JULY: Living Off Of Your Stockpile Challenge: and the winner is.... Spongebear!!!

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a JULY 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, alcohol and cigarettes are 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)
**to1drland will offer up a mystery prize for the month of July!


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challenge:
Name --- Totals So Far through post 1628 --- Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit


cody82414 $4.94 $0.00 for the month for my family of 6
cjpsmom $215.13 Count me in again for $175
everprincess $336.46 $250.00 this month.
to1drland $98.12 going with $100.00 this month
jenrose $159.86 predictable, $200
ravenhart $320.06 I'll do my usual $200
lucky1307 I'm in again for $150.
couponSAHM $232.18 I'm decreasing our spending to $150 this month.
actvmom $264.10 I think I will raise my budget to $500 for the month.
spongebear $4.22 $200 for July.
mommas2moody $706.38 $500 for a family of 5 plus 2 woof-woofs.
AlisonL $65.93 I'm in! I'll lower it to $200.
MoneySavinDiva $132.14 $200.00
cma2a17 $211.84 I'm in for $250.00 again.
mbella77 $265.20 Since this is my first try I am shooting for $300.
saving-n-va $238.65 back to my normal amount $250.
couponfan $105.18 I am in for $200.
irishsaver $257.30 $200 for the month
res030ei $190.22 Im in again! $200 for the month.
rphilbeck $80.00
smilingatsaving $242.56 I am going to start with a budget of $300.00
pkchicken $85.04 $100 and eat from the freezer every day...Yeah!
regbyandjulie withdrawn $200 for July
lauramama2 $167.97 Going for $150 again.......
justmama $81.51 i am going to set a budget of $500.00
tita1978 $267.72 I am going to say 550.00 for the month.
momymilr $200 again for me
Betsy33 $150 this month--half of June's goal.

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

[cody82414]

Me.

I'm going to say $80.00 for the month of July

changing this to $0.00 oop,
because I think I should get rebates in
3, $10 Kraft facebook (got all three)
3, TMF Krunchers (got three)
3, TMF Red Baron singles (got three)
3, $5. SCJohnson (got three)
2, TMF Banquet (got two)
1, Schick Hydro TMF (got one)
2, Fast Fixins TMF (got two)

Everything came in!!

[cjpsmom]

Count me in again for $175.....I think I can, I think I can.....

[to1drland]

I will offer up a mystery prize for the month of July!

[to1drland]

me too! going w/ $100.00 this month.

[jenrose]

I'm still here. And I'm predictable but usually purple. $200 and one of these months I will make it. LOL

[MoneySavinDiva]

$200

[AllisonL]

I'm in! I'll lower it to $200. Yes, I know I'm coming in way below $200 for June, and as much as I hope that's a trend, I think $200 is more reasonable for July.

[saving-n-va]

I'm in. $250 (back up to my normal amt).

We have a camping trip, Dh's 50th b-day, and I want to do some make ahead mixes. Plus I'm hoping to make some homemade salsa to can. And I want to mail both kids care pkgs this month. August is going to be a crazy month, so I need to have some meals or partial meals in the freezer.

[mommas2moody]

I'm in of course! $500 for a family of 5 plus 2 woof-woofs.

I need dog food, paper towels, and freezer foods. Off the top of my head.
I do have some rebates that should be coming in but it's not going to be a huge amount.