SEPTEMBER 2010: Living Off Of Your Stockpile Challenge. Rosebud17 is this months winner !!

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a SEPTEMBER 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/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.

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)

cody82414 will donate a HUMONGOUS potluck to the winner!!!


So???? Are you in?

Members currently involved in the challenge:
Name --- Totals So Far through post 2109 --- Personal Goals
red denotes money spent, green denotes a profit


cody82414 $120.02 $350.00 for my family of 6
MicheleMH $39.99 $40 for the month I'm buying for me, DH, and my 14m DS.
justmama $746.xx I'm in and i am lowering to $275.
pkchicken $357.18 $100 for the month
cma2a17 $173.01 I think I'll go with $200.00 for september.
cjpsmom $98.28 my usual $150
jenrose $405.34 Me Me Me!!!!! $200 again
Lucky1307 $23.00 I'm in for $200.
to1drland $125.26 count me in for $100 again please
MoneySavingDiva $85.56 $200.
frugalstafar $425.10 I am going to aim for $350 for the month
saving-n-va $168.05 September goal: $200.
mbella77 $125.21 I am going to aim at $275.
AllisonL $124.14 I am staying at $150
actvmom $323.62 Oh gosh, let's see.....$400
spongebear $63.07 $200 for September
couponSAHM $242.48 $300.00
rosebud17 $38.09 I will round up and say $200 for the month
texxie $232.54 Me too! 240.00
couponfan $49.08 I'm in for $50.
SouthernBelle5 $49.57 I'm in for $120
res030ei $127.03 $300 for me
Mommas2moody not officially joining this month
smilingatsaving $305.90 $300 for the month
regbyandjulie $147.10 $250 for just a family of two
nagrom13 withdrawn I'm in again for 600.00
MicheleaS I am going to raise to $400 since I have 2 in diapers
frugalitymom I am going to throw myself into the ring at $300, that's for food, household, and pets.
krmore $300 for 4 peoples 1 cat and 1 dog
foodie

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

[cody82414]

This month will be different.
I am 'starting over'.
Out with the processed and in with the healthier stuff.


I am NOT chasing deals.


Any money I get from rebates will not be put back into the balance.


If I spend it, it's spent.

Rebates:
Activia Taste Test (up to $6.00)

[nagrom13]

I'm in again for 600.00

[SouthernBelle5]

I'm in for $120

[jenrose]

Me Me Me!!!!! $200 again

;-)

[texxie]

Me too! 275.00

[actvmom]

Oh gosh, let's see.....$400.

I can do this! I can do this! I can do this!

[Spongebear]

$200 for September

[texxie]

CODY-Can you drop me to 240.00?

[MoneySavinDiva]

$200

But I'm doing things differently this month.

Rather than focusing on chasing the q deals and the like, I'm scaling back the stores I shop at to be CVS, Aldi, Sams Club, Farmers Market, Fareway and occaisonally WM. Rather than giving myself the full $200 at the beginning of the month, I'm giving myself $50 a week in my grocery envie and stashing the rest away. If I'm under for the week (say I only spend $40 rather than $50 that week) that extra cash will be put aside and donated to a charity. I haven't decided which one yet.

I'm going to menu plan each Tuesday when the new ads come out, based on what I have and fill in with loss leaders accordingly. I mentioned in August that I want to eat more local/healthy/whole foods. So I'm giving this way of shopping a whirl to see how things work out.

Simply put...I was spending FAR too much money each month on chasing q deals and the like. On our anniversary in August, hubs and I cleaned out the stockpile and donated 5 HUGE boxes of food (no hba or cleaning. just. food.) to the food pantry. Because honestly...I had gone overboard. Who needs 50 jars of pb when they all expire next month? Uh...apparently not us if it's still on the shelves So I'm scaling back...I'll buy what we need, in moderation, when it's on sale, and when we need it.