2009: Living off of stockpile + $1,200 annual budget.

[vickib50]

I have been a coupon user for 35 years and have always thought I did a pretty good job in keeping costs low. My food column in my budget include not only edible foods, but, paper, HBA, cat food, litter, and any other consumables. Even with the help of HCW and heavy coupon use, I feel like I have been spending way too much on groceries. I am declaring a moritorium on non-food items, except for cat stuff. I will continue for the rest of this month to buy minimum amounts. Then, for the month of July, I am spending NOTHING on groceries. I have some gift cards that I have gotten free and I always consider those "coupons" since they cost nothing and I receive value for them. This means, of course, that I will have to ignore the deals at CVS and Wags. Those are great places to stock up on non-foods, but, I am absolutely not taking any more non-food items into the house for, oh, I don't know how long, months, at least. I am going to eat well for the month of July, spending no money.

Do any of you think I can do it? Will you give me your support for the month of July? It always makes me do better when I have to be accountable to someone else.

I have a $20 GC to my favorite grocery store, $30 Rite-Aid, and $6 CVS ECB. Everything else is off-limits for July. Oh, I am going to get a $30 GC for CVS in the middle of July for a new prescription.

So, here's my rules: for the rest of June, I will do my regular frugal shopping; for July, use GC if I have to have something and keep my oop at zero for 31 days.

[MariaT]

Oh, you can definately do it!!

Keep us posted please. I would love to read about it.

[darkwing932]

I think you can do it!

[ocean_brez]

I would love to see how this plays out for you. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Definitely keep us posted on your progress.

[Domestic Gal]

I am doing that this month. Only I have a $100 budget. I am at $44 for the month and it is over half over. I am only buying milk, and produce and free or penny items. I think I will easily make it.
No one has complained that there are no chips yet, so I guess they can go another month without them. Or they can use there own money and buy them.
I think I am going to do the same thing in July also. I have so much stock that I need to use it up.
It also helps that the sales and coupons have been really crappy in my area. With gas prices I have only been going to the store 1 time a week. (even though it is only 2 miles away)
This is also is needed as I work for a school and I do not get a paycheck in the summer months. This means lean times at our house.

I am with you in July. Except I have to have a little budget as I have to have produce. My lower it in July as we will be getting tomatoes and stuff from garden then.
I will cheer you one in this challenge.

[cberry]

I would love to see you do it, I'll be cheering you on!!!

I have done a little of it myself this month, trying to use up the stockpile instead of moving it. So....Good Luck To YOU!!!!

[too-old-now]

If you don't count gift cards, I am at zero for the past 14 months. It can be done, but it helps a lot if you have lots of stores with understanding store managers who permit you to use competitor coupons, give you permission to use the occasional week-old expired coupons, do multiple transactions on the moneymaker deals, etc.

I am convinced you can do this!

[JANE4girls]

you can do it!!!!

[beth119]

I know you can do it! Please keep us informed of ur progress!

[ShoppingCartDiva]

You can do it!!

I need to do something like that. :D