Weekly Spending Report: 11/09-15/2014

This was another GREAT week!  Best deals of the week were definitely at CVS -- LOVE the diaper deals recently!  Here's what we ended up with...

• Tuesday's Staples Trip (1 ream paper): $2.98 oop, Earned $2.80 Staples Easy Rebate
• Tuesday's Walmart Trip (toilet paper, 1 box freezer bags, and baby gas drops): $20.43 oop
• Wednesday's CVS Trip: $15.75 oop, Earned $10 CVS Gift Card, and $2 ECB's 

• Wednesday's Giant Trip: $25.88 oop

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip (2 newspapers): $2.12 oop

Total OOP: $67.16
Total Earned: $14.80
Total Remaining for November: $165.21

Linked to Couponaholic!

Weekly Spending Report: 11/01-08/2014

We had a GREAT start to the month!  We were able to stock up on a lot of needed items before Winter hits and my income goes away until Spring, but managed to not spend a whole lot out of pocket!  Here's what we ended up with...

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $17.24 oop

• Monday's CVS Trip: $14.60 oop, Earned $10 CVS Gift Card, and $8.99 MIR

• Monday's ALDI Trip: $30.70 oop

• Monday's Staples Trip: $5.09 oop, Earned $4.79 Easy Rebate
• Earned $10 CVS Gift Card from Swag Bucks

Total OOP: $67.63
Total Earned: $33.78
Total Remaining for November: $232.37

Linked to Couponaholic! 

October Budget Update

October ended up being a GREAT month, I was able to get a lot of needed items at great deals, including snacks, produce, meat, and diary.  I was also able to stock up on things like vitamins, and diapers.  Plus we had plenty of candy for the trick-or-treaters.  And, we even had a little money left!  Here's the run down for the month...

• Week #1: $65.32 oop, Earned $5 ECB's, and $10 Amazon Gift Cards from Swag Bucks
• Week #2: $75.20 oop, Earned $6 ECB's, and $2.80 Staples Easy Rebate
• Week #3: $65.95 oop, Earned $3 ECB's
• Week #4: $35.62 oop, Earned $4.99 ECB's
• Week #5: $46.80 oop, Earned $7.50 ECB's, and $2.80 Staples Easy Rebate

Total OOP: $288.89
Total Earned: $42.09
Total Remaining: $11.11!

Weekly Spending Report: 10/26-31/2014

This week I was able to stock up on some AWESOME deals, and some much needed produce and snacks.  Here's what we ended up with...

• Sunday's Giant Trip (Not pictured, 4-6 pks Sodas): $17.74 oop

• Tuesday's Staples Trip (1 ream paper): $2.98 oop, Earned $2.80 Easy Rebate
• Tuesday's CVS Trip (Not pictured, 3-24 pks H2O): $5.49 oop, Earned $7.50 ECB's

• Tuesday's ALDI Trip: $20.59 oop

 

Total OOP: $46.80

Total Earned: $10.30

Total Remaining: $11.11!

Weekly Spending Report: 10/19-25/2014

Another easy week.  I picked up the deals at CVS, and then went next door to ALDI and picked up everything we needed for the week, including milk, snacks, and produce.

• Monday's CVS Trip: $6.57 oop, Earned $4.99 ECB's

• Monday's ALDI Trip (not pictured 5 lbs potatoes): $29.05 oop

Total OOP: $35.62
Total Earned: $4.99
Total Remaining for October: $57.91

Weekly Spending Report: 10/12-18/2014

This was an easy week.  We didn't need a whole lot, so I just picked up some deals at CVS, and Giant.  I also grabbed some much needed beef, rice, and produce.  Here's what we ended up with...

• Tuesday's CVS Trip (not pictured 3-24 pks H2O): $6.58 oop, Earned $3 ECB's

• Thursday's Giant's Trip: $46.60 oop

• Saturday's Giant's Trip (no picture - Ham and Turkey Lunchmeats, Hard Boiled Eggs): $12.77 oop

Total OOP: $65.95
Total Earned: $3
Total Remaining for October: $93.53

31 Days of Baby Saving Tips: Day 21 - Use Your Library

Libraries are filled with tons of FREE resources!  I was able to check out loads of baby books, and some videos to gain the baby knowledge I was craving as a pregnant woman, for FREE!  They also have a wall FULL of pamphlets, including some with information about classes and resources that the Hospital and Health Department offer.  Once Howard gets a little bigger, we can check out books for him to read, as well as children's videos, and audio books.  We can also reference the pamphlet wall for fun FREE local activities for us to do as a family.  So, to save money, make sure you take advantage of all the FREE resources your library has to offer!

31 Days of Baby Saving Tips: Day 20 - Coupon for Baby Necessities

I use coupons for almost everything I buy, or at least as much as I can.  Baby necessities are no different.  When I found out I was pregnant, I waited until the 20 week sonogram, and then I started stocking up.  I shopped at CVS for diapers, since I could combine manufacturer coupons with CVS coupons, and get ECB's back for some super cheap jumbo packs.  I picked up wipes at Giant combining sales with doubled coupons.  And, I was able to pick up most of Howard's toiletry items at Target using the infamous $2/2 Up and Up Baby Items coupon.  I could get baby powder for less than a $1, baby wash for about $0.49, and diaper creams for about $1.49.  Those are AWESOME prices for those needed baby items!  Needless to say, I stocked up, saved money, and haven't had to shop for any of these items since Howard was born.  Couponing for the win!

31 Days of Baby Saving Tips: Day 19 - Sign Up for Newsletters

Going along with Rewards Programs is Newsletters.  Signing up for FREE newsletters not only gets you personalized information sent right to your email, but usually also promo codes, samples, and coupons -- all of which can save you some major cash!  There are plenty of baby-related sites to sign up at, my favorite are Huggies, Pampers, The Bump, and Everyday Family.  Throughout my pregnancy I was sent information about the development of the baby, symptoms I might notice about my pregnancy, advice to help with pregnancy symptoms (like muscle aches and nausea), as well as promo codes for things like baby leggings, a nursing pillow, and plenty of good, old-fashion coupons!  Not only did signing up for newsletters bring the FREE reference material to me, in my very preggo-comfy PJ's, but it saved me money with promo codes and coupons!

31 Days of Baby Saving Tips: Day 18 - Join Rewards Programs

Even before I was pregnant I had signed up for all sorts of rewards programs, including Huggies, Pampers, and Disney.  Each program has it's own benefits.  The programs are FREE, and are easy to use.  Simply enter the codes found inside wipes and diaper packages online to earn your points.  Then you can spend your points on coupons, toys, sweepstakes entries, or a wide variety of other rewards.  Disney rewards will be great once Howard gets a little older.  You enter those online as well (from purchased Disney movies), and then they can be redeemed for more Disney movies.  All three offer free bonus points periodically online or in their newsletters, which is always nice.  I also signed up for a FREE rewards program through our insurance.  I entered the dates that I went to the doctors for my prenatal check-ups, and now I enter the dates I take Howard for his wellness visits. So far we have earned several FREE gift cards to Old Navy, as well as a free thermometer, a wheel toy that hooks to a table or high chair, and a baby dental care kit.  So join those FREE rewards programs to save money by earning FREE stuff!