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February 2010 Budget Challenge

Posted 02-01-2010 at 09:40:46 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

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I’ve spent some time considering my grievous overspending in January, and I’ve come up with a workable solution. I am going to carry over the negative amount into my February spending, in hopes that I can curb my spending this month, and start to make up for my overspending.

With that in mind, I am starting the month with:

Target $3.82 GC (can’t believe I didn’t go to Target at all in Jan)
CVS $8.65 gc $5.49 ecb
WG $14 RR $0 gc (waiting on one from Mypoints)
$0 in PP
Budget for the month $76.87 ($19.21/wk)

I have one $10 outstanding rebate, and $35 in GC coming from MyPoints to help me make my goal.

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Comments

1. January 31 Walgreens trans #1 Contour meter - free insert coupon = $0 oop + earned $10 RR trans #2 Blink eye drops $7.99 - $1.50 IP Scalpicin wipes $5.99 - $1/1 IP single TP roll .89 - $10 RR =$2.87 + earned $8, $6 RR The cashier was really confused, and scanned my $1 IP twice instead of the $1.50 one. I gave her $3 and she forgot my change, I had to tell her to give me it, and didn't realize she mis-scanned the coupons until I had left- It wasn't worth the .50 to go back. I did better later on in the day anyway. CVS Trans #1 Dove men's + care bodywash $5.49 - $1.25 insert - $1.50, $2 ecb = $0.80 on GC + earned $5.49 ecb trans #2 Dove men's + care bodywash $5.49 - $1/1 IP Huggies $10 - $5 Recyclebank rewards coupon - $5.49 ECB = $3.25 on GC + earned $5.49 ecb Tom Thumb 2 Pillsbury Savorings $3.99 - (3) $1/2 ecoupons $1/1 hangtag Nature Valley nut clusters $3.69 - (3) $1/1 and (2) .40 ecoupons - $1/1 IP 2 Progresso soup $0.99 - (3) .50/2 ecoupons 2 PB cinn. rolls $1.89 - (2) $1/2 and (1) .40/2 ecoupons - .40/2 insert 2 PB crescent rolls $1.89 - $1/2 and .50/2 ecoupons, .50/2 insert 1 PB pizza crust $2.59 - (3) $1/1 ecoupons - .35 insert (only the first one doubled) 2 Ragu $2.50 - $1/2 store coupon (forgot my insert coupons! AAACK!) Doritos .99 with in-ad coupon 2 5lb potatoes .99 ea - $3.50 oyno = $4.11 I was supposed to get a $4 oyno for the pillsbury, but it only printed the informational catalina. I went to CS and they gave me the $4 in cash. Final cost = $0.11 Total spending for February: $2.98 Savings: $159.90 98% Savings

   Posted 02-01-2010 at 09:52:48 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

2. February 1 Walgreens Blink eye drops $7.99 - $1.50 IP Valentine cup .17 with in-ad coupon - $6 RR = .66 + earned $8 RR for Blink Tom Thumb 2 PB cinn. rolls $1.49 - $1/2 IP2 PB crescent rolls - $.50/2 IP doubled 2 PB RTB cookies $2.99 - $1/2 IP (forgot my $1/2 store coupons!!!aaak) 2 Ragu $1.25 - $1/2 store coupon - .30 insert (first one tripled) 6 PureVia $1.99 - $2 insert (cashier adjusted last one to $1.94 so no overage) 3 HH $1.50 - (3) .75/3 ecoupons - (3) .50 store coupons 2 Progresso $0.99 - .75/2 store coupon - .50/2 IP doubled Fiber one muffin mix $2.50 - (3) .50 ecoupons - .50 IP doubled Eggs 18ct $1.19 with in-ad coupon = $9.16 This was a different store, and I got my $4 oyno this time. I'm feeling a little frustrated today, because it seems that the harder I try, the worse things get- I end up driving around and stuff is out of stock, (I've been to 4 walgreens in 2 days and no VitaminWater lip stuff!) and WHY do I keep forgetting coupons?!? Total spending for February: $12.80 Savings: $214.12 94% Savings

   Posted 02-02-2010 at 11:54:23 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

3. 	February 4 Walgreens W brand children's cough medicine $5.29 W brand 20oz sodas 2/$1 donuts $2.99 2 Advil $4.49 ea - $2 insert Vitamin lip care $1.99 - (2) $8 RR = .25 + earned $5 RR for Advil, $2 for Vitamin lip February 5 Walgreens Blink eye drops $7.99 - 2 insert valentine cups .17 - $5 RR = $1.14 + earned $8 RR for Blink Total spending for February: $14.18 Savings: $249.58 95% Savings
   	Posted 02-05-2010 at 07:36:11 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

4. February 5 Went to Kroger on my lunch break: 20 Pedigree dog food $1 – b3g1 free (took off reg. price $1.19) 3 Rotel .99ea - $1/3 mailer 2 Mtn dew 2liters $1.29 ea Kraft Mayo $3.76 ? (apparently I am blind and didn’t grab the one that was $1.99) - $1/1 mailer 4 Hunt’s tomatoes .99 - $1/4 mailer - .45/3 shortcuts - (3) $5 mega sale discounts Non-mega sale items: Chicken $4.51 Bread $2.14 20oz Coke $1.39 - .50 tearpad, doubled = $16.04 Total spending for February: $30.22 Savings: $284.29 90% Savings

   Posted 02-05-2010 at 01:28:59 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

5. Stalked Walgreens this weekend: February 5 WG Contour meter $14.99 – free insert coupon W soda 2/$1 Valentine cup .39 (forgot in-ad coupon) Vitamin lip $1.99 Blink eye drops - $2 - $8 RR = $1.37 I was supposed to get 2 of the Advil instead of the blink, but my brain has been on the ‘blink’ (harharhar) lately. I got $10 RR for the Contour, $2 for the Vitamin lip, and another $5 Walgreens dollars (?) don’t know what that was for, but apparently the coupon fairy has been looking out for me- I still got the same RR that I would have if I had gotten the advil, I just paid $1 more out of pocket. 2nd trans: 2 Valentine cups .34 2 Advil $4.49 ea - $2 insert - $2 RR (I wasn’t able to use a second $2 they were both from the Vitamin lip) = $3.32 + earned $5 RR for the Advil February 6 DH gave me $4 to get him some sweets, he was tired of brownies: WG 5 Diet mtn dew 12pks $3 ea 1 pepsi 12pk $3 Doritos $2 Hostess donuts $2.99 Twinkie .99 W brand donuts $1.69 - (2) $5 RR - $10 RR - $2 RR = $3.67 + earned $10 RR for the Pepsi deal Albertsons 3 yakisoba .89 - .50 insert, doubled Hillshire farm smoked sausage $2 - $1/2 insert 10 Popsecret 10/$10 - $1/2 insert 4 Nabisco go-cups $1 - $2/2 IP (don’t know where these came from, but they said ‘any’ without a size restriction) Bread .78 Duster $1 = $10.05 Forgot to add in $4 for newspapers on 2/3. Total spending for February: $48.63 Savings: $490.54 91% Savings Leaving me with $28.24 to meet budget for Jan/Feb.

   Posted 02-08-2010 at 08:52:07 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

6. February 10 Kroger 2 Purex $2.49 - .35 insert, tripled 5 coke 2liters $1.25 - 1/1 Recyclebank rewards 3 Banquet brown 'n serve sausage -.75 shortcuts -.35 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $3 daytona mega sale discount 3 Frank's red hot sauce 0.99 - .50 insert, doubled = .41 I gave the cashier .50 but there was an extra nickel in the change machine + .05 + earned $4 oyno for Purex 2nd trans: 2 Purex $2.49 - .35 insert, tripled 6 banquet frozen meals $1 - .60/6 from inside banquet frozen dinners 2 Banquet brown 'n serve sausage -.35 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $3 daytona mega sale discount 3 Frank's red hot sauce 0.99 - .50 insert, doubled 2 banquet selects frozen meal $1.29 -.35 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $4 oyno = $1.64 + earned another $4 oyno for Purex I'm so upset that not one box in the whole freezer had the banquet coupons on them. Last week there were a few and I bought some, but it looks like they've been replaced with the daytona 500 packaging. I thought if I could keep doing transactions like these, I could stock up with this sale and still stay within my budget, but I'll have to find some of the banquet meals with coupons on them, and I don't have a single pillsbury coupon to my name! Total spending for February: $50.63 Savings: $534.47 91% Savings

   Posted 02-10-2010 at 12:10:13 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

7. 	February 10 Finally got my $15 rebate from Tombstone pays your bills. Technically the check is payble to my utility company (and I'm mailing it to them), but I'm adding $15 back into my grocery budget anyway. Newspapers: $2 Total spending for February: $37.63 Savings: $544.47 94% Savings Leaving me with $39.24 for the month.
   	Posted 02-11-2010 at 11:00:37 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

8. Despite spending over $400 this weekend (we got new flooring) I am still within my grocery budget. Sadly, that is only because of snow, remodeling, and Valentine's day, not because I didn't WANT to go shopping.... February 11 Kroger trans #1 6 Chef boyardee $1 - .35/3 tripled 3 Purex $2.49 - .35/1, tripled Banquet sausage $1 -.35 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $3 daytona mega sale discount Juicy Juice 8pk $3.49 - free mailer coupon - $4 oyno = $1.17 + earned $5 oyno from Purex trans #2 2 Purex $2.49 - .35/1, tripled 6 Banquet frozen dinners 2 Chef boyardee - .50/2 IP doubled - $3 daytona mega sale discount - $5 oyno = $0.92 + earned $4 oyno CVS 2 ritz $2 ea 2 Triscuit $2 ea 1 wheat thins $2 Plastic wrap $1 - (5) $1/1 Nabisco crackers - 5.49 ecb = .55 on GC + earned $3 ecb for Nabisco Total spending for February: $39.72 Savings: $602.74 94% Savings

   Posted 02-16-2010 at 07:45:36 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

9. February 16 Kroger trans #1 6 Chef boyardee $1 - .35/3 tripled 3 Purex $2.49 - .35/1, tripled Banquet sausage $1 -.35 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $3 daytona mega sale discount Coke 20oz $1.39 - free coupon from mycokerewards.com - $4 oyno = $1 + earned $5 oyno from Purex trans #2 6 Chef boyardee $1 - .35/3 tripled 3 Purex $2.49 - .35/1, tripled Coke 2liter $1.25 - $1 Recyclebank rewards coupon - $3 daytona mega sale discount Bread .70 - $5 oyno = $0.89 + earned $5 oyno from Purex Total spending for February: $41.61 Savings: $642.82 94% Savings

   Posted 02-16-2010 at 11:09:03 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

10. Made a second stop at Kroger on my way home from work- I had to make up for the 4 days I didn't shop! Feburary 16 Kroger Trans #1 2 purex $2.49 – .35/1 insert, tripled 6 grands! Jr .99 –(3) .30/2 shortcuts -.35/3 insert, tripled - $5 oyno = $0.57 + earned $4 oyno for Pillsbury and $4 for Purex Trans #2 3 purex $2.49 – .35/1 insert, tripled 6 grands! Jr .99 –(3) .30/2 shortcuts -.35/3 insert, tripled Club soda .71 - $8 oyno = $0.57 + earned $5 for Purex and $4 for Pillsbury I also got my $10 Target GC and $25 Walgreens GC from MyPoints. I'll be able to roll my RR without spending any cash oop, and I'm waiting on some coupons in the mail so I can spend my Target gc. Total spending for February: $42.75 Savings: $674.40 94% Savings

    Posted 02-17-2010 at 08:27:53 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

11. February 17 Kroger Trans #1 3 purex $2.49 - .35/1 insert, tripled 1 coke 2liter $1.25 - $1/1 Recyclebank reward coupon 6 Banquet frozen dinners $1 - .60/6 from inside box - $3 Daytona mega sale discount - $5 oyno = $1.69 + earned $5 oyno for Purex Trans #2 3 purex $2.49 - .35/1 insert, tripled 3 Banquet selects frozen meals $1.29 - .35 from inside frozen meals, tripled 3 Bounty basic single rolls $1.09 -.25 insert, tripled 2 Sunny D $1 - .25 insert, tripled - $5 oyno = $1.63 + earned $5 oyno for Purex I still have 15 purex coupons left, I just hope I have enough steam left to use them all! Total spending for February: $46.07 Savings: $714.12 94% Savings

    Posted 02-17-2010 at 12:29:07 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

12. February 20 I usually go to the Kroger near my work, but I ended up at the one in another direction near my house, and they had the Banquet dinners with the $6 worth of coupons in them, so I stocked up. Kroger trans #1 18 Banquet meals - .60/6 from inside box 2 Brown n serve sausages - .35/1 from inside banquet frozen meals - (2) $3 Daytona mega sale discounts = $11.88 Went home and cut out the coupons from the inside of the boxes, and went back for 2 more transactions. My sisters were with me, and I gave them the rest of my Purex coupons, so they could get some laundry detergent, since I've already gotten about 25 bottles last week, and I didn't feel like dealing with the catalina offer not working. Trans #2 & 3 6 Banquet meals - .60/6 from inside box 3 Brown n serve sausages - .35/1 from inside banquet frozen meals 1 Country crock margarine $1.99 - .30 insert, tripled = $3.49 Total spending for February: $64.93 Savings: $743.56 92% Savings

    Posted 02-21-2010 at 10:22:59 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

13. 	February 22 Received $10 Kellogg's jeans rebate Hoping we don't get snow tomorrow so I'll get a chance to make one more Kroger Daytona run. Total spending for February: $54.93 Savings: $743.56 93% Savings
    	Posted 02-22-2010 at 06:33:33 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

14. February 23 I had seen the Dannon yogurt 4pks for $1 when I was at the store the other day, so I wanted to go back with my mailers and get some free yogurts. I also had more of the .35 banquet brown N' serve to use, and I was lucky enough to find that the same store I went to the other day had restocked the banquet meals with $6 in coupons on them, including a new variety. Kroger Trans # 1 7 Banquet frozen dinners - .75/7 from inside box 3 banquet brown ‘n serve sausages - .35/1 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled - $3 Daytona mega sale discount 3 Frank’s red hot sauce .99 - .50 insert, doubled 3 Dannon NutriDay 4pks $1 - $1 mailers 4 Johnson’s buddies bars $1.09 - $1/1 insert = $3.39 Trans #2 4 Banquet frozen dinners – b3 g1 free coupon (got in a trade) - 70 3 banquet brown ‘n serve sausages - .35/1 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled 3 Banquet chicken nugget bags $3.99 - .75/1 from inside banquet frozen dinners - $3 Daytona mega sale discount 3 Frank’s red hot sauce .99 - .50 insert, doubled 3 Dannon NutriDay 4pks $1 - $1 mailers 4 Johnson’s buddies bars $1.09 - $1/1 insert - $5 oyno - $4 oyno = $0.42 Total spending for February: $58.74 Savings: $798.34 93% Savings

    Posted 02-23-2010 at 11:52:52 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

15. Well, the inevitable happened- I went over budget. I was doing well, and I let it go to my head and spent $20 at Albertsons yesterday… February 23 Albertsons 4 Mahatma rice 1# .89 - .50 insert, doubled 3 Jose Ole taquitos $3.99 – (1) $1.50 catalina – (2) $1/1 IP 4 PB pizza crust bogo $3.29 - .35 insert, tripled 3 Nutripals $4.99 - $3 insert 2 Transocean crab $2 - $1/1 IP = $18.99 + earned $2 oyno for Pillsbury February 24 Walgreens Trans #1 Bayer Contour meter $14.99 – free insert Bayer Breeze 2 meter $14.99 – free insert Hunt’s tomato sauce .39 with in-ad coupon = $0.39 on GC + earned $10 RR for Bayer/Hunts Trans #2 Fusion razor $8.99 - $4 insert 2 Special K bars $5 - $1/2 3 Jello 2/$1 with in-ad coupon - $1.25/3 tearpad 2 Big roll toilet paper $1 with in-ad coupon - $10 RR = $0.30 on GC + earned $4 RR for Fusion I thought the Special K was printing a RR, but I didn’t get one. Albertsons Green onion .89 Sour cream $1.29 3 Oikos yogurt $1 - $1/1 insert 4 Suave Deo .99 - .50 insert, doubled 2 Mahatma rice .89 - 50 insert, doubled 1 Suave Shampoo $1 - .50 mailer, doubled = $2.13 My plan was to use the $2 oyno I got yesterday, but the Green onion was marked .99 and rang up .89 so I was a few pennies short to use it. Total spending for February: $79.86 ($2.99 over budget) Savings: $921.27 92% Savings

    Posted 02-24-2010 at 05:14:27 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

16. 	February 25 Spent $3.64 on newspapers and soda Total spending for February: $83.50 ($6.63 over budget) Savings: $930.75 92% Savings
    	Posted 02-25-2010 at 04:42:13 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

17. 	February 26 Walgreens Glad trash bags $5.99 - .55 peelie Coke 20oz $1.49 - Free coupon from mycokerewards Big roll tp .50 - $4 RR = $2.01 on GC Target 9 Nutripals $4.49 - $3 insert = $13.41 on GC Total spending for February: $83.50 ($6.63 over budget) Savings: $977.93 92% Savings
    	Posted 02-27-2010 at 02:15:45 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

18. 	February 28 Putting in my last post for the month. As I am over budget still from Jan, I am going to count the trips I made today in March’s budget rather than carry over the negative amount again. Transferred $9.60 from paypal. Total spending for February: $73.90 Savings: $987.41 93% Savings Budget Surplus: $2.97
    	Posted 02-28-2010 at 03:07:22 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

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