April/May Savings and Earnings

April

Spending & Savings

Retail Cost: $646.32
Store & Coupon Savings: $398.65
Extra Care Bucks: $29.95
Easy Saver Rebates: $20.05
Total Paid Out Of Pocket: $193.25

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $11.06
Misc. Money Earned: $74.78
Total Incoming Money: $85.84

May

Spending & Savings

Retail Cost: $799.37
Store & Coupon Savings: $550.67
Easy Saver Rebates: $33.79
Total Paid Out Of Pocket: $218.91

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $19.68
Misc. Money Earned: $223.55
Total Incoming Money: $243.23

March 2009 - Savings & Earnings

Spending & Savings

Retail Cost: $1,409.00
Store & Coupon Savings: $1,021.69
Extra Care Bucks: $94.00
Easy Saver Rebates: $67.26
Total Paid Out Of Pocket: $315.30

Incoming Money

Online Surveys: $57.00
Misc. Money Earned: $59.25
Mail In Rebates: $10.00
Total Incoming Money: $126.25

Febuary 2009 - Savings & Earnings

Spending & Savings

Retail Cost: $854.71
Store & Coupon Savings: $605.04
Extra Care Bucks: $2.00
Easy Saver Rebates: $29.03
Total Paid Out Of Pocket: $218.34

I haven't shopped at CVS that much lately cause the one closest me has such poor customer service - sometimes it's just not worth they hassle I get every time I go.

Incoming Money

Online Surveys: $81.00
Misc. Money Earned: $39.64
Total Incoming Money: $120.64

**PLUS -
*We did not go out to eat a single time this month!
*Received $12 Free ECB's for completing 2 CVS Surveys - now I might have to go back there and shop!
*Received a FREE Immersion Hand Blender from Zoom Rewards!

This month Rocked!

January 2009 - Savings & Earnings

Retail Cost: $1,151.02
Store & Coupon Savings: $820.86
Extra Care Bucks: $34.98
Easy Saver Rebates: $18.69
Total Paid: $276.49

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $5.00
Online Surveys: $3.00
Misc. Money Earned: $26.48
Total Incoming Money: $34.48

Tracking My Savings and Incoming Money

A while back, one of my readers asked me how I tracked my savings - so here it is.

I use two Excel spreadsheets, designed by my husband to track my savings and incoming money. This is my 3rd year of tracking my savings and I have perfected my system over the years. This final system is my end result and the one I have used the longest - for about 6 months now. I do try to keep it as simple as possible - while tracking my main interest.

If you notice below, I print the spreadsheet out and track my savings by hand writing the amounts, instead of entering them on the computer. Some might wonder why I do this, especially sense the spreadsheet will total the columns for me. I am just a hard copy gal. I keep both these sheets in my filing cabinet by my desk and I can pull them out in a second when I need to. There is something about writing the numbers in by hand that is exciting for me.

I know - I need a life.

So anyways, here is how I track my savings and incoming money:

Notice the sheet is divided in half by a dark bold line. The left side is my Spending and Savings - the right side is my Incoming Money. Starting with the left side, the way I track my Spending and Savings is by figuring my retail cost, savings, Extra Care Bucks, Easy Saver Rebates and the total I spent.

My Retail cost is just that - my total cost without store sale, coupons, etc.

My Savings includes how much I saved with store sales and coupons.

My Extra Care Bucks & Easy Saver Rebates are how much I spent using my Walgreens Gift Card or ECB's. Because I treat my ESR's & ECB's like grocery/household cash - I thought it was important to track these as well. Also, I was curious how many ECB's and Rebates I earned each month.

My Total Paid is my final cost out of pocket.

Now on to tracking my incoming money. I actually have 2 sheets I track my incoming money with, but they eventually all end up on one sheet. Let me try to explain. The right side of the one above is for any immediate money I receive through Pay Pal. This would include my eHow earnings, Associated Content Earnings, etc. I write down the amount and who it was from.

Now, looking at the second sheet below:

This is where I track all my awaiting money's. Any money where I need to wait 4-6 or whatever weeks for, I write it down here. This includes all Surveys, Rebates, etc. I write down who I am expecting it from, how much and the date I sent or requested it - then when I receive it - I write that date.

Simple enough, eh? Are you lost yet?

So at the end of the month when it's time to add up my totals, I go though and look at this second sheet and any money I received during the month I highlight it and transfer the total over on the right side of the first sheet. Then all my moneys earned that month are in one place and all I have to do it total them up.

That's all there is to it!

If you have any further questions or if you need me to explain further, let me know.

My 2008 Savings and Earnings

Welp. Here it is. I finally totaled up my year-to-date savings and earnings for all of 2008. These totals are what I spent food, cleaning, toiletries and other household items for 5 kids, 2 adults, an old grumpy cat and a dog, for all of 2008.

2008 Savings & Spending
Retail Cost: $10,624.25
Store & Coupon Savings: $6,530.62
Extra Care Bucks: $533.84
Easy Saver Rebates: $235.78
Total Paid: $3,401.81 -- 68% TOTAL SAVINGS!

Incoming Money
Mail In Rebates: $228.87
Online Surveys: $211.00
Misc. Money Earned: 431.43
Total Incoming Money: $871.13

Looking on my 2008 Goals I set at the beginning of the year, I'm pretty pleased with these results. I almost doubled my spending and savings and still stayed within my monthly budget of $250-$300. On average I spent $283.48 a month, which is right in the middle. Some months I went way over budget but other months I ended up way under - so it's nice that they balanced each other out.

Last year I also wanted to double the amount of incoming money - and I did! I've only been seriously looking into earning money online the past few months - but it's nice to see the results.

It's been a good year! Stay tuned and I will be sharing with you how I tally my savings month to month and what my 2009 money goals are.

December 2008 - Savings and Earnings

Savings & Spending

Retail Cost: $834.27
Store/Coupon Savings: $569.97
Extra Care Bucks: $18.00
Easy Saver Rebates: $67.11
Total Paid: $179.19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Incoming Money

eHow: $11.82
PineCone: $9.00
AC: $30.37
Product Testing: $10.00
Epinions: $20.20
Rebates: $20.37
Total: $101.76 -- Great Month!

But wait - There's more! I also received a $15. Gift Certificate for 1800 Flowers. (This was a rebate offer)

November 2008 ~ Savings and Earnings

November 2008

Savings & Spending

Retail Cost: $1825.53
Store/Coupon Savings: $1418.15
Extra Care Bucks: $52.21
Easy Saver Rebates: $74.57
Total Paid: $281.05

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Incoming Money

Surveys: $6.00
eHow: $15.08
Rebates: $34.96
Total: $56.04

July - October Monthly Savings and Earnings

I am way behind on posting my monthly totals. I've been keeping track of them and writing them down - just not adding them up and posting. The goal I have for my household budget for human and pet food and all household items is $250 - $300. This is for a household of 2 adults, 5 kids a dog and a cat.

So here is a quick catch up. It's funny to look over the months. Every month had a different area where I either did really great or really bad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 2008

Retail Cost: $358.62
Store/Coupon Savings: 102.31
Total Paid: $256.31

Incoming Money

Surveys: $3.00
AC: $19.20
Rebates: $35.99
Total: $58.19

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
August 2008

Retail Cost: $588.74
Store/Coupon Savings: $235.42
Easy Saver Rebates: $18.79
Total Paid: $334.60

Incoming Money

Surveys: $3.00
AC: $28.35
Total: $31.35

Free Pepsi Point Stuff
Pepsi T-Shirt
Pepsi 2 GB Drive (plan to use this for a stocking stuffer)

~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2008

Retail Cost: $770.57
Store/Coupon Savings: $445.52
Extra Care Bucks: $55.98
Easy Saver Rebates: $17.35
Total Paid: $237.34

Incoming Money

Surveys: $8.00
AC: $1.81
E-How: $15.19
Total: $25.00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 2008

Retail Cost: $978.36
Store/Coupon Savings: $754.44
Extra Care Bucks: $37.53
Easy Saver Rebates: $16.42
Total Paid: $187.02

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $9.99
Surveys: $3.00
AC: $2.02
Total: $15.01

June 2008

June 2008

Retail Cost: $591.03
Store/Coupon Savings: $285.88
Extra Care Bucks: $56.95
Total Paid: $247.85

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $5.00
Surveys: $55.00
AC: $19.93
Total: $79.93

My survey earnings are as follows:

E-Poll: $5 McDonalds Gift Certificates
Global Test Market: $50 Check

May 2008

Retail Cost: $984.57
Store/Coupon Savings: $554.00
Extra Care Bucks: $13.99
Easy Saver: $41.54
Total Paid: $392.31

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $19.00
Surveys: $79.00
AC: $9.98
Misc. Money Earned: $3.24
Kroger Gift Cards: $120.00
Total: $231.22

My survey earnings were broken up like this:

Light Speed: $10 Cracker Barrel Gift Card
My Points: $10 JC Penny Gift Card
My Points: $10 Cracker Barrel Gift Card
My Survey: $10 Cash/Check
Survey Savvy: $4 Cash/Check
Survey Spot: $15.00 Cash/Check
CVS Survey: $10 Extra Care Bucks
Pine Cone: $5.00 Pay Pal
Survey Exchange: $5.00 Cash/Check

April 2008

I still went over my budget again this month - but much better than last month.

Retail Cost: $1019.29
Store/Coupon Savings: $623.30
Extra Care Bucks: $47.49
Total Paid: $346.19

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $40.42
Surveys: $5.00
Misc Money Earned: $101.41 (this was the $100 visa card from the spa rewards at walgreens - wooo hooo!)
Total: $146.83

Over all - pretty good month!

March 2008

Welp. This month I really blew my monthly grocery and household budget of $250.

Here are the readings:

Retail Cost: $1111.14
Store/Coupon Savings: $605.24
Extra Care Bucks: $121.42
Total Paid: $420.42

***************

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $40.16
Surveys: $5.00
AC: $22.53
Total: $67.69

Although everything was higher this month, Savings, ECB's, Incoming Money - I still have to look back and see why I went so far over my budget.

Here are a few things I discovered:

Alright, I honestly can't blame this cute face for blowing my budget. This is our new Beagle pup we got a few weeks ago. The cost of puppy food and treats were something I totally underestimated. However, I am hoping to get stocked up on some of these things so I can get the cost under control.



These spring dishes I bought on impulse at CVS with a 25% coupon. They probably shouldn't have been counted towards my grocery and household budget. I wanted some dishes for this summer so when we eat outside I don't have to worry about my glass plates getting broken.

That and the added Easter Candy and gifts I bought, probably shouldn't have been counted, but because I bought them at the stores I normally shop at for food and household items, they got counted in.

Now at least I can look back and see where my over spending went and hopefully this month I can get back on track.

February 2008 Ledger

Total spend on food and household items.

Retail Cost: $662.47
Store/Coupon Savings: $380.60
Extra Care Bucks: $73.28
Total Paid: $231.46


Incoming Money
***************
Mail In Rebates: $14.98
Surveys: $5.00
Total: $19.98

January 2008 Ledger

There are a couple new things I wanted to do regarding how I am tracking my savings and incoming money. I wanted to keep track of my ECB's and Easy Saver rebates. ECB's are cash coupons from CVS for buying certain products. Easy Saver rebates are rebates Walgreen rewards you with for buying certain products. The ECB's and Easy Saver rebates are not counted until I actually use them. The reason for tacking these - curiosity. That's all.

Also, I am going to start including all stamps and Pay Pal I use for coupons in my total amount spent. I sometimes need to use these to obtain the coupons I need for sales so they should be considered part of my monthly bill. Hopefully this will also help me not to be so wasteful in trading for coupons I end up not using.

Here are my totals for all food and household items for January:

Retail Cost: $899.66
Coupon/Store Savings: $555.79
Extra Care Bucks: $56.99
Total Paid: $288.07

***********

Incoming Money

Mail In Rebates: $8.00
Surveys: $30.00
Total: $38.00

2008 Money and Savings Goals

My ending results for 2007 sucked. I was a real slacker most of the year. It's disappointing knowing I could have done so much better.

My monthly budget is $250 dollars a month. This includes all household, food and pet items for a household with 5 kids, 2 adults and 1 cat. My total spending for 2007 was:

Before Coupons: $6,710.29
Store/Coupon Savings: 4,067.73
Total Paid: $2,482.29

My total incoming money for 2007 was $494.46. This includes all surveys, mail in rebates and anything else that brings in money.

I'm a little disappointed in the ending results mainly cause I know I can do better. My goal for 2008 is to at least double my savings and incoming money without increasing my monthly budget of $250.

What I need to do to accomplish this is:

1. Be more motivated.
2. Be more organized. If I can't find the coupons I can't save money.
3. Send rebates in on time.
4. Seek out more trades and coupons I need.
5. Take advantage of stock up sales to last.