Budget Update: January 2017

I decided to keep my budget at $350 a month for 2017, as it seems to be the perfect amount for stocking up on deals, buying the occasional treat, and covering the basics.  I was pleasantly surprised to have ended 2016 on such a high note budget-wise, and at over hundred dollars under budget for the year!  We have been super busy with our work here at the museum, so I have kept my shopping to a minimum, which has helped to save some serious cash.  I am hoping to get back into my CVS deal shopping in February - the break was nice, but I've missed it.  Below you can see how my spending panned-out over January, and what deals I was able to snag.

How is your shopping and budget going so far this year?

• Week #1: $11.36 oop, Earned Zero

• Week #2: $98.66 oop, Earned Zero

• Week #3: $122.49 oop, Earned $0.50 Saving Star Rebate

• Week #4: $83.80 oop, Earned Zero

Total OOP for January: $316.31
Total Earned in January: $0.50
Total Remaining from January: $166.52!!!

Weekly Spending Report: 01/22-28/2017

This week I only ventured out to 2 stores.  Since it's a new year, work has been super busy, so I've had a heavier workload than usual.  Plus we had a very full weekend planned, so I had Joe stop into ALDI on Friday so I wouldn't have to go on Sunday like usual.  We didn't really need much this week - we are still eating down the freezers and pantries - mostly just snacks, breakfasts, and odds and ends to round things out.  I was excited to find some Easter/Spring craft items for Howard at the Dollar Tree.  He has thoroughly enjoyed decorating the foam hearts I bought there with glitter heart stickers, as well as some robot and truck stickers I found there too.  I am also loving how I am SO under budget for the month!  Below you can see how I wrapped up my spending for January...

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $53.86 oop (Included, but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O)

• Friday's ALDI Trip: $23.58 oop (Included, but not pictured are 8 gallons of H2O)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $6.36 oop

Total OOP: $83.80
Total Earned: Zero
Total Remaining from January: $166.52! 

Weekly Spending Report: 01/15-21/2017

This was another simple week in the way of grocery shopping.  I really need to get back into the swing of shopping at CVS - I miss my ECB's deals!  It has been nice though to take a break from deal chasing and just pick up what we need from ALDI, and occasionally from Giant.  This week I just picked up the basics at ALDI - breakfast foods, snacks for Joe, produce, and some household items like paper plates and cleaning wipes.  Giant was having a great sale on Annie's mac and cheese, so I stocked up!  Likewise, I stocked up on my Lean Cuisine meals I like to eat for lunch some days, as well as a few odds and ends, like Mayo, and Doritos.  Below you can see how my spending panned-out...

• Monday's ALDI Trip: $59.82 oop (included, but not pictured are 8 gallons H2O)

• Saturday's Giant Trip: $56.28 oop, Earned $0.50 Saving Star Rebate (Annie's)

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $6.36 oop

Total OOP: $122.49
Total Earned: $0.50
Total Remaining for January: $250.32

Weekly Spending Report: 01/08-14/2017

By the second week in January, the fridge and freezers were emptying out of holiday leftovers, and I was back to a full work-week, so Joe was in need of easy lunches and snacks for him and Howard.  We were also expecting a snow day, so I picked up some fun 'snowed-in' foods - chips and dip, and ice cream sundaes!  Other than that I really just picked up random things that we needed, like paper plates, plastic silverware, milk, training pants, etc.  Below you can see how my budget broke-down...

• Sunday's ALDI Trip: $75.84 oop (included, but not pictured are 8 gallons H2O)

• Saturday's Giant Trip: $22.82 oop

Total OOP: $98.66

Total Earned: Zero

Total Remaining for January: $372.81

Weekly Spending Report: 01/01-07/2017

Even though I had a overflowing grocery envelope - leftover monies from December, plus a fresh January budget - I kicked off the new year with a super simple shopping week.  We still had plenty of leftovers in the fridge and freezers from the holidays, so we didn't really need much from the store.  So, I decided to skip grocery shopping altogether, and just stopped into the Dollar Tree on Saturday to pick up my newspapers.  I grab a few other deals while I was there, as you can see from the picture below...

• Saturday's Dollar Tree Trip: $11.36 oop

Total OOP: $11.36

Total Earned: Zero

Total Remaining for January: $471.47

Frugal Finds: January 2017 Edition

In January we were able to go to a flea market, and we saw some pretty great things!  I chose just a few items to bring home that I knew I would not be able to live without.  One was a bread box, and the other was some books for Howard.  I collect bread boxes, and they are an awesome way to store things - they are pretty, hold a lot, and stack!  I have one for cookie cutters, one for my cloth napkins, one for greeting cards, one for my pricing stuff for the flea markets, and now, one for bread.  And books, well, I'm a sucker for books that I know will be useful once we start homeschooling, plus, Howard LOVES Magic School Bus!

 1 Bread Box $5

8 Books @ $0.25 each = $2

We were also able to make a run to the thrift store one day.  I am always looking for shirts, since two-year-olds are messy, and some how I always end up getting dirty when Howard is dirty.  I'm not sure why that is, but it's just the way it works out.   Howard also LOVES to get new books at the thrift store.  When we are walking to the store from the car he is saying 'ba, ba, ba,' which means book in Howard speak.  It's so funny how kids put things together like that.  But, anyway, I was able to find a couple of tops, and Howard of course got some new books...

1 Short-sleeved Blue Shirt for Me $4.99 - 50% off Sale = $2.49
1 Short-sleeved White Shirt for Me $2.99 - 50% off Sale = $1.49
4 Books for Howard $0.99 each - 50% off Sale = $0.49 each or 4/$1.96
+ Tax (for Books) $0.12
Total OOP: $6.06
Saved $6 or 50%!!!!

Frugal Finds: March 2017 Edition

This month on my trip to the thrift store I stopped into a little Goodwill nearby.  I didn't find much there, and without the 50% off discount that I get at Community Aide, a lot of the items were a little pricey in my opinion, but I still managed to find a few things I couldn't live without.  I did find myself two shirts at the thrift store, as well as a few new books for Howard.  Howard has really been into Mickey Mouse lately, so I was very pleased to find several items that I could tuck away as treats for Valentine's Day and to put in his Easter basket.  I even found a brand new, never burned candle!  Below you can see the rest of my deals and steals as well as the price break-down...

1 Pullover Rain Jacket for Howard size XS $4.99 - 50% off Sale = $2.49
1 pair 5T PJ Pants for Howard $2.99 - 50% off Sale = $1.49
1 Gray Short-sleeve Shirt for Me $3.99 - 50% off Sale = $1.99
1 Gray 3/4-sleeve Shirt for Me $4.99 - 50% off Sale = $2.49
1 RV Belt Buckle for Joe $4.99
1 Mickey VHS Movie for Howard $1.99 - 50% off Sale = $0.99
4 Books for Howard $0.99 each  - 50% off Sale = 4/$1.98
2 Christmas DVD's $2.99 each - 50% off Sale = 2/$2.98
+ $0.66 Tax
Total OOP: $20.06
Savings of $14.46 or 42%!!!

1 Mickey Mouse Fleece Throw for Howard $3.50
1 Stuffed Mickey Mouse for Howard $0.99
1 pair of Mickey Mouse Binoculars for Howard $0.97
1 Brand New Vanilla Candle for Me (these are around $4 at Wal-mart) $1.97
1 CD for Joe $1.97 - $0.49 Sale = $1.48
+ $0.53 Tax
Total OOP: $9.44

Have you all found anything amazing while thrifting lately? 
If so, share in the comments below...

Budget Review for 2016

This year  f-l-e-w by, just like that.  It seems like we were just getting started, and now it's over and done with - crazy how life works that way.  But, anyway, we're here to discuss the budget for the year, and I am VERY happy to say that we were UNDER budget for 2016!!!  I love when we come out ahead for the year!  I added the money into my new January 2017 grocery money envelope, and I'll use that to stock on meat as I see good deals.  Below you can see how my spending broke down each month - if you click the links you can see my spending in more detail.  I love looking through these summaries each year to see what great deals I was able to pick up at different points throughout the year.  Each month brings different sales and coupons, and I love seeing how it all comes together - the big picture if you will.  Anyway, poke around and let me know what your favorite deal was from 2016!

• January: $314.36 oop ($35.64 under budget -- added to February's money), Earned $88.27

• February: $341.59 oop ($44.05 leftover and added to March's money), Earned $49.39

• March: $371.36 oop ($22.69 leftover and added to April's money), Earned $52.98

• April: $309.92 oop ($62.77 leftover and added to May's money), Earned $58.59

• May: $288.88 oop ($123.89 leftover and added to June's money), Earned $42.25

• June: $411.06 oop ($62.83 leftover and added to July's money), Earned $79.10

• July: $369.35 oop ($43.48 leftover and added to August's money), Earned $52.55

• August: $355.49 oop ($37.99 leftover and added to September's money), Earned $36.94

• September: $360.85 oop ($27.14 leftover and added to October's money), Earned $41.35

• October: $334.97 oop (41.17 leftover and added to November's money), Earned $82.45

• November: $455.90 oop ($10 leftover and added to December's money), Earned $155.27

• December: $267.17 oop ($132.83 leftover and added to January's money), Earned $58.10

Total OOP: $4,180.90
Total Earned: $797.24
Total Remaining from 2016: $132.83!!!!!!

December Budget Update

December was a crazy month, filled with work, and teas, and family get togethers, and dinners, and fellowship with friends, and parties, and movies, and shopping, and presents, and you get the idea.  Because of that, this is super late getting posted, and for that I am sorry.  I have missed blogging, but it was also nice to have a little break from the online world.  It feels great to be back though.  I am so excited to share that we ended the year on a high-note budget-wise!  I LOVE when that happens -- get the dets below, and I'll be back soon with more posts....

• Week #1: $89.27 oop, Earned $9 ECB's, and $9 Ibotta Rebates**

• Week #2: $93.85 oop, Earned $0.10 Mobisave Rebate

• Week #3: $84.05 oop, Earned $40 from Baking for others

• Week #4: Zero oop, Earned Zero

Total OOP: $267.17
Total Earned: $58.10
Total Remaining from December: $132.83!!!!!
*Use this link to sign up for Checkout51, upload a receipt, and get a $5 Bonus!
**Use this link to sign up for Ibotta and get a $10 bonus!

Weekly Spending Report: 12/18-24/2016

This week I did very little shopping.  I stopped into Dollar Tree on Monday to pick up some stocking stuffers and graduation cards.  But I was feeling pretty ill, so I ended up sending Joe out to ALDI on Tuesday.  He's getting pretty good at following my lists.  I've been sick off and on all week, and I'm just tired.  We are both off of work for three days this weekend, so I am looking forward to a lot of rest, good food, family fellowship, presents, and binge-watching holiday movies!  I will try to share the deals we pick up at the after-holiday sales on Monday - I am so excited for those!  But, without further ado, my spending breakdown for this week...

• Monday's Dollar Tree Trip: $11.54 oop (included, but not pictured are 3 more graduation cards)

• Tuesday's ALDI Trip: $72.51 oop

•  $40 Baking Cookies for Friends and Family (added to grocery money)

Total OOP: $84.05
Total Earned: $40
Total Remaining for December: $132.83 (includes $40 added in from baking)