JANUARY challenge: Living Off of Your Stockpile. waiting for final results..............

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a January challenge to live off of your stockpile and spend as little out of pocket as you can?


These are the guidelines:
*** We are going to do a one month challenge/contest by living off your stockpile – only buying the bare necessities each week.
*** Post your results here.
*** I also will chime in with my family's "living off stockpile" issues/results/recipes/receipts.

Exceptions:
1. Rolling RR, Catalinas, ECBs, existing gift cards, rebate funds or stockpile sales that come in during the month.
2. Finding Items for FREE.
(To even up the playing field - Gone is the 10% rule)

Can you do it?

I hate to create a list of what is included
since everyone budgets differently, but I will attempt again.

All food and alcohol is included. Groceries, pops at the convenient stores cravings, fast food stops, Sam's club, one time a year co-op purchases, etc. That being said, some folks have a separate budget category for their SO/DHs for their lunches. I do not. He initally wasn't 'on board', but if I do the cooking and have the leftovers ready for him, he will grab a lunch THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME

HBA/toiletries/cleanning products are included. Hopefully we can all get the coupons we need and match them to the sales and rewards that go along with toothpastes, shampoos, cleaning supplies, diapers/wipes/formula etc.

pet food/care. For the most part this is included in folks' budgets. I do not include my DH's rotating dogs from his kennel in our budget, because that is a side business of his.

entertainment. Unless you specifically set aside money for entertainment, I consider it out of pocket, and then should be included.

couponing expenses. newspapers, magazines, stamps, coupons, envelopes, stickers, etc., all should be included in your oop.

what is not included: regular bills/loan payments such as mortgages, car payments, car repairs, gasoline, utilities: heating/cooling, gas, electric, water, cable/direct tv, phone/wireless, internet. Medical expenses. I just am going to leave it at that. I do not want anyone to forego anything they or their loved ones might need just to stay in the game

Gray areas.
Clothing, I don't recall, has ever been questioned. I think we just do without. No money, no clothes; or we catch a great deal at Goodwill

I reserve the right to add or change the contents of this list with whatever mood I am in
cody

FAQ

Q. What about fresh fruit, veggies, milk, eggs and bread?
A. Buy all your necessities each week to go with what you have in your pantry/freezer.
This is all about cleaning out your stockpile.

Q. Can we roll ECBs, RR, and Catalinas?
A. Of course! Only the out of pocket expenses count as what you have spent for the week.

Q. How is the winner of the stockpile challenge figured?
A. The winner of the stockpile challenge is the person that spends the least amount of out of pocket expenses for the month. Each week anyone participating will post their weekly out of pocket amount. I will keep an accurate count in the original post. At the end of the month, the person with the least amount of money spent, or the greatest profit for the month, will win.

We don't want you to starve! Complete nutrition is a must, especially for small children. This is going to be fun, and hopefully we will all learn some valuable information about ourselves and our spending patterns.

Q. What about gift money?
Or Rebate checks that come in during the month?
A. Simply speaking, my goal is to not spend money out of pocket, which IMO does not include Gift money or rebate money.

Of course we all have "standard" expenses, such as mortgage/rent, car payments, insurance, utilities, medications, etc.

All 'other' money's: including groceries, fast food, hba, household items, entertainment, et al, that would make up your out of pocket expenses.

What I do not expect is those involved to stay home all month, with the lights off, eating dry, cold cereal (although I enjoy cereal ). Just challenge yourself and those in your family to participate, and we will share our experiences and ideas here.

Q. My state taxes food. Does tax count into our oop?
A. Yes. Tax is part of our oop (unfortunately, for some of us)

Q. Do perscriptions count?
A. GOSH NO!!! PLEASE don't forego your medications or those for your loved one's.
No. Perscriptions/meds do not count towards your oop balance.


It's a contest, so we need prizes!!!!

The first place winner will receive a potluck envie from me!
And the satisfaction that you proved to yourself that you are awesome at what you do!


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challenge:
Name --- Totals So Far through post ----1611 ----Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit

cody82414 $104.31 $150.00 for the month
nateNnatsmommy $153.91 $150. for the month
junebug30523 $234.84 $250 for the month
to1drland $166.07 my goal for January will be $150.
neglectarino $159.28 $100. again
jenrose $267.73 I'm still no good at this, so $200.
kandpsmom $382.68 I'm in for $300. again
phinphana $170.98 I am in for $150 this month for my 3 boys and me!
MoneySavinDiva $180.00 I'm in for $200.
zansamommy $398.94 I am in again. Down for $250.00 for a family of four.
homeschoolmomof3 $157.11 I'm in for $200. again.
sandygirl $554.76 I'm in again - let me go for $450 this time.
saving-n-va $220. I'll say $200 is my goal
Domestic Gal $177.11 $152 for the month
bourneheather I am in for $225 for January
southernbelle5 $9.24 I will say $250 for the month.
jeweltea $223.87 I'm in for $150.
SLP99 $123.29 $100. for a family of 5
latte $250.00 400$ for 2 adults, an 8 year old, a 10 year old, an almost 2 year old, my friends 2 year old ( i babysit frequently) my friend, a 2 year old golden retriever/husky mix dog, and 5 cats
rtnrjk $299.00 I'm in for $400 only because my 22 yo twin boys are home for most of January
mymy33 $80.81 I'm in for $100 for myself, my 14 yo dd, and my maltipoo who thinks she's my dd
pkchicken $186.44 I'm going to try to keep it under $100.
DebK1013 $416.42 My goal is $250 for the month.
frugalstafar $521.65 I am going to say $300 for the month for 5 people - 2 dogs - 1 rabbit and 9 chickens!!!
tambro $510.75 I am in again and I'm going to reachmy goal of $400 this month - if it kills me!
couponliving $166.75 I am gonna go with $166.50 for a family of 4, plus 3 dogs
thl $182.64 I'm in for $150.
shetlandonyluvr $75.00 I'm only budgeting $50.
Zwella Ingrid $238.36 I'm in for $200 for the month
ComeOnGetDown $255.33 I'll budget $150 for me and my pooch
Lucky1307$2.33 I'm in for $200.
puakinikini $19.50 I plan to spend $200 for a family of 6+1 dog
chemwomyn $174.09 I'll try for $200.
shnnwebster $298.11 I will set a budget of 300.00 for me my husband, 13yro daughter, 9 yro daughter and 100 lb lab.
Weinergirl $357.65 Actually, make it $325 since the 10% rule no longer applies!
mrsc611 Im going for $400. It's me, DH, 19yo DD college student (who lives at home and drives 45 miles one way to school) 3 dogs & 4 cats!
shoebottom $237.28 I am setting a goal $250 for me, hubby, my daughter, and my 16 sister that stays with us.
thickblubug $459.14 rotate the stockpile
tammymv $238.50 My first time... put me down for 200.00 for my family of 5, including my dh, myself & our 3 teenage ds's !!
cdarrow26 $118.13 I am in again for $85 for the month.
kbullsexy07 $269.28 i would like to set my goal at $150 for 2 people and a dog
maxie1101 $211.77 I'm in again for January! My goal is $200.
cheap-o $47.11 My new goal for this year too. Count me in for $152!
GE coupon chick $418.52 i am budgetin 100 for the month for 2 kids, dh, me 1 cat and 2 dogs.
kitleigh For myself and my two cats I can only spend $5 this month.
ginamc28 $12.04 I am in for $120 for 4 people and cat.
sweetsurrender $123.68 My budget will be $400 for myself, DH, DS4 and DS2.
annachon $10.60 I'm in. I am hoping to spend $100 or less.
amys $156.71 $150.00 for the month
flowerp $94.37 I am going for $125 for the month.
jessicap81 $251.00 Jan $250 total

****** PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I AM OFF ON YOUR TOTAL OOP *******

[cody82414]

me.

Trying to calculate what I realistically would spend......

We start from $0.00 each month.

At the beginning of the month I list what I am are starting with
ecbs, paypal, stamps, catalinas, OYNO, cash on hand, etc.

The amount that you budget for your family is what you realistically think you need to spend that month. That amount doesn't count for anything. It is simply your family's personal goal

Using myself as the example
When I first started couponing August 2008,
if I can remember that far back
I was spending $650.00 each month for food for my family of 6.

Each month I was able to decrease that amount, as I got better at stockpiling, couponing, waiting for deals, et al.

HOWEVER this month I took out the 10% rule, so I honestly am not sure what I ACTUALLY spend oop anymore:shrug7:


Does that help?
cody

[nateNnatsmommy]

I'm in - I'll say $150 for the month. expecting alot of rebates!!!!

[junebug30523]

Looks like I'm going to come in under my $350 budget for December (hope I'm not speaking too soon!) I'm in for January at $250 for the month and a goal to get DH to eat lunch at home at least once per week.

[to1drland]

sign me up again, please! My goal for January will be $150.

[to1drland]

What about gift money?
Or Rebate checks that come in during the month?
A. Simply speaking, my goal is to not spend money out of pocket, which IMO does not include Gift money or rebate money.

Of course we all have "standard" expenses, such as mortgage/rent, car payments, insurance, utilities, medications, etc.

All 'other' money's: including groceries, fast food, hba, household items, entertainment, et al, that would make up your out of pocket expenses.

What I do not expect is those involved to stay home all month, with the lights off, eating dry, cold cereal (although I enjoy cereal ). Just challenge yourself and those in your family to participate, and we will share our experiences and ideas here.

so rebates don't count? I thought they did???

[phinphana]

Whats the new rule? what does really mean?
Phin

[neglectarino]

Me! I need to make up for the fiasco that was December. $100 again. I'm nothing if not stubborn.

[jenrose]

I'm in - I'll say $150 for the month. expecting alot of rebates!!!!

Is that $150 or $150?

I'm in. I'll stick with my $200. I'm not good at this yet.

[junebug30523]

Is that $150 or $150?

Or $150??