A Quickie at Rite-Aid on Thursday

I ran out between storms tonight to get the shelf numbers so I can go back tomorrow during the day to get some rain checks on things on sale this week but are sold out.
If you missed some of the goodies this week, be sure and get your rain checks!

I also found a couple of things to roll my +Up Rewards on.....

2 x Edy's Ice Cream $2.99=$5.98  They restocked!! **not pictured**
2 x K-Y product on sale BOGO50% $4.49=$6.73
2 x Rite-Aid soup on sale .69¢=$1.38
2 x Stayfree Pads BOGO=$3.99
SubTotal....$18.08

Coupons Used
1 x $1 any Purchase AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
2 x $3/1 K-Y item IPQ=$6.00
1 x $1/2 Rite-Aid soup IPQ=$1.00
1 x Stayfree BOGO IPQ=$3.99
Coupon Total...$11.99

$18.08-$11.99=$6.09 OOP
I used $6 in +Up Rewards and put the .09¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $9 in +Up Rewards back....2 x $2 Edy's and $5 for buying 2 select K-Y items.

Spent $6, got $9 back made this a $3 moneymaker.
And I have $8 in +Up Rewards left to spend/roll by Saturday....and a new storm is due here that morning so I'll be going to Rite-Aid today.

I've also hit $102.64 in Buy& Save purchases, so I got the $20 Winter Resolution Reward +Up Reward.

Yay me!lol
 

Sluggy

$32K Savings Challenge of 2011.....January's Totals

Since I foresee food prices, as well as other expenses/costs/taxes to rise in 2011, I am only upping my Savings Challenge Goal by $2,000.  While I hope to bring in more income this year, I feel we will be spending more on necessities in 2011, thus the small increase in goals.

So I present to you the beginning of the 2011 $32K Savings Challenge!

I have posted my JANUARY End of Month $32K $AVING$ CHALLENGE Totals.
Check out the side bar to your right for the specific numbers.

I have 2 goals really each month.....
The 1st is to actually finish each month in the black and not the red.
The 2nd is to hit the targeted savings amount of $2,666.67.

I have to report that we finished up January in the black!
The extra cash amount we ended the month of January with was.......$2,293.97.

Income
We had $2206.37 left over of DH's salary after our expenses were deducted. Before you decide that we are idle rich folks here, remember that we have NO mortgage or car payment, having paid off both of those debts.  Oh, yah....and we hardly ever buy "things".   I will say that Hubs has a very generous paycheck. ;-)
Add in $87.60 of Rebates applied against the food expenses and you have a deposit of $2293.97 toward the Savings Challenge!

Our monthly target is an average of $2,666.67 to reach our Year End Goal so we didn't meet our 2nd monthly goal in Jan. bleh

Outgo
As for the expenses in January....there were a couple large bills.  The credit card bill(which is paid off each month)was over $1700.  Then the electric bill came in VERY high this month since we lost our off-peak rate discount at the end of 2010.  There was also a smaller payment, the garbage bill which is paid quarterly due in Jan.

The good news in January is that the cable bill did Not go up as it usually does each Jan. and we were able to reduce our cash withdrawals by about $300.  Hubs spending other than gasoline purchases, is mostly through cash bank withdrawals and he does NOT keep/give me receipts.  He is my Wild Card in trying to keep spending down and staying on a tight budget.  It drives me nuts but there is little I can do about it other than give him the stink eye.... ;-)

The Food Budget costs for January are in another post, which is located HERE.  The actual Food/Toiletries spending in January was a smallish disaster....ugh!

What's ahead for February.....
Looking back at last year's check register, I see we are bound to have another whopper of an electric bill this month and we have the semi-annual Car Insurance bill due.
Bleh.
I know our rates aren't as high as many areas of the country, given we have 3 cars on the road at present and 2 teenage drivers on the policy(one of them is also male which is even worse!lol), but it's still a LOT of money to shell out and I write that check under great duress! 8-P

On the bright side, I am going to try to keep a closer eye on Hubs cash withdrawals and question expenditures he makes more and I am hoping to SLASH the food spending budget in February by half.
Just call me crazy now and get it out of the way.....


YEAR-TO-DATE TOTAL.....
Being the 1st month of the year, our Savings total to-date is $2,293.97.

And if you need to start putting money into savings......What's that you say?  You don't have an emergency fund of 6-8 months worth of expenses!!??....consider playing along in 2011 with me and Challenging Yourself to Save Money each Month Toward a Realistic for YOU Savings Goal!
Not everyone can shoot for $32K, I fully get that!
But everyone can shoot for some number, right!?

Find a money goal that works for you and put that number out there for everyone to see.  It will help keep you accountable to your goal if other eyes are on you.
Ooo, that sounded kind of creepy didn't it? ;-)

So how was your January financially?  Leave a comment and share with us what you did with your money, both the good and not-so good.   Do you have any tricks or tips that help you to end your month before the money runs out?    Let us know!
If you posted your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can go check you out too!

Sluggy

Monday.....Before the Snowpocalypse Rite-Aid Trips

After Sunday's 5 trips...EGADS!....I still had $52 in +Up Rewards to roll before this Saturday.
With the "Historic" Storm bearing down on us, I ran errands on Monday and did 3 more transactions to roll some of those reward monies.
I also had some coupons expiring Monday night(Jan. 31st) so there were 2 reasons for the trips.
Yah....that's my story! ;-)

Transaction #1
1 x Gillette Razor on sale but 20% wellness disc. was lower=$8.79
4 x Edy's Ice Cream on sale $2.99=$11.96 **not pictured**
SubTotal.....$20.75

Coupons Used
1 x $4/1 Gillette Razor ManuQ=$4.00 expiring 1/31
Coupon Total....$4.00

$20.75-$4.00=$16.75 OOP
I used $16 +Up Rewards and put the .75¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $13 back in +Up Rewards....4 x $2 Edy's and $5 Gillette Razor.
**Remember, there is a limit of one Gillette +Up Reward per card.**


I spent $16 +Ups and got $13 back so I am 'down' $3 +Ups for this transaction.

I found the Neuragen Gel at this store so I rolled some +Ups into SCR $....

Transaction #2
1 x Neuragen Gel on sale=$19.99
1 x Olay Bar Soap w/20% discount=$2.79
1 x Secret Deodorant w/20% discount=$2.63
SubTotal....$25.41

Coupons Used
1 x $5/1 Neuragen IPQ=$5.00
1 x $2/1 Olay product(includes bar soap) ManuQ=$2.00 expiring 1/31
1 x Free Secret Deo when you buy Olay product(includes bar soap) ManuQ=$3.29 *cashier put it reg. price tho I got the 20% off price even tho I told her my price was less.
Coupon Total....$10.29

$25.41-$10.29=$15.12 OOP
I used $15 +Up Rewards and put the .12¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received ZERO +Up Rewards back but I qualified for a $19.99 SCR.

I spent $15 in +Ups so I have less to roll now but I am getting back $4.99 MORE in cash instead. 8-))

Then later that night up to my favorite Rite-Aid....

Transaction #3
6 x Bounty Basic Towels on sale .97¢=$5.82  **for my Hubs, the PT addict**
2 x Precise Patches on sale $4.99=$9.98

2 x Motrin PM raincheck $1.00=$2.00


2 x Olay Bar Soap packs w/20% discount $2.87=$5.74 **This store's reg. price is higher.**
2 x Secret Deodorant w/20% discount $2.79=$5.58 **This store's reg. price is higher.**
1 x Total Toothpaste on sale=$2.99
3 x Sierra Mist soda w/20% discount $1.27=$3.81
SubTotal....$35.92

Coupons Used
1 x $1 any Purchase AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
3 x $1/2 Bounty Towels ManuQ=$3.00 expiring 1/31
2 x $6/2 assortment of McNeil items(Precise & MotrinPM)ManuQ=$12.00
2 x $2/1 Olay products(includes bar soap) ManuQ=$4.00 expiring 1/31
2 x FREE Secret Deodorant when you buy Olay product(includes bar soap)ManuQ=$5.58
1 x $1/1 Total Toothpaste ManuQ=$1.00
3 x $.55/1 Sierra Mist soda 20 oz. TearpadQ=$1.65 expiring 1/31
Coupon Total....$28.23

$35.92-$28.23=$7.69
I used $7 in +Up Rewards to pay and put the .69¢ on my ever present Rite-Aid gift card.**This gift card has $2.26 left on it.  I may be breaking out another gift card later this week. ;-) **
I received $4 in +Up Rewards back....$2 Colgate and 2 x $1 Precise.
I spent $7 +Ups and got $4 +Ups back so I am 'down' $3 in +Ups this transaction.

**Those $6/2 McNeil Qs pair well with my $1 Motrin PM rainchecks(it was $3 w/a $2 +Up, so $1 on raincheck!)and the Precise being $4.99 this week.  One of each comes to $5.99, so the $6 Q covers it plus you get a $1 +Up for the Precise.

At this moment, after having spent $38 +Ups, I have $14 +Ups left to use by Saturday.
As long as I can find some of this week's deals still on the shelves after tomorrow, I shouldn't have a problem using these up in time.


THESE TRIPS
Number of Transactions.....3
Total Spent....$1.56 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$130.74
SCR qualified for...$19.99
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
Resolution Reward....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$17.00
+Up Rewards spent...$38.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$193.93
 
GRAND TOTALS--February Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......10
Total Spent....$3.73 put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$491.58
SCR qualified for....$19.99
Other Cash....$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Feb. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 1/30.....$214.93
+Up Rewards spent....$141.00
+Up Rewards earned....$178.93
+Up Rewards left....$193.93 includes ALL +Ups not just ones from this SCR period


Sluggy

Sluggy's Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway Post #5....Time to Enter Again!

Time for Post 5 for the Birthday Boring Blog Giveaway!

If this is your first time here, get up to speed on how this Giveaway works by looking HERE.

Check out the rules.....
The Rules
1. You must be a "Follower" of my blog to enter and still be a Follower if/when you win.  Lookie on the right sidebar and press the big ol' FOLLOW button if you are not already a follower.
2.  Sorry but this Giveaway is open ONLY to those with a mailing address within the USA.  Hate to have to do that but the postal rates outside the country are KILLER.
3. 1 vote/entry per post with 1 exemption.  You can leave more than 1 comment per post but only your 1st vote/comment will count.

The 1 Exemption....You can earn EXTRA ENTRIES this way....
*If you get someone to become a Follower and enter this giveaway you can earn an Extra Entry for each person you bring on board.  You can blog about the giveaway or email people or post about it on a message board or call your neighbor on the phone....whatever way you want to recruit them, I don't care.  Just make sure that they mention in their vote/comment/entry that You(your name here)told them about the blog/giveaway and you get an extra entry that post.


As always, this is not a company sponsored or company supplied Giveaway.  Any costs associated with this Giveaway are coming out of my pocket because I'm just that kinda gal.  Please patronize our blog ads....I'm just sayin'.... ;-)


Now down to the business at hand.

Here are your 3 items to choose from today....

1. Halls Refresh Drops-tropical wave
2. Hershey's Kisses with almonds
3. LifeSavers-Pep O Mint


Just leave a comment on this post within the next 3 days with your choice of #1, 2 or 3.
Additional praise for me on the anniversary of my birth is welcomed but won't earn you any Brownie points for the Giveaway. ;-)

Sluggy

January Budget Results.......Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for JANUARY 2011.

I have posted January's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2011 and updated the Yearly Totals.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in January.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable.We are a family of 5(4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 14.
******************
AMELIA'S FOOD OUTLET
OOP  $32.80
Savings  over Reg. Retail $26.85
Value  $59.65
Savings  45%

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $24.67
Savings over Reg. Retail   $53.57
Value $78.24
Savings  68.47%

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP  $75.53

Qs/Ads  $37.93
Value  $113.46
Savings  33.43%

CVS
OOP $42.00
Qs/Ads  $211.93
Value $253.93
Savings  83.46%

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP  $3.85
Qs/Ads  $8.02
Value  $11.87
Savings  67.56%

GERRITY'S
OOP  $20.36
Qs/Ads  $38.10
Value  $58.46
Savings  65.17%

KEYCO(Restaurant Supply Store)
OOP  $23.60
Savings over Reg. Retail  $28.40
Value  $52.00
Savings  54.61%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP  $17.03
Qs/Ads  $25.42
Value  $42.45
Savings  59.82%

REDNER'S(does not double coupons)
OOP  $45.96
Qs/Ads  $37.35
Value  $83.31
Savings  44.83%

RITE AID
OOP  $19.62 (whole amount put on free Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads  $1,445.55
Value  $1,465.17
Savings  98.66% before gift cards/ 100% savings after free gift cards

WALGREENS
OOP  $4.36
Qs/Ads  $19.37
Value  $23.73
Savings  81.62%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town/doubles up to $1 total)
OOP  $67.43
Qs/Ads  $124.15
Value  $191.58
Savings   64.80%

I don't track Rite-Aid's +Ups here, nor CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons".   I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly.  Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.

REBATE CHECKS RECV'D. IN JANUARY
Heartguard Dog Meds....$18.00
Pepperidge Farm TMF Rolls...$6.00
Rite-Aid SCR...$48.98
Sure Deo RMF...$2.63
TENA TMF...$11.99

Subtotal........$87.60

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
Office Depot Online win...$30.00

Staples Ink Rewards Credit...$6.00

Subtotal....$36.00

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$123.60

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Coke Rewards....Free bottle

Coke Rewards....Free 12 pack

Excedrin....Free Bottle ManuQ x2

Garnier....Sample and $1/1 ManuQ x2

Lowe's....Assorted Qs

McNeil....2 x $1/1 Motrin ManuQs

Purina...Free bag of Dog Food ManuQ

Ruffles....Free bag of Chips ManuQ

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, CVS at 83.46% and Walgreen's at 81.62%.
Yep....a drug store clean sweep...lol

TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$357.59
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$2,076.26
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$2,433.85
TOTAL Savings of...................................85.30%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$87.60

TOTAL Out of Pocket After Rebates........$269.99
TOTAL Savings including Rebates...........$2163.86
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$2433.85
TOTAL Savings After Rebates...................88.90%

This closes out the January spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-

I went over my budget of $250 per month.  The month I take part in a Money Diet I bust the budget bigtime!
Go figure.....
But I can take solace in the fact that after rebates were figured in I broke budget but a mere Andy Jackson!
I found a few nice stockpile opportunities in January along with some really good deals on meats so I am not gnashing my teeth over what I spent.  It's not like I overspent on crap like chips and soda....ok, maybe a teeny tiny bit.lol

What's ahead for February.....
I would really like to eat down some things we have here this month.  I am taking this week to eat from the pantry and not go grocery shopping(unless it's a bit of free food from Rite-Aid)beyond milk and a couple of needed items.....all totaled about $10 worth of stuff.
The weather is facilitating me staying out of the grocery stores most of this week.  I am going to try for a second week of no shopping later this month as well.
I'll shoot for spending half of my usual budget, or $125.00 for February.


How did you do in January with your Food Budget?
What are your challenges for February?
Please leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear about your progress!  By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.


Sluggy