This Wife's Savings

Just by using my coupons wisely, I have got everything in this picture for $1 or less, Some FREE!!!

Breakdown:

Cascade Rinse Agent - FREE!
Dawn Direct Foam - $1 per bottle
Dawn - $.49 per bottle
glade plug ins - FREE!
glade air freshener - $0.44 per bottle
dial soap - $0.64 per bottle
ajax - $0.90
glade fabric & air - $0.49 per bottle
renuzit - $0.50 per bottle
glade carpet - $0.92 per bottle
mr clean - both bottles for $2/ or $1 each
scrubbin bubbles - $0.08 per can
windex - $0.35 per bottle
electrasol powertabs - $1 per box
baking soda - FREE!

Total for everything in this picture? Less than $20!

Posted by Daphne at 12:01 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Misc

All totals set back to zero. I feel January will be a slow month, since we are recovering from Christmas, New Years & LittleMan's birthday, which was January 2nd.

I haven't been doing much shopping at CVS & Wags, and don't know when I'll return .. but when I do, I will still keep up with those totals too.

Posted by Daphne at 11:15 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Misc

Most of my shopping, and savings, haven't been on food or household items lately.
Like most of the rest of the country, I've been focusing on Christmas shopping.

I didn't realize until the past year or so, how much money I wasted in the early years of my marriage. I never shopped around when buying presents. I just went & picked it out and bought it. I'm so glad that I've become more frugal...

Some Examples:

• The Hasbro Playskool Dream Town Rose Petal Cottage runs anywhere from $79.99 to $119.99 depending on where you look. But, I happen to find it on sale at Amazon.com for only $33.99. AND since it qualified for Super Saver Shipping, it was free shipping. AND I had an $8 credit at Amazon for some surveys I had done. I ended up paying only $25.99 OOP for the playhouse!!! [check Amazon because as of the time of this post, the price is only $29.99!!!!]
• Today from Walmart.com I got: Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker for only $5, originally $26.88. Guitar Hero Air Guitar '80s Rock Expansion Song Pack for only $5, originally $14.88. American Idol Spotlight Stage Double for only $5, unsure of original price. I opted for Site to Store shipping, so shipping was free! I got all of the above for only $16.20 after tax. BUT since I had money saved up in my Paypal account from doing surveys, I used that and paid $0 OOP!
• I'm a member & lover of Mypoints.com. So using my $50 Walmart gift card that I got from Mypoints, I got all the stocking stuffers for my kids with part of that. $0 OOP

So I saved approx. $75 on the playhouse & $50+ at Walmart.com & $30 on the stocking stuffers. Better than paying full price.

Posted by Daphne at 2:07 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Misc

Sorry I haven't updated lately. Been working through some family issues. I haven't done a great deal of shopping lately, but I will try to get everything added today.

Posted by Daphne at 9:16 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Misc

Things I've learnt so far this month, from my Spending Log & Coupon/Stockpile Journey

1. I spend Way Too Much on fast food. I will be trying to leave for shopping right after we eat, that way we won't be hungry. My plan is to pack a "car snack bag" filled with some snacks/drinks that would hold us over. And possibly some sandwiches in a cooler, if I know we are going to be gone too long.
2. Getting started stock-piling is not easy. It's sometimes hard to watch money goes towards something I don't need Right This Minute. Even if it's pennies on the dollar compared to full price. In time, I know I will reap the benefits. Just getting started though, whew.
3. I've saved more this past week than I have in previous whole months. I can't believe I've saved over $400 in Grocery/Household items so far this month!
4. Making the decision to start my Coupon binder was a Great Idea! I know exactly where to find coupons, can view them quickly and it makes me "feel" organized.
5. I plan to expand my Spending Log. That will help me see how much of my savings is: [a] just CVS [b] just Walgreens [c] other grocery/household (not including all other categories, ex. Clothing)
6. After talking with a good friend [who I think should start blogging too=) ] about her recent trip to Sam's club, I think I may give it another try. [After all, it has been YEARS since I've been inside a Sam's.] But only if I can find my coupon that entitles me to a free visit, or if I can find another one. I want to make a trial run before I decide whether or not it's worth the yearly membership fee, and the gas to drive all the way to B'ham. It will definitely be a once monthly or so trip.
7. Not all coupons are worth using. If it's a product that I don't usually use and wouldn't miss, getting 40cents off $4.99 isn't worth my time. Unless I can work up a really good deal at CVS or Walgreens. =)
8. You shouldn't wait til mid-week to go to CVS/WAGS. You will miss some of the deals, because ... they will be out. Yes you can sometimes get a rain check, but when I have my transactions already planned out, it messes everything up when something isn't stocked.
9. People will either be Amazed at your savings, or totally Resistant. Don't ask me why someone wouldn't want to learn how to save money. I'm always amazed when I read other blogger's savings stories. And if I can help one person start their savings journey, then I've done something good!

My current breakdown

(I will start fresh in September with more categories)

Spent on Grocery/Household - $416.17

Saved on Grocery/Household- $420.91

50% SAVINGS!

Posted by Daphne at 10:45 AM 2 comments  

Labels: Misc

I had no idea I was spending that much on fast food! In my defense (lol) I have went shopping on more days than I usually do. But I know that is just unacceptable.

I have always got fast food for me & the kids after grocery shopping. It's always cheap (think dollar menu) and a good treat for every once in a while. But that was when grocery shopping was one day a week.

I will have to figure something out.

Whether it be take food with us, or shopping at a different time of the day. I know I can't hit all the stores I want in one single day ... hmmm....

I will figure it out and Conquer this Fast Food Dilemma!!!

Posted by Daphne at 1:02 PM 1 comments  

Labels: Misc

As you can see from my last post, I've spent $143 on groceries & household needs. And it's only one week into the month. That looks (and sounds) really, well... bad. It is a lot more than I would normally spend, but see these points:

• That total is not just food. It is all things used for personal use in the home. Anything from toothpaste, to razors, to cleaning supplies, to toilet paper, to batteries, to makeup, to pet food, etc...
• I am in the beginning stages of CVS & Walgreens. I'm learning the system, I'm learning from trial and error. I've done rather well at these stores, actually.
• I am in the beginning stages of stockpiling. It is impossible to get stockpiled on Every Single Thing you buy without coming OOP in the beginning. But! Just think how long it will be before I run out of cereal, or toothpaste, or snack food & have to buy it again. A long time! But I will stockpile again before I run out...
• I have just moved from being a coupon user, to being an avid coupon user. And Yes there is a BIG difference. I have started my coupon binder and that alone has cost close to $25 to start. Plus I am learning all the store rules, policies & regulations.
• I am going to get rebates on some of the items I have bought. When the rebate comes in, it will goes towards more groceries/household needs. So that will be less spent OOP in the future.
• I feed a family of 4. One man who eats, well a lot... one boy who eats, well a lot too. And I'm a SAHM with a 3 year old at home and a 6 year old at school, I cook 3 meals a day. And sending lunch to school occasionally. And sending snack & juice to school daily.
• I am still buying diapers/pullups. That alone should say something.
• I have ECBs from some of my purchases at CVS, they are just like money. They will help me save on items next week, so I will spend less OOP.
• If you looked at my weekly grocery bill around the beginning of the year, you would see that I would spend anywhere from $85-$150 a week. And I wasn't stockpiling Anything! I wasn't using coupons, or getting many things on sale either. And the only place I grocery shopped was Walmart.

Posted by Daphne at 12:25 PM 2 comments  

Labels: Grocery, Misc

With today's prices on food, I tend to buy everything I can, generic. There usually isn't much of a difference, if any, to the taste versus the name brands. In some cases, the generic tastes even better than the name brand.

There are certain items, though, that I (have tried the generic, but) will not compromise. There's no since in buying the generic if you do not like the taste. It's a waste of money if you do not use the product.

Items I only buy name-brand.
Such as:

-Orville Redenbacher Popcorn - No other popcorn taste anywhere near as good. I will not buy any other brand.

-Dr. Pepper vs. Dr. Thunder - I will never again buy Dr. Thunder. It gave me a terrible bladder infection.

-Velveeta Shells & Cheese - I bought the off brand about a week ago. It tasted like oil.

-Country Crock margarine - Nothing tastes like it

-Ore-Ida French fries - they've never been soggy like generic

-Certain condiments; A1, Hunts BBQ sauce


Then there's the products that I prefer to buy generic;

-No-stick canola spray/cooking spray

-Cereal

-Milk

-Bread

-Shredded cheese

-cookies

-certain condiments; ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise

Posted by Daphne at 12:04 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Misc