$75?!?!?! That's ALL I get to spend?!?!?!

So, since I've been doing pretty well at this couponing, Nick challenged me to only spent $75 at the beginning of the week (Saturday to me) and $75 at the mid-week (Wednesday, since that's when the Publix sales change over). If I stick to this, I'll spend $150 a week, for a monthly total of $600. That would lower our budget by $150 a month!!!

He might as well have double-dogged-dared me. I've never been able to say no to a challenge!

So, I prepared. Not only did I have to buy items for the week, I wanted to buy some stock-up items, too, that were really good deals. $75 frickin dollars. Sheesh.

I went to Publix- because, dang it, it really is a pleasure to shop there!

Here's how I did:

Energizer batteries AA, 4 pack

24 case of Aquafina water

Publix milk- 1 gallon

10 Zatarain's Jumbalaya mix (4 original, 6 mild)

1 Publix Traditional pasta sauce

2 Ragu Traditional pasta sauces

1 Publix spaghetti

1 Mueller's spaghetti

4 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch

4 French's Yellow Mustard

Pert Plus Shampoo

4 Righ Guard gel Deodorants

3 Secret Deodorants

2 Smithfield Bacons

1 Juicy Juice apple juice boxes (8 ct)

1 Juicy Juice grape juice boxes (8 ct)

1 can of Gatorade powder (that was full price- UGH!- at 8.49! And no coupon. That sucked.)

I spent: $69.56. I saved $59.12! 46% savings!

IF I had not had to buy that Gatorade (even though I'm pregnant and addicted to it...), I would have spent $60.22, saved $59.12, and my percent savings would have been almost 50%. Sad...

Okay, so $69.56 is less than $75, and we have everything we need to eat well this week! The stockpile is a major asset. That's where I'm going to save all my money. I have enough Zatarain's to last me 3 months, and while it regularly costs $1.99, I got it for $0.50.

All I have left on my list are those Uncrustables that Allie loves to take in her lunch to school. I'll just grab those at Kroger when I buy my papers tomorrow.

This, my friends, is becoming easier!