The Grocery Game Challenge #9 Feb 25-Mar 3,2013-No-Shop Week, No Means No!
Photo Courtesy/Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
We woke up yesterday morning with the intention of this week being a no-shop week, but that didn’t happen thanks to yours truly. So much for the no-shop clause as I’ve busted it for the month even though it’s the last shop for February. That’s right I’m the one to blame this week for making the wrong decision but that’s Ok we’re allowed to make mistakes. A no shopping day or week whichever you prefer to call it means “no shopping” including not even going near the stores. When you hear temptation call its you that has to make the final decision. Yes, No or Maybe is what runs through my mind and sometimes I lose to temptation, it happens to the best of us.
I don’t know what made me go into the shops yesterday but what I do know is that the decision cost me $47.73 of which I would not have spent had I stuck to the grocery budget. Typically we shop no frills then food basics as we can price match if we need to but yesterday I just had this urge to go in to 2 shops to see what’s on sale. The thing is when you have a grocery budget for 2 you really don’t need as much as you think in the house. I think we go overboard with spending on food items that hang around our house or we used to but that’s all changing. Shortly I’m going to do a blog post on what we eat in a typical day and why we don’t need to spend so much on food. The premise of “if it’s in the house, you will eat it” stands true and sometimes we eat more than we should because of it. Going back to Pauline’s post of making the best of what is available it really makes me think of the amount of food we buy that is pure marketing in my eyes.
What is a No-Shop Week for us?
When we started this grocery game challenge part of the deal was that we would spend less time in the stores so we would save some money. We found the more we went in the more we would shop. You all know, you do it yourselves when you see something and you try to justify why you need to buy it. That’s you, having a back and forth conversation with your mind and the side of the brain that wins is the one that says no. In most cases or at least in my experience it’s typically something we don’t need although a good bargain has caught me off guard although it’s rare it’s a “must have now” purchase. Sometimes I wonder if we just like to shop to be nosey or to see if we are missing out on anything.
I’m not talking just about grocery shopping because it’s easy for me to go into Sears, Canadian Tire or Home Depot and pull the same stunt, the “just looking” to see what’s on sale that’s not advertised game. That game can get costly if you don’t have self-control or a budget but the problem I had was that I knew we had money left to spend so I didn’t think it would be a big deal. I was wrong but hey, we live and learn. This is our personal agenda, maybe not yours but it has helped us to save lots of money on crap we didn’t need to buy. I’m sure many people, us included can look around our house at items we spent money on while “window shopping” that we don’t even use. This is what the moral of the entire no-shop week is about for us, less spending more doing.
What did I learn from this?
I learned that there is no “maybe” and no “yes” on the dice, it’s No. No means No. If we take the time to put a plan into place we should stick to it although rules are meant to be broken, I know. I’m not saying stay out of the shop if there is an emergency and you need diapers I’m saying stay out of the shops if you don’t need to be in there. If you have no plan, no grocery shopping list then you likely didn’t anticipate the shop. If you run out of a spice to cook a meal, find a new meal to cook or eat it without that spice or substitute it. If you MUST go into the shop to pick up an item you forgot send the person with the most strength to say no, and that’s not always me. Mrs.CBB though is the one I have to watch out for but she will beg to differ stating that I’m the one who she has to control. Good thing we work as a team. What I would do the next time if I MUST go in is go straight to the product I need and right back to the cash. Get in, get out as the good saying goes and try to remember, No means No even if you have to say it over and over. Freedom from debt feels better than stuff.
How do you stop yourself from buying more than you need if you go in for one item?
Our Grocery Game Challenge Results
Food Basics
- 3 x Classico Basil Pesto Sale $1.87
- 3 x Classico Sun-Dried Tomato Sale $1.87
- 1 x Dried Apricots $0.97
- 1x cumin Sale $1.00
- 10 x Colgate Total Advanced Health Toothpaste Sale $1.99-$1.50 coupons (not in picture, forgot it …..oops)
- 4 lbs Navel Oranges $3.97
- Loose Weight Garlic $1.77 (I’m finding the 5 packs to be mouldy lately)
- 2 x 1L Lactancia Cream Sale $2.49-$0.75
- 1 x Pita Bread $0.99
- 4 x Dempsters Bread Sale $2.29- Buy 2 bread save $2.00 on fruits or vegetables
- 1 x Pack of pork chops $10.00-30%
- 2 x bags of fresh spinach $1.50 each
Total Out of Pocket $46.04
Zehrs
- 1 x Gold Sour Cream Sale $2.69-$1.00
Total Out of Pocket $1.69
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 : $24.50
- Total Discounts this Week: $3.00 (meat)
- 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: $0 Already Spent for month of February
- Total Spent This Week:$ 47.73
- Total Spent So Far for (Feb): $26.27+41.50 +45.27+$47.73=$160.77
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: $47.73 over as it should have been a no-shop week
- Total Over/Under spend for the month of (Feb): under $74.23
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $74.23 but this is last shop for the month
- Total Coupons Used This Month :$6.00+8.00+8.00+ $24.50 = $46.50
- Total to Carry Over Next Month : $ n/a We don’t carry over
- Total Spent To Date This Year: $206.95 (Jan)+ $160.77 (Feb)= $367.72
Weekly Overview: Well you read my thoughts on no-shop and what it should mean and how we are going to make a plan of action. I’m not beating myself up by any means although I do try to understand our motivations and what drives us into the shops. We still came in under budget for the month which is great and the money we did not spend will stay in our savings account as we don’t carry over.
Some Coupons We Found This Week
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.
- Where can I find Canadian Coupons? 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.
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- The Grocery Game Challenge #6 February 4-10, 2013~ What Foods Not To Eat, Organic and Gardening (canadianbudgetbinder.com)
- The Grocery Game Challenge #5 Jan 28-Feb 3~Will You Target Your Budget (canadianbudgetbinder.com)
Our weekly budget is $100 for the week, so $400 for the month.
This week my hubby was outta town for work and I managed alright but it left me a lot more time than usual to shop more and run errands and thankfully I was able to babrely stay on budget even with him leaving me a little extra cash to buy whatever I wanted.
Shoppers
$1.99 life paper towels
$1.99 2kg sugar
$3.99-$2C pizza
$1.99-$1C bistro
$7.10 total oop
$3 total coupons
Save on foods
$4.99 20lb potatoes
$4.99 total oop
Safeway
$5×2-$8C clear shampoo
$8.55-fpcwubclear vaseline lotion
$2.50×2-$4C salad bag
$3×2-$5C salad bowl
$5.93 total oop
$25.55 total coupons
Walmart
$3.97-$2C lady time stuff
$1×8-$8C toothpaste – donation
$3×2-$6C advil night – donation
$2×4 classico asstd sauces
$3-43C childerns tylenol
$3-$3C tylenol 100s
$1 breakfast donation
$1 mushrooms
$2×2-$2.50C dial soap
$5.47-$3C finish dishwasher tabs
$4.68 4L milk
$22.29 total oop
$27.50 total coupons
Superstore
$2×2 classico sauce
$1.88 croutons
$5.39 yogurt tubes mega pk
$7.97 3pk lg freezer bags
$2.98-$2Cwub$10 ziploc md freezer bags
$1×4-$4C soap refill
$3.29×2 axe body wash mega
$7.79-fpc wub2bw axe hair putty
$28.27 total oop
$13.79 total coupons
Sobeys
$9.44 ice cream variety pack
$1.01 mushrooms
$2×2 dove bar soap
$2×3 strawberries
$2 chips
$2×3 pizza pops
$2×2-$1C eggs dzn
$1.29 strawberry croissant
.89 ground pork – clearance
.81 ground pork clearance
.90×2 ground pork clearance
.87 ground pork clearance
$37.47 total oop
$1 total coupons
$106.05 total weekly oop
$70.84 total weekly coupons
$394.75 total monthly total
$174.38 total montly coupons
the remaining $5 I used and bought us roll up the rim tims 🙂
Hey!
So did you win with your roll up the win Tims!!! This grocery game challenge was the last for February so I won’t give you a ballot as it’s already closed. If you read the GG posts I’ll tell you as we go along when it will be the last week of the month to post unless this is part of your March budget? If it is you would have posted it in the newest Grocery Game post. It’s hard for me to tell because you aren’t copy pasting the template into your comments like everyone else does so I’ll leave it up to you to let me know what month it is for. 🙂 I don’t want you to miss out on a ballot! What is an icecream variety pack? Cheers Juanita!! Email me if you have to.
Mr CBB
You asked how daughter is enjoying high school. She likes dance ( her first time dancing) hates the school itself. She spends most of her time in co-op at Kawartha Food Shares which is a huge eye opener for her. How the hungry of the area eat. No roast beefs, or homemade chicken pot pies there, her favourites. She usually text me a few time while at the co-op with a” heh mom, did you know???” All shocking to her.
Hope to be starting to plant my seeds in the coming week. I plant them in used yogurt containers and use used spinach (clear) containers as green houses.With a daughter getting married at her house in July we have a lot of flowers to grow as well.Its not fun budgeting a weeding, however it is going to be pot luck supper. What do you think about that?
I have changed my blog. I only have one now, my original and will be posting from it.
Farmgirl
Well it’s all new to her so I can understand how she may not like the school so much. That’s great that she is gaining experience at the Food Shares. I think that everyone should try their hand to grasp a better understanding. I just checked my seeds and I have hundreds of sproutlings… (haha) I still have to do my flowers and a few others this month. I”ll be doing a post on is soon to share how I did mine. Great idea with the yogurt cups. We used the plastic spinach containers last year as well.
Grocery Game Challenge Feb 25 – Mar 3, 2013
Westons
⦁ tortillas 2.00
⦁ bread x 3 @ .95 = 2.85
⦁ buns x 4 @ .95 = 3.80
⦁ candy = 3.25
Total Coupons Used: 0 $
Total Out of Pocket: $ 12.11 (incl. tax)
Walmart
⦁ salad dressing 2.00 – coupon for 1.00 = 1.00
⦁ mushrooms 1.00
⦁ yougurt tubes 2.77 – coupon for 2.77 = 0
⦁ popcorn 2.97 – coupon for 2.00 = .97
⦁ bananas = 1.12
⦁ celery = 1.97
⦁ carrots = 1.67
⦁ pizza sauce = .77
⦁ lime = .33
⦁ lemon = .37
⦁ margarine = 2.77
⦁ orange juice = 2.97
⦁ choco milk = 2.82
⦁ drink boxes = 2.48
⦁ whole wheat flour = 3.92
⦁ choco milk x 2 @ .99 = 1.98
⦁ juice x 3 2 1.00 = 3.00
Total coupons used = 5.77
Total out of pocket = 30.14 including tax
Superstore
⦁ Ice cream x 2 @ 3.98 each = 7.96 – coupon for 5.00
⦁ Orange juice 4.44
⦁ Roast 6.46
⦁ Pepperoni 4.49
⦁ Grapes 2.60
⦁ Garlic 0.67
⦁ Zest (6 bars) x 10 @ 1.97 each (raincheck) = 19.70
⦁ Charity donation 2.00
Total Coupons Used: $ 5.00 + rainchecks
Total Out of Pocket: $ 45.88 (including tax)
Bulk Barn
⦁ Chocolate chips 6.28 (I’m stocked up for a while now!)
⦁ Yeast 2.58 (cheaper than buying little jars I think)
⦁ Tahini butter 2.81 (for hummus – made some and it’s GREAT!)
Total Coupons Used: $3.00
Total Out of Pocket: $ 8.67
Walmart
⦁ Chocolate Bars x 4 @ 0.50 each = 2.00
⦁ Oasis juice 1.00 – coupon for 0.50
⦁ Bandaids x 2 @ 3.00 = 6.00 – coupons for 2.00
⦁ Carefree 2.00 – coupon for 1.00
⦁ Listerine (500mL) 3.00 – coupon for 1.00
Total Coupons Used: $6.50
Total Out of Pocket: $11.53 (including tax)
Metro
⦁ Orange Juice x 2 @ 5.00 each = 10.00
⦁ Chocolate Milk x 6 @ 0.99 each = 5.94
⦁ Meat Slices 3.29
⦁ Milk 4.49
⦁ Shreddies 1.99 – coupon for 0.75
⦁ Honey Bunches of Oats 1.99 – coupon for 1.00
Total Coupons Used: $ 1.75
Total Out Of Pocket: $ 25.95 (including tax)
Weekly Grocery Game Challenge Results
•Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $5520
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $460
•Total Coupons Used This Week : $22.02
•Total Spent This Week: $134.28
••Total Spent So Far for This Month: $ 134.28
•Total Over/Under Spend This Shop: Over $ 19.28
•Total Over/Under Spend for This Month: $19.28
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $ 325.72
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $ 22.02
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $ 906.42+134.28=1040.70
•Weekly Overview: Still working on knowing which itmes I REALLY need versus wanting to use coupons. Noticing many things – like we spend at least $8 per month on choclate bars (a treat on Fridays after kids are done school for the week), we spend alot on juice, and we buy alot of snacky things which I suspect may not have any nutritional value in them at all. So then what am I buying them for….
Hey!
I never thought to try tahini butter rather than paste or did we think to pick it up at the Bulk Barn so thanks for the idea. It’s 2 products the yeast and the tahini that you never see coupons for so the Bulk Barn coupons spend $10 save $3 would be great for this. This is why it’s great to document now you can see how much you are spending on one item throughout the month and/or year. Good question, what are you buying them for? Think of the money you could save if you simply eliminated them from the diet and replaced with fruit and water. Snacky things are what bust the budget, crackers, bars, chips, rice cakes etc etc.. we don’t need that anyways… but that’s a personal choice that only someone can make on their own. Keep up the good work and glad to hear you are seeing numbers now and are diagnosing your spending. You get ballot #46 Mr.CBB
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.
End of February
Food Basics
Distilled water 2 x $.99
Bananas $.45
OOP $2.45
Dollarama
Chocolate 9 x $1.00
OOP $10.17
Walmart
KD Smart 3 x $1.00 – 3 x $.75 coupons
Rice cake minis $1.87 – SCOP (was marked $1.00) FREE
Coupons $2.25
OOP $.75
RCSS
Heinz Ketchup 2 x $2.97 – 2 x $2.00 Checkout 51
Pampers Cruisers $34.97 PM Walmart $32.00 – $3.00 coupon
Goldfish crackers (PM GT) 4 x $1.97 – $2.00 wub 4
Minigo $1.97 – FPC – $.50 Checkout 51
Apple $.78
Coupons $6.97
Checkout 51 $4.50
CD $ 4.88
OOP $38.16
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $4,680 ($90/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $360
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $9.22
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: $4.50
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: $20.50
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year:$30.50
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this week: $4.88
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this month:$41.47
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this year: $120.36
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
•Total Spent This Week: $51.53
•Total Spent So Far for February: $312.21
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: N/A
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of February: Under spent for February $47.79
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $47.79 but this is the last shop for the month
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $137.51
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : I do not carry over
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $661.28
•Weekly overview: I posted last week what I thought was my last shop of February but I ended up grabbing a little more. I am still under $47.79 for the month and I’m still proud!
First week of March
RCSS
Baking soda (PM GT) 2 x $.77
Lady fingers buscuits $.88
Gay Lea butter (PM NF) $2.97
Kraft Asain Sesame dressing (PM NF) $1.97
Nayonnaise (egg and milk free sandwich spread) $5.28 OUCH!
OR popcorn (PM Walmart) $5.00
Tide free and gentle (PM Sobey’s) 2 x $4.99 – 2 x $1.00 coupons
Daiya shredded cheddar (vegan cheese) $3.99
Natural Selections deli meat (PM FC) $3.99
Ground chicken $3.76
Bananas $1.58
Broccoli $.99
Salad $1.29
Oranges 5lb bag (PM FB) $2.50
Strawberries 2lb $2.88
Tomatoes (PM FB) $.84
Childrens Advil (PM Walmart) 2 x $3.00 – 2 x $3.00 coupons
Children’s Gravol $4.49 – $1.00 coupon
NN diaper rash cream $2.47
Tax free day $2.82
Coupons $9.00
CD $5.34
OOP $49.30
RCSS
Almond milk $3.48 – $1.50 coupon
So Delicious dairy free yogurt $4.59 – 50% pink sticker $2.30
Coupons $1.50
OOP $4.27
Tops (USA)
Tofutti cheese $2.99
OOP $2.99
Walmart (USA)
Cheetos $1.98
OOP $1.98
Target (USA)
CLR $3.49
Softsoap (large refill with bonus pack on clearance) $3.85
OOP $7.98
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $4,680 ($90/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $450 (5 weeks this month – but I am going to try to keep it under $360 like it’s a 4 week month…let’s see how I do!)
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $10.50
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: $0
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: $0
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year:$30.50
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this week: $5.34
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this month:$5.34
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this year: $125.70
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
•Total Spent This Week: $58.50 (I’ll have to account for the exchange rate when I get my VISA bill)
•Total Spent So Far for March: $58.50
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: N/A
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of March: N/A
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $361.50
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $10.50
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : I do not carry over
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $719.78
•Weekly overview: It was a crazy week. My naturopath did a food sensitivities test on me and discovered I have high sensitivities to all dairy (casein, cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, cow’s milk, goat’s milk, mozzarella cheese, whey and yogurt) and eggs (egg yolks, whites and duck eggs). I am not only struggling with this from a budgeting point a view since the substitute products are much more expensive, but also because I am a picky eater and this makes things way more difficult for me eating wise. The thought of not being able to eat some of my most favourite foods is very upsetting to me, making me realize that I am much more an emotional eater than I thought I was. I returned 3 jars of Miracle Whip I bought a few weeks ago since it has egg in it and got a refund of $8.02 so I added that back into my budget. I’ll have to add in the extra money because of the exchange rate when I get my VISA bill and see what they charged me. I am also hoping to even though it’s a 5 week month and I should get $450 this month that I can keep it under $360 like it’s a 4 week month. Perhaps going away for March break will help 🙂
Hi Jen,
Sounds like you have lots happening with your grocery budget with your new found sensitivities. I think it will take you some time but you will get used to new items you need to purchase and learn how it will affect your budget and adjust from there. Well at least you were able to return some items to get a refund. If you are an emotional eater now is good time to break that cycle. You may even find you enjoy trying new foods. Keep your chin up and keep us updated on your journey. You get ballot #45
Family of seven, 2 dogs and 2 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: $75.12
•Total Spent So Far for (February): $105.88+ 131.11+ 75.12+ 83.99=396.10
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: $54.88 over
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of (February):56.10 over
•Total Left to Spend for the Month:$0
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $8.97
•Total to Carry Over Next Month :0
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $734.88
•Weekly Overview: Blew it.
I have been out and about the city a lot since teenager began high school in the city. The options to purchase groceries is more opened to me then before. Where before I was time restrained in what and where I could be, I now am not and find myself getting all the specials and/or anything I believe we need or might need in the house. This is an eye opener to me, and it must stop.
Bulk Barn
Oats 2.28
Sunflower seeds .62
Almost Perfect
Mixed vegetables 2.97
Fresh.co
clementines 3.99
cocoa 3.69
Icing sugar 2.17
milk 3.77
No Frills
Cat food 6.98
Chocolate chips sale 6.28
Parm cheese 3x 1.00 each sale 3.00
Ice creme Free coupon free
Dog biscuits sale 1.67
Dog food sale 8.99
margarine 2 @ 3.00sale 6.00
weetabix sale 1.00
Laughing cow 1.00 coupon 1.76
Whole wheat rolls 2.50
peameal 30% off 3.31
banana 1.64
blueberries 1.99
celery 1.97
carrots 2 @ 1.00 2.00
apples 4.97
Superstore
Wonder bread 2@4.00– 1.00 coupon 3.00
cucumber .88
spinach 3.99-2.00 1.99
Freshco
Milk 2 @ 3.77 – 1.00 coupon 6.54
Total 83.99
Farmgirl
Hey Farmgirl,
Well you know what I learned the hard way too going into the shop on our no shop week. It’s amazing what you learn when you do things out of the norm. You really have to practice sticking to the list and budget and that’s what I learned. It’s so easy to spend more than we need to and most often we end up with too much food in the house. I’m sure you will make up for it in March. How is your daughter liking high school? You get ballot #42
Mr. CBB, like all of us you are human and can make mistakes. We just need to learn from them and not beat ourselves up too much about it. Now you know you need to stay out of the shops on your no shop week. Although I don’t usually have a no-shop week I need to make sure to stick to my list, unless I find a really, really good deal!
Food Basics
Drinking boxes – $2.00
Strawberries – sale 2x$1.44
Classico Pasta sauce – sale $1.87 (plus will get $1.50 rebate Checkout 51)
Roma Tomatoes (6) – sale $1.13
Grape Tomatoes – $1.97
Mushrooms – $1.99
Extra Lean ground beef – $5.26
Pork Tenderloin – sale $3.83
Spring Lettuce mix – sale $2.97
•Total Coupons Used: $0
•Total Out Of Pocket: $24.77
•Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $4200 ($80.77/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $350
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $0
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
•Total Spent This Week: $24.77
•Total Spent So Far for February: $273.77
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: N/A
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of February: $76.23
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $76.23
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $13.97+$8.25+$31.50=$53.72
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : N/A (I don’t carry over)
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $557.63
•Weekly Overview: I had a good month. I think the meal planning is really helping me keep on track with the grocery budget. Plus it helped that it was the shortest month of the year. My next goal will be to eat out a little less for lunch. Although I bring a lunch to work most days, there are those odd mornings when I don’t feel like making my lunch or I get behind. I just need to be better at preparing my lunch before going to bed instead of in the morning. Does anyone have any advice or know of any websites with some interesting ideas besides the usual sandwich and salad? It just doesn’t help that there are fast food restaurants that are right across the street from work
Like Mr. CBB and some other players, I am also not carrying over any funds I have left into the next month’s budget. Any money left will go into savings. After reading the article you posted on your page about the woman that wanted to retire at 55 I know I need to save as much as possible for when my turn comes to retire, which unfortunately is still a long time away.
yes it’s hard sometimes to stay out of the shops but I’m working on it.. I’m sure I’ll hear all of you cursing me up and down if I even think about it lol… good for you putting your money back into your savings. This is a great way to pay down debt while motivating you to stick to the budget. We are all in for a shock I think come retirement as I don’t think there will be as much as we think. Now is the time to save and often we spend more money on food that we really don’t need. We know that as we have cut back so much and that money has gone into paying down our mortgage which will be paid in April. You can do it mate, just keep setting goals, and remembering them. It will all add up. I never dreamed I’d have a house paid in full in my 30’s but I will because I did this. I was never given a penny, I earned it all as well as the wife. It’s about a vision, don’t worry about anyone else but you. When we sign the papers and the mortgage is gone it will make everything worth it!!! Cheers mate! You get ballot #41
i need a no shop week…but i like to shop and that causes a bit of a problem! here’s this weeks shop:
foodland
4 x pork sirloin roasts 1.99/lb $3.23, $3.98, $4.56, $4.29
1 x breadmachine yeast bottle $3.99
total/oop $20.05
nofrills
4 x arctic garden frozen veg $2.49 – $1 coupon – $1 coupon zone ea
3 x large pks extra lean ground beef sale $2.77/lb $6.56, $6.74, $6.54
total $29.80
less coupons $8
less pc points $20
oop $1.80
bulk barn
1 x 9kg kitty litter $4.99
4 mint humbugs $.18
chili powder $1.55
montreal chicken spice $.88
raisins $1.28
6 x stick candy $.20 ea
tax $.83
total $10.91
less coupon $3 wus $10
less gift card $5
oop $2.91
walmart
10 x zantac $2.22 – $3 ea
2 x 10 lbs potatoes pm foodbasics 2/$3
1 x 3lbs onions $1.67
tax $2.89
total $29.76
less coupons $30
oop -$.24
walmart
1 x great value cone coffee filters $2.97
1 x newmans parm roasted garlic dressing $3.17 – $1
4 x aylmer accents chili $1 ea – $1 wub 2 x 2
9 x zantac $2.22 – $3 ea
tax $2.98
total $33.10
less coupons $30
oop $3.10
metro
1 x honey bunches of oats $1.99 – $1
1 X yoplait tubes $1.75 – $.50
1 x oasis shelf juice $.00
1 x cracker barrell 500 g cheese $4.77
1 x baby bell gouda $3.99 – $1
total $13.48
add rip off rounding lol .02
less coupons $2.50
less airmiles $10
oop $1
walmart
1 x special k cracker chips pm zehrs $1.99 – $1
1 x special k crisps pm zehrs $1.99 – $1
2 x large eggs pm? fb? $1.99 ea – $1 wub 2
1 x rice krispie squares $1.94 – $1
4 x asprin $3 – $2 – $2 coupon zone
1 x country harvest bread pm giant tiger $1.88
9 x zantac $2.22 – $3
1 X cheese whiz jalepeno pm no frills $3.97 – $1.50
1 x kraft shredded habenero pm no frills $5.97 – $3
tax $3.38
total $57.08
less coupons $51.50
oop $5.58
no frills
3 x neilsen true taste milk $3.88 – $1 cz
1 x neilsen true taste milk $3.99 – $1 – 1 cz
2 x arctic gardens $2.49 ea – 1 x $5 (coupon reduced to $4.98)
1 x heinz ketchup $3
1 x dove colour shampoo $2.97 – $3 (coupon not reduced because it is more with tax) – confuse me much? but thanks lol
1 x q tips 500 count $3.99
tax $.90
total $31.36
less coupons $12.98
oop $18.38
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 : $137.98 actual coupons + $30 store rewards
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $5
•Total Spent This Week: $52.58
•Total Spent So Far for (February): $79.19 + $70.53 + 69.22 + 52.58 = $271.52
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: $22.42 under
•Total Over/Under spend for the month of (Feb): $4.19 -$4.47 -$5.78 – $22.42 = 28.48 under
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $ 89.36 + $83.05 + 90.76 + $167.98 = $431.15
•Total to Carry Over Next Month : $118.45 (from Jan) $28.48 (from Feb) = $146.93
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $181.55 (Jan) + $271.52 (Feb) = $453.07
Hey,
We need the no shop week otherwise we don’t use what we have in the house and we keep piling more food on top of food. It helps as long as I keep out of the shops lol.. Great deal on the veg and beef! I can’t believe your WM stocks Zantac I haven’t seen it since early in 2012 and our store doesn’t even carry it any longer. Wow you killed it with the coupons. What will you do when the zantac expires lol… you might shock your budget paying again ahaha. That’s amazing almost $500 in coupons for the month! Keep at it mate you’re rockin it! You get ballot #38
I got a great place to go for no shop week “Da bush” go camping and go where there are no stores to temp you. always found this to work good. or a canoe trip. then you rely on fishin and berries to get along with.:))
Hi Mr. CBB,
This is my last shop for February. I am $5.95 over for February. Those darned party mix and All bran bar pkgs caught my hungry eye and I was done for. Oh well. I am still quite happy about what I have accomplished this month.
Walmart
2 x 3 lb. navel oranges @ 2.47 = 4.94
Pancake syrup = 1.87
Bananas = 2.72
Cucumber = 1.27
2 x 10 lb white potato @ 1.50 = 3.00 (price matched Food Basics)
Total OOP = 13.80
Coupons used = 0
No Frills
1 x coconut milk = 0.88
1 x chocolate chip waffles = 1.50
2 x party mix @2.47 = 4.94
2 x bagels @1.00 = 2.00
2 x ground beef pkg. = 12.30
Total OOP = 21.62
Coupons used = 0
Shoppers Drug Mart
2 x tuna @ 0.99 = 1.98
4 x Maxwell House coffee @2.99 = 11.96
1x All bran bar @ 2.49 – 1.00 coupon = 1.49
2 x salmon @2.99 = 5.98
2 x doz. Eggs @2.29 = 4.58 – 1.00 coupon = 3.58
1 x 4L milk = 4.29
2 x Alpha Bits cereal (grand dtr’s fav) @2.99 = 5.98
4 x Oatmeal Crisp (my fav) @2.99 = 11.96 (+ free movie passes)
Total OOP = 49.31
Coupons used = 2.00
Metro
2 x Greek Yogurt @ 5.49 – B1G1 Free = 5.49
1 x mini wheats @ 4.49 – 1.00 coupon = 3.49
2 x Tortillas @ 3.89 – 1.50 off coupon = 4.78
2 x toupee ham @2.99/lb = 13.57
1 x cottage cheese = 2.49
1 x sour cream = 1.79
1 x pasta = 0.99
2 x reduced parsnips = 2.00
1 x sandwich baggies = 1.00
1 x @3.79 – 1.50 coupon = 2.29
3 x canned pineapple @0.99 = 2.97
3 x canned corn @0.89 = 2.67
2 x salsa @2.99 = 5.98
Total OOP = 49.63
Coupons used = 12.49
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: $ 134.36
Total Spent So Far for (February): $ 471.59 + 134.36 = 605.95
Total Over/Under spent this shop: $ under 15.64
Total Over/Under spent for the month of (February): $ over 5.95
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $ 0
Total Coupons Used this Week: $ 14.49
Total Coupons Used This Month: $ 74.97 + 14.49 = 89.46
Total coupons used this year: $ 180.03
Total to Carry Over Next Month: $ 0.00
Total Spent To Date This Year: $1352.44
Hi Donna,
Well I’m going to say if you were only over under $6 you did awesome so congratulations! Great deal on the oranges and potatoes! You can’t go wrong with the free movie passes that’s a great deal and night out on the town. Great coupon for the Greek Yogurt was that an instore coupon? Overall, I’m going to say you did amazing and you must be so proud. Keep up the fantastic work Donna, end of year you will be jumping for joy and it will become so much easier! Cheers You get ballot #36
The yogurt coupon was a store special at Metro. I have never seen “The Greek Gods” brand before but figured I would try it. i found the single price expensive but the freebie brought the cost into line for me.
I’ve never heard of the brand either. What is it like?
No is no Mr CBB!! I used to do the same, outside my work was a Budgens which is usually expensive but they had great deal for nearly expired products so I would go in almost every night and bring back stuff I didn’t need… Now no more temptations!
Here is my shop for the week, last week was no shop week and this one goes to March since it is a day away.
Budget for March $200 which is the usual budget after two months at $100 to get rid of stockpile. I am taking off $28.71 overspend from Feb, leaving $171.29 for March.
Drinking water $2
Bread $4.66, started to make my own with
http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/2010/02/09/back-to-basics-tips-and-techniques-to-create-a-great-loaf-in-5-minutes-a-day it was delicious!!
2 brooms $3.54 the workers ruined them
Paper napkins$2.53
Window Cleaner $1.86
Floor cleaning product 1L $1.13
2 Shower soaps$1.73
2 Dish soaps $0.8
toilet paper $2.32
24 beers $11.33 now it starts getting interesting 🙂
pasta 1lb $0.76
6lb onion $3.33
seafood ready soup x2 $0.91
5 lemons $0.63
6.5 bl tomato $3.45
2 bell peppers $1.32
0.5lb jalapeno $0.36
3 avocados $1.66
cream cheese $3.33
1.9lb potatoes $1.10
2.94 lb banana $0.49
total $42.66
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $171.29 or $34.25 times 5 weeks
Total Coupons Used this Week : none
Total Spent This Week:$ 42.66
Total Spent So Far for (March): $42.66
Total Over/Under spend this shop: $8.42 over
Total Over/Under spend for the month of (March): $8.42 over
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $0
Total Spent To Date This Year: $272.72
Overview: lots of cleaning products for the house and ourselves, and a beer refill, March hasn’t even started and I am already over! But not too worried since most of those are occasional expenses.
Hey Pauline,
I make my own bread as well and love the smell in the house. I’ll check out the recipe you linked to. If I had temptation to get reduced items like that it would have been hard. I know what you mean though about buying too much or stuff you don’t need. I’m working on No means No ha!A good chunk of this budget went to cleaning, health and beauty and booze!! haha… that’s pretty darn cheap for beer Pauline, I’m jealous. Lemons are so cheap where you are, we pay $0.33 each here…. tomatoes are cheap as well, jalepeno, and bananas we pay $0.67 lb sometimes $0.49lb. The avocados are $2.50 for 5 although you said yours are bigger… I need a piccie to compare though 😉 So, you are over this shop.. oh oh.. haha.. Considering you are coming into month 3 with so little spent I’m impressed. I’m looking forward to see how you spend the remainder of your money. I hope I can find some good avocados this week… Cheers mate
Shopping without a car makes me stick to my plans. I usually cook my own meals and I always try to plan my menus ahead. My backpack is my best friend when making rounds for food and supplies. My problem is with ethnic grocery shopping. My husband is Indian and once in two weeks we hit some of the Asian grocery stores in Toronto and get more exotic supplies like Asian vegetables, masalas/spices, flat breads and those kind of things. There’s always something that attracts our attention, something we want to try. And there goes our budget!
We plan to hit the Indian store soon as our mate who is Indian says we can get some better deals at the shop rather than going to the grocery store. Yes I can see where you can spend more than intended but planning for the shop is maybe an alternative idea?
Yeah but what a great way to go! yum yum.
I’m not that strict about that when it comes to groceries, only places like Target where I walk in for a broom but could potentially walk out with sporting goods, a new purse, shoes, etc. So I try to create tunnel vision by not looking around the store and head steadfast to the location of the broom. Anyway, seems to work…most of the time.
I kind of use that get in get out magic for everything now, not just groceries… lol
so excited to try the grocery game challenge. I just wish I could get it together and do it lol
You can do it loretta, all you need to do is get an envelope and save your grocery receipts… baby steps…. we’re all here to support you.
thank u or the chnce to win
We are on a “no shop week” because our frocery budget ran out for the month =/
It’s not so bad as long as you have some food in the pantry and freezer to get by.
Week 8
Publix
Celery $1.69
Carrots $0.99
Beef Broth $1.19
Paprika $1.89
Beef for Stew $7.90
Brown Sugar $1.09
BBQ Sauce $4.29
Total out of Pocket $19.04
Burger King
3 Cheeseburgers $3.00
Fries $2.00
Tax $0.30
Total Out of Pocket $5.30
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $3,500
Total Grocery Budget for February: $258.00
Total Coupons Used this Week: $0.00
Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0.00
Total Spent This Week: $24.34
Total Spent for February: $286.52
Total Underspend this shop: $0.00 -$24.34
Total Overspend for the month of February: -$28.52
Total Left to Spend for the Month: $0.00
Total Coupons Used This Month: $9.78
Total to Carry Over Next Month: -$28.52
Total Spent To Date This Year: $ $695.17
Monthly Overview: This month I only managed to go over budget by $29. It’s a great improvement from January and I’m defiinitely headed in the right direction. Things that I need to pay more attention to are sticking to my shopping list, drinking less no alcohol , and less dining out. I have to work more on using what is around the house to prepare meals and start being more creative with my dishes. I am adjusting my monthly budget to include this overage, so that I stay within my yearly goal.
You’ve certainly cut back on the eating out which was quite a bit from what I could read. I think the more you plan your meals, cook more homemade meals, make a list and stick to it you will see improvements. Don’t beat yourself up as it won’t happen over night. Taking small steps leads to big gains. It’s like wanting to lose weight, if we gave up before we even lost 5lbs how are we ever going to motivate ourselves to lose more. Make small goals, achieve them, learn from them and move forward… keep up the good work! I have lots of great recipes on the blog you can check out as well. Cheers!
Ohhhh this would be so helpful!
We normally just use a list when we go shopping and avoid unnecessary trips to the shops. It works fairly well, but there is always rooms for improvement.
Same here but sometimes I have to control the urge to go in without one… lol
Thank you for such an interesting post.
To answer your questions at the end of it – I simply do not.keep myself. I track my expenses and have my budget. We rarely overrun it somehow.
You seem when I try to put in prospective : http://www.niterainbow.com/search/label/Family%20Budget
Over last 4 years, food for example between $600 to $1,000. Last year was odd, as moved due a quite expensive area. So almost all expenses went up 50%. My point is that if we can save 5-10% on food or gas, it is less than 1% of our overall budget. A lot of the expenses what we consider essential.
However your personal example is quite inspiring – perhaps we could push ourselves a tiny bit more.
I had a look at the link you provided and moving to the more expensive area sure did place a hit on the budget. In the move did you net more income to balance out the expenses or rise above it?
We prevent ourselves from buying stuff we don’t need by sticking to our list. Although it can be difficult to tell my wife that we should wait until something goes on sale or we have a coupon. I’m proud of how serious she’s taken couponing though..sometimes she’s more serious than I am.
It all adds up mate and you know those people that say couponing is all for junk food, well they can keep on believing that because we don’t buy junk and would rather keep the cash in our pocket. It doesn’t get any easier than a coupon staring you in the face at the shop or a couple minutes ordering it online or cutting from a paper that comes to your front door…. yes time but that time =more money saved! Keep at it!
I think we could easily do a no-spend work week, but not a full week. We do all of our planning over the weekend and purchase our food for the week. I do know that if I go into the store during the week, I will end up overspending.
Interesting how we all have our weaknesses like you can’t go in during the week or you will overspend. Good to know that you recognize that. We try to stay out once we’ve gone otherwise I place a weight on my shoulders of yes, no and maybe when it just should be NO>
I was just looking at the picture of what you bought and I have what might sound like a silly question…..what is that behind the apricots and on top of the meat???? Looks like a small package of something and I can’t find it on the list…..it could be the label of the meat package but it doesn’t look like it????
I hear though on going into other stores than just grocery stores…. In the little strip mall besides the Foodland store is a Canadian Tire store…….. It’s very handy when doing things around the house….. Maybe a little too handy……
Thanks for pointing that out Christine. It’s actually a packet of Cumin and I also forgot 10x toothpaste that’s not in the picture. The numbers are right… just me missing typing it in. Thanks for letting me know.
I don’t think I could manage a no shop week…. we keep running out of milk!!!The more I buy the faster it disappears!! I haven’t run the numbers yet but I think I’m OK this week…. at least so far. I got some stuff today and I’m hoping the milk holds out a day or two. There are times I swear it would be cheaper to just buy a cow and milk it every day!!!!! My grandparents on my Mom’s side did that way back when. They moved into town after Grandpa sold the farm. Mom and her sister refused to drink milk from the dairy…”it tastes funny!!!” So Grandpa bought a milk cow. They lived just on the outskirts so he got away with it, plus this would have been back in the 1940’s…..
Oh shucks you mean I can’t put a cow in my back yard lol.. the no shop week is hard but during that week we use products that are already in the house so they aren’t going to waste or near expiry.
I’d love to see a post about what you’re eating. Some days I read your challenge posts and I think- what on earth are the making with just this!
Well you can see alot of my recipes right on the blog…. I post a recipe every Sunday and that my dear is made with the food we buy. I’ll do a meal plan up, sure. great idea.
I love that you guys save a signficant amount using coupons!!! I need to do more research on coupons so I can do the same 😉 Love that!!! Keep up the awesome work $235 a month is awesome!!!!!!
You are in the USA as well so there must be all sorts of coupons available and it doesn’t have to be just food. We saved a good chunk of money on health and beauty and cleaning supplies over the years. Every penny counts as long as you use the product.
I commend anyone that can ever do a no shop week in the first place. I could never do it lol. I am too picky an eater and like my fresh bananas, strawberries and veggies through the week. Don’t beat yourself up about it! You’re still under budget for the month! Thanks for the contest! I’d love the sample basket!!!! #CBB
I’m not beating myself up about it.. I think I wrote that didn’t I? I only did because I knew you would say this lol… We eat fresh veg, oranges, apples etc that last us for 2 weeks no problem…. they do last you know haha..
Bananas and strawberries barely last a week! I’m picky do you really think I like oranges! LOL 🙂
I suppose so as our little relatives like pineapple, banana and strawberries as well.
Great Post! I would really want to try that as well. I got inspired to try when I read your post! Thanks
I wish I had the time and energy to enter this, I am getting more and more in to couponing, price matching and using App’s on my phone and save quite a bit of money now, thanks to you #CBB
that was supposed to be a thumbs up!
A no shop week would be impossible for us, we would have trouble with a no shop 3 day period. It seems we are in Wal-Mart every other day buying some necessity or another. Which is bad, If I go into Wal-Mart for a $3.00 item I spend $20.00. I used to say that it cost me $1.00 a minute to shop in Walmart but it’s probably $1.50 a minute now. I am exaggerating, since my wife started her coupon project our shopping is much more organized and I actually have only been to Wal-Mart 4 times this month!
We used to be that way, but no more. Sure we saved lots using coupons and still do but the more you go into shops you run the risk of spending more than if you didn’t use coupons or go in from the beginning. It wasn’t until we started budgeting that we shut it all down to re-evaluate.
I saw this fabulous post from Aunt B & thought a few extra meatless meals in the month might help me cut the grocery costs a little more! Here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=569955003029854&set=a.496748453683843.111979.194608900564468&type=1&theater
Many times, I won’t get a cart just to curb the urge to buy those non-essentials (and to get an arm workout). I think the most I’ve been able to fit in a basket was $45, plus a 10lb bag of potatoes in the other arm. I hate to think how much I would have spent if I’d grabbed a cart on that day!!
What a smart idea!!! I’m going to try that.
Many times, I won’t get a cart just to curb the urge to buy those non-essentials (and to get an arm workout). I think the most I’ve been able to fit in a basket was $45, plus a 10lb bag of potatoes in the other arm. I hate to think how much I would have spent if I’d grabbed a cart on that day!!
Mr CBB, “stockpile” for me means buying things on sale that are intended for either the freezer or my dry & canned goods pantry stock. It isn’t the grocery items that I require for the week to make the meals that I have planned.
For example, 28 oz. cans of tomatoes are on sale in the Dollar Daze at Save On Foods @ $1 per can. IF I needed to stock up again, which I don’t actually at this time, I would tap the stockpile budget for this cost. I like to keep at least a dozen cans of tomatoes on hand at any given time.
As Nicola has pointed out, whole fryer chickens are on sale at $1/lb until March 14th, as is my Gluten Free Chicken Rice soup at $1 each and Michelina frozen entrees are $1 each. So I plan to pick up 2 chickens, 24 Chicken Rice soups and 4 Michelina Fried Rice for the freezer and canned goods stockpile. These will be charged to the stockpile budget because they are not for use during the coming week. The chicken rice soup is for when I am either feeling sick or lazy!
When I stockpile with US grocery stores, I am simply going to use the US funds reserve. For example I want to pick up 3 corned beef on St. Patrick’s Day when they always go on deep, deep discount at Costco US and Fred Meyers. I plan to add them to the freezer to dole one out every 3-4 months for us to enjoy. I don’t buy them any other time of year…they are just too expensive! Besides, I currently have oodles of fish, seafood and ham in the freezer. I could use a re-stock on some beef and a pork picnic shoulder but that will have to wait until April and another sale. 🙂
If however, I buy 2 of something and one is for the current week and 1 is for the stockpile, I will charge the grocery budget and the stockpile budget accordingly.
OK that makes sense and is exactly how we do it. Thanks for clarifying 🙂
I guess if I really only need 1 item – I try to go directly to it and directly to the cash. Do not stop at the junk food!:)
Ha… we don’t even go down the chip and pop aisle if we can avoid it we do. I know we have to, or I have to practice the art of getting in and out… and not looking around. It can be so hard sometimes…
Week of Feb 25 to March 3, 2013
ORIGINAL 2013 GROCERY BUDGET:
•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
This is a “No Shop” week for us to try and hold the year-to-date grocery overage to $35.63.
We are reducing our March grocery budget on the weekly shops & we will establish a stockpile budget. It is my plan to carry the stockpile budget forward so that we have funds available if and when we need them. We are in good shape with our supplies at the moment, so it’s the perfect time to start the process!
In order to get ourselves back on track next month, the plan is to only shop 2 weeks out of the four so that we can fully absorb that overage… I do need at least one shop before March 14th so I can take advantage of the Dollar Daze at Save On Foods. We’ll be in Bellingham, WA for St. Patrick’s day so I also plan to tap the US reserve for some corned beef when it’s on sale. ☺
THIS WEEK:
•Total CANADIAN OOP Spent This Week: $0.00
•Total U.S. OOP Spent This Week: $0.00
•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: $29.05 << Need to top up before Easter
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: 10 Miles
•Total OOP Spent in FEB: $200.40
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 10) = 67 Miles
•Total OOP Spent This Year: (Jan – $217.24) + (Feb – $ 200.40) = $35.63 OVER
REVISED 2013 BUDGET:
•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 CANADIAN Grocery Budget for the Month of March: $ 142.50
•Total CANADIAN Stockpile 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
•Total Stockpile Budget for the Week: $ 47.50/4 = $11.87
with FOUR “No Shop” Weeks Per Year
MARCH BUDGET ADJUSTMENT:
•Total US Dollar Reserve: ($29.05 +$100.00 by reducing vacation budget for March)
= $129.05
Well there’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to get interesting with your changes. You now have a lower grocery budget BUT you have the stockpile budget. Will you end up using your stockpile budget to fund the reg budget or in fact use it to stockpile? Maybe the better question is.. what does stockpile mean to you? It could mean different things to different people.. oh I smell another blog post coming up lol…. Cheers Mary.. you get ballot #28
Mr CBB, I am glad to see that if you are going to break the “No Shop” week ule that you do it in style. I see you are guilty of having the grocery money burn a hole in your pocket.
I have a suggestion – if you are under for the month and it is supposed to be a “No Shop” week, how about making an accounting adjustment in your grocery budget the week before the no shopping and move the overage directly into a category designated as “A Romantic Rendezvous”? You keep saying you need a vacation, when you’ve got enough in your Romantic Rendezvous Budget…off you go on a weekend for two or maybe a week away.
I think it would motivate both of you to stay true to your no shop weeks plus if you leave it in the Grocery Budget posting, the fans can see that if you don’t drop it all on groceries…there’s room for a splurge. We can all cheer you on and get excited for you as we see you getting your Romantic Rendezvous account to the the place where you and Mrs CBB can get some quality time away together!
I have to admit, I do better myself at leaving money on the table – if I know exactly what it is being saved for. The leftovers from your unused funds for stockpiling could also go here too since you aren’t carrying them forward. So, this would give you $74.23 +$20.00 = $94.23 in your Romantic Rendezvous account at the end of February… you are on your way if you choose to accept this mission! LOL 🙂
Oh Mary, you never cease to amaze me with your ideas. I think it’s a great idea and I will take you up on this mission!!! So I’ll add Romantic Rendevous to my projected expenses… and to the grocery game line up lol… We’ve spent the $20.00 both months for the stockpiling…so it would be $74.23 just what’s left over this month. This is why I like when we all come together with ideas… might have to do a whole post on this one 😉 Cheers mate
Just a question regarding your budget. Your budget is 235 a month for groceries. How do you manage this? I have a family of 5 and my budget is 150 a week??? i must be doing something wrong?? any infor would be great!!!
Hi Erin,
Our budget is for 2 adults. Our 2012 budget was $190 a month. We’ve learned to not buy crap we don’t need, it’s as easy as that. We cook from scratch, find alternate ways to make things, use coupons, flyer specials, meal plan, meatless meals, and minimize what we are purchasing and most of all post our shop here in the grocery game. This has helped us stick to the budget and in fact some fans have lowered their shopping budget because they got better and smarter when it came to grocery shopping just by posting and seeing where their money was going. The only way to find out what amount is right for your grocery budget is to know your own personal finances and make a budget , in my opinion. If you spend $150 a week for 5 that’s $7800. To be honest, there’s other people who post their shops in the grocery game that do far better than us. If you read back posts in the grocery game I’m always adding in tips and share things we did. I also have many blog posts here you can read about grocery shopping. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask! The fans are always here to help out like I am. Cheer Erin.