TEN BUCKS A WEEK!

[bcwife76]

We just went to the basic Costco card this summer. When our purchases were covering the cost of the Executive membership and cash back, great. This year, it was only $10, and next year would have been nothing. We don't have the Costco credit card. Love my PCMC


Since you are stockpiling and know you are going to use it, I would buy the extras.

I have a question. What is the difference between the World and the World Elite PCMCs? I've had the World for ages, and would upgrade to the Elite if there isn't really much difference. ie no forced insurance, no cost, merely you've been a good customer, here's the Elite. (that's how we got the World) Like a PP, we use the card and immediately pay it off. Thanks.

Back on topic. While I kind of stockpile, I tend to use what I have on hand, so we do use what is on the shelves. You've given me something to think about, having 3 months food on the shelves. Thanks. Can't do a lot of the process packages with a lot of sodium, though, so would stick to canned soups, veggies, fruits.

The world elite PCMC gives you 30 points per $ at any Loblawa's store vs 20%. There a few more enhanced features I believe (travel medical insurance is now included, don't think it was before) and possibly more points if you book a trip through PC travel? Also there is still no annual fee I will never use a cc that charges an annual fee.

 

[stayhomemom77]

I do not have a celiac diagnosis so I cannot claim the difference, but thanks for the tip. Also, as far as I know...we don't have Aldi in Canada. Certainly not anywhere near me. But that's a good trip for when I travel in the U.S.

 

[Debbie]

The world elite PCMC gives you 30 points per $ at any Loblawa's store vs 20%. There a few more enhanced features I believe (travel medical insurance is now included, don't think it was before) and possibly more points if you book a trip through PC travel? Also there is still no annual fee I will never use a cc that charges an annual fee.

I agree about the paid card, however, I have a BMO US$ MC. If you spend $100 a year (I think) the fee is waived. No problem-o. I also am trying the WJ MC for travel points. If it doesn't work out, I'll cancel. Didn't pay for a card for DH, though. I'm putting the travel expenses on that one and I'll get 1 $99 companion flight to go with my own next year, I believe, so it might be okay the first year, and not so much the second.

I do not have a celiac diagnosis so I cannot claim the difference, but thanks for the tip. Also, as far as I know...we don't have Aldi in Canada. Certainly not anywhere near me. But that's a good trip for when I travel in the U.S.

I always picture Aldi as being the No Frills of the States.

 

[sullivnq]

X

 

[Arich01]

Group question:

Are you really loyal to any particular brands or flexible?

I guess I'm flexible on most brands with a few exceptions. We like Member's Mark (Sam's Club) toilet paper and paper towels and Barilla pasta sauce if my home made isn't stocked in the freezer. Aside from those, I will purchase the best value

I don't have a set day I shop, but our ads change on Wednesdays here, so I'll check out the new ads then. A great source for anyone in the South- i heart publix dot com. This blogger somehow gets the grocery ad early and will post on Monday's the new ad prices/items with any coupons to match! Great resource that I use when shopping there! I usually stockpile at Publix because they have a big selection of weekly BOGO's and then I'll stack a coupon

 

[stayhomemom77]

I guess I'm flexible on most brands with a few exceptions. We like Member's Mark (Sam's Club) toilet paper and paper towels and Barilla pasta sauce if my home made isn't stocked in the freezer. Aside from those, I will purchase the best value

I don't have a set day I shop, but our ads change on Wednesdays here, so I'll check out the new ads then. A great source for anyone in the South- i heart publix dot com. This blogger somehow gets the grocery ad early and will post on Monday's the new ad prices/items with any coupons to match! Great resource that I use when shopping there! I usually stockpile at Publix because they have a big selection of weekly BOGO's and then I'll stack a coupon

Cool! Sounds like a great resource, that blog!!

 

[hmwinter85]

I really love this idea and want to join in. I've been trying to cut the grocery bill over the last few months so we have used a lot of my stock pile and I wasn't trying to add anything to it either. I'm still trying to cut my grocery budget down but I love the idea of setting $10 aside for stockpiling. I cleaned out my pantry last night so I know what I'm starting with. I plan on shopping tonight so I'll report back with what I get.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Who hoo! Can't wait!

 

[stayhomemom77]

TEN BUCKS A WEEK!!
Just a little bonus post...because I doubled up on the PB last week, my money for this week was spent, but after I got everything I needed for the week, I had a few bucks left over so I spent it on more food storage.
Week 10 extras:
2 jars of jam $3.94
...because we're going to need some to go with all of that PB!!

 

[stayhomemom77]

Sooo, in my quest for all things frugal I stumbled across some blog that advocated shopping for food with cash.

I've always been hesitant to do that for groceries because of the PC points. And while I never seem to go over my monthly food budget, I often go over my weekly budget...spending ahead and leaving little to none for the following week. I have been trying VERY hard for the last month to avoid doing this. And I have been failing. LOL

I am supposed to have $110 to spend next Friday and the same for the Friday afterwards. In actuality, I have $80 for each of those weeks.

Anyway, this blogger got some feedback protesting cash shopping because of the rewards points and then...magic happened.

This GENIUS guy posted that he buys President's Choice gift cards on his PC Mastercard so that he gets the points for the amount he spends, but then when it's time to shop he only has $X in gift card money to use. No chance of going over his weekly limit and no points lost.

I am totally going to do that!!

 

[Debbie]

Sooo, in my quest for all things frugal I stumbled across some blog that advocated shopping for food with cash.

I've always been hesitant to do that for groceries because of the PC points. And while I never seem to go over my monthly food budget, I often go over my weekly budget...spending ahead and leaving little to none for the following week. I have been trying VERY hard for the last month to avoid doing this. And I have been failing. LOL

I am supposed to have $110 to spend next Friday and the same for the Friday afterwards. In actuality, I have $80 for each of those weeks.

Anyway, this blogger got some feedback protesting cash shopping because of the rewards points and then...magic happened.

This GENIUS guy posted that he buys President's Choice gift cards on his PC Mastercard so that he gets the points for the amount he spends, but then when it's time to shop he only has $X in gift card money to use. No chance of going over his weekly limit and no points lost.

I am totally going to do that!!

That makes sense for you! I am fortunate enough to have a flexibility in the budget, but if I didn't this makes a whole lot of sense. Love my PCMC! And the PC Plus bonus points.

 

[hmwinter85]

So for my first week on the $10 challenge I got:
2 bottles Apple Juice
4 hand soaps
4 cans Campbell's french onion soap
1 box of spaghetti noodles

About once a month my grocery store runs a sale of 10 items for $10 and get the 11th item free. It's mix and match which is great.

I have really drove head first into this project. I was working from home yesterday listening to an all day training and I put my multitasking skills to use. I ended up going through all of the closets in my house and throwing out anything that was expired and organizing all them. I also put together a 4 tab spread sheet that list everything I think we should stockpile and how much I think we would use in a year. I divided it up into four categories, Food, Paper Products, Cleaning Supplies, and Health Care items. So now every time I get ready to go to the store I have an idea of what items we need. I know I'm a huge nerd but this project has me very exited and I can't wait to go shopping next week.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Well, we can be huge nerds together!

 

[barkley]

I'm in-but I will be doing it from a different perspective if that's o.k.

as I've posted in the past-once per year a couple of our local grocery stores do huge case sales during which I stock up on items I know we will use up over the course of the entire next year. it just so happens that our case sales occurred this month so I am stocked up on canned goods (and paper towels) for the next year. it doesn't usually happen this way, but over the past month I've also lucked into insane (for our area) prices on 3 types of meat so I have stocked our freezer to the brim.

so............since I've already stocked up on everything my goal is to only purchase fresh produce, dairy-and specialty items for the holidays for as many months as possible.

if it's o.k. for me to join in on this I will start out by sharing what I purchased this month in bulk canned goods (and paper towels)-

1 case of tomato sauce-$11
2 cases of crushed tomatoes-$13 each
1 case (12) of cut green beans-$6
1 case of diced beets-$15
1 case beef broth-$13.50
2 cases (12 each) progresso lite clam chowder-$15 each
2 cases (12 each) progresso lite chicken and cheese enchilada soup-$15 each
10 cases of bottled water-$2.50 each
2 cases of paper towels-$13.98 each
1 case (16-24 oz bottles) catsup-$9
1 case diced tomatoes-$13
1 case del monte diced tomatoes w/mild green chilis-$20.16
1 case del monte diced tomatoes w/basil, oregano and garlic-$20.16
1 case cut asparagus-$30.40
2 cases kidney beans-$13 each
2 cases black beans-$13 each.

I also bought 6 pork tenderloin roasts at $1.89 per pound (approx.. 3-4 # each) 2 of which were cut into multiple packets of 2 chops each,
6 whole body chickens at .88 cents per pound each (approx.. 5-6# each), and 6 rolled rump roasts at $2.97 per pound each (approx. 4# each)-2 of which were sliced and packaged into 3/4 # packages to use for stroganoff, stir fry and fajitas.

I do have a well stocked pantry of grains, beans, spices and such-so if it's o.k for me to participate I'm willing to track beginning 11/1 what I've had to purchase with this kind of stockpile in place (and i'll notate what existing packaged or other non stockpiled items I have on hand that I've used).

week one (11/1-11/8) report of spending with the goal of relying strictly on existing stockpiled/on hand items-

will note here what dairy/fresh veg I had on hand as of 11/1 to start the month off with (excluding butter)-

1/2 dozen eggs/ 1/2 carton egg whites (a/o today still have a few of the eggs/all the whites)
3/4 gallon milk (still have 1/4 gallon)
several packages of (frozen) shredded mozzarella (none used till today)
2 1/4-small logs of goat cheese (2 full logs remain)
2 1/2-red onions (2 remain)
4-very small yellow onions (all used)
2-bell peppers (1 remains)
about 3/4 of a 10 oz. package of salad greens (1/4 remains)
8 oz-sliced mushrooms (about 3 oz remain)
4-portabello mushrooms (2 remain)
tomatoes (cherry and full size cuz greenhouse is still producing).


purchases-
8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese (1/2 remains)
8 oz package of cheddar cheese slices (1/2 remains)
2-half gallons of milk
1-quart eggnog but dh likes the stuff
2-dozen eggs
1#-baby carrots (1/2# remains)
3-avocados
1-bunch green onions
4-LARGE onions
2-bunches bananas
4-apples
1-celery root.


using my stockpile we had (for dinners w/the same as leftovers for lunch the next day at minimum)-

11/1- spaghetti/meatballs, garlic bread, salad
11/2-taco soup, salad, red lobster cheddar biscuits
11/3-same as 11/2
11/4-burgars, smidgin taco soup, fries
11/5-burgars, fries
11/6-goat cheese stuffed portabella caps and tortellini
11/7-guinness stew (Disney recipe) over mashed potatoes with salad (left over-frozen-red lobster biscuits).
11/8-tonight we will finish off the guinness stew (which dh also had for lunch today) and I'm also taking out some chicken parm to defrost and finish off in the oven while I do a quick pot of sauce/pasta and cook up some 'taco meat ' (ground beef w/taco seasoning) cuz ds has minimum days all week so he will end eating lunch at home (which always seems to be more than he wants to take/eat at school).

I'm defrosting a half leg of lamb to make lamb stew tomorrow (which will use up the rest of the carrots as well as the celery root).

total spent-$44.27 (and I don't anticipate shopping for anything more until 11/16 at the earliest cuz this is enough dairy w/ the exception of extra use for thanksgiving to cover us through the better part of the month).


i'll check in next sunday to let you know if I've stuck w/my goal.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Sooo, in my quest for all things frugal I stumbled across some blog that advocated shopping for food with cash.

I've always been hesitant to do that for groceries because of the PC points. And while I never seem to go over my monthly food budget, I often go over my weekly budget...spending ahead and leaving little to none for the following week. I have been trying VERY hard for the last month to avoid doing this. And I have been failing. LOL

I am supposed to have $110 to spend next Friday and the same for the Friday afterwards. In actuality, I have $80 for each of those weeks.

Anyway, this blogger got some feedback protesting cash shopping because of the rewards points and then...magic happened.

This GENIUS guy posted that he buys President's Choice gift cards on his PC Mastercard so that he gets the points for the amount he spends, but then when it's time to shop he only has $X in gift card money to use. No chance of going over his weekly limit and no points lost.

I am totally going to do that!!

Well, I gave it a try and in a way it was good...but in another way it kinda sucked.

Though I generally shop at places where the PC gift cards are accepted, I do tend to buy things at other stores when I can't price match. But if everything is on a gift card...there's no money left for those "other store" purchases. This is something I did not consider before I bought the gift cards.

Anyway, I like the freedom and flexibility of just using my credit card and then going home and making a payment. I think I'll go back to that on November 27th (I still have the gift cards to cover this week and next week) and just FORCE myself to stay within my budget.

I still think it is a genius idea...just not necessarily as user friendly for someone who hops around for the lowest possible deal.

 

[neatokimmo]

This is an interesting thread, I like seeing what everyone is buying.

We are on an eating out ban. We spent $180 at aldi a few days ago and got an overflowing cart. Then as we were unloading groceries, my mom dropped off winter greens. We are covered up in food, but we will probably stock the freezer with chicken before our SAMs card expires.

Aldi allows be to stockpile certain things dirt cheap. But my favorite store is kroger. I get stellar mark down deals there on meat. This week we are eating 6 pounds of chicken breast that was $9.

 

[dayvewc]

Well, I gave it a try and in a way it was good...but in another way it kinda sucked.

Though I generally shop at places where the PC gift cards are accepted, I do tend to buy things at other stores when I can't price match. But if everything is on a gift card...there's no money left for those "other store" purchases. This is something I did not consider before I bought the gift cards.

Anyway, I like the freedom and flexibility of just using my credit card and then going home and making a payment. I think I'll go back to that on November 27th (I still have the gift cards to cover this week and next week) and just FORCE myself to stay within my budget.

I still think it is a genius idea...just not necessarily as user friendly for someone who hops around for the lowest possible deal.

Just as a thought, because if I remember correctly you had made a spreadsheet of when you bought stuff and where so you would know when future sales were expected, but ....

Could you use that information and do it "both ways"? For example, if your weekly food budget is $100, and you know that you will spend most of it at Store X, but that you will want to hit Store Y for their special sale, could you put $80 (or so) on the gift cards for Store X with the expectation that you will spend $20 on the sale items at Store Y?

Or maybe do a "food from other stores" fund? Where you build up like $5 a week that is only for groceries from the other stores? Then, you'd have the cash (or balance in your account) to go to those other stores when you needed to, but your everyday food budget is still intact to use and collect the points through the gift cards.

 

[stayhomemom77]

I just experienced my first foray in online grocery shopping. True, it was only from Walmart...but it counts just the same.

This was just under $55 worth of stuff...mostly because of those dang finish dishwasher tabs. Sunlight pacs are definitely cheaper but we found they didn't clean our dishes nearly as well. So, the high priced finish tabs it is.

Only a bit of this is for this week's food storage. Although 110 dish tabs will last us over three months!!

I also have a bit of a puzzler going on. Beginning tomorrow, No Frills has bone in skinless chicken breasts on sale for $2.47 a pound, which is half price. A really good deal. Now, we are completely OUT of chicken. So I could stock up. BUT, I know if I wait I can get chicken thighs (bone in skin on) for just under $2 a pound. Obviously that is a better deal. I am so tired of chicken thighs. Sooooo tired of chicken thighs. Tired of pulling the skin off. I miss chicken breasts. (I had to add in the word chicken because without it, that sentence looked dirty. ) The problem is...I don't know when the chicken thighs will go on sale...and...I don't really fancy eating them for a bit.

So...should I get the chicken breasts...or not?

What to do, what to do?

 

[hmwinter85]

If it was me I'd get some of the chicken breast to get you through. I have to buy what you are going to eat and I know if I was sick of something I'd find any excuses not to use and it would end up going bad before I ever got to it (happened last year to me with pork chops). So if you want the chicken breast and they are a good deal I think it's go to spend a little more on something you know you will eat and enjoy.

 

[mrsabbott]

I am not currently doing the stockpile challenge, but I have stockpiled before. When things were going good for us financially, a local grocery store was going out of business and marked everything down 50-75% off. Plus, they accepted coupons. I stocked up on a lot of canned goods, PB, jelly, pastas, sauces, some condiments, etc.. I got a few frozen veggies and things as well. I also picked up some cleaning supplies that were marked down cheap. Let's just say that stockpile of food (in addition to the stuff I had already gotten before on previous grocery trips) kept us from going hungry for several months when my husband's business failed and we had to close it down. You never know when you will fall on hard times!
I try to stock up some things when I can, but money is very tight for us right now. A few people have mentioned Aldi's.. I love Aldi's! My weekly grocery budget (and I include hygiene, cleaning, and pet supplies in this budget) is usually under $100 a week for our family of 6 plus 2 dogs and a cat. Some weeks, I have $50 to spend. Some weeks, I have $130 to spend. It varies. But I buy nearly all of our food stuffs at Aldi's. I find that I can make our grocery budget stretch further there than anywhere else.