EARNING REWARDS HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER AND FREE!
Believe me, when I say joining the Nielsen Homescan Canada panel for FREE will open up a window of rewards to you.
Who thought that going shopping would be so rewarding?
I know this because I was a participant of Nielsen Home Scan in the UK and now I’m part of it in Canada and so can you.
Did I mention it’s FREE to join?
Come on let’s get going so I can tell you all the cool things you can earn with your Nielsen rewards points and how easy this program is.
About Nielsen Homescan
The Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel is made up of thousands of households across the country that have chosen to have their say and make a difference while earning great rewards.
By scanning the barcodes on their purchases and completing opinion surveys, Homescan® panelists truly make their opinions count in the Canadian marketplace, by influencing product manufacturers and retailers.
Nielsen is a global information and measurement company with leading market positions in marketing and consumer information, television and other media measurement, online intelligence and mobile measurement.
Nielsen Online Panel
Nielsen studies consumers in over 100 countries because they want to know what you like to buy! I remember the time when my wife came to the UK and we went grocery shopping together for the first time.
Not only was she reading just about every product she could get her hands on (it took forever to shop with her) I was also explaining to her a little about this program I was involved in.
I think it made more sense to her once I showed her my scanner and exactly what I needed to do.
When we got home she wanted to help me put all the groceries away but I told her that we had to wait a moment so I could check everything over and scan them in. Scan them in?
She had this look on her face like I was nuts but clearly she had never heard of the program I was part of.
Nielsen Scanner
What I did was I signed up for a Homescan program in the UK through TNS where I would scan the bar codes of the products I purchased each week.
Exactly the same deal as there is in Canada.
I would then be rewarded points which I was able to redeem for gift cards, CDs, electronics, appliances and even jewellery.
She thought this was the most amazing rewards program since she is a frugal shopper herself but wasn’t aware of such a thing in Canada.
Well, there is such a thing and you can sign up now to Nielsen Homescan Canada to register as a potential participant in their program.
You must be 18+ to sign up.
There is only one application per household so don’t bother signing up multiple times.
Once they receive your application they put you on reserve (wait list) and offer free scanners randomly but you MUST apply to be on the reserve list.
The Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel is a “mini-Canada”, representing Canadian consumers. By scanning the bar codes on their purchases and completing fun surveys, panelists truly make their opinions count in the consumer marketplace.
The Nielsen Company is the world’s leading provider of marketing information, audience measurement, and business media products and services.
Nielsen looks for certain ages, family sizes etc. for a diverse demographic. They try to predict what products you might buy and offer you surveys so you can earn even more rewards points.
The more you shop the more points you can earn and you can do it any time of day right from the comfort of your own home. I normally did it as soon as I got home so I wouldn’t forget.
Shop For House Hold Goods as you normally would and Collect Valuable Gift Points and Redeem them for Awesome Gifts!
Participate by scanning bar codes on your purchases, completing fun surveys, panelists truly make their opinions count in the consumer marketplace.
How Does Nielsen Home Scan Work?
You Tell Us What You Buy
- As a panel member, you will be provided with a hand-held scanner or access to our mobile app.
- You’ll use the scanner or app to scan the barcodes on all products you (and other household members) purchase during any shopping trip.
- You’ll also record other information about your shopping trips, like where you shopped, how much you paid, how many you bought, and more.
- Once a week, you’ll transmit all of the shopping data you recorded to Nielsen.
- You will also be invited to take surveys on a variety of topics.
You Make An Impact
- You have the power to influence what products are sold in stores!
- The shopping data you send us is combined with that of other households and then shared with manufacturers and retailers, who use it to make important marketing decisions about the brands they sell.
- ” Your shopping behaviour helps influence future shopping experiences.
You Earn Rewards
Your participation earns entries into our sweepstakes, as well as points redeemable toward great gifts.
Scan to Redeem for Merchandise and Gift Cards
Each week you send us your household purchase data, you are awarded points that can be accumulated and redeemed for a wide variety of merchandise from our members-only gift catalogue. Earn even more gift points when you take part in our surveys!
Nielsen Consumer Panel Rewards Catalogue
What can you get with your Nielsen reward points?
Once you scan the UPC Code-Universal Product Code (bar code) with your free scanner on just about everything you buy that information gets transferred through the scanner to Nielsen Canada and you are rewarded points.
You can redeem your points from their Homescan gift catalogue to get anything ranging from gift-cards to electronics, toys and even household items.
Panel participation also earns you entries into a variety of sweepstakes that are held monthly, quarterly and annually. In our quarterly Grand Prize draw, you can win a $2,500 Visa® Prepaid Card!
How do I know if I’ve been chosen to be part of the Nielsen Home Scan Program?
If you are chosen they will contact you with more in-depth details about the program.
Once you complete the signup process, we will review your information.
If there is an opening on the panel for a household that matches your demographic profile, we will contact you to let you know you’ve been selected.
You will then be asked a few questions about the technology you have available in your home, so we can determine which model of our scanner to send you.
Alternatively, you may qualify for our mobile app.
If you qualify for a scanner, you will be notified and it will be shipped to you so you can begin recording your shopping information!
Personal Information
What do they do with our personal information?
Your personal information is only used to manage your membership account.
All personal information is kept confidential by Nielsen.
The only information we share with clients is the aggregate shopping data our panel members transmit to us.
They will never see your name, address, or contact information.
My Best Nielsen Reward Ever
The one reward that meant the most to me was when my refrigerator broke down in my UK house which I was renovating.
I had to put the contents of my refrigerator in a cooler and left it out on the deck to stay cold. I had no other options or I would have had to toss all the food in the garbage.
I didn’t have the cash at the time to buy a new refrigerator as it was all tied up in the house and although I had small emergency savings I didn’t view that as an emergency.
I was single and I was fine keeping it in the cooler until I saved up the money to buy one.
The great news was that I didn’t need to save up any money because I had enough rewards points from the Homescan program to get a shiny new refrigerator for FREE!
It felt so good redeeming my points for something I did to help companies market products that consumers come to love.
Once I moved to Canada I had to give up my scanner but now I’m scanning in Canada and earning rewards once again.
If you want to sign up your family don’t wait>>> getting involved is easy but you have to fill out the Nielsen Homescan forms to see if you qualify for the scanner. It’s a simple process and totally legitimate, no scam.
NIELSEN HOMESCAN CANADA USER SPEAKS UP!
But WAIT… that’s not all. If you don’t believe me how awesome the Nielsen Homescan Canada Program is listen to what CBB fan Nicola has to say!
It was great that Nicola who shares her recipes on Canadian Budget Binder is part of the Nielsen Homescan team and was able to share her experience using the hand-scanner and participating in consumer feedback for all of us today.
It’s always nice when you hear first-hand experiences so we can make decisions based from that of others who are successful with the Nielsen Homescan program.
Hi Mr.CBB and Fans!
Being a member of the Nielsen Homescan brings many rewards and all you have to do is scan your shopping. When I say scan your shopping this means I scan everything from gas, groceries even clothing and toys with the hand-held device they provided me with.
The scanner is pretty easy to set up and hook up to your computer. It gets even better as during the year they put on double points events for scanning all items and bonuses for answering extra special surveys.
Now these surveys last for a week but you earn up to $45 for the week which is great especially if you like saving for Christmas or a special occasion.
I have gotten cinema tickets, Chapters & Indigo gift cards and yes I have also done the week-long challenge for a $45 Visa gift-card.
They have the odd survey too during the month but unlike most it’s not a constant hustle of filling up to 3 or 4 surveys a day for the same amount of points if not more- Nicola D.
Good Luck and let me know when you are accepted to share your experiences with the Canadian Budget Binder fans!!
Nielsen Survey Sign Up
Once again here is the link to sign up>>> I want to be part of the Nielsen Homescan Canada Program!!
Nielsen Homescan Canada is an affiliate of Canadian Budget Binder.Nielsen photos courtesy of Nielsen Homescan Canada Facebook page.
Other Cool Canadian Rewards Programs To Check Out!
Check out my Savings, Online Surveys, Deals, Online Codes, Discounts and Cashback Apps For Canadians. You’ll find the Ultimate Guide For Saving Money a way to earn extra cash, gifts or discounts for those times when you need it the most.
December 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!
- Types of Food Bank Donations: The Grocery Game Challenge #1 Dec 1-7, 2014
- Do you track money-back from rewards in your budget? – The Grocery Game Challenge #2 Dec 8-14, 2014
Grocery Saving Tips
Click, Save and Print. It’s that easy!
NEW: Sign up today! >>> Homescan Canada! Join the Neilson Homescan consumer panel. If chosen you will receive rewards by scanning the bar code on your grocery purchases and completing fun surveys with the scanner provided to you from Homescan Canada.
One registration per household. Once you sign up using the link above you will be put on a reserve waiting list and randomly selected households will be chosen. Sign up now…. it’s worth it!!
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 are new here and haven’t had a chance to read past posts grab yourself a beverage, sit down, relax and enjoy some educational reading material on ways to save money in your grocery budget.
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.
Grocery shop results
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!
Shoppers Drug Mart
- 1 x 4L Milk $3.97
- Dozen Eggs $1.99
- Campbell’s soup $0.49
Total out-of-pocket $ 6.45
Check Out Our Grocery Budget
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 November $235.00 This months grocery shop leaves us $265.78 over budget!! Our November and December grocery budget total will be as follows $470-$265.78=$204.22 or $102.11 to spend each month to keep us on track for 2014.
- Total Coupons Used this Week : $0
- Total Coupons Used to date: $74.19
- Total Discounts this Week: $0
- Total Discounts Used to date: $74.23
- Total Gift Cards Used to date: $33.18
- Total Rewards Points Used: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used to date: $40.00
- Stockpile Budget ($20.00): $20.64
- Stockpile Budget Used to Date: $20.00+$19.08+$17.94+ $2.06+$20.00+$15.10 + $20.00 (June)+ $22.44 (July) + (August) $8.00+ (September) $0 + October $19.92+November $0+Dec $20.64
- Snap Groupon to date: $2.00 (cashed out $23.xx this week)
- Zweet to date: $4.00
- Cart Smart to date: $0
- Checkout51 to date: $12.75
- Scanning Code of Practice (SCOP) $2.99
- Total Spent This Week: $6.45
- Total Spent So Far December $73.73+$5.96=$79.69 (we have $89.72 to spend for the month)
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: $ n/a
- Total Over/Under spend for the month: over $0
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $15.99-$5.96=$10.03-$6.45= $3.58
- 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+ August $228.26+ Sept $272.80+ Oct $451.48+Nov $114.50+ Dec $
Weekly Overview: We are coming down to the wire now and I think we will actually make our grocery budget for the year. There is enough left to buy a bit of milk and we are off on vacation next Monday. I’ll do a year-end tally in January. Still one week to go for 2014.
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.
Since we only made a trip to Shoppers for milk, eggs and soup this week we have no coupons to report.
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.
- 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 by clicking any of the buttons below on the blog.
- Don’t forget to Subscribe to Canadian Budget Binder by Email to get my daily email. Once you subscribe you MUST VERIFY your email account so check your spam folder and inbox for that email!
- 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!
Please note: When you sign-up for Nielsen Homescan CBB gets paid a portion of money as an affiliate which then helps to fund this blog.
Gift Box and Shopping Cart Photo: Courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net/StuartMiles
I would like to join. But I am in newfoundland and there is no option for my province
I think what happens is they open it up to different areas as they need information. Check back often to find out if Newfoundland is available.
would like to be able to see gift catalogue online today thank you can you tell me how to get to it i am a member
Hi,
I do not have the catalogue here. You should contact your rep for this info. Sorry I couldn’t be much help.
There is no information regarding the catalogue. How do we get a copy of the catalogue without spending hours on the computer trying to find the answers? Please reply to the email address shown below. Thankyou.
Hi Marinus,
Unfortunately I believe you have to be a member to get the catalogue. Are you a member?
I cancelled my home scanning on may 18th. The man on the phone said he would send purolator to pick up the scanner today, tue the 24. A ups man showed up. It is not his to take. So call me to make arrangements for the pick up
Hi Wendy,
I think you need to contact Nielsen Homescan from their website. This is Canadian Budget Binder and not Nielsen Homescan. Thanks 🙂
After reading this post a month or two ago. I actually registered for this program. Interesting, I must have fit the demographic when I filled in the survey. Lo and behold, I have a scanner and have already made my first transmission. I’m curious to see if this is going to be a lot of work or not. I buy a lot of produce and stuff without bar codes, but it seems pretty mapped out. Thanks for the info.
Woohoo, this is great. I did it for years back in the UK. It was dead easy to do especially for all those free gift cards I got! .
I am very disappointed that I went to sign up and Yukon is not an option for a province/territory in Canada. Kinda feel discriminated against as its open to Canadian residents yet… Obviously not all. Nor can I find a contact etc to resolve this issue with on the web at all
I’m sorry Elizabeth. I’m not sure about why the Yukon is not on the list. I don’t have access to anyone at head office otherwise I’d try to help you out. I’ll see if my contact knows anything for you.
I shop for 2 adults and a 4 year old boy. Our budget is $85/week or $425 for this month and includes laundry, health/beauty, etc.
Walmart
Kidney beans 2 x $.78
M&M’s candy 10 x $.78 – $10.00 CO 51 (=$1.20 overage)
Magazine $3.48
Rebates $10.00
OOP $3.10
RCSS
Jam $3.48 – FPC
Chapmans slice cream $4.97 – FPC
Bananas $.76
Green onion 2 x $.50
Coupons $8.45
Colleague discount $1.03
OOP $.75
****Because I am doing this so late I cannot remember what I price matched and to where and exactly what coupons were used and where so this may not be completely accurate****
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. THE MEAT ORDER IS PAID IN FULL NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (we still have tons left too).
• Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $340 + $43.37 carried over if needed
• Total Coupons Used this Week: $8.45
• Total Coupons Used This Month: $13.70
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $1027.62
• Total rebates this week (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $10.00
• Total rebates this month (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $12.75
• Total rebates this year (Checkout 51, Snapsaves, CartSmart, zweet, Save.ca): $179.50
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Toal SCOP this month: $0
• Total SCOP this year: $7.10
• Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
• Total Gift Cards Used this year: $298.04
• Total Reward Points Used this week: 70,000
• Total Reward Points Used this year: 210,000 or $210.00
• Total tax free day this week: $0
• Total tax free day this month: $0
• Total tax free day this year: $81.98
• Colleague Discount (this year): $20.95
• Total Spent This Week: $3.85
• Total Spent So Far for this month: $29.35
• Total Over/Under spent for the month: N/A
• Total Left to Spend for the Month: $310.65
• Total to Carry over Next Month (if needed): $43.37
• Total Spent To Date This Year: $3864.46
Weekly overview: With being on bed rest I didn’t get much shopping in. We’ve just been going through the stockpile, eating at my parents or eating take out.
Hi Jen,
SO does Ken ever do the grocery shopping? Does he know how to price match etc or would he just go buy what was needed? You get ballot 7.
GGC for December 12th to 19th
Name Your Store: Superstore
Total Coupons Used: $0.00
Total Points = 1600
Total Out Of Pocket: $42.26 ($14.09 Pet; $28.17 Human)
4 Campbell Soup – 4/$5.00 = $5.00
1.5 Kg Friskies Cat Food – (PM FB) = $3.99
NN 18Kg Cat Litter = $8.48
6 Cans Tuna = $4.99
2 Boxes Triscuits – $1.67 (PM FB) = $3.34
4L Skim Milk = $3.97
450g Black Diamond Cheese = $3.95
Breyers Ice Cream – (PM NF) = $1.97
10 lb Potatoes – (PM NF) = $1.47
Celery Stalks = $1.47
Spaghetti Squash – (1.165 kg @ $1.72/kg) = $2.00
Weekly Grocery Game Challenge Results
Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $50.00/week ($40.00 Human & $10.00 Pet)
Total Coupons Used this Week : $0.00
Total Coupons Used This Month: $2.00
Total Discounts/SCOP this Week: $0.00
Total Checkout 51 rebates this Week: $1.00
Total Checkout 51 rebates this Month: $3.00
Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0.00
Total PC Points Received this week: 1600
Total Rewards Points Used:
Stockpile Budget: $0.00
Total Over/Under spend this shop: $11.83 under (Human); $4.09 over (Pet)
Total Spent This Week: $28.17 (Human); 14.09 (Pet)
Total Spent So Far for December: $57.43 + $42.26 = $99.69
Total Over/Under spend for the month of December: $N/A
Total Left to Spend for the Month: 83.98 Human; 16.33 Pet
Total to Carry Over Next Month: $N/A
Total Spent To Date This Year: $3,322.22
Weekly Overview: This week, I bought things that we needed and thru price matching, received a few good deals (Potatoes at SS was $3.98 but I picked them up for $1.47 as example). I couldn’t believe that I was that far under my weekly budget but then I went by myself and I stuck to my list.
Hi Dee,
You got a great deal on potatoes wow! You can’t beat that price. You make a good point about being under budget and sticking to the list. We have a huge problem sticking to our grocery list and that’s why The Grocery Game Challenge was born. We’re hoping in 2015 we can really work on sticking to that list as there were times in 2014 that it got out of hand for us. Will you have the same grocery budget for 2015? Great work by the way woot!! We are also hoping to maximize on PC Plus points as much as we can. You get ballot 7. MR.CBB
I’ve visited Canada before and never heard of this Nielsen homescan canada shop. That said, I’d post my grocery shop to win a monthly prize. I’m so excited…
Thanks for posting about this program, I’m going to take a look!
DECEMBER – Week #3 of 5- Dec 15-21, 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
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REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
There are no shops to report this week as we are away on vacation and using our “vacation reserves” for whatever we do. One of my favorite places had a “buy a $50 gift card and get a free pass for a meal on your next visit” (approx $7.99 US value). Needless to say we got in on that deal and will be visiting Souplantation a few times this trip. Other places have similar deals going but we aren’t likely to use more than one gift card up during this trip. I still have half a dozen birthday coupons for free meals to use. 🙂
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OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
NO SHOPS UNTIL Dec 29th!
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OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
NO USA SHOPS UNTIL Dec 28th!
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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+Sept $19.68+Oct $7.75+Nov $0.00+ Dec $0.00= $257.47
•Total Coupons/Rain Checks 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 $12.98+Sept $5.19+Oct $33.28+Nov $0.00+Dec $0.00 = 109.97
•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+Sept $0.00+Oct $0.00+Nov $0.00+Dec $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+Sept 32+Oct 31+Nov 103= 236 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
Jan 456+Feb 584+Mar 0+April 4+May 125+June 3+July 210+Aug 88 + Sept 157+Oct 2+Nov 0+Dec 0= 1,631 Air Miles
•Total Thrifty’s Points Earned This Year:
Jan 25+Feb 15+Mar 0+April 0+May 39+June 11+July 145+Aug 0+ Sept 24 = 259 Points
Program Discontinued on Sept 12th – We received $20.00 + 14 Air Miles
•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 + Sept 1,450+Oct 0+Nov 0+Dec 0= 13,200 Points
•Total Optimum Points Earned This Year:
Jan 0+Feb 0+Mar 0+April 0+May 30+June 0+July 100+Aug 0+Sept 0+ Oct 10+Nov 40+Dec 0= 180 Points
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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 $130.76+Sept $185.68+ Oct $96.45+Nov$158.81+ Dec($12.50 trf to borscht+$20.00 to Summer$67.50 trf to US Reserve=$4.59 = $104.59)= $1,775.53
•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+Sept $142.50+Oct $142.50+Nov $142.50+Dec $142.50 = $1,800.00
•Total Over/Under on Year-To-Date Grocery Budget: $24.47 AVAILABLE
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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 $47.50+Sept $47.50+Oct$47.50+Nov $47.50+Dec($17.50 trf to re-stocking + $30 trf to US Reserve = $47.50) = $660.00
•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+Sept $47.50+Oct $47.50+Nov$47.50+Dec $47.50 = $660.00
•Total Over/Under Year-To-Date Stockpile Budget: $0.00 AVAILABLE
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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+Sept $17.50+Oct $7.50+Nov$35.00+Dec$17.50= $325.00 AVAILABLE
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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+Sept $12.50+Oct $12.50+Nov$12.50+Dec $12.50= $412.50 AVAILABLE
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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+Sept $0.00 +Oct $0.00= $110.00 AVAILABLE
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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+Sept $20.00+Oct $10.00+Nov $20.00+Dec $20.00= $90.00 AVAILABLE
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• TOTAL SPENT Year-To-Date:
$1,775.53 Grocery Budget
$104.04 Hiding Spot Cash
$20.00 Thrifty’s Points Redemption
$20.00 PC.Plus Points Redemption
$20.00 Safeway Cash Card
$565.00 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 =
$2,858.84
$2,280.00 may have been budgeted for JAN to DECEMBER ‘2014 but we have these funds already accounted for and not yet spent:
$325.00 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$412.50 Borscht Fund
$110.00 Holiday Season Fund
$ 90.00 Summer Season Fund
TOTAL UNUSED RESERVES $937.50 … that is a $400.00 carry-forward from 2013 and $537.50 in NEW 2014 savings.
So, if you look at the $2,854.25 calculation that we have spent in 2014 and subtract the $537.50 we have actually saved in our “reserves” and the $240.80 ($146.80+94.00) we have recorded as spent but is actually set aside for future USA grocery shopping… we have actually spent $2,080.54!! That is $199.46 UNDER the $2,280.00 we budgeted for January through December.
BUT if you also take out the cash that was either a gift, some non-budgeted earning method or a loan repayment: ($104.04 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+ $20.00 Thrifty’s Points Redeemed and $20.00 PC.Plus Points Redeemed+ $1.00 gift from hubby’s spending money) = $519.31 then we actually only used $1,561.23 of the budgeted $2,280.00 have a Budgeted Grocery Balance SURPLUS of $718.77 still sitting in our bank account.
IF you pay any attention to how we paid for the groceries, then we seemingly have $718.77 AVAILABLE. If you count all grocery purchases regardless where the funds came from, we have actually have $199.46 still available this year but most of it is buried in our reserves.
We still have 2 weeks of vacation coming this month that will help us finish the year pretty darned close to on budget.
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REMAINING GROCERY FUNDS FOR DECEMBER:
CANADIAN $’s
Groceries: $24.47
Stockpile: $0.00
Cash Hiding Spot: $0.02
Safeway Cash Card $0.00
Safeway Savings Reward $0.00
US $’s
Our Reserve: $146.80
US Cash Hiding Spot: $94.00
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The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
NONE!
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Hi Mary,
Did I miss your birthday? Happy Belated Birthday. Is this souplantation a soup buffet? It sounds amazing. That was a great deal that you picked up. If you know you will use it you might as well grab it. No shops this week.. good for you. We’re almost there… You get ballot 5 Mr.CBB
Souplantation has an all-you-can-eat build your own salad bar, usually half a dozen soups and chilis, assorted breads with an occasional gluten free muffin choice, baked potatoes and of course the build-your-own-sundae counter. I love the soft serve ice cream with crushed peppermint candies. 🙂 No Mr CBB…my birthday isn’t until Boxing Day and Christine Weadick’s is Christmas Day…just a wild and crazy couple of Capricorns! LOL
I would love to go to that restaurant. That would be perfect for dinner tonight… we are looking to see what’s out there then a romantic walk through the town to see all the lights the city put up. Some birthdays coming up.. maybe even mine too 😛