The February 2012 Living off Your Stockpile Challenge..WINNER ANNOUNCED!!!

[to1drland]

Is anyone up for the FEBRUARY challenge to live off of your stockpile & 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.
*** you can chime in with your 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.

*****Generally speaking....I know many of you are continuously adding to your stockpile....give yourself that extra bit of cash every month to do so. Or for those of you who hit the drug stores hard & live in double Q areas...work it!

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 ANY medications or those for your loved one's. No. Perscriptions/meds do not count towards your oop balance.

Simply add your name & your goal amount to the wiki below to join in!


A "special surprise" goes to a random drawn participant that doesn't go "purple". (Donated by mommas2moody this month!)

..........can you stay w/in your goal???

[SouthernBelle5]

I'm just glad I didn't get deleted like last month ...

[KmmCo]

Not sure what my budget is yet - I know that I am really low on meats right now! I haven't even looked at the ads yet this week, since I just got home from my trip. (I posted about the trip on the Jan thread just a bit ago!)

[actvmom]

Yay!!!! We're up!!!! Ok, gotta go gather up my receipts & report my spending.

[cdarrow26]

I really hope I can stay under budget this month. I went WAY over in January, with starting Weight Watchers and having to stock up on "healthy" food. I'm pretty stocked up now though so I hope February isn't quite as bad!

[ffagirl15]

Ok, I got myself on the wiki. I can do it!

[actvmom]

For Mamas: Pizza Casserole

This is whats for dinner. I know, I know, its not healthy. But, its the only meal I've slowed down for today.

Oh, and moody I used the beef and there was NO fat whatsoever!

I still have to add up my receipts. As soon as I get the boys in bed, they are in rare form today. My older boy acts like its his job to tackle the younger on every chance he gets. So, LOTS of time outs happening in my house today.....

[jenrose]

DH will be out of town for a week this month. But that usually means he gives me a long list of stuff he wants me to get for him to take with him. So who knows what this month will turn out $ wise.

[jenrose]

ACT that looks yummy and I have everything on hand to make it. Think I'll pull the peperoni out of the freezer and make that later this week!

[jkeating]

I'm in again and really need to not buy un-necessary items next month.

I want to go downstairs and check to see exactly what I have so I can plan my meals better. I probably only have about 2 weeks worth of meat but I'll be supplementing that with 2 $5 OOYNP from Price Chopper next week. I know what I have non food wise but not exactly what I have regarding food.