March 2011: Living Off Of Your Stockpile challenge - we made it!

[cody82414]

Is anyone up for a MARCH 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 proceeds from selling your existing stockpile that come in during the month.
3. Finding Items for FREE!!!

Can you do it?

what is included:

• All food, alcohol and cigarettes. 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. 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.

Q&A's:
Q. What about fresh fruit, veggies, milk, eggs and bread?
A. Yes, these items would count in your out of pocket expenses. Buy all your necessities each week to go with what you already 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. 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.

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 challenge:
name --- Totals through post 2348 --- Personal Goals

cody82414 $249.54 $364.84 for my family of 5
MoneySavinDiva $167.52 $200.00
foggierbard $452.76 $250.00 for my family of 4
actvmom $403.20 $600.00

mommas2moody $551.17 $700.00 for a family of 6 and 2 pups
Spongebear $241.12 $200.00
rosebud17 $561.28 $640.00
jenrose $270.55 $200.00
pkchicken $111.33 $100.00
to1drland $108.11 $100.00
cdarrow26 $2xx.xx I'm in for $75.00
saving-n-va $385.00 $550.xx
frugalstafar $103.00 $450.00 again this month
texxie $138.72 $375.00
xmas tree $761.15 I will up my budget to $350.00
cjpsmom $250.17 I'm going for $225.00
cma2a17 $239.06 sticking with my $250.00
mrsrusso $70.62 I think my monthly should be $500.00 for my family of 7
Linzrenee $81.69 I am going to do $350 for the month.
VivaciousJewelz $675.33 I'm in for $500.00
kbullsexy07 $333.45 $325.00
thickbluebug $0.00 zero oop and to go through 2 rows in the freezer.
Weezie912 $106.01 $650. for my family of 6
KmmCo $401.78 this time raising my budget to $400.
mefiance $108.24 I'm in and shooting for $400.
Zwella Ingrid $0.00 Put me down for $200.00
TinaKlein $0.00 put me down for $700.00
couponfan $78.20 I am raising my goal to $250.00
brokenangel $0.00 I'm in and shooting for $350.00
SounthernBelle $91.94 $100.00
Ann in VA $0.00 I need to up my budget to $600.00
Wholesalebiker withdrawn goal for family of two = $50.00
everprincess $486.57 my budget this month is going to be $450.00
justmama $0.00 $xxx.xx
doulas3babes $48.35 my budget this month is $0.00 oop
ravenhart $23.35 I'm in for $200

suestuff $39.53 $xxx.00

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

[cody82414]

I am taking what I spent last month, which was $349.82
and subtracting 10%
(which is what I recommend you try to widdle away from your spending until you reach your norm)
then adding $50. for March frozen food month

So... $364.84

[MoneySavinDiva]

The dreaded March is here...dun, dun, DUNNNNNN!

$200 again

[foggierbard9]

Currently trying to rebuild the stockpile while living mostly off of it....if that makes any sense. We are looking to buy a house in the next few months, fingers crossed, and I want to get a budget nailed down on what we can now before we are in the house...not to mention because we will be going month-to-month at the apartment, our rent will go up here soon because of that....anywho, now that I have rambled...we will do $250 for family of 4 and this will include everything(HBA, Cleaning, Food, and Formula).

[actvmom]

$600 for me!!!! Let's see if I can make it????

[mommas2moody]

I'm back this month!
..... and will need lots of luck.

This month will be interesting that's for sure. We are out of so much and I really need to restock. I'm going to set my goal a little higher than normal since it looks like I have to do some diaper deal hunting. DD4 is going to be in newborn diapers much longer than I had thought.

$700 for a family of 6 plus 2 pups

[mommas2moody]

Currently trying to rebuild the stockpile while living mostly off of it....if that makes any sense.

Yes! I do it just about every month.

[Spongebear]

$200 for March.

[captainQpin]

i am in just not sure how much yet have to look at my gas points and see how much i have will hopefully come up with a buget today i need it to be as low oop as possible i am determined to pay off our $14,+++ student loan asap!

[jenrose]

I'm still here. I'll just stick with my usual but will more than likely be purple, but that's not really anything new with me. LOL I plan to have to plug in the other freezer again and fill it up this month with frozen food deals!!!!