MAY 2010: Living Off of Your Stockpile Challenge - RESULTS ARE IN.

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a MAY 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 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.

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.

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, paper, printer ink, 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.

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

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.

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


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. 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.

PRIZES:
(please note that this thread and prizes are volunteered,
and not 'funded' in any way by HCW - unless noted otherwise)
***regbyjulie will donate a coupon potluck
***to1drland will also donate a coupon potluck


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challenge:
Name --- Totals So Far through post 1718 --- Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit


cody82414 $000.00 for the month of May
lauramama2 $410.29 I'm in with $300 again
frugalstafar $397.43 I am back and ready to go-going to try for $425 for the month
mommas2moody $757.71 I'm going with $500 this month.
couponfan $78.13 I am in again, lower my goal to $150.00 this month
Lucky1307 $149.88 I'll keep my goal at $150
AllisonL $184.25 my first stockpile challenge! I'm shooting for $250.
loveebella $308.58 I am in for the month of May put me down for.. 250.
foggierbard9 $266.69 $200 again this month.
MoneySavinDiva $70.98 I'm in for May with a goal of $200.
jenrose $287.41 Still sticking with 200.00
to1drland $188.95 I'm in again for $100.00
irishsaver $363.51 Ok I am in for $350.
weinergirl $469.41 So please put me down for $375 for the month of May.
saving-n-va $212.00 I'm going with $250 this month
pkchicken $169.85 Goal: $100.00 oop
everprincess $257.62
regbyandjulie $150.65 $175.00
cjpsmom$133.50 let's go for $125 (fingers crossed for $100).
indonanci $174.34 I am going to lower my goal to $200.
luvmykitten $7.94 $115 is my goal
Zwella Ingrid withdrawn Put me down for $200 please.
mary1222 $200. for the month of May
irish molly I'm going to shoot for $300
car7323 withdrawn I would like to get in with a challenge amount of $175.
dara77 withdrawn I am gonna say $150 this month.

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

[cody82414]

I am going for $000.00 oop again this month.

chant with me:
"FREEs, MoneyMakers, or necessities"
"FREEs, MoneyMakers, or necessities"
"FREEs, MoneyMakers, or necessities"

[jenrose]

I'm still here! Still sticking with 200.00

[cjpsmom]

Count me in again....let's go for $125 (fingers crossed for $100). Need to try to build up my meat supply.

[mommas2moody]

I'm in! I'm going with $500 this month.
Diapers are getting low again, foods for vacation, and need meat.

[to1drland]

I'm in again for $100.00

[couponfan]

I am in again, lower my goal to $150.00 this month

[junebug30523]

I'm in for $150 (hope it's a lot less!) DH quit his job today (long story), so we will definitely be living off the stockpile until he gets another one. It's been a tough day.

[jenrose]

I'm in for $150 (hope it's a lot less!) DH quit his job today (long story), so we will definitely be living off the stockpile until he gets another one. It's been a tough day.

Hopefully something good comes his way quickly. I know he wasn't happy there from your previous posts.

[junebug30523]

Hopefully something good comes his way quickly. I know he wasn't happy there from your previous posts.

Thanks Jen! They changed his department's pay plan last week and he found out that he was the only that had his pay cut! He has been there almost 4 years and had not received even one raise, yet he's VW Parts Master Certified, has missed maybe one day a year sick, etc. The good news is we can get by for a while and he was already on my insurance from work. He just needs some time, he was getting to the point that he was getting chest pains.