My End of March Budget Totals!

I really need to be more careful at No Frills.  It has happened more than once where they miss a coupon or gas ticket. It happened again.  She missed a $3.09 gas ticket.  Oh that bugs me but my own fault.  I can only imagine how many times I was never aware of these mistakes in the past twenty years or so.  This may seem small but think of it over 20 years for a bigger picture.  Example $1.00 a week (charged more)x 52 weeks= $52.00 x 20 years well $1040.00 and thats just an example of errors we don't check really.  Any way I was over charged on my Chapmans Ice cream at Giant Tiger last week and I did say something.. Im glad I did they gave a $5.00 gift card.  I got 4 loafs of bread no charge. So in the picture I used gas tickets, FPC, $10.00 shoppers gift card, $5.00 GT card and CT money. Value after sales was about $53.00.  I paid $5.86 without the No Frills error should have been $2.77 with tax. Things hard to see 1 kg keewee, and celery stock.

So here are my totals for March
Money spent on groceries and takeout $391.55
Coupons savings $185.73

Total YTD

Money spent on groceries and takeout since Jan 1/12   $1230.08
Coupons savings since Jan1/12  $606.49

Im seeing the savings after 3 months.  Are you tracking and seeing saving.  Let me know share in a comment below.  I would love to know how your coupon/savings are going!

Karen

I hope I can do this!

IT IS CHEAP WEEK!

 I really hope I can do this.   I saved our gas tickets mostly my husbands and thank god he gets reinbused for gas.  I usually spend them throught the month but I was thinking I should leave them for this week. Wish me luck my budget is going good so far.

PS I will explain the shoppers gift card later.  Im testing new waters but if you cant wait please comment I will explain.  Im not sure about it yet though still learning.

Karen

My Budget Update For March!

This was my last week to shop for March (using money).  Next week is cheap week.  I hope I can pull it off.  I did go over slightly this week. (again).  Here's my weeks totals.

Money spent on household (groceries, takeout)  $106.95
Coupons used $35.13

Learned a few things more this week.  If you can hold out using coupons (meaning you have enough of somethings) do so!  I'm well stocked up on soap and body wash for a long while.  Had I waited to buy the Ivory body wash I could have gotten it all free this week at No frills. (I did get 4 bottles free though). It was on sale for a $1.49 each so with the $3.00 off when you buy 2 it would have been all free.  Old spice body wash was on sale as well $1.49 each I managed to get 4 bottles free.  I missed out on the satin care at $.99 because I had already used my coupons could have be free too.  Oh well lesson learned.  Also got 3 bottles of resolve laundry stain remover free.  I love free.  Good week for free stuff!

Next week I have around $10.00 in gas tickets at No Frills (hubby will fill up on the weekend so I don't have an exact amount yet). Some money on the card (CT money) and a shoppers gift card for $10.00. Also 2 FPC unless more come in the mail!!!

If you would like to share how your budget is going please do I would love to know!

Karen

Great Deals Out There This Week!

Giant Tiger

Chapman's B1G1 free $5.97 used $5.00 coupon = $.97
Purex (8 double roll) sale $3.49  used $1.00 coupon = $2.49

Safeway

Olay bar soap (4 pack plus bonus 14g secret deodarant) sale buy 2 or more $2.99 each
used $1.00 coupon $1.99 x 2 = $3.98
Nos energy drink sale $1.64 used $1.50 coupon (with deposit) $.024

No Frills

Potatoes (10 Ib bag) $2.88  used $.75 coupon  = $2.13
Pantene sale $1.99 used $2.50 WYB2 coupon = $1.48
Ivory body wash sale $1.49 used $3.00 WYB2 = Free
Resolve sale $1.88 used $2.00 coupon = Free

Total $11.29 plus tax

Lots of great sales at No frills
Satin Care shave is on for $.99 I used my $1.00 coupons already :(

Its worth checking out there deals!!!!! Im going back next week !!

Karen

The BEST Hamburger Bun's Recipe I 've Tried!

http://www.canadianliving.com/food/baking_and_desserts/the_best_hamburger_buns.php

I think this is a great recipe for hamburger's buns they turned out really good for my 1st time.  I will  try it again and again.  I altered it slightly as I used half whole wheat flour. Also the baking pan I used is dark so will try adjusting the tempature to 375 instead of 400.  Having a breadmaker to nead the dough is great I recomend if you don't have one to invest in one if its in your budget.  It takes some time letting the dough rise but well worth it!

Thanks Canadian Living!

Karen

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy!

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy!  6 months ago I wouldn't have run to Shopper's Drug Mart just to get a couple little bottles of  Pine Sol for $.10 nor would I pop into Canadian Tire and grab some foil and plastic wrap because it was $.50 each.  Let alone use CT money to pay for it.  I would have bought the foil and plastic wrap if I was at the store and happen to have seen it.  I never use to check flyers regularly nor did I look forward to finding coupon inserts in my flyers.  I hate to say it but I used to throw out the coupon inserts. (shame on me)! and to tell you the truth I don't even know why I started couponing in the first place.  Maybe because I had too much time on my hands  after closing my cleaning business in July last year.  Anyways I love my new hobby. So some people may not buy  unpopular foil and plastic wraps thinking their junk but I find the plastic wrap in the picture actually clings better than glad and as for the foil I use it all the time to cover baking sheets when I cook so there's less mess so cheap is better for me.

Canadian Tire
Aluminum Foil 2x $.50 = $1.00
Plastic wrap 2x $.50 = $1.00
Friskies cat food (not my cat but he lives in my house) 1x $1.09
Total $3.24
Used CT money paid $.24

Shopper's Drug Mart

Pine Sol sale $.99 x 2 used 1.00 coupon x2 
Paid  $.10 tax

So Total paid $.34 and got back $.05 CT money.

Free to me (LOL)

What deals did you find?
Have a nice weekend!
Karen

Lots Of Good Deals Out There This Week!

Lots of good deals this week!  I went over my budget again but I'm done my shopping until next Friday.  I'm thinking of changing my shoppong schedule a bit.. I usually like to shop Fridays but I think I'm not getting in on all the deals because I don't get all the flyers delivered.  Also watching othes post  deals on facebook helps too. So here's some deals I found today. At No Frill's lettuce sale 2x .79 = $1.58 used 2x .75 coupon paid .04, Ivory body wash sale 2x 2.99 = $5.98 used coupon $3.00 =2.98 (these I bought for my mom she likes) Panebello pizza sale 2.97 used $1.00 coupon = $1.97 (dinner tonight cheaper than takeout) Satin Care shave sale 4x $1.99 = 7.96 used 4x $1.00 =$3.96  Walmart Downy (23 loads) 2x 2.97 =5.94 - 3.00 WUB2 = $2.94.  Lever 2000 - sale 2.00 used 1.00 = $1.00
Total before coupons $26.43 plus tax after coupons $12.89 plus tax. ( not awesome but ok)!

2 other good deals not in the picture -- Giant Tiger Imperial Margerine (427 g) $1.00
                                                              Safeway 3x dozen lucerne eggs (coupon) $3.99 saved $4.47!

Run down Spent $112.82 this week
Coupons used     $32.73

Month of March so far spent $222.36

Spent since Jan 1/12 $1060.89 (includes takeout)
Coupons used $517.17

I'm OK with this would like to do better but we need to eat heathy and there isn't always a coupon for this!  Can't wait to get the garden going!

Thats it for now !
Karen

My grocery budget, savings & coupon update!

I wasn't sure if we would need anything more for household items this week but I know today we don't and won't need to shop until Friday.  I did go slightly over my $100.00 budget for this week   We needed light bulbs picked them up at Canadian Tire last Saturday on sale (6 pack) $15.99 reg $20.99.  We also took advantage of the scratch card used 2 cards separate purchases scratched $5.00 on each.  Also used up some more CT money so probably won't have much CT money for cheap week. So here are my totals to date. Still hope I can go lower, but  overall not bad. .                              .                                   

 This week spent $109.54 coupons, CT, (including 2x $5.00 CT scratch cards

                    & gas tickets - $63.68

                   Since Jan 1/12 spent on household $948.07(this includes takeout)
                   works out to be $94.81 a week since January 1/12
                 (cheap week seems to help.)            
                                 

                   Since Jan 1/12 coupons, CT & gas tickets used- $484.44

                  Cigs saving lets just say I'll start over when I'm back on board
                   (I know).

     I'm  Liking this tracking & saving stuff. I think we will see some good results at the end of the year.  Shopping Friday (YaY).  I like shopping even for groceries now  LOL!

   Thats it for now!
   Karen

Poly to Go at Walmart!

I was at Walmart yesterday and while waiting in the express check out I saw Poly to Go was reduced from $6.98 to $3.47.  So when I got home I thought I would see if there were any coupons out for it.  I found a $3.00 one at www.polysporin.ca .  So i went back today they had 5 on the shelf.  Unfortunatley the expire date was Nov 11 and Oct 11 on 4 for of them but I did get one with a Nov 12 expiry date.. I think I will keep an eye on this one.  Anyone find any good deals this weekend do share.!!


Karen

Best deals March 2/ 2012

                                        Best deals today!

Activia Dessert $2.99
Activa 12 pack $5.99 --coupon free
Hamburger Helper $1.99
Green Giant Veggies $2.99--coupon from HH free
Catelli Smart $1.49 coupon $1.00

Total with tax $5.47

Other good deals not shown!

Safeway --Milk coupon $1.50 off reg. $4.73 paid $3.54 (this was with deposit)bought 2
Giant Tiger Rye bread $1.00 bought 4

I spent $58.76 today used $19.58 in coupons.

If you want to see pictures of everything on my shopping trips let me know I didn't take it this time just not sure if everyone needs or whats to view them, but if you do happy to post them.

Karen

    

My final Totals for Febraury 2012!

Well February is over and I have my final totals.  I think I will start tracking my free product savings as well I think it would be interesting to see how much free product one can get in one year.  I will have to sit down a go through my recepts and will post a little later.  Anyways here are my Febraury totals:

Savings with coupons, including CT money & gas tickets for Feb-- $152.14
Savings with coupons, including CT money & gas coupons to date--$420.72

Money spent on groceries & takeout for Feb (MIR added) $393.40
Money spent on groceries & takeout Year to date --$838.53

Cig savings (O please I know I hope I will get back on track because this is obviously not going well.
Savings since Jan 17/12 $76.89 should be $200.81 ooch!

Thats it for Febraury now time to move on with March!

Karen