Adding up my savings...

OK so adding up the coupons & savings has turned out to be more than a one day job for this OCD personality. I was just going to add the the savings, figure the percent saved and leave it at that. No, I found out quickly yesterday that I needed to seperate them according to stores, then into months. I'm taking the tax out of the final equation (since I can't really control that!!) but I will keep a tax tally.

I have noticed that the last 2 pay checks there is more $$ left in the bank the day before payday... used to it may have been hit or miss. After groceries for a family of 5+ sometimes there may not have been a lot of black left on the bottom line. Now thanks to coupons, stockpiling and a bit of dedicated time our bottom line is growing!

I'm going now to add up my savings to date for Jan, Feb, & March.


So while you're waiting for my savings post, I thought I'd give you a peek into my pantry... It may look like over kill to some, but I support a family of 5+ on a budget and couponing and stockpiling has enabled me to meet my family's needs, exceed their wants and something new to us... put money in the bank AFTER groceries. Here's a couple of things to think about while you are looking at my stockpile. I didn't pay over a dollar for any of the vitamins, Excederin or other pain aid in the picture and about half were FREE! The laundry soap, about $1.25 a bottle! Toothpaste anywhere from .50 to FREE a tube. I don't know how much shampoo or conditioner is in the picture but I have many bottles FREE and a few .50 or less... When this picture was taken I was still in my first 12 weeks of stockpiling. This is 2 days, 2 trips to Walgreens each day for a combined total of about $80 out of pocket... The vitamins up front would cost that alone.