Let The Challenge Begin!

My Holiday Challenge has officially begun with yesterday’s shopping trip at Shaws. I spent a whopping $1.83 in cash for all that you see in the above photo.

Here’s the breakdown:

Fruit Loops and Apple Jacks: $1.88/ea; used $1/1 Blinkie x2 or found here = $.88/ea or $1.76

Jolly Time Popcorn: B1G1 at $2.69/ea; used $1/1 found here x2 = $.34/ea or $.69

5 Boxes BC Fruit Snacks: 4/$1.25; used $.40/1 doubled x2 and $.50/2 doubled from here and here= $3.65 (produced $3.50 cat for buying 5)

2 Rotel: $.88/ea; used $.50/1 doubled x2 from here = $.24 moneymaker

2 cans Hunts: $.88/ea; used $.50/2 doubled from here or here= $.76

2 cans Pumpkin: $1.98

2 pkgs Keebler sandwich crackers: $1.88/ea; used $.75/1 doubled and $.55/1  found here= $.58/ea or $1.16

1.5 lb apples: $1.93

1 Gallon Milk: $2.99

1 Graham Cracker Crust: $1.00

1 Pepperidge Farm Sandwich Flats: $2.99; used $.75/cat doubled = $1.49

Total OOP After Cats and Coupons: $1.83

I did spend $17.50 in cats that I had previously earned, but I did get back $3.50 in cats. Add that to the $10 cat I still have left, and it leaves me with $13.50 in cats. Unfortunately, there’s not much going on this week at Shaws where I can roll the cats, so I’m going to have to get creative to keep this week’s budget down.

A lot of the items we didn’t really need, especially the fruit snacks because we have enough to last us over a year; however, the fruit snacks were actually a moneymaker with coupons and the $3.50 cat they produced. Also, our cereal stash is getting pretty low. I found this out the other night when we were left without power at dinner time. There was very little that DH and DD liked, and whatever we did have, they finished. So, I’m working on building my cereal stockpile back up.

How did you do on your first trip of the challenge?