Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: $300 Grocery Bill?

Each month, we budget $400 for groceries which includes all food and household supplies for our family of four. After analyzing our menus, looking at food prices, and clipping coupons, I've made the decision to try a one month challenge. During the month of September, I am planning to slash our food budget by $100. I will post all of my grocery receipts and menus here to keep myself accountable. I've also made the radical decision to return to Trader Joe's! Can you tell I am excited? I will make two trips to Safeway each month and two trips to Trader Joe's each month. I plan to spend $200 at Safeway and $100 at Trader Joe's. I did a "dry run" today; I spent $88 at Safeway last week and $47 at Trader Joe's today. I came in under budget for the past two weeks but we've got some great meals planned. I am feeling good about getting some new menu items and more organic food into our weekly plans.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How often do you grocery shop? Where? Why?

Cheap and Cheerful Summer Challenge: The Free Week

Summer is a great time to plan a "Free Week". During Free Week, you do not purchase anything beyond the bare essentials. Here's how it works:

1. Do not buy any food except milk (if you drink it) and fresh fruits and vegetables. Instead, get creative with your menu planning and use up your pantry and freezer food.

2. No activities that cost extra money. No movies, no Zoo trips, no coffees, no take out. Get creative and plan some free fun.

3. Limit your driving. Walk to the park. Bike to the grocery store. Both cost nothing!

4. Use up other resources at home to create fun. Break out a board game. Finish up a few coloring books. Paint on cardboard boxes. Read a whole series of short books out loud.

Here's how a Free Week will look at our house: We've got two muffin mixes waiting to be baked, two unopened boxes of cereal, and lots of yogurt so we're set for breakfast except for a gallon of milk. For lunch, we've got everything we need for bean burritos, quesadillas, peanut butter and jelly, and plenty of hummus and pita. Add some fruit and we're all set. Dinners will be pasta with veggies from the garden, tamales and chicken from the freezer, and waffles! Add some lettuce for a salad and we're good to go. We've got some snack stuff already on hand as well like pretzels, Triscuits, frozen fruit for smoothies, and popcorn. For free events, we'll visit the park, head to the library, go to the Farmer's Market (where we'll get the fruits and veggies), play in the sprinklers, do some art and play some board games.

It's just one week ... but think of how much you can spend in just one week when you hit Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Target, the Zoo, and the list goes on ...

I'm up for the challenge. Who's with me? What will you do with the money you save?

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: "Save More, Give More, Live More"

I just started following The Frugal Find. Her blog header reads "Save More, Give More, Live More." I love this concept! My challenge for the month of May is to give away some of my net savings to a worthy cause, instead of stuffing it back in my own wallet. Since I've added more coupons to my grocery shopping trips, I've added about $14 per week to my savings at Safeway. At the end of May, I will donate at least $40 to a worthy cause. Maybe this is something you would consider this month?

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: How do you budget in your charitable giving? And, please tell me where you think I should send my donation. All ideas are appreciated.

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: April Comment Contest

During the month of April, I will be doing a comment contest on the blog. Leave a comment and you will get one entry to the raffle. Super fun mystery prize. Ready, set, go!

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge February 2010: Fall Back In Love

This month's challenge: Fall back in love with something you already own. Those brown flats in the back of your closet? The bracelet you wore every day in high school? That red lip gloss you've been ignoring? That crock pot begging to be used? Instead of buying new things, show some love to the things you already have. My goal: Give some attention to those lovely hand creams in my medicine cabinet. Who needs a new one when you've got mango, cake batter, and vanilla creme to choose from? Not me.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What can you fall back in love with this month? How much money will you save by doing this?

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge -- December: A Free Stocking Stuffer

For many years, a family tradition has been to write a letter to each member of the family to place in their Christmas stocking. These lovely notes share memories from the year and remind the reader that he or she is loved and cherished. I challenge you to write a stocking note (or two or three or more) this year. It's free and just takes a few minutes. But, believe me, the notes are priceless. So grab a card, grab a coffee, grab a moment to yourself and put your love into written form.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What "free" gifts are a part of your family's traditions and rituals?

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge November: Daily Gratitude

My friend says that her motto for 2009 is "Grateful, all damn year!" During the month of November, the Cheap and Cheerful challenge is to take some time each day to think about gratitude. This might involve keeping a list of things for which you are grateful, talking about blessings over dinner, or taking the time to tell someone you love that you are thankful for them. Feel free to share your thoughts on gratitude here. Sometimes you don't realize how lucky you are until you say it out loud.

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge -- October: Give a Treat to Someone Else

Cheap and Cheerful's challenge for October is to give a treat (not a trick!) to someone else. Whether it is donating a costume to the AKS Foundation, buying canned food for the needy, or even just paying for the car behind you on a toll bridge, we can all make an effort to share with those around us. If you want, post a comment here about your chosen action. Who knows? You might inspire others to do the same.

Cheap and Cheerful August Challenge Winner: Julie from Seattle

Hey Julie, A very official judging panel has deemed your laptop case find as the best Deal Detective bargain in August! Your prize is a subscription to your choice of one of the following magazines: Metropolitan Home, Town and Country, Food and Wine, or Travel and Leisure. Email me at saleisafourletterword@gmail.com to tell me your choice and share your address.

Congratulations to all of our August Deal Detectives! I loved this challenge and hope you will participate again!

Cheap and Cheerful August Challenge Latest Entries: Julie and Caitlin

While at WalMart, Deal Detective Julie from Seattle spotted this Jackie McFee spotted laptop case. Adorable. And only $5 at WalMart when it retails for $14.99 online. She went for the yellow one. What would you choose?

I had missed an email Caitlin from Granite Bay about the Paul Frank tees from Target before posting it myself. She has purchased a few of the $5 tees from Target and says her boys love them. I bet her cute boys would look adorable in this one!

Thank you both for the great shop sleuthing!

Last Chance! Cheap and Cheerful August Challenge Ends Tomorrow

Have you been a skilled Deal Detective this weekend? You have one more day to let Cheap and Cheerful know about your incredible bargain spotting adventures. Leave a comment here or email us at saleisafourletterword@gmail.com. Winner will be announced on Tuesday!

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: Costco Costumes

Bargain alert! Jody from Gilroy spotted furry, full body style Halloween costumes at Costco for just $9.99. She reports that there were all different animals (lion, tiger, elephant) plus pumpkins too. Sizes range from newborn to 4. Get them while they're hot! (And if you stop in, would you get me some pita chips and Sabra Hummus? Yum.) Just 11 more days remain for the August challenge! Who's next?

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: Deal Detectives On The Loose

Another awesome find for Katie in Walnut Creek. A Lucy Sykes dress for $4 at the TJMaxx in Moraga. Regular retail price is $72. Now that's a bargain. As she stated in her report, it is 1/18th of the original price! Katie is the current leader for this month's challenge prize. The deals are out there dear readers! Spot all you can and report back: saleisafourletterword@gmail.com

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge August: Spotted -- Our Second In Store Deal

Katie from Walnut Creek sent in the following, "I tried on a cute red Badgley Mischka skirt yesterday at the insane TJMaxx in Moraga. MSRP: $328. TJM clearance price: $25 (Unfortunately, $25 is still too much when it doesn't fit...a size too big). Not to worry, got some cute Hudson's for $60! Love that particular TJM - crazy good stuff!"

Thanks for entering the contest and thanks for the great reminder about finding "the best" of the discount chain locations. Who knows what might be hiding at your local Ross, Marshall's or TJMaxx? Anyone out there have suggestions for locations of these stores that consistently stock quality merchandise? Please share!

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: Found at Home Depot

Todd from Sacramento found this super deal at Home Depot. Small storage bins -- perfect for shoes, toys, tools, or even makeup -- for just $.99. He also reported that 18 gallon storage bins, in cute colors, were on sale for $3.44. Thanks for entering the August Deal Detective contest. Who's next?

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge August: Deal Detectives

Don't forget -- This month's Cheap and Cheerful Challenge is a Deal Detective contest! There is a cool prize in store for the winner.

Here's what you need to do: Find a deal in a store, jot down the price and details, take a cell phone photo (if possible), and email the details about your deal to: saleisafourletterword@gmail.com

I will post the deals on the blog throughout the month and the best Deal Detective will win a special award!

Are you game?

Cheap and Cheerful August Challenge: Deal Detectives

Cell phone camera? Check. Eye for deals. Check. A few minutes of your time to snap a photo, do a write-up and send it along to Cheap and Cheerful. Check.
Do you have what it takes to be a Cheap and Cheerful Deal Detective?
Spot a deal in a store, snap a photo, and send it our way.
We'll post the deals on the blog and enter you in our contest.
Send your savvy shopping submissions to: saleisafourletterword@gmail.com
The contest starts tomorrow ..Ready ... set ... go!

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: July Wrap Up

So, as you may recall, single serving snacks were out for the month of July. How did you do? Did you save money? Did you find a new bulk buy that has become a favorite treat? We've been eating lots of watermelon, apples, crackers and peanut butter, and cheese slices at our house. My kids haven't asked for granola bars and fruit leathers in a few weeks so I suppose the experiment was successful for us. But I would love to hear some stories about your experiences. Feel free to post a comment here or to send me an email.
I'm preparing August's challenge now -- Stay tuned!

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: July 2009

Are you ready for the first Cheap and Cheerful Challenge? This challenge will help you be more green and also save you some green. Interested?

For the month of July, you are challenged to eliminate 5 single serving and/or individually wrapped items from your grocery list.

For example: Juice boxes, no. Juice by the gallon, yes. Individually wrapped chips, no. Chips divided into single serving Tupperware containers, yes. Granola bars, no. Make your own muffins or bars, yes. You get the picture.

Join us. Leave a comment here about what you plan to do. I'll check in with those committed for a progress report in 2 weeks and a report card at the end of the month. I am sure you will all pass this challenge with flying colors!