Giving Challenge: This Week’s Stretching $20 For The Food Bank 11/22

As many of you know, we started a personal giving challenge for this holiday season. We budgeted an extra $20 a week and challenged ourselves to buy as much as we could for $20 for the local food banks.

This is the second week and here is what we were able to get:

Target Trip:

• 3 Similac formula for $3.86 each = $11.58. Then used one $3.00/1 printable and two $5.00/1 Similac formula checks.  Target actually took all $13 off!! = $1.42 OVERAGE on three!
  
• 12 Johnson and Johnson First Aid Kits sale for .97 each = $11.64. Then used 4 $3.00/3 coupons 8/1 Smart Source Insert (exp. 11/30) and again Target took off all $12.00 = .36 OVERAGE on 12.
• 2 Stove Top Stuffing for .79 each = $1.58. Then used .50/2 Target printable = $1.08 for two or .54 each.
  

Target Summary: The total AFTER sale prices but BEFORE coupons was $24.80. We then used $25.50 in coupons, which made the whole trip FREE, except that we did have to pay .44 in tax.

Smiths Trip:

• 4 Cheerios on sale for $1.49 each = $5.96. Then used two $1.00/2 coupons 11/14 General Mills Insert- $2.00 = final is $3.96 for 4 boxes or .99 each
• 6 Betty Crocker Potatoes sale for $1.00 each = $6.00. Then used 3 .50/2 11/14 General Mills Insert = $4.50 for 6 or .75 each
• 3 Idahoan Potatoes pouches sale for .94 each = $2.82. Then used one $1.00/3 printable = $1.82 for 3 or .61 each
  
• 3 5-lb flour sale for $1.25 each = $3.75
• 6 cans of broth for .33 each = $1.98
• 4 Ritz Crackers sale for $1.67 each = $6.68. Then used 4 $1.00/1 from the 11/14 Smart Source Insert = $2.68 for 4 or .67 each
• 2 Stove Top Stuffing sale for $1.00 = $2.00. Then used one .50/2 printable = $1.00 for two or .50 each.

Smiths Summary: The total AFTER sale prices but BEFORE coupons was $29.19. We then used $9.00 in coupons = final is $20.19.

Total Summary: Between the two stores, the after sale totals was $53.99. We used a total of $34.50 in coupons = final total was $19.49 for all of the above.

Why We Loved This Shopping Trip:

• We were able to use the coupons we had for products that we wouldn’t necessarily buy, but perfect for the food banks – the coupons did not go to waste. A few of these coupons made some of the items FREE too!
• Because we used coupons, we were literally able to buy $35 more food above the sale prices.  If we had only shopped the sale with our $20 budget, we would have only been able to buy 36% of the food above.  WOW – that is eye opening on coupon usage even for your regular budget!
• It was also a ton of fun to see what we could buy and accomplish with $20 vs. our everyday shopping trips filled with shopping challenges of food allergies, food pickiness, brand loyalty and trying to be as natural and organic as we can with our budget.
• Also, these items above are not the only thing we are giving.  Often times in our shopping trips, about 10% is given as it was items that were such a great deal that we couldn’t pass them up (even if we do not personally use them) and we could easily slip them into our regular budget and then give them to those that need them!

So Here’s What We Want To Encourage You To Do:

• Join us in the challenge between now and the end of the year. You can give in anyway that your family is able to do. Whether this be to clean out your current pantry and storage and donate, create a weekly budget (even as little is a $1!) to shop for those in need, give of your time at local food banks, charities, soup kitchens, etc.!  You could even challenge yourself to use any of the coupons you wouldn’t normally use to get FREE items to donate to your food bank.  Finally, don’t forget that your old clothing is also very needed by many and you might do yourself a favor by clearing out some extra space too!

To Participate:

• Just leave a comment on these giving posts that we will be posting each week with our results of our family’s personal challenge.  Share each week how you and your family were able to give to others this season.

Top Photo Credit to: 918moms.com