Today's shopping trip...and why I've broken my budget the last two weeks!

I try REALLY hard to stick to my budget and most of the time I'm successful. The last two weeks however have been a different story! With family expected to be in town for the next week I've tried to plan my meals and have my act together so that I'm not having to spend my time planning and shopping while they are here. I've gone beyond my regular $40-$50 a week budget by about $40-$50 both weeks! Mostly because I've had some extra income from watching kids and other things and I've run across some great deals and I've been thankful to have that extra money so I can stock up. 


If you haven't attended a class and as a refresher for those who have, here is my method to saving money:

1. Start with a budget! Don't have one? Look at what you spend on average, that's the budget you should start with.
2. Shop from your freezer and pantry! Make a menu each week and fill the best you can with what you have on hand.
3. Make 2 lists: Needs and Wants
• Needs: What you have to have to make it this week. (i.e. toilet paper, dog food, milk, lunchmeat, etc.)
• Wants: Stockpiling opportunities
4. TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEEDS LIST FIRST!!!! Then use the remaining budget to stockpile.

So here's today's shopping trip(s).

CVS
2- Huggies Jumbo packs $2/18
-(2)$2/1 SS 6/12
-$10 Johnson & Johnson ECB (from last week)
OOP: $4 THAT'S $2 a pack!!!!!
Got back a $4 Huggies ECB

Target- 
Transaction #1
10- SoBe Life Waters $1 each
1-HP Ink $13.99
Arrived home ready to put my new ink in the printer and it wasn't in the bag!
OOP $23.99
Got back $5 GC


Transaction #2
3- Kraft Salad Dressings 16 oz.  $1.59
-Buy 2 Get 1 Free Target printable here
-$1/2 Kraft Dressing 14 oz or larger SS 6/19
-$1/1 Kraft Dressing any size (picked up at Publix)
2- Driscoll's Strawberries $1.79
there are coupons available for this (go here to sign up to receive the $.50 coupons), I've already used mine :(
3-Ritz Crackerfuls $2.40
-(3) $1/1 Crackerfuls SS 4/17
1- Newton Thin Crisps FREE
-Buy 3 Nabisco products get Newton Thin Crisps Free
2- Hot Wheels $1.09 (rang up $1.07)
-$1/1 printable from Target website here
1- Beneful Dog food $14.99
Total: $24.09
-$5 SoBe GC
OOP: $19.09

Winn Dixie
2- Dole Salads BOGO $3.99
-$1.25/1 tearpad found TODAY! (limit one per person)
-$1/1 Dole salad 5/15 SS
4- Kraft w/ a Touch of Philadelphia $3.99  BOGO
-(4)$1/1 Kraft w/ a Touch of Philadelphia tear pad
1- Kingsford Charcoal $6.99
1- Pork Ribs $6.87
2-KC Masterpiece marinades $2.99 BOGO
-$6 wyb Kingsford, pork ribs and KC Masterpiece (from Publix)
4- Motts for Tots juice $10
4- Ronzoni Pasta $1.57 BOGO
2- Solo Plates $3.30
-$1/2 Solo or Solo Bare 6/19 RP
1- Roast $9.78
2- Elmer's Gluesticks 3 pk clearance $.49
1- Smithfield Bacon $3.99
-$1/1 Winn Dixie coupon attached
1- Tropicana Orange Juice $3.99
-$1/1 peelie found today
1-WD Rice 5 lb bag $3.49
1- WD Maple Sausage links $2.99
-$1/1 Winn Dixie coupon attached
1- Pillbury French bread $2.49
Total: 56.54
-$5/55 Winn Dixie Catalina
OOP: $51.54


I have one more stop I want to make later today (probably after the hubby gets home). 


Rouses
1- Domino Sugar $2.49
-$.50/1 Domino sugar 5/22 RP
1- Sunny Delight $1.94
-$.55/1 printable (no longer available)
1- Marcel single paper towel or 4 pk toilet paper $1.09
-$1/1 Marcal 5/22 RP
OOP: $3.47