How Much Can I Save in a Year? Feb. Update!

February Savings 

$68.08

2011 Total Savings

$180.62 

Best of Savings

{Free Items this month using coupons}

-Dove Deoderant $2

-Starkist Tuna Salad Pouch $1

-Honest Tea $1

-Yoplait Yogurt $0.50

-2 Free Gillette Body Wash $2.50 each

-2 packs Mentos Gum $1 each

-2 Colgate Toothpaste $0.98 each

A Little Savings Tidbit

Our overall savings due to coupons are down a bit, but there is a reason for it.  We have recently transitioned into being a one-income family.  This is just a decision to help us save more and plan for the future a bit.  Because of this, our overall spending is down, which of course means we are saving...and saving considerably...just not as much by using coupons.  We have cut our grocery budget and eating out budget down by $10 for both.  This means we're saving $20 a week...or $80 a month overall.

via

One huge factor in this has been meal planning using e-mealz. I mentioned this briefly in another post, but wanted to go more in detail now that we have lived it for several weeks and can testify that it works and has been a huge blessing to us.  The idea behind it is that you pay a small fee (it ends up being $1.25 per week) and a meal plan is created for you by the lovely people of e-mealz.  This menu and shopping list is available for you each week to print off.  The great thing is that you choose the plan you want based on your family's needs.  Most meal plans, if you choose a store-specific one, is matched up with the week's sales at that store.  For example, we have chosen the Wal-Mart plan for two people.  The week's groceries average out to about $35 a week for all the ingredients you need.  The recipes are simple and, even better, your meal planning is completed for you.

We have found this to even help us save money by often using the plan to shop at Kroger (they don't offer a Kroger meal plan).  I often stack coupons with the items that are on the shopping list and save even more money.  There is also much room for tailoring the menu based on your health-conscious needs and your family's tastes.  (E-mealz didn't ask me to give them a shout out and they aren't compensating me for this post, but I just wanted to pass on our own happiness with this program in hopes it can help at least one other family out there.)


Now it's your turn! Link up below with a deals post of your own.  Whether its an update on your savings so far this year or just a great trip you had with great savings! Anything goes! Also, make sure to go check out Thankfully Thrifty to see how new mom, Ashleigh's, savings are going so far this year!