Photo Image: Grant Cochrane/Freedigitalphotos.net
This is the second shop in the February Grocery Game Challenge and today is also Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday. I know it’s going to be hard to squeeze down those luscious pancakes dripping with hot maple syrup and butter, but someone has to do it, right? In the UK we call this day Pancake Day and everyone knows what it is.
What we call pancakes, at least what I am used to are very thin and not fluffy like the North American pancake yet comparable to what would be a crêpe. Apparently like any baking there is a science behind making the perfect pancake according to some profs at the University of Wolverhampton in the UK. The article has a breakdown of the math behind the perfect pancake which ideally has no lumps, actual and ideal batter consistency, easy to flip, the actual and perfect pan temperature is 377, let the batter stand 30 minutes and finally don’t let the pancake sit after you make it. That is true because there is nothing worse than cold, soggy pancakes. When we make them at home we like them fluffy, little bit of crunch and golden brown, with hot maple syrup and butter (sometimes blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream if we are naughty). Check out the post for the actual math breakdown but here is the equation “100 – [10L – 7F + C(k – C) + T(m – T)]/(S – E)” seems intimidating but it’s not really.
For Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) today we decided that we were going to make traditional UK pancakes that I am used to making and that is pancakes with a dash of sugar and a splash of lemon or lime juice. That’s how we make them back home and how me mum taught me how to make them. Mrs. CBB and I also jazzed them up by stuffing them with plain Greek yogurt and honey. I’ll post the recipe soon for a Sunday recipe post.
Will you be making Pancakes today?
Coupons Found This Week
Our Grocery Shop This Week
Our Grocery Game Challenge Results
Shoppers Drug Mart
- 6 x cream Sale $0.99
Total Out Of Pocket $5.94
No Frills
- 10lbs of Carrots Sale $4.47
- 2 x Alymer Tomatoes Sale $1.00-$1.00
- 2 x No Name Perogies Sale $1.00 (I know I said I will make them and I will, soon)
- 1 x Fennel Sale $1.47
- 1 x Iceberg Lettuce Sale $1.77 (ouch)
- 1 x Rooster Garlic 3pk $0.67
- Tomatoes Fresh Sale $0.99 lb $1.72
Total Out Of Pocket $14.10
Food Basics
- 1 x Fleishmans Yeast Sale $3.49
- 2 x sliced water chestnuts Slae $0.49 can
- 2 x Bamboo Shoots Sale $0.49 can
- 2 x Eggs Sale $1.88- $1.00
- 1 x Fresh Pineapple Sale $1.97 (massive)
Total Out of Pocket $10.18
Freshco
- 8 x Black Diamond Cheese Bars Sale $3.77-$0.75
- 1 x Ketchup Sale $0.99
- 20lbs of Potatoes Sale $3.49
Total Out of Pocket $29.80 ($20.00 stockpile cheese)
$9.80 out of actual grocery budget
Walmart
- 4 x Lemons Sale $0.37
Total Out Of Pocket $1.48
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $2819.38
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00 or $78.33 week with one no shop week per month or $58.75 for 4 weeks per month. (During the months with 5 weeks we just make it work)
- Total Coupons Used this Week : $8.00
- Total Discounts this Week: $0
- Total Checkout 51 rebates this Week: $0 Don’t Use this service
- Total Checkout 51 rebates this Month: $0 Don’t Use this service
- Total Colleague Discounts (CD) this Week: $0 I wish I had a discount
- Total Colleague Discounts (CD) this Month:$0 see above
- Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used: $0
- Stockpile Budget: $20.00 Used: $20.00
- Total Spent This Week:$ 41.50
- Total Spent So Far for (Feb): $26.27+41.50 +
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: $36.83 under
- Total Over/Under spend for the month of (Feb): $
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $166.83
- Total Coupons Used This Month :$6.00+8.00
- Total to Carry Over Next Month : $ n/a We don’t carry over + only –
- Total Spent To Date This Year: $206.95 (Jan)+
Weekly Overview: Well we stocked up on cheese while we could as the price was a super deal at $3.02 for 500g bars. We also took advantage of the 20lbs of potatoes on sale as well as the 10lbs of carrots. I’m all about “stock-up when you can” because sometimes a great deal, is just that, a great deal as long as you will use it. We still have one shop left for the month and one no-shop week left so I think we are doing pretty decent.
How was your grocery shop this week? Post your shop exactly like how I did and let us all know.
FAQ’s- Grocery Game Challenge RULES…..
- Do I have to be Canadian to post my Grocery Shop?
No, you don’t have to be Canadian to post your shops only to win a monthly prize. We have a few players from around the world.
- When does the Grocery Game Close each month?
The Grocery Game Challenge Closes at Midnight of the last Sunday of the last post for the month. You can post your shops all month-long.
- Does Your Grocery Budget Include Health and Beauty and Laundry?
Yes our Grocery Budget includes such items as shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap etc. We don’t mind stockpiling items that won’t be effected by expiry dates or have long expiry dates but not so much food any more. It’s just one way to help cut your budget to save money.
Here are your latest Coupon Match-ups of the week including Checkout 51 from 25 Newspaper Inserts around Canada compliments of Save Big Live Better that you can use to help you save money in the Grocery Game Challenge.
Are you NEW to Canadian Budget Binder?
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Those pancakes look awfully tasty Mr. CBB! We like to make pancakes from time to time for dinner and it’s always a hit with the kids, so I am looking forward to the recipe. You’d be proud of me, I did the grocery shopping all on my own yesterday. Usually it’s all of us or just my wife doing it and I have to say that it’s always interesting to see how I spend vs. how my wife spends. Thankfully we’re both pretty focused on going as frugally as we can. That said, it’s much easier to do I without all the kids with us. 😉
Ha, I have a similar post which I’ve had in the works for months about men and women and who influences who etc when they shop ha! Great to see you out there shopping mate.. Recipe will be up this weekend.
I was about to make crepes today because BF complained he had fish for lunch, although I didn’t realize it was Shrove Tuesday. In France pancake day is on Candlemas, Feb 2nd. On Shrove Tuesday we make kind or small doughnuts, or fried stripes of dough with sugar on top.
I make my batter with the kitchen aid to avoid flour lumps and add a bit of beer for the yeast. Then I drink the rest of the beer while I wait for the batter to be ready, and put a heavy gas. Gas is so much better than electric hob. Once I flip them I lower the fire and add the toppings.
I am hungry now Mr. CBB. Those look awesome and I am a fan of crepes much more than pancakes.
Same here as they don’t fill me up so I need to be rolled out the room lol
Those look delicious. We have had breakfast for dinner before too. We really like peanut butter and banana smoothies. They are cheap and tasty. Plus they are fast after a long days work. We meal plan and grocery shop together which saves a lot of time. We also don’t waste anything because it was bought for the purpose of the meal plan. We also grow a big garden so this saves on having to buy a lot of what we eat which is great.
A garden is a must in our home as we eat from it in the summer and freeze the rest for the winter.
It’s pretty amazing how different cultures celebrate Fat Tuesday. We have a large Polish community in Metro Detroit, so in our area it’s Punchki day. Basically, a punchki is a jelly filled donut on steroids. They have so many calories that it’s best not ask, but it’s just one day a year.
Enjoy those pancakes.
Ya they have the punchki donuts here as well mate.. never tried one but saw them on display at the shops.
Week 6
Publix
· 2 x Mackerel $1.98
· 2 x Digiorno Pizzas (saved $3.98) $10.00
· Tomato $1.10
· Plantain Chips $1.49
· 2 x Bananas $0.51
· Fruit Salad (saved $0.22) $3.72
Total Coupons Used: $4.20
Total Out Of Pocket: Tax= $18.80
Publix
· Dozen Brown Eggs = 2.19 $2.19
· 2 green Onions = 0.75 $0.75
· Red Kidney beans = 1.49 (saved 0.20) $1.49
· Loaf of Wheat Bread = 3.15 $3.15
· Long Grain Rice = 1.50 (saved 0.39) $1.50
· 1 can Coconut Milk = 1.25 $1.25
Total Coupons Used: $0.59
Total Out Of Pocket: $10.33
Hammond’s Bakery
· 8 Jamaican Patties = 14.70 $14.70
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Out Of Pocket: $14.70
Broward Meat and Fish
· 3 Yellow Tail Snapper = 12.15 $12.15
· 3 Fresh Snapper Steak = 9.96 $9.96
· Nut Mix = 1.99 $1.99
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Out Of Pocket: $24.10
Publix
Gallon of Milk $3.75
Hazelnut Coffee Creamer (saved 1.00) $2.50
Total Coupons Used: $1.00
Total Out of Pocket: $6.25
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $3,500
Total Grocery Budget for February: $258.00
Total Coupons Used this Week: $4.79
Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0.00
Total Spent This Week: $74.18
Total Spent So Far for February: $163.68
Total Underspend this shop: $64.51 -$9.67
Total Overspend for the month of February: $0.00
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $94.32
Total Coupons Used This Month: $0.00
Total to Carry Over Next Month: $0.00
Total Spent To Date This Year: $ $578.32
I put my data in excel this week because the calcuations were becoming overwhelming. I managed to do okay with my eating out, but I still overspent which leaves less leeway for the remainder of the month. I have to work on making more meals at home and, better yet, from scratch (i.e. french fries). I blame it on time, but when it comes to saving money, I realizing that is not a good excuse. Week 7 is going to be light (I hope) since I only have a little bit of funds left. I must say I am really enjoying this challenge! Without it I would be even broker than already I am.
Hi Dr. Sheeba,
I’m glad to read in your comments that you recognize that time is not an excuse. Making meals from scratch or prepping the night before or even using a slow cooker will help you save big bucks. If you like beans for example buy them dry (SO Much cheaper here but I don’t know about the USA), soak them over night, throw them in a crockpot with tomatoes, vegetables, meat, spices and when you get home a meal is ready. No stress. Eating out is a huge money waste in my opinion. I’m happy to see you are using some coupons. Where do you find your coupons and can you get your hands on more of what you need? You have just under $100 left to spend for the month, remember when the money is gone it has to come from somewhere and if you don’t have the cash you will either use up savings or put in on credit… don’t do that if you don’t have to, plan it out. You can do this!!!
Nope, I pretty much sick with oatmeal and blueberries every morning. 🙂
stick, not sick! lol!
Those look so good Mr. CBB! We didn’t celebrate, but I’m sure boy would have loved it if we did!
This is my week’s shop:
Mom 10
Walmart
Lemons (x3) 0.99
Olives 1.37
Total Coupons
Total Out of Pocket 2.36
Superstore
Lobster Tails (x2) 11.96
Striploin (x4) 17.41
Mushrooms (x2) 1.23
Avocado 2.95
Bananas 1.68
Spinach 1.98
Total Coupons
Total Out of Pocket 37.21
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $200
Total Coupons Used this Week : $0
Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: $0.50
Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: $0.50
Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
Total Spent This Week: $49.57
Total Spent So Far for February: $89.08
Total Over/Under spend this shop: $0.43 under
Total Over/Under spend for the month of February: $ 10.92 under
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $110.92
Total Coupons Used This Month: $0
Total to Carry Over Next Month: n/a
Total Spent to Date This Year: $275.33
Weekly Overview: Definitely a bigger shop with less items; it was our anniversary so I chose to do a nice meal at home instead of going out. Still managed to stay under budget, but will definitely have to rely on freezer and pantry for the rest of the week. Veggies were definitely pricey; our lettuce was at $2 a head, so I passed them up this week.
Hey Vicky,
They were good, I’ll have the easiest recipe on the planet up on Sunday. Happy Anniversary, why wasn’t I invited.. damn that’s some good eats.. lol.. lucky boy. Our veg are coming down in price but the celery looks like crap so we haven’t bought that lately. We’re going to do some serious freezer bags of veg this year. End of season last year we bought tonnes of peppers, cleaned them and sliced them and put them in the freezer even though we grew them too. The price was dirt cheap so we bought them up as we only have so much space in our yard and can get upwards of 50-60 peppers a summer or more. You have $110 left, you can easily make it this month if you plan it out right.. this is getting interesting now, the heat is on!! You get ballot #13
Family of seven, two dogs and two cats
Total Grocery Budget for the Year: $ 4080.00
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $340.00 or $85.00 week
I have $340.00 plus surplus from January of $1.22 = $341.22 to spend in February
•Total Coupons Used this Week :0
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $- 0
•Total Spent This Week: $131.11
•Total Spent So Far for (February): $105.88+ 131.11=236.99
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: $46.11over
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of (February):20.88+46.11+66.99 over
•Total Left to Spend for the Month:$ 104.23
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $0
•Total to Carry Over Next Month :0
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $575.77
•Weekly Overview: I spent way too much this week. However there is nothing to want in the house except for milk (for coming weeks) and pet food. I am really pleased with my meat purchases so far this month. The freezer is full. Still purchasing the odd gluten-free item and finding where the deals are to be had in this area, and who carries what. Have lots of baking items in the house as well. Well stocked!
Main Ingredient
Gluten-free bread 5.99
No Frills
milk 4.23
Ranch dressing 1.97
raisins1 kg 5.97
craisins 1.5kg 7.99
chocolate chips 1kg sale 6.28
spinach 4.49
Fresh.co
breadX2 @ 1.99 each 3.98
Ice creme 2.99
pudding .88
Clementine’s 4.97
Superstore
cheese X3 @ 4.44 13.32
yogurt16pk 3.98
Dog food 12.47
Shedded cheese 4.77
Ground beef sale-30% 7.58
No Frills
milk 4.23
Crème soup X2 @ .97 each1.94
Frozen peas 1.74
Chicken breast 4 packages 24.05
banana 1.67
pineapple1.77
Snow peas.88
strawberries1.67
tomato1.27
Total 131.11
Hi Farmgirl,
I have to admit it hurts to see the price on those gluten products. Are you hoping to start baking gluten free foods? As long as you are well stocked that’s good. We are the same and that helps us with less to buy over the course of the month. We have to get pet food soon so hopefully our dogs brand is on offer otherwise it’s full price ahead. What are craisins and what do you use them for? The chicken was a good deal at No Frills as well. Do you make your own soups at all? What do you bake with all your chocolate chips? I have a recipe I created last night chocolate chip walnut and they are awesome! Keep up the good work and if Mary has any great gluten free tips I”m sure she will share them but certainly check out her shops and maybe that will help you a bit. Cheers You get ballot #13
Another great buy at Giant Tiger this week, Eurpepe’s Best Frozen Fieldberry mix (600 g) $2.97 (normally around $4-5).
I am in total awe of how little you have budgeted for the year. I cannot wait to watch this in action. So inspiring!
It was $190 you can go back and see in action from 2012 lol.. we just put it up for inflation this year. It worked but we had bumps along the way.. no one’s perfect right. We learned alot about cooking, homemade meals, gardening. planning etc that helped us stay on track. Join in a few other bloggers are involved and many others who have been posting since it started. It’s awesome to see the numbers!
Weirdest thing: We made pancakes for dinner, which we never do, and we didn’t even know it was pancake day! A coincidence? I think not! 🙂
Lol that’s too funny!!
I love your blog and I love saving! I was amazed on how you do budgeting. I absolutely would want to learn right ways on budgeting. Or maybe, first learn how to stick with a budget. 😉
Thanks! It’s taken us some time to get our budget on track where we are comfortable but it’s fairly easy now. You can read my 10 step budgeting series that outlines what we did. It’s not as hard as some people make it out to be. It was the best decision we ever made. Cheers
Week of Feb 11 to 17, 2013
•Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $190 x 12 = $2,280.00 for 2 adults
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month of Feb: $ 190.00
•Total Grocery Budget for the Week: $ 190.00/4 = $47.50 with FOUR “No Shop”
Weeks Per Year
•Total Gift Cards USED this Week: $0.00
•Total Cash In Wallet Hiding Spot for Emergencies: $15.00
•Total Gift Cards In Reserved for Future Use: $20.00
•Total 2013 Stockpile Reserve: $0.00
•Total 2013 US GROCERY CASH: $99.79
THIS WEEK:
•Total OOP Spent This Week: $0.00
THIS MONTH:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions in FEB: $44.48
•Total Checkout51 Savings in FEB: $0.00
•Total Coupons Used in FEB: $0.00
•Total More Points Earned in FEB: 248 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned in FEB: 0 Miles
•Total OOP Spent in FEB: $200.40 ($10.40 over + Jan overage $27.24 = $37.64)
THIS YEAR:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
(Jan $40.04) + (Feb $44.48) = $84.52
•Total Checkout51 Savings This Year: (Jan – $0.00) + (Feb – $0.00) = $0.00
•Total Coupons Used This Year: (Jan – $60.46) + (Feb – $0.00) = $60.46
•Total More Points Earned This Year: (Jan 265) + (Feb 248) = 513 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year: (Jan 57) + (Feb 0) = 57 Miles
•Total OOP Spent This Year: (Jan – $217.24) +
(Feb – $176.61+23.79= $ 200.40)
= $37.64 OVER
WHERE WE STAND:
•Total Over/Under spend this week: No funds Available
•Total Over/Under spend on the month of FEB: $37.64 OVER
•Total Over/Under This Year: $37.64 OVER
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $0.00
•Total to Carry Over Next Month: $37.64 OVERAGE so far
I had a NO SHOP week to try and compensate for the overage of $37.64 that we already have this month. It was really hard for me not use the 100 bonus Air Miles coupon at Safeway if you spent $100. I did it though and I promised myself I would start a stockpile reserve in March so that I can take advantage of that coupon the next time.
On one income, I have nowhere to get extra funds without cutting something else, so I am going to transfer one week of grocery spending per month over to our stockpile reserve for the month. That way, when awesome sales or bonus points come up…I have the cash on hand to take advantage.
We’ve got another Dollar Daze at Save On Foods starting today, but it’s good until March 14th – so I am just going to wait until March to pick up a few things but I will have to shop extremely sparingly to be able to absorb the $37.64 year-to-date overage into the first 2 weeks of March. Co for the first 2 weeks of March I have ($35.62 x 2 = $71.24 – $37.24 overage = $34.00 total for the first 2 weeks). Then I will finally be back on track. 🙂
Thank goodness for the current stockpiles are in good shape! I do have some cash set aside in US funds for picking up a few things in the Bellevue & Burlington later on this month PLUS I do have my $20 worth of gift cards that I could use… if I really, really had to get something before the beginning of March. So, we are ok grocery wise.
Just remember to smack my hands the next time I go hog wild…’cause it’s sure no fun recovering from a splurge! 😀
Next month my REVISED budget plan will look like this:
•Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For Year: $142.50 x 12 = $1,710.00 for 2 adults
•Total Stockpile Amount Budgeted For Year: $47.50 x 12 = $570.00 for 2 adults
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month of March: $ 142.50
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month of March: $ 47.50
•Total Grocery Budget for the Week: $ 142.50/4 = $35.62 with FOUR “No Shop”
Weeks Per Year
Hi Mary,
I love that wallet hiding spot.. haha.. You have such a comprehensive overview of your shop, I love it! Glad to hear you made it through your no-shop week but it sure does feel good though doesn’t it. Good idea on the stockpile and you know that Air Miles is something you really want so make the most of it. I look forward to hearing how your stockpile idea works out as it sounds interesting. Back on track is a good place to be and I”m sure you will be there in no time. Good Point, not the smacking haha but the recovery is not easy but can be done. Looks good your revision… would the second total grocery budget for March be the stockpile budget? You get ballot #16 Cheers
Hi Mr. CBB,
This week I relied again on the stock of food I have. Extra spending for Valentine’s Day Cake mix ($3.00 vs. bakery made treats) and a gathering of friends pushed the spending up a bit but I am still far below budget. I might well come in under my goal of $600.00. I would never have thought I could pare it down this far.
Shoppers Drug Mart
2 x 4L milk @4.29 = 8.58
Total OOP = 8.58
Food Basics
1 x 5 lb carrots = 2.97
1 x baby spinach = 3.97
1 x mushrooms = 1.38
1 x Silvas lrg ? = 2.59
Navel oranges = 3.97
Cider vinegar = 1.49
1 x pomelo = 2.50
1 x alfalfa sprouts = 1.97
1 x red onion = 1.00
1 x green tea @ 1.99 – 1.00 coupon = 0.99
1 x black tea = 1.48
2 x sesame snap crackers @0.29 = 0.58 (my treat while shopping)
1 x fresh ginger = 0.10
2 x frank’s hot sauce @ 3.79 – 1.00 coupon = 5.58
2 x dozen eggs @1.88 = 3.76
1 x salsa @3.19 – 1.50 coupon = 1.69
2 x Philadelphia cream cheese @2.49 – 1.00 = 2.98
Total OOP = 40.17
Coupons used = 6.50
Walmart
1 x red velvet cupcake mix = 3.00
1 x PureProtein Choc. Protein bars = 7.97
1 x Mio water mix @ 3.47 – 1.00 coupon = 2.47
7 x colgate tooth paste @ 1.00 = 7.00
1 x yellow cake mix = 1.00
1 x grape tomatoes = 0.97
2 x broccoli slaw @ 1.00 = 2.00
1 x Villaggio Rolls = 2.47
1 x 5 lb carrots = 1.67
1 x cucumber = 1.27
Total OOP = 32.37
Coupons used = 1.00
Bulk Barn
1 x fennel tea = 1.29
1 x crackers = 4.99
Butterscotch chips = 2.47
Total OOP = 8.75
Total Grocery Budget for the Year: $7300.00 /year
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $600.00 or $150.00/week
Stockpile budget: $50.00/month / Used: $ 4.00 /Carryover: $0.00
Total Spent This Week: $ 89.87
Total Spent So Far for (February): $ 264.37 + 89.87 = 354.24
Total Over/Under spent this shop: $ under 60.13
Total Over/Under spent for the month of (February): $ under 95.76
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $ 234.76
Total Coupons Used this Week: $ 7.50
Total Coupons Used This Month: $ 13.00 + 41.97 +7.50 = 62.47
Total coupons used this year: $ 153.04
Total to Carry Over Next Month: $ 0.00
Total Spent To Date This Year: $1100.73
Hi Donna,
Sometimes gatherings can up the grocery budget and in most cases are unexpected. I’ve never had a pomelo, what are they like? You can get the black tea at Dollarama… it’s in a red box. Looks like someone likes tea.. lol.. me too! We picked up 10lbs of carrots this week and so did you. Might have to start getting creative with carrots soon. Your grocery shop is pretty darn good if I may say so. I’m not sure about the water enhancer but some people enjoy that. The bulk barn may have had a coupon out as they normally do. Are you able to print from your computer or ask for a flyer when you go in as the coupon is usually on the flyer. Spend $10 save $3.. we always use it if we go. Overall, good work, you have to be proud Donna! You have a good amount left for the month and I”m sure you will and can come in under budget. Keep up the good work. You get ballot #17 Mr.cBB
The tea was for my book club gathering. We were reading “The Eternal Husband” by Dostoyevsky. We always have a themed potluck dinner and I wanted to make “Kazhak” tea for after dinner. It uses black tea, fennel tea and cardamom pods. It was really tasty.
I often take my hubby to the bulk barn as he gets the seniors discount and that is often worth more than the coupon. He thinks I am using him for my own financial advantage. He’s right LOL.
Oh, the good ol seniors discount.. hey, why not… that’s great!
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $115
Total Coupons Used this Week : $3.00
Total Spent This Week: $72.08
Total Spent So Far for February : $168.20
Total Over/Under spend this shop: $72.08 over
Total Over/Under spend for the month of February : $53.20
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $15.00
Total Coupons Used This Month : $15.50
Total to Carry Over Next Month : $0
Total Spent To Date This Year: $342.27
Weekly Overview: No Frills had some really great deals and even though I (currently) don’t have a “stock pile” category, I needed to stock up on additional food. Unfortunately, the credit card paid for these purchases, which I’m trying to stop doing. As my debts go down and my budget matures, I’m sure that additional categories will come into existence.
Superstore
5 MM Punch – 5/$3.00 = $3.00
10 Friskies Cat Food – 10/$5.00 = $5.00
Aunt Jemina Pancake Mix – $2.97
Astro Yogurt – $3.98
2 Cheese Slices – $8.94 – $1.00 coupon = $7.94
Peanut Butter – $4.77
Jam – $3.17
Cheese Stick bread – $5.00
tax = $0.65
Coupons – $1.00
OOCC = $36.48
No Frills
4 Michelinas = $3.88
Chex cereal = $4.97 – $1.00 coupon
High Liner – $2.00
Hony Bunches of Oats – $4.67 – $1.00 coupon
Eggs – $2.98
Kleenex – $0.98
2 boxes of Oatmeal – $2.00
Raisin Bran cereal – $3.00
4 Bread – $6.00
Bologna – $3.99
Hot Dogs – $3.00
tax – $0.13
Coupons – $2.00
OOCC = $35.60
Hi Dee!
When you put groceries on credit card it really depends on how fast you are paying it in full otherwise add in the interest. A stockpile category sounds like it would suit you and your budget. So as it stands for Feb you have currently overspent by $53.20 of your $115 grocery budget leaving you nothing left to spend until March. Is that correct? What does OOCC stand for, never seen that one before :-)? It’s good to see you are tracking your expenses here and I hope it’s helping you see a bit of the big picture and areas that you can improve on. It takes time but this is a great first step. Keep at it DEE! You get ballot #18~ Cheers Mr.CBB
Hi Mr. CBB
I get paid every two weeks so there is certain dollar value per pay. This pay, I’ll have $25.00 to last two weeks. OOCC is Out on Credit Card 🙂
Like many people on this site, I am the only person brining in the paycheck and I have reducted my budget as much as I can right now. I have a “year-to-date” so that I can see month to month and the full year overall.
I have been using a budget for years but this year, I’ve decided to really pay attention (thanks to your site) to where my money is going. If I can reduced my budget down enough, I’ll create these other categories.
Ok, I get it now I was just unsure how to interpret the numbers, Thanks for letting us know!
Hi Mr CBB!
Big shop today, the second of the month and I think the last.
10lb lean beef and pork + 1 whole chicken: $44
16 little breads and 6 muffins: $3.46
5.5lb lake fish: $10.93
supermarket
30 eggs:$4.77
4.21lb tomato $2.38
4x3L 7up and Mirinda $5.86
3L sunflower oil $7.4
300 grams cream cheese $2.93
4 avocados $1.97
6 garlic heads $0.95
2.23lb onion $0.79
asparagus soup $0.45
chicken soup $0.27
hen soup $0.27
1lb sausages $1.7
3 leeks $0.84
1.73lb bananas $0.29
1 small watermelon $0.5
3 sponges $1.5
2*stuffed olives $2.39
5lb flour $4.12
200gr mustard $0.45
8 jalapenos $0.29
2 zucchinis $0.73
2 bell peppers $0.70
1 bunch spinach $0.25
mashed potatos $0.5
2x chicken soup $0.47
crackers $0.93
cookies $1.94
total supermarket $44.2
total week $102.6
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $100 or $25 per week. Oops
Total Coupons Used this Week : nada
Total Spent This Week:$ 102.6
Total Spent So Far for (Feb): $128.71
Total Over/Under spend this shop: $77.6 over
Total Over/Under spend for the month of (Feb): $28.71 over
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $0
Total Spent To Date This Year: $229.06
weekly recap: a LOT was stockpiling to avoid another trip next week and I think we can go until the end of the month, maybe just buying a few veggies and water. BF also complained there were no ready snacks so I got him some crackers, olives and cookies, as well as soups when he wants a light dinner and doesn’t want to cook.
Oil, flour, soda, soups, sponges… were not needed immediately and will be used from March. I will keep $100 budget for March and resume $200 from April.
I bought some eggs because the hens have hatched 12 chicks so far and we are trying to keep ours to hatch.
Hey,
Is this what you brought home after your 9 hour ride into the city? Is that correct what I read.. if so do you carry all this on your own.. wow! I can see what he means about having some snacks as once in a while I fancy a bag of peanuts to snack on but I’m not too worried about crackers, crisps and biscuts (although I do make them once in a while). You have some stellar prices though I might add and I’m impressed with your shops but interested to see what you load up on when you are back up to $200 a month. Really $0.50 for a watermelon wow! Spinach $0.25 wow.. the prices are so different and this is why I love seeing what it costs at the other end of the world for food. I bet you read some shops and go wow even though you’ve never lived in Canada and I don’t think you’ve lived in the USA. Did you ever eat convenience type foods or did you always fancy cooking homemade? Keep up the good work.. oh.. what’s with the mashed potatoes is that in a bag frozen or those add water type? Is that for the BF for the easy meal nights? Cheers mate..
haha no I didn’t carry my groceries on my back from the capital city! I was on the night bus, got to town around 7am, and BF picked me up with the car to go to the supermarket and butcher in the morning. That is why I loaded on heavy items, sometimes I go on the motorcycle just to get some fruits and veggies, so all the rest is stockpiled at home. What will be bought with the extra $100 is basically booze, snacks and nuts, chocolate, bacon and cheese. All these we buy from a membership supermarket in Guatemala City 300 miles away and load for months at a time. Last time was before Christmas and not even half is gone. Cheese and bacon are frozen so that is fine.
$0.5 watermelon was half price because it was very ripe. I made smoothies and cut the rest for a fruit salad, the hens had a feast on the skin.
And the mashed potatoes is the ugly add water thing for a lazy day. I forgot the real potatoes though so mashed may come sooner than expected, I can’t go on rice and pasta for 2 weeks.
I spent 3 months traveling across the US in 2011 and we tried to eat from the supermarket but it was too expensive to carry small portions on the motorcycle, not waste food, etc. usually we had cereal bars and fruit for breakfast, all you can eat buffet for a BIG lunch (can’t beat them at less than $10pp) and snacks for diner if we were hungry.
I love McD because I worked there for a year and loved the job too, or maybe I am still high on whatever they put on their food, and there is none in my town so yesterday I had a big mac in Guatemala City! Not a big fan of BK and the rest though, and my pizza is much better than Domino’s. We have fried chicken when we go to town, very popular in Guatemala, so much they are starting to franchise in the US and Europe to compete against KFC!
What is your most processed, unhealthy favorite food?
I love how you don’t like to waste food, we are the same. It’s a shame to throw anything in the garbage. My guilty pleasure has to be pizza. I like a good pizza oh and fish n chips and curry sauce. Is the cost for fast food pricier in Guatemala or cheaper than the UK or France?
McD is $4, UK was around $5.5 and France $11, why is France so expensive now, damn strong euro!
We have fried chicken at a small friary that charges $3 for a fried breast, fries, small cabbage salad and tortillas. The international chains are still expensive for normal workers, who make about $8 per day, but they have games for the kids so they go on Sunday and play all day for the price of a Happy meal, which, btw was invented in Guatemala according to the urban legend. US sizes were too big! I love pizza but since I started making it we almost never go out for pizza, I find it overpriced and prefer a thin dough. Does it happen to you that the more you make at home the less you enjoy going out? Unless the setting is fantastic I don’t like paying $15 for a bad steak I could make exactly to my taste at home for $5 including wine and tips 🙂
Fast food is ok for convenience, a quick eat on the way back from a whole day shopping for building materials is worth it.
Wow, $11 for a Big Mac in France.. wow! I can count on one hand how often we have eaten out in the past 3 years Pauline. We don’t go out because we just make what we want at home plus you see how it’s cooked. We’ve watched too many of those shows when you see what happens in the back kitchen haha…I agree, would rather buy the ingredients even if we spend a bit more to get the good stuff and cook it at home and have a romantic date that way… worth it to us and you can get naked too!! Can’t do that in a restaurant can ya! ha… cheers mate.
haha I don’t think you can… Having traveled around the US and Europe for months at a time last year, I really got tired of eating out. Glad to have a home now!
Ya no doubt but I’m sure an experience you will never forget. I was researching Guatamala online last night.. looking at piccies.. most times sad.. other times it’s simply beautiful. How do you cope with all of that. That would be difficult for me. I wouldn’t know what to do with my emotions. We are all human, right?
I don’t mind gangs fighting between themselves because Europe or the US have them too. I mind assaults, thankfully they are rare and I do my best to avoid them. Before I used to walk around alone at night, cycle to work in the capital, etc. I wouldn’t do that anymore.
What I couldn’t stand would be people starving, or really struggling. There is almost no hunger in Guatemala. People live simple lives, with a simple house and a patch of land, and they are truly happy, they don’t want more. There is a gap between rich and poor, but the poor are happy. The unhappy are those who decide to try life in the big city, discover all the riches and want to have the same without working. They start doing drugs and stealing, but they are a minority. In the village nearby, everyone is fed, has a roof, and access to health and basic school. I know a few who went to the US and came back because they were happier in the village.
There are always going to be people who want what others have and will do anything even if it is illegal to get what they want. It means NOTHING. If you can’t do something the right way how can it even make someone feel good inside. How can they live their life knowing they do what they do. Keep smiling my dear… you have a heart of gold.
Mr CBB, basically I am not really changing our budget…it will still be $190 per month – I am just reallocating how we spend those funds.
I will just shop 3 weeks of the month instead of 4.The remaining 1 week the funds are devoted to building my stockpile savings. If it’s a 5 week month, I still only shop 3 weeks of the month (probably every other week) & I still have the 1 week’s worth of the budget going towards stockpiling sales items.
It’s going to be really, really tight but I am sure we can do it. It’s not all that long until we’ll be back shopping monthly at the local farms and really lowering the fruit and vegetable expenses again. I may even start again in March. 🙂
I find my taste buds are changing since I have pulled the gluten from my diet. It makes for a lot of new, different and interesting meals but it’s also time consuming finding new things to try that will work for both of us. Fortunately, hubby is rolling along smoothly with all the changes. 🙂
I’ve also discovered, I really prefer my nuts/seeds and fruit for breakfast, my larger meal at mid-day and my dinner is becoming much lighter and lighter.
It’s interesting to read about your journey here and how your foods are changing what you enjoy and how you long for other items like nuts and fruits. In Spain the biggest meal of the day is in the morning and afternoon and at night they eat light. Something Mrs.CBB and I talked about doing and might just try. You are very organized so I know you will make the best of your budget. Stockpiling budget is pretty good for us so far, and we are happy we implemented it.
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $4200
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $350
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $14.09
Total Value Card Savings this Week: $16.11
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $- 87.82 at Target
•Total Spent This Week:$108.49
•Total Spent So Far for (February): $245.30
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: $-9.76
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of (February): $
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $104.70
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $16.99
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : $ +/-
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $532.29
•Weekly Overview: We had to travel to the nearest bigger town this past weekend. I had a Target gift card from Christmas that ended up mostly buying dog food, but Oh well. Last weekend we also had a bad storm so my husband did the shopping. He took coupons. First time ever. He also bought cookies and chips, but you can’t win them all. I applaud his efforts. He’s never used a coupon or list before, so I’ll give him a few freebies.
Target #1
Purina Beneful Dog Food 2 x 25.99
Tax 3.35
Total paid with gift card
Got $5 gift card to use toward next purchase
Target #2
V8 fusion juice 2 x 2.50
Bottled Water .50
Black Olives 2x 1.29
Campbell’s Soup 2 x 1.31
White Vinegar 2.59
Spaghetti Sauce 2.69
Kashi Cereal 2.99
Blueberry Muffins 2.50
Red Pepper Flakes 2.14
Blueberries 3.49
Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion multipack 6.99
Vaseline hand lotion 1.84
Tax 1.06
Total 36.99-5.00 gift card-27.49 gift card. Total out of pocket= 4.50
Safeway
Bananas 1.00
2x Soy Milk 2.98-.48
Almond Milk 3.19-.40
Tax .87
Total spent =7.16
City Market
Apple Juice 3.29
Boulder Chips 3x 2.79-1.00 coupon
Triscuits 2x 2.77-1.28
Lunchables 3×1.67
Pepsi 1.19
2.74 lbs red grapes 8.19 (ouch)
Dog biscuits 5.79
Apples 3.00
Shredded Cheddar cheese 2 x 2.99-.20-1.00 coupon
Strawberries 3.99-1.99
Nabisco cookies 2.77
Cheese singles .99
Roma tomatoes .90
Spinach 1.99-.80 coupon
Bacon 5.69-2.19
Frozen raspberries 3.99-3.99 coupon (free!)
Vanilla Soymilk 3.19-1.00 coupon
Clementines 4.99
Celery 2.19
Egg Beaters 3.99-1.00 coupon
Lettuce head 1.49
French Bread .89
Cucumber .99
Tostitos dip 3.19
-3.00 off produce coupon
Total 73.51
I also spent 23.32 at WalMart, mostly for produce , but my receipt was ripped up.
Hey KIM!!!
What’s up mate? You used $14.09 in coupons this week, way to go. Oh, you must do a post on your husbands first trip using coupons and a list and how he felt and how it worked out. I bet it wasn’t as bad as some blokes make it out to be, I know I could care less. Do you find you are cooking more homemade meals than normal or experimenting more? Great going with the spinach coupon!! You ahve $104 left to spend for the month which I’m sure you can make work for your budget. I thought we would be over with all the milk we bought this week but you know what? We don’t buy anything we don’t need anymore and it’s getting so much easier to shop now. Cheers mate.. keep up the good work! P.S Tell the hubby.. thataboy! 😉
Here is this weeks shop before I get too busy again… There were some nice deals at Foodland this week…. Nice timing on the tea being on sale as I was on my last box from the last sale… All shops were at Foodland..
Feb 8
1 can pineapple-1.59
2 Villagio bread@ 1.88- 3.76
3 sugar@ 1.88- 5.64
1pack dinner rolls-2.79 -1.40 clearance
1pack rolls-2.79 -1.40 clearance
1wax paper roll-2.99
Sausages-3.06
Sausages-3.56
1cider mix-3.99
1butter-4.69
1 4l bag milk-4.79
1 hot sauce- 4.99
1 jug water-5.49
1peanut butter- 5.49
1 parm cheese -5.99
2 144 count tea bags @ 6.77-13.54
2 Flogers coffee@ 6.77- 13.54 -2 1.00 coupons
1Whiskas cat food -7.99 -3.00 coupon
1pack smokes-9.69
Taxes-3.21
total- $101.78, coupons $7.80
Feb 10
1bag candy-1.49
1 Villagio bread-1.88
2 sugar@ 1.88- 3.76
1jar apple sauce-1.98
1 4l milk- 4.79
1 144 count tea bags- 6.77
1pack smokes -9.69
Taxes-1.45
Total -31.81
Feb 11
1 beef liver-2.19
2 cider mix @3.99 -7.98
1 4l milk-4.79
1 jug water-5.49
Taxes-1.04
Total-21.49
Feb 14
1 4l milk-4.79
1jug water -5.49
1 chicken nuggets -5.99
total $16.27
Budget for Month- $600.00
Budget for Year -$7800.00
Total spent this week $170.64
Over/Under for week -$20.64
Spent this month -170.98+170.64=341.62
Over for month -20.98 +20.64= $41.62
Over for year – carry over $68.08+ $41.62= $69.70
Total coupons for week -7.80
Total coupons for year – Jan 58.70 +14.21+7.80=80.71
Left for month -160.00-170.98-170.64-41.62= 190.30
Total spent this year -Jan $818.08+ 170.98+170.64=$1159.70
I went over again but I’m still working on it. It was nice to have the Tetley tea on sale this week as I was on my last box from the last sale….we won’t be home much this week so hopefully I can make up some of the overage. Short term it’s not good but I’m still hopeful. Having things like the tea,coffee, bread, and the sugar on sale will help I the long run. The boys will be here but they can manage their own meals.
Hey Christine,
Your parm cheese is that the Parmigiano Regianno in the brick? The good stuff? The price of peanut butter I can’t believe how it has shot up in price since 2011… We loaded up on milk this week for $2.88 for 4 litres after coupon. Couldn’t pass that deal up. Have you emailed Tetley for coupons? I have and they sent me $1.00 off coupons. Yes my post today talks about stocking up when a good sale comes up like the milk and sugar etc. It all helps down the road. Keep at it mate, you’ll get there. You get ballot # 19 Mr.CBB
RCSS
Smart Ones – sale 4x$2 – $5c (WUB4)
Knorr Sidekicks – sale 3x$1 – $1c (WUB3)
Chips Ahoy cookies – 2x$1.99 PM Metro
Dole fruit cups – sale $1.88 – $.75c
Black Diamond cheese slices – 2x$2.00 PM Sobeys – 2x$.75c
Minigo yogurt – sale $2.00
Tostitos – $1.97 PM Freshco
NN Cheese and crackers – $1.49
NN Frozen peas – $1.99
Panini rolls – $2.69 – 50% discount sticker
Stuffed chicken – $3.99
Broccoli – $1.28
Carrots (3lbs) – $1.69
Cucumber – $.88
Bulb of Garlic – $.65
Pineapple – $2.98
Potatoes (10lbs) – $1.98
•Total Coupons Used: $8.25
•Total Out Of Pocket: $35.08
•Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $4200 ($80.77/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $350
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $8.25
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
•Total Spent This Week: $35.08
•Total Spent So Far for February: $137.56
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: under $45.69
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of February: N/A
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $212.44
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $13.97+$8.25=$22.22
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : N/A
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $421.42
•Weekly Overview: Didn’t end up doing much shopping this week. Just one trip to get a few things, mostly for lunches. Made up for the overage from last week but I don’t tend to worry over the weekly totals just as long as I am good for the month. We haven’t been getting our flyers again but have been collecting the neighbour’s mail since they are on vacation and I was able to use theirs to price match this week.
Hey Joanna!!
How’s things mate?
Is that Knorr coupon a new one? I haven’t seen any around… hmm.. I liked the one with the chicken cubes on it. You do alot of PM at RCSS but I thought they didn’t PM did they change that rule? They told us only baby items they PM, sucks really. You are doing well this month. Same here with the totals as long as we are under for the month BUT the weekly totals are what keep us in check. Without them we might get to the end and it’s a disaster. Odd you aren’t getting flyers but your neighbour is? Did you call your supplier? You get ballot 20 Cheers mate
The Knorr coupons are actually older ones that I picked up in the fall. I don’t normally find many tearpads or coupons at my FoodBasics but that is one I did manage to find, it came in a little booklet with a recipe in it. We used to subscribe to our local paper but have found that it has been getting so behind that it was just old news we were reading every day and with the information you can get on the internet now we just couldn’t justify the expense, so we stopped our subscription. In the meantime the same paper gives out a free copy on Thursdays with the flyers in them, but we have only ever gotten the free copy about 2-3 times since cancelling our subscription which was about 6 months or so ago. RCSS has been price matching for a while (just see Jen P’s shops) but Zehrs does not except for the baby items, perhaps you are mixing the stores up since they are sister stores.
I can’t be bothered with the local paper to be honest when everything is on the internet. We could subscribe to the internet for a months subscription of the paper. No, the RCSS we went to told us that they don’t PM only PM baby items. I’ve never PM’d at Zehrs either although I may call RCSS maybe we got the wrong info from the person we asked.
Yes, I would call that RCSS. They started PMing in December 2011 just for Christmas time and then decided to keep doing it. They all have different rules though. It says in the fine print in the flyer (does their flyer say they PM at your location?) that they don’t PM multi buys but mine will.
See, it was before 2011 that we asked and never bothered to PM or try to again in our store. We thought all the stores made up their own rules… I’ll have to look into that. Thanks Jen
Our monthly budget this month is $400, I was gonna do $450 to include a 10% shop but I really wanna try to stick to the orginal $400. So this week busget is $100.
Mcgavins bread basket
10 assorted items, bread, hot dog buns, tortillas and raisin bread
we didn’t need all ten but now the freezer is full and shouldn’t need anything for awhile
$13.99 total oop
h&w produce
.50 tomato
.59 garlic -4 heads
$1.27 yellow pepper -2
.52 jalapeno -6
$ bananas -4
$2.10 apples -4
$5.98 total oop
Safeway
$2.50×4-$8C salad bags
$2 total oop
$8 total coupons
Shoppers
$2.99-.75C shredded cheese
$2.25 total oop
.75 total coupons
Sobeys
$3.99×2-$2C frozen pizzas
$1×6-$2C sidekicks
$1 juice crystals
$2.49×3-$3C astro yogurt
$2.69 clearance chicken breasts
$3.32×2 clearance chicken breasts
$3.18 clearance chicken breasts
$1.50×2 clearnce 4pk halls
$2 1lb starwberries
$3.99 sandwich
$1×4 strawberry crossants -yummy!!!!
$2.55 pepperoni
$1 mushrooms
$1.50×3 clearance gum
$1.50×4 clearance candy(valentine’s day treats)
$60.09 total oop
$7 total coupons
$84.31 total weekly oop
$15.75 total weekly coupons
$198.93 total monthly oop
$50.54 total monthly coupons
Hoping to have a good next two weeks 🙂 There are a few things that I’m going to try and pick up for donations this week so I hope it doesn’t put me over. Also my sweetheart will be outta town for work at the end of the month so that may really save this months budget, I will have to try very hard to eat good since it is only me and I don’t think I have ever cooked for only one all week before.
Hi Juanita,
Look at you go! I’m proud of you sticking to your budget like that!! Great deal on the garlic, wow ours have been crap at some of the shops so we’ve been looking at them closely. We never find chicken breasts on sale like that, good score. I find if we go early or late at night we get the best deals like that. I’m sure in the next 2 shops you will be able to stay under budget no problem with what you have left. Cooking for one is not that bad..I did it for years…. you get used to it though lol. Let me know how it goes! You get ballot 22
I think cooking for one will be okay…..
I have picked up a few things to eat that I really enjoy, like broccoli cheese soup.
We also have a few different frozen meals that I have been picking up here and there that I can eat for dinner if I don’t eat them at lunch.
Also have some lasgana and soups already in single servings that I froze within the last few months that should help with the cooking for one.
Then if all else fails salad it is 🙂
Oh you will be ok my dear… haha… even if you cook for 2 you have a second meal you don’t have to worry about and can spend your time doing something else.
I shop for 2 adults and a 2 year old toddler. Our budget is $90/week or $360 for this month and includes baby items, laundry, health/beauty, etc.
RCSS
Foil (PM NF) $1.00
Distilled water $.99
Heinz ketchup (PM NF) $3.00
Minigo $1.97 – $.50 coupon
MiO (PM SDM) 2 x $2.99 – 2 x $1.00 coupons – 2 x $1.00 Checkout 51 rebates
NN mushrooms 2 x $.88
Source yogurt tub $1.97 – $1.00 coupon
Kaiser rolls $2.69
Old Mill bagels (PM NF) 2 x $1.00
Bananas $1.54
Broccoli (PM FB) 2 x $.88
Celery $2.79
Cucumber $.88
Iceberg lettuce $.88
Oranges (PM FB) $.82
Strawberries (PM Walmart) 2 x $1.97
Coupons $3.50 + $2.00 Checkout 51
CD $3.42
OOP $25.87
Bulk Barn
Taco seasoning mix $1.24
Oregano $.62
Paprika $.70
Mustard powder $.19
Basil $.49
Walnut pieces $10.06
Chocolate almonds $3.83
OOP $17.13 (received a $5.00 gift card for future use)
Food Basics
Lactantia milk 4 x $3.88 – 4 x $1.00 coupons
Coupons $4.00
OOP $11.52
RCSS
NN vinegar $1.97
Old mill bagels (PM NF) 2 x $1.00
Magazine $2.99
Advil 2 x $4.97 – 2 x $2.00
Coupons $4.00
CD $.70
OOP $13.84
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $4,680 ($90/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $360
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $11.50
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: $2.00
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: $9.00
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year:$19.00
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this week: $4.12
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this month:$25.09
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this year: $78.89
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
•Total Spent This Week: $68.36
•Total Spent So Far for February: $108.86 + $68.36=$177.22
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: N/A
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of February: N/A
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $182.78
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $73.29 + $11.50=$84.79
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : N/A
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $526.29
•Weekly overview: I had to adjust some totals from last week as I ended up getting Checkout 51 rebates on items purchased last week. Once again I got to stock up on some items. I was under budget for the week and it looks like I’ll be quite under budget for the month 🙂 I feel like I’m doing well. I still see a few things that I could improve upon (I caved this week and bought chocolate almonds and a magazine) but I find myself thinking more about my purchases and waiting more to see if items I have coupons for go on sale even cheaper.
Hey Jen,
Oh I bet you were jumping for joy with the MIO price lol.. great deal for it though. SHocking the price of walnuts lol.. I know. I bought a few bags at Christmas for $3.00 which was cheap and tossed them in the freezer. I must have missed that sale with the $5.00 back.. darn it. We need to get parchement, cumin, and nuts as well. I also get coconut oil vanilla and other things there for baking that are comparable to the shops. Might as well get the savings. Mrs.CBB eats them every once in a while for a snack or we bake with them. Good to see you were able to get some milk. We have to load up on vinegar this week if I can find it on sale and is that a magazine? What magazine did you buy for $2.99.. 😉 You still have alot left to spend for the month, wow I think you will come in under budget for the month, good for you. Will you carry it or just leave it and save it for future use or use towards debt repayment or other things? Haha.. ok just reading the end about your caving haha. My rule of thumb is if it adds no value I’m not spending my money on it. I always equate how hard I have to work at my job and whether I want to spend my hard earned money on something. If it’s not worth it, I don’t get it. Keep at it mate you’re doing much much much better!!! You get ballot #26
foodland
2 x shake n bake $2.49 ea
1 x special k craker chips $3.79 – fpc
2 x tostitos $3.99 ea -$1 wub 2
tax $1.53
total $18.26
less coupons $4.79
oop $13.47
nofrills
3 x black diamond cheese strings $2 – $.75 ea
3 x parmasean cheese $1 ea
1 x ricotta $1
total $10
less coupons $2.25
oop $7.75
nofrills
2 x cooks portion bone in ham $11.36, $8.63
total/oop $19.99
foodbasics
2 x doz eggs $1.88 ea – $1 wub 2
2 x black diamond old cheddar 500g $4.44 – $.75 ea
total $12.64
less coupons $2.50
oop $10.14
zehrs
1 x cracker barrel cheese $4.44
1 x glade scented oil starter kit $5.99 – $2
2 x jello $.50 ea – $.50 wub 2
tax $.78
total $12.21
less superbucks $.79
less coupons $2.50
oop $8.92
walmart
1 x butterball turkey bacon $3.49 – fpc
1 x manns broccoli coleslaw $1 – $1
1 x manns rainbow salad $1 – $1
1 x no yolk egg noodles $2.07 – $.75
2 x quantum dishwasher tabs $5.57 – $3 ea
4 x scrub n go scrubbies $2 ea – $3 wub 2 x2
1 x neutrogena face wash $6.97 – $3
3 x advil night time $3 – $3
1 x advil night time $3 – $4
12 x zantac $2.22 – $3
tax $8.39
total $80.48
less coupons $70.22
oop $10.26
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $3600.00 for 3 people and 2 cats
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $300.00 or $75 week *4 shopping weeks this month
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $82.26 actual coupons + $.79 store rewards
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
•Total Spent This Week: $70.53
•Total Spent So Far for (February): $79.19 + $70.53 = $149.72
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: $4.47 under
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of (Feb): $4.19 -$4.47
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $150.28
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $ 89.36 + $83.05
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : $118.45 (from Jan) **not sure what to do with this amount?
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $181.55 (Jan) + $149.72 (Feb to date) = $331.27
I think I’m reading your shops backwards from when you posted them lol. Oh, I didn’t know the advil was on offer at WM either dang it, those are nice/!!I can’t believe how you maximize with the coupons good for you. Keep at it! You get ballot #40
i think advil might still be on roll back. you would need to check your walmart. …and to answer your question about the zantac, i’ll cry when i run out of those coupons lol
I’ll have to look. I like those Advil, they work great!