May month end check in

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like this year is flying by. I can't believe it's June already.

Here are our numbers for May.

Groceries/HBA/Cleaning

Sams : $120.06

Produce market : $51.97

Aldi : $13.02

Costco : 16.98

CVS : $16.70

Dollar Tree : $5.12 

Kroger : $53.42

Target : $14.54

Walmart : $15.76

Walgreens : $36.58

Total OOP : $344.15

Earnings 

Ibotta : $27.80

Kroger Cash Back : $9.00

Mypoints : $13.50

Total earnings : $50.03

Total cost after earnings : $294.12

My earned drugstore rewards are not included in this amount. I count them when I spend it. 

Our grocery spending would've been way less for the month. However, I decided to do another Sams shop before our membership expired at the end of the month. Now I can hold off on renewing that membership for a while. It might be hard, because I usually buy meat & yogurt at Sams. My OOP for Sams before the last trip was $11. That 2nd trip added over $100 to our budget last month.

I did get a Costco membership for business though. When I signed up, I googled promo codes. So I added promo code and it only deducted a penny from my membership order. I just though 'oh well, at least I tried' and moved on from it. About 2 weeks later (day after I picked up my membership card in store) a $15 Costco gc arrived in the mail. Happy dance!

I bought 2 Spinbrushes at Walmart and earned $12 in points and another $1.50 for completing a Swago board. 

I've shopped Kroger a lot last month. The ME sale was really good. They had 18ct eggs for 99c with DQ, Mega Stack Pringles for 99c, Oscar Mayer hot dogs (we love the smokies) $1, so I stocked up.

Dollar Tree has the big bags of Snyders Pretzels again, so I bought 3. I actually went to DT for a birthday card, then end up buying extras. Does that happen to anyone else? 

We've been doing really well with shopping less, while eating down the pantry and freezer. I still have a balance on that gc we received, so that should help cover some of June's grocery spending. 

I've noticed that my BWW Carribean Jerk sauce has been hard to find. Walmart seems to only have a bottle or 2  in that flavor (I've been to 2 different stores), but several Asian Zing & Mango Habanero (which we don't like). I've been stocking up on the Carribean Jerk whenever I find it, because it's our favorite flavor. I sure hope that it doesn't get discontinued.

MONEY EARNED (SIDE HUSTLE)

GCs Earned $75.00 ($50 Mypoints, $25 IGC)

Personal items (things we've had listed for the past 2 years) : $165.06

2021 Closet cleanout : $65.05 (one of the items was DS's)

Big goal : $120.76

Drugstore items : $16.59

Rakuten check (I keep forgetting to deposit check. I mean it only takes a few clicks) : $14.71

Total earnings : $457.17

I've listed another 6 items from my closet and 4 from DS's. Now I'm up to 48 of my own items listed. 12 More to go. The sales are slow though. I've only sold 9 items (plus one for DS) thus far. I'm happy with the extra money though.

YTD Earnings :

GCs (point earning sites) : $295

Ibotta : $95 (redeemed) + $236.50 = $331.50

Personal items : $306.49

2021 Closet cleanout : $137.63

Big goal : $583.94

Drugstore items : $70.09

Total Earnings (excl Ibotta) : $1407.86

YTD EXPENSES (Clothing/shoes/accessories, Christmas gifts)

OOP  (May) $284.77! 

This was totally planned. I switched things up and am currently working on a post explaining it. 

YTD OOP : $806.60 

This number is mainly DS and some gifts. My gosh! I think I only picked up one item for myself. A pair of sweatpants for $5 and of course my sunglasses. 

YTD side hustle income (personal, closet cleanout, drugstore) : $514.21

YTD clothing/christmas gifts expenses : $806.60

YTD Balance ($292.39)

Oy vey. I'm not mad at the number after switching strategies. I just want to get out of the red. 

I have to tighten my belt for June, because I've already spent a considerable amount at the produce market yesterday. I did our monthly stock up and left with an overflowing cart. Uh oh!...lol I'm excited to eat so much fresh food though, cause we were running low or out of our favorites.

Happy weekend everyone!