Free product coupons and promo codes that expire before the product: The Grocery Game Challenge #3 Aug 11-17, 2014
PROMO MARKETING ON PRODUCTS
Promo codes and free product coupons that you find on everyday products you buy are there to entice you as a customer to make a purchase.
I’m not talking about coupon codes you might find on McDonald’s promotional offers or Tim Hortons coffee cups either. Today I’m talking about coupons and promo coupon codes on products you get at the supermarket.
I know many of you love to source out coupons in the grocery store or anywhere you can get your hands on them. We do to because savings in our pocket is worth the effort.
Coupons seem to fly off the pads faster than most customers can get to them so manufacturers like to promote product savings via putting the coupon or promo codes right on the product.
It’s also a great marketing tool because as a customer you see the coupon right on the product rather than hunting it down. Even cases of pop or canned goods have coupons on the packaging.
Promo Codes
I think it’s a brilliant idea to lure customers to purchase or even test out new product although not all free product coupons and promo codes are created equally.
I won’t lie and say that a coupon or product code on a box of cereal like the popular $5.00 gas card cereal box promo is not appealing, because it is. If you drive a vehicle you need gas and free gas is always good and the cereal companies know this is a popular promo.
Why not buy a box of cereal if you are going to get $5.00 back in gas? It sounds like a great deal and it is minus the stamp you need to send off to get the promo.
That may have changed since we participated but you must factor in the cost of the stamp and envelope when you send in for promotional products from these companies. Is it worth it? That’s the question I always ask.
There is one other question I ask and something else that we have failed to do in the past which we always do now. What is it you ask? We check any promo codes or free product coupons for an EXPIRY DATE.
Nothing gets me fired up more than seeing product on the shelf with coupons or promo codes attached when they are expired or near expiry BUT the product has a long shelf-life or months to go before it expires.
I often ask myself why the manufacturer wouldn’t coordinate the coupon expiry to the expiry date on the product which would promote the product more to the customer rather than having the customer turn away from a coupon or promo codes they no longer can use. The product goes from that WOW factor to , OH it’s just a box of cereal.
I know you’ve all seen this or had it happen to you and it is frustrating. I know my mother-in-law has called companies to let them know and they’ve sent her out free product coupons but as a customer you don’t want to be wasting your valuable time doing this.
The photo above is a box of Cheerios cereal with their new Hot Summer Cineplex movie offer containing a promo code for free movie tickets. What I like about this offer is that it spans over months however you will likely find these boxes still on the shelf UNLESS they become a viral promotion where customer scoop them up.
The only problem I find is that the box of Cheerios will expire in 2015 but the coupons in October 2014. This means if there is product still on the shelf that those customers who purchase the cereal are getting promo codes and coupons they simply can’t use.
What do you think manufacturers could do to fix this concern by many customers?
Would you call customer service to let them know that the product you purchased has expired coupons on them?
August grocery game challenge posts
If you missed any grocery game posts for the month I will post the line-up for the month each week here in this section for you. Join in the Grocery Game Challenge fun and post your grocery shop in the comment section of each blog post… here are the GGC rules!
Each month I hold a draw and one WINNER is chosen. I will post the name of the person who has the winning grocery shop of the month right here so make sure to check back every week.
Special Note
GGC Posters: Please note that in the event my wife goes into the hospital I may not be able to get my GGC posts up. That doesn’t mean I want you to stop posting because when we stop doing something we get out of routine and it’s hard to get back into it.
If I do go MIA continue to post your shops under the current GGC that I have posted and once I return to the posts I will moderate them all and give out ballots. The important part of this lesson is that we continue the journey to sticking to our grocery budget. If you have any questions you can send me an email or comment on this post. Mr.CBB
- Milk in a bag or jug?: The Grocery Game Challenge #1 July 28-Aug 3, 2014 (Post your grocery shop in the comment section of this post for the above dates)
- Why a root cellar is beneficial for stockpiling: The Grocery Game Challenge #2 Aug 4-10, 2014
Grocery saving tips
Click, Save and Print. It’s that easy!
Free Money Saving Downloads are awesome lists that were created to get us on track to work towards reaching our budgeting goals and now we are sharing them with you.
I hope you take the time to get back on track and start the savings process in your grocery budget today.
Get organized with a FREE freezer inventory, meal plan, shopping list, price comparison list and much more all for FREE. CLICK HERE to download all the free lists and even our family budget spreadsheet for FREE.
NEW!! You can now download the FREE Canadian Budget Binder Budget Spreadsheet in Excel…Grab it while you can… It’s FREE! We use it to budget and in large part a reason we could pay our mortgage off in 5 years, check it out!
Ultimate grocery shopping guide
Everything you want to know about grocery shopping in Canada is below with new information added monthly.
If you missed a Grocery Game Challenge post some of the most popular posts are listed below or you can now find the posts listed on their own page called The Ultimate Grocery Shopping Guide.
If you know a topic that should be discussed send me an email.
Food food and more food
If you are a foodie like I am you will enjoy going through my Free Recipe Index where recipes from CBB foodie Nicola and myself are shared every Sunday on the blog. Check it out! Try a recipe and leave a review for other fans!
Grocery shop results
Shoppers Drug Mart
- 4L Neilson Milk $3.97 (800 Optimum points) $0.25 Zweet
- Philadelphia cream cheese light $3.99- $2.00 in-store coupon
- Silhouette Danone Yogurt $2.99- $2.00 printable SDM coupon
Total out-of-pocket: $6.95
Zehrs
- 2 x Whole Wheat English Muffins $2.00
- 2 x Whole Wheat Bagels $2.00 (800 PC Plus points)
- Dentyne Gum Multi-pack $2.99 (400 PC Plus points)
- Scotties Multi-pack tissues- $3.99
- 2x Christie Premium Plus Whole Wheat Crackers $3.59 each
- Roba Dolce Mango Fat-Free Dairy Free Ice-cream- Sale $1.97
- Bananas $1.84
- Grapes $2.92 2lbs
- 2x Smokey Cheddar Dogs $1.49 ea reg $5.49 ea
- 2 x Stonemill Whole Wheat bread $3.29-50% stickers
Total out-of-pocket $32.28
Yearly grocery budget for two: $2820
(The above total does not include the stockpile budget of $240 per year or $20 per month.)
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00 or $78.33 week with potentially 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 Budget for August $235.00-$18.24=$216.76/4= $54.19 per week
- Total Coupons Used this Week : $0
- Total Coupons Used to date: $46.25
- Total Discounts this Week: $2.00
- Total Discounts Used to date: $45.61
- Total Gift Cards Used to date: $33.18
- Total Rewards Points Used: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used to date: $20.00
- Stockpile Budget ($20.00): $17.56 (we went over in July)
- Stockpile Budget Used to Date: $20.00+$19.08+$17.94+ $2.06+$20.00+$15.10 + $20.00 (June)+ $22.44 (July)
- Snap Saves to date: $18.25
- Zweet to date: $3.50
- Cart Smart to date: $0
- Checkout51 to date: $10.75
- Total Spent This Week: $39.23
- Total Spent So Far August:$78.88
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: $n/a
- Total Over/Under spend for the month: $n/a
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $137.88
- Total to Carry Over Next Month: $n/a
- Total Spent To Date This Year: (does not include stockpile budget) Jan $242.66+ Feb $191.74+ March $255.82+April $235.07+May $223.62+June $275.37+ July $203.36
- Weekly Overview: This week wasn’t a huge shop for us because we have lots in the house to use up. I wanted to make sure we had enough crackers for the wife as well as bread, milk and fruits. My sister-in-law brought us a boatload of vegetables so we didn’t need to get much. I’ll be making more roasted tomato fennel soup this week if I can fit it in my busy schedule.
Coupon Sleuth
Did you find any coupons? If so share the details in the comment section of this post where you found it and what the coupon is for with expiry. Below are some of the coupons we found while grocery shopping this week.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Grocery Game Challenge RULES: Read the rules first and if you have any questions email me or comment on this post with your question and someone will answer you as soon as possible.
- 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 fans who post their grocery shop who live all over 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 products?: 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 affected 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 and your weekly Checkout 51 offers 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.
- What is an FPC?: An FPC is a free product coupon which means you can get a free product as described on the coupon.
- How Do I Know what stores accept coupons? : You can find all your store coupon policies here. If you are not sure it’s always best to call the store and ask.
- How Do I Grocery Shop?: I can tell you about grocery shopping and what we do in terms of shopping to save money and how it works for us. There are no wrong or right answers, just smart choices.
Over time you will gradually learn where you should and shouldn’t go in the grocery store or at least how to say no, I’m on a budget I need to buy this or that. You may also substitute items in order to stick to your grocery budget to make it work. Nobody is perfect, heck we struggle with this part of our budget like many people do.
This is why the grocery game challenge was created to not only show you that we are like everyone else but to bring us all together to work as a team to get our budgets on track. If you have just joined The Grocery Game Challenge 2014 get ready to dive deep into your grocery budget and learn just where you are spending, how much you are spending and what you are saving.
Feel free to read all the above posts that I linked to above which I feel are relevant to learning about the grocery budget and grocery shopping in general. You’ve made a wise decision to take control of your grocery budget now show me your shops and let’s get saving!
Welcome to The Grocery Game Challenge Canada 2014!
-Mr.CBB
Are You New To Canadian Budget Binder?
- Follow Me on Social Media: Twitter, Facebook , Pinterest , Stumble Upon, Reddit and Google+
- Check out my new Free Recipe Index
- If you like FREE then click this link for my FREE Excel Budget Spreadsheet and all my Free Money Saving Lists!
Our weekly budget is $125 making this month $500
Sobeys
$2.50×2 Mr.noodle cases
$2.50×2 instant oatmeal – for the kids
$1×2 yogurt – clearance short dated
$12.10 & $9.87 steaks (3 meals)
$3.83 bologna
$4.99 5lb granny smith apples
$42.80 total oop
Co-op
$4.48×4-bogosale alfredo sauce
.69×4 bagels
.69×4 butter flake buns
.99 crackers – clearance
$16.85 total oop
Walmart
$6.09 4L chocolate milk
$4.86 4L milk
$2.97 yogurt
$3.89 grapes
.54 tomato
Target
$2(pm to sobeys)x6-$1TC quaker bars
$1×2 Arizona Iced teas – my son asked for them
$4.99-$1TC&$3C royale tiger towels
$11.70 total oop
$10 total coupons
Shoppers
.99 organic coffee beans – clearance gift for my mom
$1.99×2 dzn eggs
$2.99 peanut butter
$7.95 total oop
Canadian tire
$1.77×2 2kg sugar
$3.55 total oop
$101.20 weekly total oop
$10 weekly total coupons
$151.65 monthly total oop
$15 monthly total coupons
Thankfully there was a sale on steaks to enjoy on the bbq. Also lots of snacks for the kids.
Hi Juanita
We always grab yogurt on reduced price because it still has a good week or so left after expiry. Most people think it will go off right away but it doesn’t normally. Is that a good price for the chocolate milk? I never buy it in a 4L bag OR would it be better to buy the white milk and a jug of chocolate syrup? Great shop this week!! You get ballot 7. Mr.CBB
Well im a bit behind! I didnt need anything much at all this week! But here goes
Shake and Bake 1.49
macaroni salad 1.50
raspberries 1.44
strawberries 1.44
seasonings 1.39
stew seasoning 1.39
blueberries 1.44
strawberries 1.44
total=11.61
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $600
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $0
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $17.75
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $481.89
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: 0
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: 0
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year: 8.50
total snapsaves this month:0
total snapsaves this year 38.75
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Total SCOP this month: $0
• Total SCOP this year: $4.28
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: 0
•Total Spent This Week: $= 11.61
•Total Spent So Far for august= $108.39
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $491.61
•Total to Carry over Next Month: 463.56
Hi Joanne,
You behind… NAH… haha! I’m glad to see that you are getting caught up. Better late than never they say right?:) You get ballot 4
Here we go again getting things posted. Hopefully I can get everything done by month end. Canadian Tire had a couple of good deals including Royale TP but I didn’t have a coupon this time…oh well.
Canadian Tire August 8
2 sugar @1.77 -3.54
1 Royale TP -4.99
Tax -.65
Total -$6.18
Foodland August 10
3 Gator Ade @1.66 -4.98
Bananas -.88
2 W/W bread @2.49 -4.98
1 raisin bread -2.99
3 cases pop @3.33 -9.99, 3X1.00 coupons
2 yogurt @3.49 -6.98
1 syrup -3.99
1 taco kit -3.99
1 grated Parmesan cheese -4.43
1 4l milk -4.79
1 jug water. -5.49
4 packs sausage -4.91+4.99+4.99+5.70, 50% stickers saved 2.46+2.50+2.50+2.85
Tax -2.27
Total -$65.53, 3.00 coupons, 10.31 discounts
Foodland August 14
2 tomato soup @.79 -1.58
2 Whiskas moist cat food @.99 -1.98
2 cans pineapple @1.19 -2.38
1 reduced granola bites -1.29
2 Powerade @1.66 -3.32
Bananas -.63
1 unsweetened apple sauce -1.98
1 bread crumbs -1.99
1 soya sauce -3.49
1 pizza pack meats -3.99
1 yogurt -4.49, 1.00 coupon
1 4l milk -4.79
1 box rice Crispies -5.49
1 jug water -5.49
2 blocks cheese @5.99 -11.98
Tax -.69
Total -$54.56, 1.00 coupon
Total budget for month -$650.00, 4 weeks-162.50wk
Total coupons/discount for week -$17.31
Total spent this week -$126.27
Total spent for month -$350.14
Total over/under for week -under $36.23
Total over/under for month -N/A
Left for. Month. -$299.86
Total coupons/discounts for month -7.78+17.31=$25.09
Total carry over -$55.09
Total TYD -J$653.06+F$594.21+M$633.19+A$672.42+M$647.42+J$666.14+J$694.95+A$350.14=$6184.12
Stock pile -$25.00, none spent
So I am under for the week and still have almost $300.00 left for the month. Looking like I should be able to make it for the month. Not sure how much of the carry over I can work off but time will tell. Year to date I am still doing better than this time last year so I will take that.. My next trick will be to get the last two weeks posted.
Hi Christine,
You are doing tricks now haha.. you’re funny. You are doing great for the month and I’m happy to hear that you are optimistic that you will be able to stick to the grocery budget for the month which isn’t always easy but the point of the GGC. You still haven’t even used up your stockpile budget either. I might stock up on sugar as soon as I find it on sale as I’m right out. Does Foodland ever put their bread on for half price? It’s worth talking to the bakery to ask what they do with all the leftover products and maybe you can score some great deals. Keep up the great shopping. You get ballot 20. Mr.CBB
I shop for 2 adults and a 3 ½ year old boy. Our budget is $85/week or $425 for this month and includes laundry, health/beauty, etc.
RCSS
Dole salad $1.99
Bananas $1.29
Apples $2.54 (earned 400 PC plus points)
Multigrain rolls $2.48
Whole cooked chicken $8.97 (earned 1000 PC plus points)
OOP $18.44
Metro
Granola bars 5 x $2.00 – buy 4 get 1 free (-$2.00)
Coupons $2.00
OOP $9.30 (plus earned 20 bonus airmiles)
Metro
Granola bars 5 x $2.00 – buy 4 get 1 free (-$2.00)
Coupons $2.00
OOP $9.30 (plus earned 20 bonus airmiles)
RCSS
Reese snack pack $1.94
Alphagetti (PM Metro) 4 x $1.25
OEP taco kit (PM FC) $2.99
NN peas (PM NF) $.57
NN corn (PM NF) 6 x $.57
Cambell’s soup (PM GT) 5 x $.50
Frosted Flakes (PM FC) $2.47
Diet Coke (PM Rexall) $3.33 – $2.00 coupon
Oh Henry snack pack 3 x $1.24
BBQ sauce $1.00
OMG chocolate $2.94
Margarine (PM NF) 2 x $1.97
Eggs $2.68
Milk $3.97
Cheez whiz (PM FB) $4.88 – $1.00 coupon
Almond Breeze 2 x $3.97 – 2 x $1.00 coupons
Almond Fresh $3.97 – $1.00 coupon
Potatoes $2.98 (earned 750 PC plus points)
Bananas $.76
Grapes $.69
Janes chicken strips (PM GT) $4.98
Wonderbread (PM NF) $1.97
Colgate total (PM SDM) 3 x $.88
Vaseline moisturizer 2 x $7.77 – 2 x FPC
Sunscreen 2 x $9.99 – 2 x $3.50 coupons
Coupons $28.54
Tax free day $6.51
PC plus points used $70.00
OOP $0.00
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year: $4,420 ($85/week) + Meat order $172.85/month for 9 months $1555.65=$5975.65 for the year including the meat order.
• Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $425 – $40.61 (over from last month) =$384.39
• Total Coupons Used this Week: $32.54
• Total Coupons Used This Month: $79.29
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $809.67
• Total rebates this week (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): I know I claimed rebates but I waited so long to do my post that now I can’t remember what I got rebates on lol
• Total rebates this month (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): $.75
• Total rebates this year (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet): $132.50
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Total SCOP this month: $0
• Total SCOP this year: $6.50
• Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
• Total Gift Cards Used this year: $284.08
• Total Reward Points Used this week: 70,000 or $70.00
• Total Reward Points Used this year: 70,000 or $70.00
• Total tax free day this week: $6.51
• Total tax free day this month: $6.51
• Total tax free day this year: $69.33
• Colleague Discount (this year): $11.08
• Total Spent This Week: $18.60
• Total Spent So Far for this month: $247.07
• Total Over/Under spent for the month: N/A
• Total Left to Spend for the Month: $137.32
• Total to Carry over Next Month: N/A
• Total Spent To Date This Year: $2637.16
Weekly overview: I used PC point this week to try to help make it to the end of the month without going over budget. I’m soooooo behind on the budget I am overwhelmed 🙁
See what happens when you fall behind but don’t worry that could happen to us this month and we are just as anxious. We are going to cross our fingers we keep on top of things so we don’t fall off the budget track. It does hurt. Keep working hard on your budget Jen and don’t give up. what is OMG chocolate or did you mean OMG more chocolate haha… Good thing for PC points. It makes sense to collect them the way you do! You get ballot 15 Mr.CBB
The stay is “just OK” Mr CBB. I am unwinding and that’s what I needed but we’ll never stay at the Westin in Bellevue again. There are so many better hotels in the area. If I can’t get in at the Sheraton, I will wait until I can. For what is supposed to be a 5-star property, I give them a 2-star rating and that’s generous. 🙁 I have a grocery list of complaints to bring to the attention of Starwood after I leave. I am sure they will not enjoy my report.
Sometimes it’s worth the extra money or reward points to stay at a better place but like you said it’s supposed to be a 5 star so it can be hit or miss. What you do know is where you won’t be staying again.
Mr CBB… I picked up some plastic picnic stuff for our travels. My salad bowls got cracked on our last trip and I saw stainless steel drink glasses for our homemade slushies. Those purchases put us up to $60 and I had a coupon where if I spent $60, you get 75 bonus air miles.
Hubby’s pizza is a fresh made deli item. Normally the extra large pizzas are $9.99 each. This week they were on sale for $7.99 each. I also had a 50% off coupon so as you’ll see in my next GGC post, hubby got TWO extra large all dressed pizzas for $7.99!!! No wonder the deli couldn’t keep up with the demand! 🙂
Bellevue is about a 3.5-4 hour drive from my home BUT the border line up was another hour each way for hubby. 🙁
That was a great Air Miles coupon you scooped up, well done. If Larry can find those homemade pizzas on for half off or if you have a coupon then I’d be all over it if he likes them that much. You can beat two extra-large pizzas for $7.99 especially if they are easy for him to pop in the oven while you are away. SO that’s a bit of a drive but it sounds like you are enjoying your holidays away. I would be too… someday maybe 🙂
I bought some cereal once that had an expired coupon in the inside of the box. I was happy about the coupon until I saw the date. I simply called the store where I bought the cereal and explained. They told me to call the company that the coupon was for (Cineplex). I did, and they were happy to accept it even though it had already expired. Sometimes a quick phone call can save you some money like it did for me
That’s just it. My mother in law calls if she finds an expired coupon and they do send her some new coupons. Most people are too shy to do this as they fear looking cheap.
I hesitate to request coupons by mail (or email) because you are essentially trading your personal information for the coupons. You do get money off your purchases, but then they have your personal details forever. It’s not so bad to get more random coupons and offers from them later, but a lot of companies are not very scrupulous when it comes to selling their customer database. So I like to stick with print coupons from products, flyers, grocery stores, etc.
That’s a good point I never thought about. Thanks Dar for bringing that up.
AUGUST – Week #2 of 4- Aug 11-17, 2014
2014 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $142.50 x 12 = $1,710.00 for 2 adults
•Total Stockpile Budgeted For Year: $47.50 x 12 = $570.00 for 2 adults
•Combined Grocery Budget for 2013: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00
=============================================================================================
REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
I postponed my vacation by a week because I put my back out moving boxes the other day. 🙁 Needless to say I did a LITTLE grocery shop just to bridge this week until hubby takes me down to Bellevue. Thank goodness for stockpiles because the crispers in both fridges are both looking a little empty but I have oodles of canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. 🙂
=============================================================================================
OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Safeway – Maple Ridge
8 x Corn on the Cob @ (Sale 8 for $3.98) = $3.98
1 x bag fresh Green Beans $1.43
1 x 4L Lucerne Skim Milk – FREE with COUPON
•Total OOP: $5.41
• Grocery Budget OOP: $0.00
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $5.41
• Safeway Cash Card: $0.00
** We bought some “on sale” non-grocery items that earned us a 6 cent gas discount on our next fuel purchase that’s good until September 30, 2014 PLUS we got bonus air miles!! **
** Earned 88 Air Miles on this shop **
** USED $0.00 Price Matches **
** USED $4.99 in Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
NOTE: I used the cash in my hiding spot for this shop so that I can still leave hubby $30.57 for groceries while I am away. I expect some of that cash will go to Dominoes Pizza on their Tuesday night 2 for 1 pizza night. 🙂 He was really sad that there were no pizzas at Safeway on Saturday but maybe he’ll have better luck when he swings by again before the sale ends! I sure hope so because he could add a couple of items an use a coupon for a FREE 4L chocolate milk. Fingers crossed for him! 😀
=============================================================================================
OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
NO USA SHOPS UNTIL SEPT 1st
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
Jan $81.89 + Feb $48.32 +Mar $0.00 +April $22.88 +May $44.18 + June $39.58 + July $4.10 + Aug $0.00= $230.03
•Total Coupons Used This Year:
Jan $2.58 + Feb $7.18 +Mar $0.00 + April $9.20 +May $20.19 + June $1.00 + July $15.50 + Aug $4.99 = $60.64
•Total Price Match Savings Used This Year:
Jan $0.00 + Feb $0.00 +Mar $0.00 + April $0.00 +May $5.31 + June $0.00 + July $0.00 + Aug $0.00 = $5.31
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 11 + April 0 + May 5 + June 0 + July 52 + Aug 0= 68 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 456 + Feb 584 +Mar 0 + April 4 + May 125 + June 3 + July 210 + Aug 88 = 1,472 Air Miles
•Total Thrifty’s Points Earned This Year: NOTE: On Sept 12th –
14 Thirty’s = 1 Air Miles Roll-over
Jan 25 + Feb 15 +Mar 0 + April 0 + May 39 + June 11 + July 145 +Aug 0 = 235 Points
•Total PC PLUS Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 650 + April 0 + May 5,400 +June 2400 + July 3,300 + Aug 0= 11,750 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0 + Feb 0 +Mar 0 + April 0 + May 30 + June 0 + July 100 + Aug 0 = 130 Points
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $167.06 + Feb $155.74+ Mar $105.76 + April $145.56 +
May $228.38 +June $186.11+ July ($110.63)+ Aug ($12.50 trf to borscht+$20.00 to Summer + $60.00 to US Reserve+$17.50 trf to re-stocking = $110.00)= $1,199.43
•Total Year-To-Date Grocery Budget:
Jan $142.50+ Feb $142.50+ Mar $142.50 + April $142.50 + May $232.50 +June $142.50 + July $142.50 + Aug $142.50 = $1,230.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $30.57 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D STOCKPILE SPENDING:
•Total Stockpile OOP Year-To-Date:
Jan $47.50 + Feb $47.50 + Mar $47.50 + April $47.50 + May $47.50 + June ($47.50) + July ($47.50) + Aug ($17.50 trf to re-stocking + $30 trf to US Reserve = $47.50) = $470.00
•Total Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget:
Jan $47.50 + Feb $47.50 + Mar $47.50 + April $47.50 + May $47.50 + June $47.50 + July $47.50 + Aug $47.50 = $470.00
•Total Over/Under Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget: $0.00 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
2014 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Re-Stocking Budget:
2013 Fwd $125.00+Jan $17.50+Feb $17.50+Mar $17.50 + April $17.50 +May $17.50 + June $0.00 + July $17.50 + Aug $17.50 = $247.50 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D BORSCHT RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Borscht Stockpile Budget:
2013 Fwd $275.00+Jan $12.50+Feb $12.50+Mar $12.50 + April $12.50 +May $12.50 + June $0.00 + July $12.50 + Aug $12.50= $362.50 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D HOLIDAY SEASON RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Holiday Season Reserve:
2013 Fwd $0.00+Jan $20.00+Feb $20.00+Mar $20.00 + April $20.00 +May $20.00 + June $0.00 + July $10.00 + Aug $0.00= $110.00 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
2014 Y-T-D SUMMER RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Summer Season Reserve:
2013 Fwd $0.00+Jan $0.00+Feb $0.00+Mar $0.00 + April $0.00 +May $0.00 + June $0.00 + July $0.00 + Aug $20.00= $20.00 AVAILABLE
=============================================================================================
• TOTAL SPENT Year-To-Date:
$1,199.43 Grocery Budget
$96.91 Hiding Spot Cash
$20.00 Safeway Cash Card
$470.00 Stockpile Budget
$80.00 Cash Repayment from neighbor
$24.27 2013 Costco Rebate Cheque
$0.00 2014 Costco Rebate Cheque – $13.45
$250.00 Safeway Gift Card =
$2,140.61
$1,520.00 may have been budgeted for JAN to AUGUST ‘2014 but we have these funds already accounted for and not yet spent:
$247.50 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$362.50 Borscht Fund
$110.00 Holiday Season Fund
$ 20.00 Summer Season Fund
TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES $740.00 … that is a $400.00 carry-forward from 2013 and $340.00 in NEW 2014 savings.
So, if you look at the $2,140.61 calculation that we have spent in 2014 and subtract the $340.00 we have actually saved in our “reserves” and the $181.00 we have recorded as spent but is actually set aside for future USA grocery shopping… we have actually spent $1,619.61!! That is $99.61 over the $1,520.00 we budgeted for January through August.
BUT if you also take out the cash that was either a gift, some non-budgeted earning method or a loan repayment: ($96.91 Hiding Spot Cash from bottles etc + FREE $20 Safeway Gift Card + $80.00 Cash Repayment from a neighbor + $24.27 from a 2013 Costco Rebate Cheque + $0.00 used out of a 2014 Costco Rebate Cheque for $13.45 + a Christmas present of a $250.00 Safeway Gift Card) = $471.18 then we actually only used $1,148.43 of the budgeted $1,520.00 have a Budgeted Grocery Balance SURPLUS of $371.57 still sitting in our bank account.
IF you don’t pay any attention to how we paid for the groceries, then the seemingly $99.61 overage will easily be absorbed into the value of an additional 5 weeks x $47.50 = $237.50 vacation we will be taking later on in 2014 and still leave us an additional $137.89 to add to our cross border shopping budget.
=============================================================================================
REMAINING GROCERY FUNDS FOR AUGUST:
CANADIAN $’s
Groceries: $30.57
Stockpile: $0.00
Cash Hiding Spot: $12.51-$5.41= $7.10
Safeway Cash Card $0.00
Safeway Savings Reward $0.00
US $’s
Our Reserve: $181.00
US Cash Hiding Spot: $0.00
=============================================================================================
The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Thrifty Foods:
8 Organic Walla Walla Onions @ $1.49/lb (Good until Oct 12th)
2 Family Size Extra Lean Ground Beef @ $3.49/lb (Good until Oct 12th)
Safeway:
1 Coast-to-Coast Italian Sausage Buns–8 pk $2.49 (Good until Aug 24th)
9 Barilla Spaghetti @ 3 for $4.98 (Good until October 10th)
4 lbs Purewel Blueberries @ $7.98 (Good until October 12th)
=============================================================================================
Hi Mary,
Sorry to hear about your back but now that you are on vacation by the sounds of it you are enjoying your time away. How on earth did you get so many Air Miles with such a small shop? That’s great!! Sounds to me like you left Larry in good standing with the food while you are away. How far of a drive your destination from home? Excellent coupon for the petrol as well, I’m impressed. We never get great deals like that out here but once in a while Canadian Tire sends me a few cents off here and there in my email. Are the pizzas at Safeway popular and why there are none when he goes sometimes? Or.. is he looking for them on sale? Have fun on your vacation Mary~~~ You get ballot 9 Mr.CBB
Hi Mary,
Sorry to hear about your back but now that you are on vacation by the sounds of it you are enjoying your time away. How on earth did you get so many Air Miles with such a small shop? That’s great!! Sounds to me like you left Larry in good standing with the food while you are away. How far of a drive your destination from home? Excellent coupon for the petrol as well, I’m impressed. We never get great deals like that out here but once in a while Canadian Tire sends me a few cents off here and there in my email. Are the pizzas at Safeway popular and why there are none when he goes sometimes? Or.. is he looking for them on sale? Have fun on your vacation Mary~~~ You get ballot 9 Mr.CBB