April 2010: Living Off Of Your Stockpile challenge. RAOK winner: MoneySavin'Diva!!!!!!

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for an APRIL 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
2. rebate funds or stockpile sales that come in during the month.
3. Finding Items for FREE.

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/cleaning 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 believe 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

And No.
Tax returns are not to be credited to your oop!!!!!

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.


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challene:
name --- Totals So Far through post 2005 --- Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit


cody82414 $.01 $000.00 for the month of April
irishsaver $439.62 $350.00 for 2 Adults 1 DS eats like a horse 1 DD and 2 Woof Woofs.
lucky1307 $24.66 I'm in again for $150.
lauramama2 $511.67 I am going to stick with $300
everprincess $329.52
mommas2moody $722.95 I'm going for $450 for 2 adults, 3 kids, 2 dogs
nccouponqueen $294.92 Count me in for $300 for month of April.
couponfan $168.46 lowering my goal to $200 for the month - me, DH and two doggies.
cjpsmom $178.15 I'm lowering my goal for April to $150 (really hoping for $100)....
to1drland $100.00 I will go for $100 again
pkchicken $45.28 Goal: Under $100.00 oop
foggierbard9 $242.17 My budget will be $200 for everything
regbyjulie $188.21 I think I'm in for $100 for 3 people.
amylynne1 $200.55 I'm shooting for $200 for just one month
jenrose $193.32 I'll still say $200 but after March I really need it to be lower.
MoneySavinDiva $112.75 I'm going to go with $200 for the month again.
indonanci $173.01 for me and and my two kids and husband I will set my OOP at $250.
weinergirl $392.52 budget of $400 for the month for 2 adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs.
wholesalebiker $32.99 95.00 oop
AVONashley1102 $117.33 For my first month I am going to set a goal of $160 for 2 people, 2 dogs, 3 turtles, and a ton of fish. Oh and a crazy brother in law that always seems to have his fingers in my fridge!!
ZwellaIngrid $184.36 please put me down for $200 for April
luvmykitten $200.50 My goal is $350.
latte $22.55
lt98672 $23.03 We feed anywhere from 8 to 10 each day. I'm also diabetic and have celiac disease. My goal is $200 for the month.
annachon $21.82 I am aiming for $100 for 6 people.
ravenhart I'm going to leave my goal at $200 for the month.
res030ei withdrawn I want to try! my first time so i am going with $200 for the month.
nuffsaid withdrawn I am in, finally decided $450 for the month that would be Hubby, I, 8 kidlets, (2 are mansize, and do not look like kidlets) one live~in parent so 11 peeps, two cats, one pg .

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

[cody82414]

I really want to go for $0.00 oop this month
and work off of whatever rebates and stockpile sales I have.

That's my goal, and I'm sticking with it!

My Motto for this month:
FREEs, MoneyMakers, or Necessities

[jenrose]

Me Again! I'll still say $200 but after March I really need it to be lower. LOL

[Lucky1307]

I really want to go for $0.00 oop this month
and work off of whatever rebates and stockpile sales I have.
That's my goal, and I'm sticking with it!

Wishing you luck!

I'm in again for $150. Eventually I want to see $100 but March has been tough even with the extra $ coming in. Working on doing better meal plans and finding some new recipes.

[MoneySavinDiva]

I'm going to go with $200 for the month again. I'm still trying to stock up before baby gets here...especially if I'm going to have to go c-section like they're talking, I won't have the ability to get out and stockpile for awhile...so I'm taking advantage of it while I can Hopefully no purple this month!! I'm not crossing my fingers though if the sales are as good as in March

[ravenhart]

I'm in!! I loved the challenge this month (March). I'm going to leave my goal at $200 for the month simply because I will be eating more veggies/lean meats/fruit than I will other foods with q's readily available.

[foggierbard9]

I'm in for April, but we'll see how it goes. I am due in the middle of the month with our second little one, so I really need to keep the spending to a minimum. Not sure how well I will do keeping my posts updated, but I really want to try. My budget will be $250 for everything, to include adding to the stockpile if there is any good deals I can get.

[pkchicken]

Hi

Oh yes!
Please count me in!

Goal: Under $100.00 oop,

I was going to make it $90. but I have to buy tomatos and pepper plants for the garden since I was fiddling around with coupons instead of starting my seeds this year.

...about the freezer goal....yeah it's full again. I better get going on that or I won't have antwhere to put the garden produce!!

pk

[to1drland]

I will go for $100 again....

[wholesalebiker]

95.- oop This is for familyof 2!! We need to work on clearing out some of stockpile...We did this for March but, barely dented it ...We need more shelf space!!