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March 2010 Budget Challenge

Posted 02-28-2010 at 03:37:59 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

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Starting this month with some spending, so I won't have to do more juggling to keep my spending in check.

Have:
CVS $3 ecb $8.10 GC
Walgreens $10 RR $22.21 GC
Walmart $1.26 gc

No money left in PP, a few free coupons, but nothing expiring in March. Nothing else to speak of, just trying to stick with my $40/wk limit.

February 28

Fiesta
Donuts
Bread
Garlic
Cilantro
Limes
bananas
3lbs beef tongue
14lbs chicken
-$10 GC ( the meat man gave this to us when we went a few weeks ago, the meat counter was being cleared due to a power outage so their was literally no fresh meat at all)
= $21.42

Albertsons
8 Dr. Pepper 2liters .88 - $1/2 hangtag (these were hanging tear-pad style in 7-11)
2 Suave deo .99 - .50 insert, doubled
2 Mahatma rice .89 - .50 insert, doubled
- $2 oyno
= $1.02

Kroger
Avocadoes $3
8 Mission Tortillas $1 - .75 insert
El Monterrey Tornadoes $2 - $1 mailer
4 Totino’s pizza $1 - $1/4 cat
4 Dannon yogurt 4pks $1 - $1/1 mailers
6 Johnson’s buddies bars $1.09 - $1/1 insert
2 corn pops cereal - $1/2 blinkie
2 apple jacks cereal - $1/1 from back of single-serve boxes
2 gallons milk = free wyb 4 Kellogg cereals
Coke 20oz – Free mailer from mycokerewards
2 Juicy Juice 8pks $3.49 – free mailers
= $16. 58
+ earned $3 oyno for Kellogg’s.

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Comments

1. March 2 Tom Thumb 4 Dr. Pepper 2liters .49 with in-ad coupon - $1/2 hangtag Charmin 24 mega roll $9.99 - $3 esaver - .25 insert, tripled Bounty 12 big roll $9.99 - $3 esaver - .25 insert, tripled Choc. Chex mix $2.49 - (5) ecoupons - .50 IP, doubled NV nut clusters $3.69 - (3) $1 ecoupons, (3) .40 ecoupons - $1 IP BC warm delights $1.99 - (4) .50 ecoupons - .50 IP, doubled BC cookie mix $2.29 - (4) .40 ecoupons - .40 IP, doubled BC frosting $1.99 - (3) .50 ecoupons - .50 IP, doubled Pampers cruisers $7.99 with in-ad coupon - $2 insert Pampers sensitive wipes $2.99 - .50 insert, doubled - $2.50 ecoupon off cruisers and sensitive wipes Hillshire farm ultra thin deli meat $2.99 - .35 insert, tripled 2 OM bologna .99 with in-ad coupon - $1 IP 3 International delights coffee $3.49 - .75 booklet (jello baking booklet found in November) = $25.81 + earned $10 oyno for the P&G deal (charmin and bounty) and $1 oyno for the International Delight. The international delights coffee was part of the buy 3 coffee/tea, get $6 off, but the discount was not on my reciept, so I got $6 cash back at CS. They rang up as "maxwell house", and my coupons beeped too, so that could have something to do with it. Net cost after refund and cats: $8.81 Total spending for March: $58.83 Savings: $184.74 76% Savings

   Posted 03-02-2010 at 12:40:16 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

2. March 5 I needed cat food, and although I buy DS #2 (allergic to milk) alot of juice, this week he asked me for milk, so I needed to find a good deal on soy. I have some $2 8th continent IP's, but for some reason I have a hard time finding it at the stores- except at Kroger, and they give me a hard time with IPs! I may have to go out to Walmart sometime soon to use them. Tom Thumb 6 mighty dog can .65 ea - $2/6 IP = $1.90 4 PB cinn. Rolls 5ct $1.49 –(2) .40/2 ecoupons - .75/2 blinkie - $4/4 instant discount = -.34 Silk pure almond soymilk $2.79 – 1/1 insert Cat food $9.99 - $10, $1 oyno = $3.34 + earned $1 oyno for Mighty Dog I also got a .65/4 Mighty dog cat, found the Heart your Heart booklet (with $18 in store coupons) , $1/1 Sun Chips tearpad, and lots of blinkies: .75/1 Seapak $2 Viva towels 10pk $2 Cottonelle 24pk $1/2 Kraft Cheese $1/1 Multi seed crackers (with No Gluten) Although I am sad to say there were no string cheese peelies at all. Total spending for March: $62.15 Savings: $206.04 77% Savings

   Posted 03-05-2010 at 12:10:17 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

3. Forgot to add $5 for newspapers on 3/3 March 6 Walgreens 2 Children's Tylenol $4.49 - $3/2 insert Aveeno lotion $2.39 - $1/1 IP Foil $2/2 2 Coke 20oz - Free coupon from mycokerewards.com - $10 RR = .76 on gc + earned $3 rr for Aveeno I didn't realize the Tylenol RR was only on the cold medicine, and they didn't have the sale tags on anything, the ad only said Tylenol and motrin, so I thought the sale was only for the pain reliever and not the cold medicine. March 7 Kroger 3 Pampers sensitive wipes $1.99 - .50 insert, doubled 6 Gillette deo - $4/2 insert 6 Gillette bodywash – Free wyb deo (cashier took off $4.29 reg. price) Bread $1.40 3 dz. Eggs $2.67 Bananas $2.42 - $3 oyno = $7.18 CVS Trans #1 Oral B toothbrush $4 - .75 insert Straws $1 - $3 ecb = $1.35 on gc + earned $4 ecb for Oral B Trans #2 Fusion razor $8.99 -$4 insert - $4 ecb + $4 ecb for Fusion I’m dangerously close to being overbudget again, it’s only the beginning of the 2nd week and I’ve already spent almost half my budget for the month. When I was organizing my stockpile this week, I was just amazed at the amount of stuff I have amassed for so little, and it has me wondering if I could force myself to only focus on the true freebies, it seems there are so few of them. And I still need to have room in my budget for milk, eggs, bread, produce and meat. Total spending for March: $74.33 Savings: $335.06 82% Savings

   Posted 03-08-2010 at 07:56:49 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

4. March 8 Spent $4.76 on coupons March 9 CVS Oral B crossaction toothbrush $4 -.75 insert 3pk CVS earth essentials paper towels $1.99 – 1 CVS papertowels CRT - $4 ecb = $.26 on GC + earned $4 ecb for OralB And the scanner printed me a $4 off Huggies diapers and wipes!! Exp 3/23 (running off to the forums to look for a Huggies sale) Kroger 5 reach flossers $1 - $1 insert 3 Listerine pocketpaks $1 - .50 insert, doubled (coupons beeped) 3 Beef fajitas 2lb $3.99 mgr markdown (GREAT deal for lean, boneless beef) 1 coke 20oz – Free coupon from mycokerewards.com Fish sandwich from deli $1.99 - $1 off wyb coke 20oz and a fish sandwich 3 dz eggs $2.61 = $15.11 I was worried about my budget for a minute, but realized I’d rather have some healthy lean meat at a great price than more Pillsbury or Hamburger Helper. I’m even thinking of stopping again tonight to get more. Total spending for March: $94.20 Savings: $441.43 82% Savings

   Posted 03-09-2010 at 10:28:15 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

5. Kroger 6 2lb beef fajitas $3.99 ea 3 dz eggs $2.61 4 eclipse gum big packs $1 ea (I call my DH a gum-aholic) 2 Reach flossers $1 - $1 insert 3 Listerine pocketpaks $1 - .50 insert, doubled = $30.88 Yes I have bought 9 dz eggs this week, but my family can go thru a dozen in one day, including baking and cooking, and my boys like to eat the white part only of the boiled eggs and give the dog the yellow part. The exp on the ones I bought are good thru the middle of April. Leaving me with $34.92 for the rest of the month. :shrug7: Total spending for March: $125.08 Savings: $494.90 80% Savings

   Posted 03-10-2010 at 10:01:45 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

6. March 11 Spent $4 on newspapers March 12 Kroger 3 Reach flossers $1 - $1/1 insert 8 Reach Toothbrushes $1 - (4) $1/1 and (4) b1g1 inserts 3 Franks hot sauce .99 -.50 insert, doubled 3 Bounty basic paper towels $1.09 - .25 insert, tripled 1 Johnson's buddies bar $1.09 - $1 insert 4 Eclipse big pack gum $1 clearance (winterfrost flavor only) = $1.24 The cashier asked me how much toothbrushes were, and I told her they were $1 (twice, while she was looking thru her screen) but the way they rung up was $1.99 and the .99 discount came off at the end, so she put them in as $1.99 so the overage went towards my gum. Then I went to Tom thumb, and when I walked out the door; my receipt blew away in an instant and it was gone. The weather report says the winds were gusting at 38 MPH, so you can imagine how it was. 3 HH $2 (they were supposed to be .99 but I didn't see where it said wyb 4) grr - (2) .75 ecoupons - .75 insert Ground beef 93% lean $1.99/lb = $9.75 - $3 IP from registering on the TT site Safeway pasta $.99 - Free IP Safeway select pasta sauce $1.99 - Free IP 6 cans mighty dog .65 - $2/6 IP 1 can progresso soup .99 - .25 insert, tripled 1 Quaker oatmeal squares cereal $1 - 1/1 insert 4 boxes Nutrigrain bars $2 - $1/2 insert 1 lunchables sub .49 (it had a 50% off sticker) - .75 IP Almond breeze milk $2.69 - 1/1 insert 6 Philly chese .99 - $1.25/3 tearpad - $1 OYNO from Mighty Dog = $22.59 My $1 oyno for the mighty dog printed out, then midway thru some ads, the machine ran out of paper. I had one toddler with me, and was on my way to pick up the other one from school, so I didn't stop to try and fix the issue with my Hamburger helper, and now my reciept is gone, I won't be able to. Oh well, I got the DiGiorno House party package today, so I'm not too upset!! Total spending for March: $130.32 (9.68 remaining for the month) Savings: $590.80 82% Savings

   Posted 03-12-2010 at 04:46:07 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

7. March 14 I am $37.83 over budget, at the half-way point thru the month. I spent way too much OOP trying to stock up on meat (and we ate most of it already) and buying diapers because DS is fighting me and doesn’t want to potty-train. I also have been paying full price for pet food. Albertsons Produce $12.60 2 Trans imitation crab $2 – 1/1IP Bread .88 Chicken breast $3.27 Pork chops $3.65 8 PB pizza crusts $1 - .35 insert, tripled = $21.52 Target 2 Fusion razors $7 - $4 insert Fusion razor $4.99 - $4 insert Spongebob bandaids $1.82 – 1 target mailer – $1 insert Crest kids $1.49 - $1 target mailer - .50 insert Pedigree dog food $7.47 – $3 insert Huggies $8.50 - $1.50 target mailer - $2 IP 2 Luvs $7.49 - $2.50 mailer - $5 gc when you spend $50 from Target mailer = $27.40 + earned $10 in GC Total spending for March: $197.83 (37.83 over budget) Savings: $669.84 77% Savings

   Posted 03-15-2010 at 07:51:42 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

8. March 17 I feel like I have been working and gathering coupons towards this trip for weeks, finally reaching a summit of saving! LOL I normally only have inserts, but this trip had blinkies, tearpads, hangtags, mailers, coupons from inside the box, e-coupons, coupons from a clipper, and coupons from trades! This trip felt especially good because of the freebies, I’ve been looking for a deal on coffee since last fall! Kroger Bread 1.58 Pampers sensitive wipes $1.99 - .50 insert, doubled 3 Banquet selects meals $1.29 - .35 from inside banquet frozen meals, tripled FiberOne yogurt $2 - $1 shortcuts - .50 insert, doubled 3 Taster’s choice singles $1.09 - .50 insert, doubled 5 Reach flossers $1 – 1/1 insert 3 Listerine Pocketpaks $1 - .50 insert, doubled 3 Blistex $1.09 - .35 insert, tripled Doritos $2.73 – free Kroger mailer Pepsi Max 2liter $1.79 – free wyb Doritos hangtag (cashier took off $1.99) Mega sale: 5 coke 2liters $1.25 – $1/3 kroger mailer, Free coke zero wyb 3 coke 2 liters, $1 frozen pizza and coke 2 liter CPK pizza $4.47 – Free instant win from Kroger.com Maxwell house coffee $5.99 – Free instant win from Kroger.com Wesson oil $2.49 - $1 mailer 2 Kraft cheese blocks $2.17 – $1/2 blinkie 2 Kraft singles $2.17 - $1/2 kroger mailer 3 Annie’s organic mac ‘n cheese .99 - .50 tearpad - $4 instant savings = $10.09 I realized after I checked out that I had gotten 15 items, so I went to CS and got another coke 2liter ($1.35 w/tax) and the cashier gave me a $3? refund for the mega sale discount. I also got a cat for a free Coffeemate singles to go with my Taster’s Choice singles! Hoping my trip planned for Albies goes as well! Total spending for March: $208.92 ($48.92 over budget) Savings: $751.50 78% Savings

   Posted 03-17-2010 at 11:47:02 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

9. March 17 Albertsons 4 Hunt’s ketchup $1 -.20 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled = $1.60 4 BE frozen veggies $1 - .35 insert, tripled 1 Totino’s pizza $1 Country crock margarine $1.99 - .30 insert, tripled = $1.09 Nature’s own bread $2 – free wyb country crock 2 Yoplait greek yogurt $1 - .30 IP, tripled = .20 7 Kellogg cereal - $1/2 frosted flakes (found inside specially marked boxes of Kelloggs breakfast items), - (5) $1/1 from back of single-serve boxes = 8 Pears $4.77 = $16.66 + earned 3 Free milk catalinas. The $1/1 were only good on Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks, and at the store I went to the Frosted Flakes were the only ones that had the $5 of coupons inside. So I got 2 frosted flakes (I only had one coupon) and 5 fruit loops and apple jacks. Total spending for March: $225.58 ($65.58 over budget) Savings: $788.81 78% Savings

   Posted 03-18-2010 at 10:26:56 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

10. March 19 Tom Thumb Tide travel size powder .99 -.35 insert, tripled Blistex $1 - .35 insert, tripled 12 cans Mighty dog food .65 - $2/6 IP Silk Almond milk $2.79 – Free Catalina Pepsi 2liter .88 - .25 hangtag, tripled - $1 oyno = $3.17 + earned $2 oyno for Mighty Dog Target 6 Venus razors (Embrace and Breeze) $7 - $2 insert ($5 gc wyb 2) 6 Olay bodywash ‘bonus’ packs (have small samples attached to them) $5.50 – free wyb venus razors, insert ($5 gc wyb 3) - $10 gc = $20.41 + earned $25 GC Our weather has been pretty good, and I am considering having my first yard sale. I helped my mom with hers last year, but I've never tried to sell any of my stockpile before. I try to just get things I know I will use, but it's hard to pass on freebies and MM. I've got boxes full of Glade and dishwasher tabs that I won't use anytime soon, and I got the free razors, but DH prefers to use his electric razor. That may be just the thing I need to get my budget back under control. Total spending for March: $249.16($89.16 over budget) Savings: $907.52 78% Savings

    Posted 03-19-2010 at 12:46:29 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

11. Before I went shopping, I spent some time online earning paypal money, so hopefully I'll be transferring some cash to my bank by the end of the week. March 21 It was cold and there was snow on the ground, but I had to go out to get my dog food before the cat offer ended! CVS 2 Pampers cruisers $8.97 - $2 insert - $4 ecb $5.42 on gc = $5.34 oop Kroger Trans #1 3 Taster’s choice instant coffee singles (6ct decaf, 7 ct reg) $1.09 - .50 insert, doubled 3 listerine pocket packs $1 - .50 insert, doubled 12 cans Mighty dog food $.69 – bogo inserts Fiber one yogurt $2 - $1 shortcuts - .50 insert, doubled 4 Johnson’s buddies bars $1.09 – 1/1 insert 8 Reach toothbrushes – (4) bogo (entered for full price of $1.99, cashier entered 5 of them – (4) $1/1 6 Reach flossers $1 - $1/1 insert 5 Nutripals drinks $4.72 – $3 insert 3 Gillette bodywash 3/$10 - $2 insert 3 Gillette deo 3/$10– free wyb bodywash (entered for full price for full price of $4.29 ea) 2 Annies mac n cheese $.99 - .50 tearpad, doubled 6 Kraft cheese $2.17 - $1/2 blinkies - $4 mega sale instant savings - $2/10 dairy, Kroger mailer = $12.33 + earned $2 oyno Trans #2 3 Taster’s choice instant coffee singles (6ct decaf, 7 ct reg) $1.09 - .50 insert, doubled 3 blistex $1.09 - .35 insert, tripled 3 listerine pocket packs $1 - .50 insert, doubled 12 cans Mighty dog food $.69 – bogo inserts Corndogs $4.12 Sargento cheese $2.17 - .35 kroger mailer, tripled 3 Annies mac n cheese $.99 - .50 tearpad, doubled 2 lay’s chips $2.79- $1/1 insert 2 Ritz munchables $2.49- $1/1 insert - $4 mega sale instant savings = $12.32 + $1 oyno The cashier only rang up 11 cans, and took off 5 of my 6 coupons, so I only got $1 oyno instead of $2. I was in a hurry to get home and didn’t have time to even look at my receipts, let alone fix any errors. Trans #3 3 Taster’s choice instant coffee singles (6ct decaf, 7 ct reg) $1.09 - .50 insert, doubled 3 blistex $1.09 - .35 insert, tripled 3 listerine pocket packs $1 - .50 insert, doubled 6 cans Mighty dog food $.69 – bogo inserts - $1 oyno = $1.56 + $1 oyno I also earned a cat coupon on each transaction for one free Coffeemate to-go sticks to go with my Taster’s choice! They have a 90-day rolling exp. I like my coffee black, but DH LOVES his creamer, and I love to get it free! I am also hoping for some clear weather this weekend, my mom and I are planning a yardsale, and I’m hoping to sell some stuff to put money towards my grocery budget. Total spending for March: $280.71 Savings: $1094.23 80% Savings

    Posted 03-22-2010 at 07:05:11 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

12. 	I spent about an hour yesterday sorting thru my stockpile to find things I could sell. I grouped things together in the same box by prices, .50 box, $1 box, $2 box, and one box with individual prices $3+. Even if I only sell a few things, I'll be happy. I'm also working to get some PP cash this week.
    	Posted 03-23-2010 at 06:39:17 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

13. Forgot to add in my trip to Albertsons on Friday: 2 Country crock spread $1.99 - .30 insert, tripled 2 nature’s own bread - .75 mfr – free wyb cc in-store special Reusable bag $1 – free survey coupon from CRT 4 Hunt’s ketchup $1 -.20 from inside banquet frozen dinners, tripled Gallon milk $2.39 – free coupon for buying kellogg’s cereals = $2.03 I also got my free Philly minis coupon in the mail! Total spending for March: $282.74 Savings: $1113.66 80% Savings

    Posted 03-24-2010 at 10:22:58 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

14. Made a lunch run, where I found a great deal on deli meats, but was sad to discover my electronic coupons don't work as they used to. March 24 Tom Thumb 2 GM flour $1.29 - .75 IP Fruity Cheerios $2.50 - .75 ecoupon - $1/1 cat Nut Clusters $3.69 – (2) $1 ecoupon - $1 IP BC Warm Delights $1.99 - $1, .50 ecoupons - .50 IP, doubled BC cookie mix $1.69 - .40 ecoupon - .40 IP, doubled Bisquick $2.50 - .75 ecoupon (forgot my mfr coupon) BC cake mix $1.29 - .75 ecoupon BC Frosting $1.50 - $1, .50 ecoupons - .25 from label, tripled PB RTB easter cookies $1.50 – (2) $1/2 (2) .75/2 ecoupons - $1/2 IP Tide trial size .99 -.35 insert, tripled 10 pkgs Healthy choice deli meat .39 mgr markdown (reg. price was $2.79!? These were 5 oz packs!) 5 pkgs Hillshire Farm deli meat 5oz .39 mgr markdown 3 OM subs .39 mgr markdown - $2 oyno = $7.75 OOP For some reason, a lot of my ecoupons (shortcuts and cellfire) didn’t come off. I had (2) each of the .75 cheerios, .75 Bisquick, .40 cookie mix, $1 for frosting and cookie mix, .75 cake mix, but only one of each came off. I think that 1 each of the Shortcuts and Cellfire came off, but the duplicate Cellfire coupons did not. Total spending for March: $290.52 Savings: $1,182.55 80% Savings

    Posted 03-24-2010 at 12:57:29 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

15. 	Forgot to include $3 spent on newspapers on Wednesday. Total spending for March: $293.52 Savings: $1,197.55 80% Savings
    	Posted 03-26-2010 at 12:57:28 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

16. March 27 The yard sale was a resounding success. I sold about 3 medium-size totes full of stockpile items, I even sold things to my brother and his girlfriend when they came over to help set up (Of course I gave them a family discount) and made $204.50, which will put my budget back in line for March, and I'll be able to save my paypal money too. I was already packed up, ready to leave my mom's house, while my mom was putting away the last few boxes. A lady came up and asked if we had any pants in her size- sorry, we didn't have any. Then she asked if I was 'the lady with the soap' I said 'yes, I am', LOL. I sold her $6.50 worth of stuff that I had already packed, and now I'm famous. And in all the customers we had, only one asked me why I had so much stuff, or where it came from- and I told her I coupon, she said "good for you!" We had a lot of hagglers for the used stuff, but only one lady tried to haggle with me over the price of my new stuff. The best part of course is that all of the stuff I sold was stuff I got with my regular budget, and doing my regular shopping trips, without going out of my way or trying to get extra stuff just to sell. Total spending for March: $89.02 Savings: $1,197.55 93% Savings

    Posted 03-28-2010 at 08:28:09 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

17. March 27 Had to get some milk, and found pecans on clearance! Albertsons 2 Gal. milk $3.29 – free Catalina coupon 7 Kellogg’s cereal $14 w/in-store coupon – (2) $1/2 – (3) $1/1 from back of single-serve boxes 4 Nestle pure life 6pks .69 - $1/2 IP 4 BE frozen veggies $1 - .35 insert, tripled 5 bags Diamond pecan halves $2 clearance (had exp dates in 2011) reg $9.99 = $19.76 + earned 3 cats for 1 gal free milk Total spending for March: $108.78 Savings: $1,276.17 92% Savings

    Posted 03-29-2010 at 09:02:40 AM by Cynthiabutterfly

18. 	I am going to close out this month, and consider my new week/new month starting on Sunday 3/28. Finished out $51.22 over budget, thanks to my yard sale profits.
    	Posted 03-30-2010 at 12:16:55 PM by Cynthiabutterfly

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