (DS loves to take these with his lunch at school) 3 Maruchan yakisoba .99 - .50 insert, doubled 2 juicy juice 8oz 8pks $2.49 -.50/2 insert, doubled 4 Kraft IWS $1.99 - (2)$1/2 kroger mailer 2 Philly cream cheese $1.49 $1/2 kroger mailer 2 Velveeta cups $1.19 - bogo Kraft mailer - $5 instant savings = $17.95 And I got 2 excellent money makers yesterday too: $5 newspapers (got 10 $2 off any purchase using Discover card) So I had to dust off my Discover- they lowered my limit to $500 after I stopped using it around 3 years ago. I want to go back and get more papers using my $2 coupons! I can do easily 30 transactions before 10/31. $75 for survey Total spending for September: $17.16 Savings: $551.64 97% Savings

   Posted 09-18-2009 at 08:54:01 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

10. Breaking news.... my mother just called to let me know that she cleaned out her 21 cu.ft. upright freezer and I can have it! I've been eyeing the 8 cu. ft. upright at HD for $300 as a second freezer, but since I've got other things on my list ahead of it, I've been trying to make do with my fridge and freezer. This one is several years old, but in great condition and much bigger than the old chest freezer I already have. I'll probably take everything out of the current freezer, and then leave it unplugged until I need to stock up on turkeys in a few weeks.

    Posted 09-18-2009 at 10:04:28 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

11. Yea for you! woo hoo! Nice! I was forced to do away with my old chest freezer and I wish I had it back. All these eggos, aunt jemima and meat wyb kraft has me stocked to the max - I haven't been able to get the popsicles. Plus I wanted to freeze some milk with it being so cheap lately. Plus I know from the stockpile challenge a row of meat and a row of veggies in the upright only lasts us a month. So I have been eye balling a chest freezer for popsicles, pizza and breakfast foods. So yea, you got a 2nd one!

    Posted 09-18-2009 at 07:36:16 PM by thickbluebug

12. I had quite an interesting weekend- Got the freezer from my mom on Saturday, but we had to let it sit for 24 hours before we could turn it on (something to do with the condenser) anyway, I cleaned it out last night, and transferred over the food from my smaller chest freezer. I had quite a few things in there that I had forgotten about, including a turkey! LOL I had about twice as many frozen veggies as I thought, and 3 times as much cheese, I also had some steamfresh rice I didn't know about, and butter! I must have stuck it in a bottom corner for holiday baking. Now the chest freezer is unplugged, and the upright has plenty of room still! I like this freezer much better, I can see how much of everything I have, instead of digging thru bags trying to find something! I also made 3 shopping trips on Saturday: Target 5 boxes Kashi Honey Sunshine cereal $2.88 - 1.50 vocalpoint home mailer + earned $5 gc Nutripals 4pk $4.99 -$3 insert 2 bags Chef Michaels dog food $4.26 - $1.50 Target coupon - $2.50 IP - $2 off your purchase when you use your Discover card = $7.41 OOP CVS Bayer Breeze 2 meter (my sister asked me to get one for her and I had one $20 coupon that expires 9/30/09) $19.99 - free coupon = $0 OOP Tom Thumb 16 OM hot dogs $.99 -$1/2 buns .89 - Free buns wyb 2 om hot dogs (tearpad) Fiber one bars $3.49 - (3) .40 ecoupons - .40 IP BC warm delights $1.69 - (3) .50 ecoupons -.50 IP Kid cuisine $2.49 - (3) $1/1 Shortcuts 10 Freshpet dog food single meal bowls $2 - $2 insert = $38.51 Ok, I knew that total was too high, and probably my hot dogs didn't ring up sale price. No problem, there was a line so I paid and went to CS. My receipt looks like this: 2@3.99/4@.99 om meat weiners 10 @ $3.49 turkey franks So she refunded me $6 for the 2 that rang up $3.99 and waved me off.... I told her I had bought 16 packages. She checked and the ad said "Limit 4" I wasn't looking at the ad, and the store sign didn't say there was a limit. She checked with the mgr and was told to enforce the limit... so she refunded me $34.90 for the 10 turkey dogs. So so after my $38.51 total, she refunded me $40.90, making my new total: - 2.39 I also received a $10 Target GC in the mail from the national PTA group for signing up for a back to school eve party. Total spending for September: $22.18 Savings: $696.93 97% Savings

    Posted 09-21-2009 at 05:25:10 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

13. Sept 21 Fiesta bread/donuts from bakery sliced bread 5 lbs dry pinto beans 5lbs beef steaks 5lbs pork steaks = $27.97 I know I got a few other things, but I just don't remember everything and I don't have my receipt any more.. Sept 23 Kroger Comforts diapers $6.49 - 10% kroger discount (forgot to give her my $3 peelie) 2 comforts 80ct soft pack wipes $1.80 2 loaves white bread $1.40 Tortilla chips $.90 - .65 sc = .25 3 Barrilla piccolini pasta $1.39-.50 insert, doubled 3 Yakisoba Ramen $.99 -.50 insert, doubled 5 Dr. Pepper 12pks $11 - 1/1 from inside 12pk dr pepper cherry 2 velveeta shells & cheese cups $1.19 Toll house cookie dough $2.50 3 Hot Pockets pizzaria $1.99 -.50 insert, doubled 2 Capri sun $1.99 = $27.61 I had 2 transactions for the mega deal because they only double 3 like coupons per transaction, and I mis counted- I got 8 items on my first order and 12 on the second, but both $5 discounts came off on the second order! That put me into the negative and I got a pack of gum to cover it- Trans #2 3 Barrilla whole wheat pasta $1.39-.50 insert, doubled 3 Yakisoba Ramen $.99 -.50 insert, doubled Toll house cookie dough $2.50 3 Hot Pockets pizzaria $1.99 -.50 insert, doubled 6 Kraft easy mac -.55/2 tearpad 2 Juicy juice 8pks $2.49 - 1/2 kroger mailer 5 dentyne ice gum $1.29 bogo -bogo blinkies - $5 instant savings - $5 instant savings = $.64 Sept 25 Recieved $20 Kraft rebate Newspapers $3 Sept 27 Albertsons Eggs .88 Club soda .79 = $1.74 Total spending for September: $63.14 Savings: $836.85 93% Savings

    Posted 09-28-2009 at 05:41:16 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

14. 	I just discovered that with my spending last week, I broke $10,000 in savings in 2009!! Thanks to the last 3 months of challenges, my total savings for the year is at 85%.
    	Posted 09-29-2009 at 05:41:45 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

15. 	that is awesome!!!!!
    	Posted 09-29-2009 at 11:13:26 AM by thickbluebug

16. Sept 29 Received $10 Kellogg's Fuel for school rebate Kroger 3 Maruchan yakisoba $.99 -.50 insert, doubled 6 Dentyne ice gum bogo - bogo coupons (found out she only scanned 1 of 3) Kroger ice cream sandwiches $2.63 - 10% kroger discount -.75 sc = $1.69 2 Kroger pizza rolls $1.25 - 10% kroger discount - $1.25/2 mailer 3 Kroger pizzas $3.29 - 10% kroger discount - $3/3 mailer Kroger cookies $1.99 - 10% kroger discount - .65 sc - $2/$10 frozen foods mailer - $2 off any purchase using your Discover card = $7.15 Albertsons 6 OEP refried beans - .60/2 IP - $2 off any purchase using your Discover card = $2.16 + earned $3 off any meat purchase for buying old el paso products Trans #2 10lb chicken quarters $4.90 - $3 oyno = $1.90 Total spending for September: $64.33 Savings: $883.46 93% Savings Of course, once again there are coupons expiring today that I want to try to use. I do have one trip to Target already planned that will be mostly covered by gc, and I have some freebies to use at Tom Thumb. I'm hoping not to up my spending too much but still use up some good coupons today.

    Posted 09-30-2009 at 05:42:04 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

17. Ending the month with: Sept 30 Tom Thumb 5 Freshpet select meals $2.49 - $2 insert coupon 4 Chinet 36ct lunch plates $2 (with in-ad coupon) - $2 insert coupon The freshpet was on sale for $2 last week and I got some free then, but I found more coupons I didn't know I had, and they got me to the $20 min. purch. requirement for the Chinet coupon = $2.65 on gc Target 3 Purina One cat food 3lb $5.99 -3 insert, - 2 target 3 Nutripals 4pks $4.99 - 3 insert 4 Mr. Clean 2pks $2.29 - $1/1 and bogo insert q's Tide stain release $3.74 - 1.50 (from a h&G mag) - 1.50 target Swiffer wet jet $19.99 -5 mailer -$1 target Swiffer wet jet refill pads $6.19 - free wyb starter kit insert coupon - .50 swiffer refill crt target q - $15 gc = $12.38 Newspapers $4 Total spending for September: $80.71 Savings: $995.57 93% Savings I spent more than I had originally planned at Target, but I needed a mop head, and the mop head was $1 less than a whole new mop. I was so disgusted with that, I went ahead and got the swiffer, the refills are cheap enough with coupons/rebates anyway, and I have seen DIY pads using a microfiber cloth, which I also have a stash of that I bought on clearance.

    Posted 10-01-2009 at 12:43:51 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

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