Managing Money Mondays

Stockpiling:

Stockpiling is key to making the most out of coupons and sales.  When you can get an item at an extreme discount or even free, that is the time to buy multiples.  Usually items go on sale on a three month rotation.  That mean is Kellogg's cereal is on sale for B1G1 Free this week, then there is a very good probability that they will be on sale at the same price or equivalent within the next three month.  Therefore, when buying items for your stockpile keep the following things in mind to make the most  of you money and space:
1.  Only buy what you will use for sure in the next 3 months (that includes taking into consideration what you already have at home).
2.  Look for the latest "use by" date to ensure that it will still be within that range 3 - 4 months from now (I try to not buy anything I won't use in the next few weeks that doesn't have a date of at least 6 months from now).
3. Make sure you have the room for the items you are buying.  It doesn't do any good to buy 10 lbs. of chicken if you can even fit it in the freezer.
4. Don't forget to rotate your stock pile, putting the closest expiration date towards the front.  I am guilty of coming home and just shoving items, and then forgetting to rotate them, only to find a box of something that expired 6 months ago. 

how do you manage your stock pile?  what rules do you follow?
- Kathleen

Old Spice Odor Blocker Body Wash Sample!

 

Walmart.com has yet another sample available for Old Spice Odor Blocker Body Wash.  Go here for yours!

Happy Sampling!
- Kathleen

Free Sample Secret Clinical Deodorant

Go here for a free sample of Secret Clinical Deodorant!

Happy sampling!
- Kathleen

Dove Ultimate Beauty Care Deodorant Sample

At walmart.com you can go here for a free sample of Dove Ultimate Beauty Care Deodorant!


Happy Sampling!
- Kathleen

April Budget Final - I blew it!

Wow, so the first month that I diligently kept track of my spendings and I blew it, BiG TIME!

If only Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter had not done triple coupons the last few days of the month, and if only I had self control!  LOL!

Well here is the breakdown  (this includes all grocery store, drug store, health food store, and shopping at Target and Walmart):

Total Regular Retail:   $2061.94
Total Savings with coupons:  $866.09
Total store savings:  $675.89
Total OOP:  $459.53

At end of month I had:  $22 in ECB and I sent in for $69.50 in rebates.

I don't count the ECB off of my total or the rebates because I count my ECB as savings as I go and rebates are earmarked for Christmas money. 

Well, all and all, not my best.  I pulled money from my extra money amount this month ($50) and I had a few savings throughout the month so I had a little extra.  Of course as life goes, no sooner did we finish this month, then one of our vehicles needed fixed.  So after paying for that, next month I will be trying not only to stay within budget, but (YIKES) cut it even more to make up some of the money.  So for MAY my budget is $250.  So, lets see what happens!  

How do you do on your budget?  Do you stick with it with ease?  Do you blow it every now and again?  Can you never stick to your budget?

- Kathleen

Friday Finals - Grocery Store - Harris Teeter week of 5/1

This week went to Harris Teeter but I went two more time before triples ended and made a stop at Trader Joes.  I have not had to go back to a store since, except to pick up a gallon of milk today for $2.77.  I am trying to cut back a bit this month, since we just had some car repairs, so my goal for the month of May is to spend $250 or less (about $100 less than my usual goal).  So we will see over the next few weeks how I do! 

Regular Retail = $45.97 - $13.26 VIC card savings - $29 triple coupons = $3.68 OOP

92% savings

Not Pictured (sorry forgot this day):

Harris Teeter

Regular Retail:  $40.30 - $7.07 VIC card savings - $27.62 triple coupons = $5.61 OOP

85% savings

Trader Joes

$7.35

Total Regular Retail Groceries:  $93.62 - coupons/savings = $16.64 total OOP

83% TOTAL SAVINGS

May regular retail: $350.76 - $316.77 savings = $25.81 OOP

May Budget:  $250 - $25.81 amount spent = $224.19 left in budget

Total savings May = 92%

 

How did you do this week?

- Kathleen

Friday Finals - Drug Stores - Rite Aid, CVS - week of 5/1

Here are my drug store savings for the week:

                                                             Rite Aid Trip #1 (transaction #1 )

 Nivea  (on sale $4 each) = $12 / 3  - 3 $4 coupons = $0
carefree panty liners= $1 - $1 coupon = $0
kotex panty liners = $1 - $1 manufactorer coupon - $1 rite aid video coupon = $1 overage
Cover Girl powder:  $8.99
Cover Girl mascara : $8.99 - $8.99  on sale B1G1F
   = $8.99/2 - $8.99 B1G1F manufactorer coupon
Sally Hansen nail strengthener: $4.95 + Sally hansen nail polish $2.49 (on sale b1g1 50%) - $4 manufactorer
 = $3.44/2
Sally Hansen nail: $3.19 + SH nail polish $1.15 (b1g1 50%) - $4 manufactorer = $0.34/2
SH nail polish: $2.30 + SH nail polish $1.15 (b1g1 50%) - $1 manufactorer = $2.30/2
- $5/25 coupon
=  $0.08 + tax = $1.67 = $1.75 OOP       EARNED $3 rebate on Sally Hansen #70

Regular Retail:  $56.05 - coupons/savings = 97% savings  + earned $3 rebate

CVS

Colgate Total Advanced $2.99 - $1.00 coupon
Nivea lipgloss x2 = $5.98/2 - $2.99 b1g1f coupon , -$1 coupon
Nivea body wash = $9.76/2 - $4.88 b1g1f coupon, -$4 coupon
Gummies Vitamins= $7.99/2 (on sale B1G1F) - 2 $1 coupons, - 2 $0.50 on package (cashier rang them without me realizing till got home and they were off package and saw on receipt taken off)
Reach Total Care Floss = $7.98/2 - $3.99 b1g1f coupon, -$1 coupon
= $12.84 - $10 ECB, - $2 ECB = $1.12 OOP (with tax)
received back:  $9 ECB

Regular Retail: $45.81 - coupons & savings = 72% savings before ECB = 97% savings after ECB

Rite Aid Trip #2 (transaction #2 & 3)

Today I went to use my last Cover Girl B1G1F coupon and since I received my $25 Rite Aid gift card from the allergy medication rebate offer yesterday, I knew I wouldn't have to use any OOP money.

Transaction #3:
Scrubbing Bubbles Starter $9.99
Scrubbing Bubbles Refill $4.49
Cover Girl Mascara $8.99
Cover Girl Mascara $0  (on sale b1g1f)
- $5/25 coupon
- $5 scrubbing bubbles starter coupon
- $3.99  (buy scrubbing bubbles get refill free)
- $8.99 BiG1 free cover girl coupon
= $0.49 + $1.52 tax = $2.01 on gift card = $0 OOP

Regular Retail: $32.46  - coupons & savings  =  93 % savings

Transaction #3
Votive on clearance $0.99
Votive on clearance $0.99
Votive on clearance $0.74
Votive on clearance $0.74
FGX sunglasses $12.99
FGX sunglasses $3.49 (b1G1 50%)
- $5/20 coupon
- $5 foster grant rite aid video coupon (exp.5/31 - printed in april)
- $5 foster grant rite aid  video coupon (exp. 6/30 - printed in may)
= $4.94 + $1.23 tax = total $6.17 - gift card = $0 OOP
qualifies for $4 rebate on sunglasses in May Rite Aid rebate

Regular Retail Price:$33.94  - sale & coupons   =  81% savings + $4 back in rebate #7

Total Regular Retail Drug Stores: $165.26  - coupon/savings =  $ 2.87 Total OOP  = 99 Total % Savings       + earned $7 in rebates and $9 in ECB

May regular retail: $350.76 - $316.77 savings = $25.81 OOP

May Budget: $250 - $25.81 amount spent = $224.19 left in budget
Total savings May = 92%

How did you do?

- Kathleen