52 Week Money Challenge

Last year around New Years I saw the 52 week money saving challenge being shared, but we didn't do it.  This year when I saw it being shared I printed it out and took it to my hubby to show it to him because I really wanted to do it.

The way it is set up, there are 52 weeks in the year and you save money each week.  Week 1 is $1, Week 2 is $2 etc until you hit Week 52 at $52.  In the end, you wind up saving (either in a bank account, or where ever you keep your savings) a total of $1,378 for the year.  Some people talk about doing it backwards, so you are saving more now, and less during the holidays when money usually gets tighter for people.  We're trying to go backwards, but I did a print out that has check boxes on it, so if need be we can skip around each week and check them off as we do them.  I also saw an alternative that has you save $26.50 each week of the year, and you still save $1,378 for the year.

We have a savings account and a high interest savings account (that account is our out of site, out of mind money that we are stashing for major emergencies, like for our house).  We are transferring the money we are saving right into the high interest savings account.  We did our 1st deposit on Friday!  I am excited to do this, it will be a great addition to our savings account, every little bit helps!  I personally don't think it matters if you go in order, as long as you make the commit and do all the deposits.

Is anyone else doing this challenge?

Dollar Tree Bento Finds!!

Ok, so yesterday I posted about trying to Bento.  By the time I finished the post I had made the decision to go for it (sometimes writing can be so helpful!).

I mentioned that one of the blogs I followed had talked about buying some stuff from the Dollar Tree (I follow her main blog, but she started a blog just for Bento and you can see her Bento blog here :  Bento On a Budget)

Well, I went and checked out my dollar tree and I found a ton of stuff!  I spent a total of $22 (plus tax), and in some cases a Bento Box costs that much or more if you buy it online!  Here are all of my goodies!!!

I got 4 locking boxes, 2 Eggies (for making hard boiled eggs you don't have to peel...or without yolks if you have a picky eater), some small clear containers (20 total), some cute animal containers (frog, bee, lady bug, and monkey), 3 animals bowls (bee, frog, and monkey, neither one of my dollar trees had the lady bug in stock so I will have to keep looking), 2 sandwich cutters, an egg slicer in case I decide to not do a whole egg, or to make it easier to eat, some cupcake liners that can be used also to separate foods, some picks with hearts on them, and some pick forks with diamonds on them.

Not a bad start!  I could have bought less, since I know (at least right now) I won't Bento for my oldest, and I may or may not for my 2 yr old, but I figured it was best to buy enough for all 4, just in case.  Especially since things at the Dollar Tree come and go and you never know what they will have on stock.

I'm starting to get really excited about this!

Biting the bullet

Ok, it's time for me to just bite the bullet and get to work on these receipts of mine!  I WAS going to go through them all and organize them by date...the OCD part of me wants them all to be entered into excel in order by date.  The lazy part of me sees the huge stack and finds that task too daunting.

Of course the lazy part of me is going to win.  I am just going to start to enter them in and then do all my totals after all the receipts are entered.  This will stream line it and take a lot less time to get it done, and then I can just toss all these receipts as I go.

I am anxious to see what my spending and savings for March, April, and May was!  Man am I behind!  I have to make sure I don't drop behind again, because I am really anxious to see how my spending is compared to my savings.  I already know from the last year that I am saving thousands of dollars, now it's time to see what I am spending too!

Cartwheel

Cartwheel is a new 'application' from Target.  It's not an application you can download on your phone, tho you can use it on your phone via your phone's browser.

The way Cartwheel works is you sign up using your Facebook account, then you can browse their deals and add them to your cart.  For example, yesterday I added a save 20% off graduation cards, save 20% on Father's day cards, and save 15% on Suave hair care products to my cart.  Then once you do this, you can either chose to print out the page with the barcode on it to take with you, or you can load this page in your phone's browser.  It gives you 1 barcode for all your items in your 'cart'.  You can use cartwheel on up to 6 items in the same transaction, the 1 bar code will automatically deduct for all the items.  PLUS, you can use cartwheel, with a target coupon and a manufactures coupon on a single item, so you can triple stack it!

Yesterday I used Cartwheel for the first time.  I bought 2 suave shampoos (which I also had manufacture coupons for), 2 father's day cards, and a graduation card (amongst a few other things).  I gave the cashier my phone to scan first, and she scanned the barcode and it took off $3.68!  Then on my receipt it shows in the breakdown what the price was before and after Cartwheel, so it breaks it all down on the receipt for you too!  Cartwheel is free to use and another great way to save money, so what are you waiting for?

February Savings/spendings

I can't believe it is March already!!  My oldest daughter turns 11 this month, so it's a big month for us!  Because it's March, that means it is time to share our February savings and spendings!!  We had a great month!

In February I spent $259.06 ($274.63 after taxes) and saved $720.24, a savings of 73.55%!

That is less then $50 a person in a family of 6, AND I bought items for the express purpose of donating it too!  I am pretty darn happy with our spendings and savings this month!  I can't wait to see what march will bring, especially with the planning of a birthday party!

Weekly update, Week 9

Here we are, up to date with the week that ended yesterday!  Again, part of this week included Harris Teeter's super doubles (and I am super excited to have super doubles starting again this Weds!!!)

Week 9 I spent $72.50 ($77.84 after tax) and saved $229.08, a savings of 75.96%!

I found some great deals at the drug stores this week too!

Weekly update, Week 8

Here we go with week 8!!  Part of week 8 included super doubles at Harris Teeter, so I bought a lot of sale stuff!!

Week 8, I spent $47.82 ($51.63 after taxes) and saved $174.79 a savings of 78.52%!

Just a few pictures of everything I bought that week!

Weekly update, Week 7

Ok, I know I am a bit behind!  But I kept all my receipts, entered them into excel, and here we are!

Week 7, I spent $96.75 ($101.71 after tax) and saved $213.62, a savings of 68.83%

Yes, we stocked up on fruit snacks!  We were down to about 3 boxes, which is way to low!  We go through a box a week, easily.  I also bought a bunch of Hamburger Helper and Betty Crocker potatoes, all of which got donated to Hope Station, a local place that provides food to families in need, and a homeless shelter form men at night.

Weekly update, Week 6

Another week has come and gone.  Man it seems time is going by fast!  I didn't spend too much money at the store this last week.  I am stocked up on a lot of stuff, so we are living off our stockpile, which is great because we are buying less and spending less.

For this week I only spent $3.44 ($3.62 after taxes), I saved $34.76, a savings of 90.99%, or 91%!!

As you can see from the picture, it was just a stock up purchase.

Weekly update, Week 5

Not only is the month of January done, but we are done with another week too!  So let's get to it!


I spent $51.65 ($52.93 after tax) and I saved $96.45, a savings of 65.12%

This week is my lowest savings based on % so far this year, but it is also a perfect example that some weeks are better then other's and you won't always have over the top savings.  Like I have said in the past tho, ANY savings is good savings.  I bought stuff that we needed, and I saved almost $100 while doing so, that is $100 I can spend on something else, so I am happy!

*edit* I forgot pictures!  I know it's not much, but I have 1 to add LOL

January Spending/Savings

Wow, January has already come and gone.  Kinda crazy!  It seems this year has started off at a pretty fast pace, just like last year did.  I want to note that last year I tracked ALL my savings, every single time I used a coupon anywhere for anything.  This year, I am just tracking my grocery and drug store spending...basically just the items you would buy with your grocery or personal hygiene budget.  I want to give you a better idea of what I am saving (and spending) on every day items that you and I are both buying to support our families.

Well, here we go...In the month of January I spent a total of $236.05 ($263.70 after tax) and I saved $843.34, a savings of 78.13%!  That's right folks, I spent only $236 for a family of 6.

I will admit, there are a handful of bread and milk runs not included in this total,  but even those wouldn't add too much to my total.  This does however include a shopping trip specifically to buy items for the super bowl party that I went to.

On a side note, this morning my 13 year old son walked up to me before he left for school and told me he needed more deodorant.  I just went out to my garage, grabbed one from the shelf and gave it to him.  No adding it to my shopping list, no having to run out to get it for him today.  The best part?  It was a deodorant I had gotten for free!

Weekly update, Week 4

Week 4!!  To be honest, I would have had nothing at all bought this week, except I had +UPs at Rite Aid that expired tonight, so I had to burn them or lose them!  Between being in Vegas, and then recovering from my trip, I didn't do anything this week.  But that is fine, because we are able to live off our stockpile and not run out to buy stuff all the time!

So, this week I spent $1.49 ($2.27 after tax) and saved $23.47 a savings of 94.03%.

I didn't use any coupons on the Finish....if I'd had extra's to use on them I would have had to find another $3 worth of stuff to buy LOL, so I still think I did pretty darn good!

Weekly Update, Week 3

Sorry this update is late!  I was very, very sick most of that week, and then I headed to Vegas for the weekend with my Mom!  But I am now home, and feeling much better.  So today I sat down and found my few receipts so I could do this post.  I only made 2 shopping trips that week, and 1 of them my hubby did, because I was too sick to go, but my coupons were expiring that day!  Isn't he great?

So, for this week I spent $21.37 ($27.47 with tax) and saved $101.99 a savings of 82.68%!  I stocked up on Pull Ups with a great coupon and a good deal at CVS!

Since I only had 2 trips, I only have a picture of the 1st trip, since I wasn't going to make hubby take a picture of what he bought too LOL.

Weekly update, Week 2

Another week has gone by, time for my update.  I spent more money this week (but also saved more).  I always spend a lot when Harris Teeter has their Super Doubles, but I also stocked up on some different meats, which we sorely needed.  But, that's ok, because I still had over a 70% savings!  That is all money in our pocket for other things.

Here we go, I spent $151.15 ($163.98 after tax), and I saved $401.19, a savings of $72.63%.  Here are a few pictures.

Well, there you have it!  So far I have saved over $700 this month!  Happy Savings!!

Weekly update, Week 1

Sorry I am 2 days late for my first weekly update, but I needed to tweak my excel spreadsheet that my hubby built for me to use.  That's right, my hubby is so amazing he  made an excel spreadsheet with all the breakdowns that I wanted, and even set it up to give me weekly, monthly, and annual totals!!

So, for week 1, I spent $62.04 ($69.98 after tax) and I saved $307.71 an average savings of 83.22%! I didn't take pictures of everything that I bought, but I will share a few pictures with you. (every week I will share some of the pictures with you, but not all.)

*did a small edit to update my numbers, I found some missing receipts that I had to add in.

I love my stockpile

What do dish soap, hand soap, body wash, shampoo, shaving cream, laundry detergent, stain booster, toilet paper, paper towels, mouthwash, and toothpaste all have in common?  They are all items in my stockpile that my family has needed in the last 2 weeks.   Most of the items  are items I got for free at some point too.  My family needed the items and they just grabbed them from the stockpile when they needed them.

2 weeks ago, my oldest daughter had the flu, so she was washing her hands, a LOT!  She came up to me one day and told me she was out of soap, I went out to the garage and grabbed another soap and refilled her dispenser.  My oldest had been told to do his laundry about a week ago.  He said he couldn't because we were out of the stain booster and the laundry packs that him and his sister use for their laundry.  My hubby and I just laughed at him as I had him follow me to the laundry room where I had a  cabinet full of laundry detergent and stain booster.

I love that I don't have to go around and check how everyone is doing with everything (cause we all know kids aren't going to tell you they are low, they are going to come running to you when they are out of it and they need it!).  I don't have to make lists and try to remember to buy stuff.  I already have it all at home ready to go, and it was cheap!  If I had to run out just to buy the laundry detergent and the Tide stain booster I was looking at around $15, no thank you!

Deciding to stockpile was one of the best decisions I have ever made!  Do you coupon and stockpile?

A year of savings

Well, I didn't do all of 2012 like I had planned.  Like I said in my last post I didn't keep track of nov or Dec at all.  BUT, I did do Nov and Dec of 2011.  So I can share my savings from Nov 1, 2011 til Oct 31st, 2012.  August and Sept are missing, due to our move, but I am fine with that.

In 10 months I saved our family:

$9,337.87

How awesome is that?!?!  That is my KNOWN savings, savings that I actually kept track of!  If I add in an estimate for July, August, Nov, and Dec I can confidently say I saved between $11,000 and $12,000 for my family this year (if not a tiny bit more!)!

I am so excited for over his number!  I love couponing and I can't wait to see what I save in the following year!  It's never too late to start!  Every little bit saved is more then you had before, so what is stopping you from saving money?  It's a new year coming up in less then a week, don't be afraid to start saving money!

October Savings

Another month has come and gone.  Is it just me....or did October fly by for the rest of you too?  I can't believe it is November already!  I have 2 birthday's this month, and then Thanksgiving.  Then in December my oldest becomes a teenager and we have Christmas.  We have a very busy end of year!

Now my monthly total for October is actually a bit lower then it should be...I know not all of my receipts got recorded (sorry, I slacked off a bit one week, and then couldn't find all the receipts).  But here you have it, my October savings!

$1,038.63

Still a phenomenal number!  We've had to restock some of our perishable foods, plus I bought Halloween candy and started to buy stuff for the joint birthday party we are having this month.  I gotta say, I love saving money!!!

Drugstore Diva!

Well, I certainly felt like a Drugstore Diva yesterday!  All the new drug store ads come out on Sunday's.  I always try to hit them up on the first day of the ad to make sure I get the deals that I want.  Yesterday was one of my best days ever with the drugstores.  I went to all 3 of them CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens.  I spent a total of $13.61 (plus tax) and saved a total of $189.90, a savings of 93%!!  My most expensive stop was at Rite-Aid, where I stocked up on halloween candy to hand out, and gatorade for the family.


Rite Aid:

I spent $9.29, plus tax, saved $44.92, a savings of 83%  I also walked away with $15 in +Ups, an a$2 rebate.

Walgreens:

I spent $1.98 plus tax, saved $$19.12 a savings of 91%.  I also got a $.50 RR.

CVS:

Here I did 3 different trips....the first CVS I went to doesn't even carry children's vitamins, so I had to go to a second one.  Then after talking with a friend i had to go back to do another deal I had originally decided to pass on.  The first picture is my first 2 trips combined.

Trip 1 I got the 4 aveeno's, 1 nail polish (filler) and the big set of emery boards and 1 box of files.  I paid $.54 plus tax and saved $23.49.

Trip 2 I got the 2 gummy vitamins, 1 nail polish (filler) and the single file and the other box of files.  I paid 0, plus tax, and saved $23.49.

So, for the 2 trips together, I paid $.54, plus tax, saved $46.64, a savings of 99%!!  I also got $15 in ecb's!

Trip 3 to CVS, I spent $1.80 plus tax, saved $79.22, a savings of 98%!  Plus I got back $10 in ECB's and I mailed off a $15 rebate from P&G (yep, it's already in the mail!)

There you have it!  My Drugstore Diva shopping trips!  Here's a list of what I bought for $13.61.

1 Thermacare 

12 Gatorade's

4 bags Starburst

2 bags Jolly Ranchers

4 Advil PM's

4 2 liters of Dr. Pepper

1 bag fun sized Butterfingers

1 bag fun sized Nestle Crunch

4 Aveeno lotions

2 kids gummy vitamins

2 nail polishes

2 packs nail files

1 pack emery boards

1 nail file

4 Herbal Essence shampoos

4 Herbal Essence conditioners

2 Cover Girl lipsticks

8 Cover Girl eye shadows

That's a lot of stuff for so little!  I really do love my coupons!

Have you scored any great deals lately?

Something new!

So, I think I am going to try something new, at least for a month.  I want to show how much I am actually spending, in a month, on food and personal hygiene/household items for our family of 6.  If I have any super great deals/days I will still post those, like I have occasionally in the past.  But for the next month I am going to do a weekly post on Sundays going over what I spent the past week.

So, I am kicking this off with this week.  I started tracking yesterday (which was a phenomenal day at the stores, I will do that blog post next!) and I will do my first weekly post this Sunday, Nov 4th.  I know I am spending, on average $150-$300 a month, when we use to spend $500-$700 a month, which is a HUGE drop.  I am excited to see my actual numbers for a month.