My Uber Thrifty Month In Review - December

After paying our monthly expenses I was able to make my monthly deposit into savings.  I also signed up for the company 401(k) plan at work since it was open enrollment time.

Since I've been paying it down every month and all I owe now is for my box spring and mattress I went ahead and ordered my bed frame, headboard and side table from eBay.  I found a pretty light fixture to replace the broken one in my bedroom on sale for 50% off at Home Depot online.  I put it on my PayPal account as well. I worked enough overtime to cover my PayPal payment plus quite a bit extra and the light fixture.

Christmas was paid for from my fund that I saved up all throughout the year plus two gift cards I had.  I was pretty happy with how much I was able to do with so little money this year.  I was a little concerned about it but wonderful sales, coupons and creativity plus a great stash of sewing and craft supplies help out a lot.

I ended the month with quite a bit of money left in my checking account.  Part of it I used to purchase a set of quilted organizers to keep my Christmas china in and a set of felt pads to put between the pieces.  I put the rest toward my PayPal account and made an extra payment.

I received a Christmas bonus from my employer this month.  I was thrilled because it was totally unexpected.  I decided to set it aside to use for a family vacation next year.  We haven’t had one of those in a very long time.

Looking back at the year we just had I am amazed at all that I have accomplished without adding any substantial debt.  In fact I was able to pay down debt, increase savings, fund Christmas, refurnish an entire house, pay all of our monthly bills, either early or on time, (I prefer early) and establish an emergency fun.  The best part is I didn’t feel like I was sacrificing that much to accomplish my financial goals.

With new goals set for 2015 I will continue my uber thrifty ways and see what more I can accomplish in the coming year.  I'm thrilled and excited to get started.

Grocery Budget Update - December

Well, I didn’t stay on budget and I have to admit I didn't really try too hard.  There were so many great buys and we did A LOT of entertaining this month.  I'm not unhappy with my final total but I do have a ton of ideas swirling around in my head of ways to do better in 2015.

My non food budget came in at $12.98 for a 16# bag of cat food on sale and a bag of cat litter.  That was it.  I didn't buy anything else.

This is what I bought for food this month:

Groceries		$$$
Steak		3.66	Markdown
Steak		3.88	Markdown
Steak		6.86	Markdown
Steak		7.00	Markdown
Ground Beef		2.56	Markdown
Ground Beef		2.46	Markdown
Ground Beef		2.58	Markdown
Ground Beef		2.42	Markdown
WW Flour (2)		2.10	Sale
Frozen vegetables (6)		4.74	Store Coupon
Soda - 2 liter (3)		2.00	Sale/Coupon
Olives (3)		2.67	Store Coupon
Bacon		6.98
Bologna		0.98	Sale
Smoked sausage		4.68	Sale
Cheese (6)		10.00	Store Coupon
Cereal		1.69
Cereal		0.99	Sale/Coupon
Cereal		1.16	Sale/Coupon
Chicken		4.62	Sale
Crackers (3)		5.00	Store Coupon
Canned vegetables (4)		1.00	Sale/Coupon
Stuffing (2)		0.98	Store Coupon
Milk - gal.		2.09
Non-stick spray (2)		0.98	Store Coupon
Eggs - doz. (4)		3.96	Sale
Cheese (3)		(0.03)	Markdown	Yep, that's right!
Cereal (2)		2.26	Sale/Coupon
Soup (4)		4.36	Sale/Coupon
Weiners (3)		2.94	Markdown
Coffee creamer (2)		1.98	Sale
Milk - gal.		1.88	Store Coupon
Butter (4)		10.00	Sale
Albertson's Special Offer		(5.00)	Store Coupon
Sour cream (2)		1.98	Store Coupon
Cottage cheese		0.99	Store Coupon
Sweet rolls (3)		3.55	Sale/Coupon
Rib eye steaks		16.72	Sale
Flour - 5#		1.09	Sale/Coupon
Peanut butter (2)		2.45	Sale/Coupon
Lettuce		0.48	Coupon
Cornmeal - 5#		3.99
Margarine (2)		1.84
Bagels (2)		1.98	Markdown
Shrimp		2.82
Milk - gal.		2.09
Lettuce		0.98
Mushrooms		2.00
Half & half		1.69
Grape tomatoes		2.00
Chicken breasts - 5#		10.34
Bananas		0.69
Gelatin		0.99
Whipped topping (3)		2.37
Total		$ 167.47

$167.47 ÷ 31 days ÷3 people = $1.80 per person per day!

Not horrible but I know I can do much better next month and I intend to.  How did you save money on groceries this month?  Were you able to find some good sales and stock up on anything?

Last Week's Thrifty Moves

Can you believe it?  My final Thrifty Moves post of 2014!

I peeled the label off of the empty pumpkin roll scented hand soap dispenser and used Goo Gone to get the adhesive cleaned off.  I refilled it with soap and put it back on the kitchen sink to use rather than sending it off to the recycle bin.

I rendered some bacon fat and refilled my dripping jar that I keep in the refrigerator.

On Christmas Eve I made a huge salad by clearing out the crisper drawer and using up a huge variety of veggies I found in there.  There was enough salad to go with our dinner that night and again on Christmas.

On Christmas morning I collected any reusable gift bags, gift boxes, tissue paper, bubble wrap, and bows.  I put them away for next year.

I used up three egg yolks left over after baking macaroons by making a lemon curd for a cream pie for Christmas dessert.  I had a graham cracker crust in the pantry I had purchased at the dollar store a few months ago and also some leftover whipped topping in the freezer.  I had originally planned to make a pumpkin pie but the lemon really called to us.  It was delicious by the way.

I made a pint of Creamy Italian Salad Dressing and another one of 1000 Island.

The day after Christmas I watched some tutorial videos for free on Youtube so I could learn a few new crochet stitches.  It inspired me to dig out my knitting bag which is filled with odds and ends of yarn left from finished projects.  As a result I started my first Christmas gift for 2015.

I printed six online grocery coupons.

I shopped the weekly ads online and made up a new grocery list for January.  I was excited to see several items from my "Stock Up" list were in the Albertson's ad.

We watched Castle on Hulu for free.  I also watched The Blacklist after the girls went to bed.

How was your thrifty week?

My "To Do" List For Christmas Break

There are a few things I want to be sure and accomplish while the girls are off school for the holidays.  Some of these tasks they can do while I'm at work which is a huge help to me.

Wash coats, hats, scarves & gloves

Wash backpacks and lunch boxes

Wash bedding and pillows

Finish raking the leaves before the next snowstorm

Send thank you notes for gifts

Organize and put away the gift wrapping supplies

Organize and put away the Christmas decorations

Clean the oven

Starting the new year with everything clean and tidy will help me feel like I am truly making a fresh start in 2015.

I ordered a set of quilted china storage cases and some felt pads to place between each piece.  I've always wanted a set of these and I figured no better time than the present.  After pricing out what it would cost to make my own felt pads it came out to be the same cost as the ones I purchased.  I thought these things would be more expensive than they were but I got everything I needed from Amazon for $36 with free shipping.  Now my Christmas china will be safely stored away and much more easily accessible.

I will be making and using homemade greeting cards for all of us to send out our thank yous.  I still have plenty of Christmas stamps and return address labels to use too.

How about you?  Do you have a list of things to get done before year end?

Merry Christmas!

From my heart to yours I wish you all a very special time with your family and friends filled with love and many blessings. 

Merry Christmas everyone.