2012 Grocery Budget Crack-Down: Monthly Check-in
January is now almost half over! Hard to believe. I wanted to let you know how I am doing on my Grocery Budget Crack-Down Plan.
1. My monthly budget for groceries (food only) I loosely set at $300 for the month of January. So far this month I have spent $161.95 on groceries, and that includes $16.50 for my Bountiful Basket this week. Not to bad. Considering I still have half the month left I am pretty much on track. I am really feeling like I will spend LESS than my goal!
2. We haven’t gone out to eat! YAY! When I have caught myself too tired for dinner and just wanting to buy a pizza…I don’t! Because I have this FAB monthly menu plan I made so I have been prepared so far. My kids like it too because they always know what is for dinner. I have LOVED having my month planned out in advance. If I need to switch around a day or two here or there I can, as I have all the ingredients already. I have been buying fresh foods twice a week.
3. I am couponing again, a little. Only on things I am buying anyway. I am planning on doing doubles at Albertson’s next week to help with a few items I need. I also saved $8 at Walmart last week on items I was already buying. Love that.
4. So far I have been better about making everything from scratch and being creative. When the kids want a treat I don’t go out and buy special ingredients. We use what we have and make it do. The other day we made no-bake cookies. We haven’t had those in forever!
So far I have been very pleased at how things are going in our house. What about you? How has your grocery budget been shrinking?
Previous posts in this series:
2012 Grocery Budget Crack-Down Plan
2012 Grocery Budget Crack-Down Plan: Menu Planning
2012 Grocery Budget Crack-Down Plan: Menu Planning Binder
My 70% Target Toy Clearance Finds 2012!
Here is what I boughtâ¦.
Did you score any great Target Toy finds? Remember you can keep checking for misplaced toys or returns!!
90% off Christmas Clearance at Shopko.com
Christmas Clearance, like…
 Berries/Pinecone/Pine Spray was $7.99 now $0.79
|
 75mm Memory Ball Asst. was $2.99 now $0.29
|
 Trimmerry Santa/Ho Ho Ho Metal Yard Stake was $25.99 now $2.59
|
Free Shipping on $75. No code required.
Eddie Bauer – Additional 30% off Clearance + FREE Shipping on Outerwear! Great deals!
Additional 30% off clearance will automatically be added in your cart!
Use code: OUTERFS for FREE shipping w/any outerwear purchase!
*HOT* Valentine Candy Printable Coupons!
There are some great coupons available to print on Coupon Network. These coupons will be perfect for Valentine’s Day. Hurry and print them before they dissapear! Remember, you can print each coupon twice.
–Nestle Crunch or Butterfinger Hearts 8 to 10 oz $1/2
–Wonka Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip, Pixy Stix, Laffy Taffy or Nerds Card and Candy Kit, any 5.17 to 12 oz $1/1
Cookie Greetings $5 delivered! Valentines, Thank You or Happy Face!
Hug Bug Cookie Card! Sweeter than a card and only $5 delivered. (Offer ends 2/14/12)
Valentine Cookie Card! Sweeter than a card and only $5 delivered. (Offer ends 2/14/12)
Cheryls Happy Face Greeting! Sweeter than a card and only $5 delivered
Thank You Greeting! Sweeter than a card and only $5 delivered
Each delightful box includes a famous Cherylâs Buttercream Frosted Cookie and a $5 Reward Card
Nap-N-Go Nap Roll $9.99
Nap-N-Go Nap Roll
$9.99
+ $5 shipping (For up to 3)
Nap-N-Go All in One Childâs Nap Roll w/ Built-In Pillow & Soft Fleece Blanket
Philips – Android Connect 16GB* MP3 Player $110 shipped! List $220
Philips – Android Connect 16GB* MP3 Player – Black
Model: SA3CNT16K/37| SKU: 3505126
Sale:$109.99
Reg. Price: $219.99
You Save: $110.00
*Free Shipping!
Personalized Vinyl Banner (18×54-inch) $7.95 shipped @ Shindigz.com
Reg: $14.99
Now: $1.00 with code
Code: Order a 18×54-inch personalized vinyl banner for $1 FS34D6 – exp 1/14/12
Shipping is $6.95
Today’s Freebie Roundup 1/13
-
Click here for a Free Card from Cardstore.com. Exp 1/15/12. Valid in US and Canada only. Includes Free Shipping. Limit 10k orders per day
- Link to Free Android App Promo @ Amazon.com Todayâs app is the Word Ball game
- SurveySpot, created by Survey Sampling International, allows members to be a key factor in market research. FREE members are rewarded for participating in interesting research studies for major companies.
- Free The Idiot’s Ultimate Guide to Build Your Own PC – With the complete amateur in mind who has no tech knowledge whatsoever, this guide will show you how to build your own PC!
- Free “An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop” – This guide starts right at the very bottom, assuming no knowledge at all, and walks you through all basic aspects in 30 illustrated pages.
- Free “An Idiot’s Guide To Photoshop” – This guide starts right at the very bottom, assuming no knowledge at all, and walks you through all basic aspects in 30 illustrated pages.
- HackerProof: Your Guide to PC Security – This free 53 page guide provides an objective, detailed, but easily understood walk through of PC security.
- Free iPad: A Magical and Revolutionary Guide – This 28 page guide will help you to get the most out of your shiny new tablet.
- Free Underground Guide to the iPhone – Read about the basic user interface and a ton of incredible iPhone features you would’ve otherwise missed. This guide explains in detail how to perform both the very simple and the most tedious tasks.
- Starting January 14th, if you are a Utah resident, you can request FREE locals-only tickets to attend screenings of award-winning films at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City!
- FREE 1 Year ShopRunner Membership
- J Soap Factory Soap, Bath Fizzy, or Body Scrub
- The Art Of Shaving Stores offer a Free Starter Kit
- Sample of Rachael Ray Nutrish® just 6® food for dogs.
- Free Native American themed Stationary Kit
- FREE Hearos Ear Plugs (Today at 11am EST)
- Free Sample Of David Yurman Fragrance.
- Over 100 National Parks that usually charge a fee are offering free entrance this weekend (January 14-16, 2012) for Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
- Get a free Amazon reader App! (Read it on your Kindle, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Windows Phone 7, or your PC & Mac)
- Top 100 MP3 Downloads from Amazon â 100 Free and 100 Paid
- On January 14, 2012, IKEA will be hosting Bring Your Own Friends event at IKEA stores across USA. RSVP to get a coupon for a FREE small breakfast before 11AM, a FREE blue tote bag, and BOGO FREE entree between 11am-4pm. Theyâre also going to be doing gift card giveaways and more.
CVS Trips!
I love little money making freebies like the clearance hair color above!
1st trip
2 Clairol Natural Instincts $2.37 and $2.24 â $1 MQ (1/1 P&G) = $1.37 and $1.24 each.
2 snickers $0.44 each
Total $3.91 on a gift card
Earned $4 ECB ($2 for each hair color)!!
2nd Trip
2 Coke Zero 12 packs $3.34 each- $0.99 IP (facebook Q) = $2.35 each
Milk $2.49
Snickers Peanut Butter Candy Bar $0.75
Earned $0.75 ECB (snickers) + $10 gift cardâ¦.
I finished up my Spend $30, earn $10 gift card deal purchases over several trips⦠here is a summary of what I bought.
4 Electrasol $3.50 â $2.15 MQs = $1.35 each
4 12-packs of Coke Zero $3/10 â $0.99 (facebook Qs) = $9.38 for all 4
1 12 pack of Diet Coke $3.34
Total $18.12 OOP
Earned $10 CVS gift card
5 cases of soda and 4 boxes of dishwasher detergent for $8.12 isnât a bad deal!
Cruise! 4 Night Baja Mexico from $229 – Catalina Island, Ensenada! Departs from CA!
4 Night Baja Mexico
Brochure price $849. Save up to 73% !
Departs Long Beach (Los Angeles) aboard Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Inspiration
Interior: $229 (Sailing: January, 2013)
Interior: $279 (Sailing: Apr 16, 2012; Apr 23, 2012; Dec 17, 2012)
Oceanview: $279 (Sailing: January, 2013)
SUITE: $499 (Sailing: January, 2013)
Click TRAVEL DEALS
Click CRUISES
Enter the info for the exact one you’re looking for (port, departure date, etc.)
Target Toys 70% Toy Clearance January 2012!
And itâs here!! Target Toys 70% Toy Clearance!! (At least for most stores)
Woo Hoo! Here are a few of things that caught my eyeâ¦
Remember 70% is the new 75%. Most store will have the clearance toys corralled together in a few aisles/endcaps but donât hesitate to scan things out of place in the regular aisles! And Legos were only marked down to 50% in my stores!
Kohls clearance + 20% off code!
 St. Nicholas Square Plaid Napkin was $4.99 now $1.00 *$.80 after code |
St. Nicholas Square Sea Horse Kitchen Towel |
 Ghirardelli Favorites Gift Basket was $39.99 now $19.99 |
 Ghirardelli Chocolate Tower of SQUARES Gift Basket was $39.99 now $19.99 *$15.99 after code |
 Madelaine 12-pc. Chocolate Roses was $49.99 sale $24.99 *$19.99 after code |
 Ghirardelli Chocolate Sampler Gift Basket was $49.99 |
St. Nicholas Square 4-ft. Noble Pine Pre-Lit Christmas Tree
was $44.99
now $9.00
*$7.20 after code
*several other St. Nicholas items & gift baskets available*
Code:
Extra 20% off SMS9999
.99 shipping or Free Shipping on $50
$2 off select Philips AVENT Item
Save $2 on any Philips AVENT Item listed
(Discount at checkout. Only valid on 1 item.)
Items like…
Philips 2 Pack AVENT Soothie Pacifier, Pink/Purple, 0-3 Months
Was $3.99
Now $3.39
*$1.39 at checkout
Philips AVENT Fast Flow BPA-Free Nipple, 6 MonthsWas $4.99
Now $4.02
*$2.02 at checkout
Philips AVENT BPA-Free Bottle Brush
Was $5.49
Now $4.67
*$2.67 at checkout
Avent Magic Trainer Cup Twin Pack, 7 Ounce, Colors May Vary
Was $8.00
Now $7.11
*$5.11 at checkout
Free Shipping with Prime Shipping, otherwise Free Super Saver Shipping on $25