FEBRUARY: Living Off Of Your Stockpile challenge SURPRISE winner in post 1500!!!!!

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a February 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! cody82414
And the satisfaction that you proved to yourself that you are awesome at what you do!

Runner up will win a potluck fromthe one and only to1drland


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challenge:
Name --- Totals So Far through post 1494 --- Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit

cody82414 $40.18 $135.00 for the month
nateNnatsmommy $107.21 $150.00 for the month
jenrose $242.12 $200.00 for the month
to1drland $149.90 me again too! please P for $150.00 again
pkchicken $205.82 I still want to challenge myself to keep it under $100.00 oop and keep using up freezer food.
frugalstafar $227.90??? I will shoot for $500
debk1013 $45.33 Goal will be $250 again.
sandygirl $367.77 let me go for a budget for $150 for the month.
neglectarino $183.63 I'll give $150. a try.
Lucky1307 $136.12 I'm taking mine down to $150
irishsaver $453.07 So $300.00 for 4 Adult eaters and 2 Woff Woffs who love treats...
thickbluebug $161.41 rotate the stockpile
saving-n-va withdrawn my goal I think is $250
thorrocks1 $238.44 I am going to shoot for $400
phinphana $328.60 I am in again $150 for family of 4: Myself and DH and 5 yrs old son and 9 and a half months old on formula and diapers....
MoneySavinDiva $132.49
cjpsmom $100.00 Put me down for $200 for a family of 3.
mysticme $190.32 I'd like to try a budget of $250 for the month for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids.
zansammommy I will lower it a bit to 225.00 for a family of four, ds6 and dd 4.
regbyandjulie $80.25 So, we (DH, DD, myself, and two cats) are in for...$100
kris*b $299.63 Feeding three humans (ds is 14), a cat, and a dieting dog. Budgeted amount is $300.
tambro $384.13 Put me down for $300 for groceries and hba.
jennc123 $251.80 6 in our family, put me down for $399
Domestic Gal $120.72 I am in for $125 for 4 people.
newatthis $146.97 normally I spend about $240 a month, going to try $160- that is $20 less per week. 2 adults, 2 kids.
proctor78 withdrawn here it goes 400.00 for the month
rebate queen ??? I'm going to try this month...my first time! We are a family of 3. I will try $125.00 for the month.
hbaqueen withdrawn My goal is to live on $200 this month and that includes all grocery, eating out, diapers, hba, household ect.
loveebella $385.96 I am shooting for $300.
ELLE-TN withdrawn $200 for the month
dangerdanger! $90.43 I'm gonna guesstimate $300 for the month of February.
Anfivea $41.65 My goal for the month is $200 for all groceries, HBA, diapers....
latte $78.00 count me in for 650$ for feb
everprincess $149.21 I'm going to shoot for $300 this month.
lauramama2 $281.20 I'm gonna shoot for $300 for our family of 5 (3 adults and 2 kids).
annachon $124.70 Trying to keep it under $100 for 2 adults and 4 kids.
amy_s I am going to shoot for $300.00 out of pocket
WifeofBath $279.00 2 adults, 2 kids, and 2 cats-I'm going to set my budget for $300 for the month, or approx $10.75 a day.
Zwella Ingrid $183.00 put me down for $200 please, once again
anaj06 withdrawn my goal will be $0.00
cdarrow26 $99.11 I'm in at $65 for the month.
tammymv put me down for 150.00
kbullsexy07 $181.70??? i will set my goal at 250
jeweltea withdrawn Put me down for $200 this month.
carriebrewer $194.92 I just wanted to try this this month. I think about $400.

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

[cody82414]

me, of course
I'm thinking I'll scootch down a bit to $135. for the month

We still need meat badly,
so if I can get some on the cheap,
we should be good.

[nateNnatsmommy]

Me too, of course $150.00

[MoneySavinDiva]

MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

$200 of course

hopefully well, WELL below that

I'm kicking my game into high gear this month...:shopping2:

[nateNnatsmommy]

A horse is a horse, of course, of course

and no one can talk to a horse, of course

that is, of course, unless the horse, is the famous Mr. Ed!

[nateNnatsmommy]

sorry, couldn't help it - although I am resisting typing the rest of the song!

[jenrose]

Me again....still $200 and maybe I'll actually stick to it this time. *yeah right*

I still think NateNNat should be green!

[to1drland]

me again too! please! for $150 again!

Originally Posted by nateNnatsmommy sorry, couldn't help it - although I am resisting typing the rest of the song!

you know you are gonna be singing that all day now!

[pkchicken]

I'm in!!!
I know I've been going over my goal the past 3 months but I still want to challenge myself to keep it under $100.00 oop and keep using up freezer food.

Thanks!

pk

[nateNnatsmommy]

Do you mean I should litterally be green? Like my froggy friend? Or my goal?

Not really expecting many more rebates, so don't want to set an impossible goal.

Originally Posted by jenrose Me again....still $200 and maybe I'll actually stick to it this time. *yeah right* I still think NateNNat should be green!