Updates on the Budget

Sticking to the new grocery budget has proven difficult. Getting down to a smaller budget each week is going to take some getting use to and some changes to the way we deal with meals.

As you know I don't have a steady schedule so meal planning is difficult. The past couple months, with changes going on at work, my schedule has been even more unsteady. And coming up next month my schedule will be changing even more.

So how to adapt your budget to an ever changing schedule? A stock pile.

My stock pile is really dwindling right now due to my lack of dedication to my coupon binder. It unfortunately is almost empty.... It is amazing the impact of not having a full or even semi full stock pile. I find it very difficult to plan meals in tight budget months. We have limited options for eating at home and then we end up eating out and going over budget.

Here is my goal for the rest of the year, October, November and December: ReStock my Stock Pile!

How and I going to achieve this: Coupons! and Sales!

It's time to get back to basics, and when a coupon guru tells you how important a stock pile is, trust me, believe them!

Secrets of a Coupon Queen: How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half LearnVest

I read this article/interview this morning. I think it is very inspirational to those thinking about getting into couponing. She holds a lot of the same ideals for couponing that I do. Hope you enjoy and get a little out of it!

Secrets of a Coupon Queen: How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half LearnVest

Savings Update 3 Grocery Trips Later

I have been a little behind on posting my savings for the past three grocery trips. I have three receipts to tally up. The total savings and breakdown is as follows:

Last Grocery Trip in March:
Weekly Specials: $8.79
Coupons: $5.30
Total: $14.09

First Grocery Trip of April: (not a big spending trip)
Weekly Specials: $1.37

Second Grocery Trip of April:
Weekly Specials: $6.89
Coupons: $12.79
Total: $19.66

The grand total of savings of these three trips:
Weekly Specials: $17.05
Coupons: $18.09
Total: $35.14

And now for the grand total year to date.....

Weekly Specials: $57.35
Coupons: $63.29

Total Savings: $120.64

Not to shabby for the first part of the year. As I get better at organizing my coupons and weekly specials the savings can only increase!

Grocery Trip # 3 of February

Third grocery trip of February I spent $118.08 at Giant Eagle. With foodperks I saved $11.47, $10.76 with daily specials and $18.20 with coupons. Total for this trip is $40.43.

February Savings: $28.45 in Daily Specials, $11.47 in foodperks, and $33.70 in coupons.

Total Savings YTD: $73.62

Coupon Book Savings!

I meant to start tracking my savings with my new coupon book at the beginning of the year but January fell by the wayside. It is now February and I have finished my first shopping trip and have decided to start tracking from today on!

Today I went to Giant Eagle, spent $94.44, saved $9.46 with weekly specials and $9.50 with coupons. So today I save a total of $18.96.  Not as good as some seasoned pro coupon savers but $18.96 is a couple of lunches or a new shirt or one of my credit card payments!

Coupon Book

I decided the other day that I would try the coupon binders I have been seeing out there on other blogs. Women have been promoting them and giving them the thumbs up when it comes to savings.

So I found an old binder and bought some plastic sleeves and wallah! 

It cost me around $5 to put together, filled it with coupons and let hope it pays for itself!

90% off Restaurant.com

Very Cool Discount from Restaurant.com:


Its 9-9-09 for they are offering 90% off! I just got $75 worth of gift certificates for $3!!

90% off Restaurant.com, only $1 for $25 certificate use code NINETY


Have a Nice Day!
Ali

Google Calendar for Your Coupons!

Today we went grocery shopping and I always feel like I don't have a good system for making sure I use all my coupons before they expire. So I decided to try something new. I listed all my coupons according to their expiration date. I then printed out the month and took it with us to the grocery store. As we went around the store I check the list to make sure I wasn't missing anything that would expire soon. It definitely helped and here is my list for the month:

I also put together a shopping list of items we normal get in a word document. After printing it out I highlighted the ones that we needed. I think it helps to have a more complete list rather than trying to write up a list every time we go shopping.