End of January is almost my favorite time of year for one reason
-Clearance Shopping. 'Tis the season of incredible deals.
Actually the first of Feb is even better but then I can only find XXS or 3X, so most of us have to start a bit earlier. Whenever I go shopping I don't have the luxury of searching the store for cutest outfits ever or my favorite styles. It's all about sweet deals with the RED STICKER. Usually I wait for the red sticker on top of the red sticker deals.
Then over the next couple weeks I, of course, keep an eye out for additional reductions so I can return the items and get the difference. I see this as a way to make money, but Brent is not buying it.
The problem this year is -My girl's don't need anything! I stocked them all up last January, and we are like the magnets for hand me downs from the neighborhood and cousins. But there is always the shopping excuse of upcoming birthdays and Christmas.
On January 1st, I resumed my budget - the Envelope System -( after several months last fall of laziness and plenty of money in the accountitus -due to our student loan check. ) But a couple weeks ago I put away the debit card and am back on a strictly cash system.
After 12 years, we actually still have the same $75 clothing allowance for our family per month that we allotted when there was just two of us! We just haven't gotten any richer so neither has the budget. Major shopping months like these I rob from the grocery or misc. budget to make it through all the clearance shopping.
I wish I had a Clearance Only Envelope that was good and fat enough to encompass plenty of good deal shopping so I never had to walk away from a sweet deal.
Here's the breakdown on our Envelope System
Grocery -$300
Misc -$100
Piano Lessons -$60
Gifts- $50
Entertainment -$75 (for dinners out, dates, or family outings)
Personal spending for Brent and I -$30 each
Kids allowance $25 -$10 for K and S, $ 4 for Camille, $1 for Caroline
New Baby- -$75 (diapers, etc)
If you notice this doesn't include gas or household bills, but I don't see them needing the tight control that these others do. I mean I already keep the heat between 60-62% so not many other ways to cut costs there. Brent rides the bus/bike/moped instead of spend gas money on the car and I try to majorly limit my trips around the city. What else is there? Cable? Yeah, right!
Happy Shopping!
8 comments:
$300 for groceries, I'd like to know how you do that.
Kashann, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law have some stores on their side of the state that sell diapers for 6 bucks or less a pack and they are name brand diapers. I haven't had to buy diapers yet. You should see if there are stores in your area like that. Basically these stores get returns from stores like Costco, Target, etc.
Can't believe you haven't had to buy diapers yet! Is that your former indulgent teacher that is buying them for you? I wish I would've been a coyote.
I may have to post a weeks menu too, so you can see how I do it, Natasha. (I don't have wic or food stamps by the way)
This really makes me want to go shopping right now. I wish my husband was ever home so he could watch the girls.
Kashan! I finally ventured over to your blog! I love it- I think you're spending far too little on yourself, maybe you should take Brents share and add it to yours!
Since I very rarely go clothes shopping I totally forgot about clearance time - thanks for the reminder! I forgot one of the best things about the U.S. - the good deals! I would love to see a weekly menu.
No my mother-in-law got tons of them at the clearance store for me.
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