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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 11:16am | IP Logged
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I've been looking through some of our old receipts and I'm noticing that we're spending more on non-food items (diapers, wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaners, etc.) than I thought we were. We're trying to make a new and realistic budget, and I'm just wondering what everyone spends on these non-food items weekly/monthly. Please include family size and where/how often you shop? (I'm shopping for a family of 9, w/ 2 in disposable diapers.)
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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zookeeper9
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| Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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We are a family of 11. I shop at BJs and Walmart mostly and I have 3 in pullups/nighttime pull ups.
For the non-food budget I spend about $50 a month. We use mostly cloth napkins and dish towels rather than paper towels. I also make my own cleaners so it is healthier and cheaper.
For the pull-ups/wipes I spend the same. (The good thing about that though is I am working on potty training and hopefully in a month or so I will have this money back in the budget).
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Donna
Wife to Richard (25 years)
Mom to Liz (21), Mandy (19), Douglas (14), Becky (13), Emma (13), Patrick (13), Abby (6), Maggie (6), and Marian (6)
Plus one saint in heaven Andrew 1/22-7/5/2005
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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Angela
I should preface this with the admission that I'm married to an accountant  We keep all our receipts throughout the year, each month has its own envelope and wallets are emptied into these at the end of the month. Dh then enters all data into a spreadsheet at end of financial year. It is very, very interesting to see what we spend our money on and where, a bit of a shock some years, helps me to know where we are 'wasting' money and to do better. (Glad you haven't asked how much I spend on chocolate  )
I can tell you amount, I haven't dollars in front of me.
Diapers- $0 (I use cloth, except if travelling)
Wipes - $0. (I use face clothes)
Toilet Paper - I buy 2 bulk packs (12 rolls each) a month. We don't used all this though, but I like to have extra in the house. I buy the 'no name' brand. I have been known to ration the amount of pieces used  The secret is to train them when young
Paper Towels - I keep 3 rolls per month in the house. 'No Name' brand. but often don't use this amount. Mostly use face cloths.
Tissues - 3 boxes per month. Also use cloth hankies.
Cleaning Products - I keep one bottle of pine-o-clean in the house but this takes months to use, as I mostly use Enjo cloths, Calcium dissolver for the toilet, sometimes I'll also use vinegar and bi-carb.
I don't use air fresheners or toilet colours, nothing enters our house that has odours. Dh and some children can't even walk done the cleaning aisles without getting headaches. They don't even like the smell of lavender or tea-tree.
Napi-San- I do always have a container of this in the house for nappies and stains.
Washing Powder - We go through about a packet and a bit for a month.
Dishwashing Balls - 1 packet a month.
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 4:09pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Angela
I should preface this with the admission that I'm married to an accountant We keep all our receipts throughout the year, each month has its own envelope and wallets are emptied into these at the end of the month. Dh then enters all data into a spreadsheet at end of financial year.
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I had to laugh... my dh has two degrees in accounting, but cannot keep anything organized to save his life... so I always joke with him that it's good he went into finance as a career instead!
Anyway, I'm now sort of embarrassed at all the paper products I use every month. The diapers are the biggest expense, but with our ultra-hard water and septic system, cloth really hasn't been a great option. We are down to 2 in diapers from 3, though, so costs are down a bit. If I buy generic, that's $20-$30 a week in diapers, plus $8ish in wipes. But really it can run higher. (Nothing like the days when I had two newborn twins in diapers and formula plus a 2 yo in diapers, though!) Up till now, we've lived in an area without Costco or Sam's. I am wondering if that makes a big difference, too.
I've been reading Grocery Cart Challenge for tips on how to reduce the grocery bill. She spends $60/wk for all groceries/non-food for a family of 6, but none of her kids are in diapers.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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mathmama
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| Posted: Aug 02 2010 at 11:23pm | IP Logged
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Have you ever considered cloth napkins? If you sew you could make some cheaply, or make it a one time cost. Perhaps you could find some on clearance?
We don't use paper towels in our house. About 5 years ago I bought about 50 cotton cloths at KMart for very cheap. I use them in place of paper towels in the kitchen. For cleaning I have bigger, thicker cloths that I bought at Sam's cheaply. Right now the only paper products we buy are toilet paper (for years I have wanted to switch to family cloth, honestly the only thing holding me back is the fear that someone will forget and throw it in the toilet and flush!) and tissues. We use cloth diapers and wipes. I have a real aversion to items that get used once and thrown in the trash. I am such a cheapskate!
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Beth, wife to Tom and mommy to 4 beautiful girls:
Therese 11/04
Anna Mary 6/07
Veronica 10/09
Theodora 11/12
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: Aug 03 2010 at 10:48am | IP Logged
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Angela, I had to check out that grocery challenge. Sixty dollars a week for 6 people seemed outrageous! Here in Canada I could never snag any of those items for those prices- my milk alone is more than the amount she paid for 2 gallons just for one gallon.
We are trying to shave our grocery and non grocery bills as well.
Our non-grocery expenses (off the top of my head (sorry )):
haircare- one conditioner and one shampoo every 3 weeks- $3-$4 each. Gel and hairspray for ballet, twice a year at around $10 each time.
toilet paper- 1 double roll 24 pack a month- around $12
laundry soap- 1 box every 1 1/2-2 months- $15
kleenex- usually we just use the tp, but in the winter we use a couple dollar boxes a month
creme etc.- very cold and dry here so in the winter we use a fair bit. I go to cosco with a friend and get two huge tubes of Glysomed for $15, Curel $6, and and oatmeal one for $7
feminine stuff- until I finally make some pads and such after my long hiatus, $5-7 a month
cleaners- don't buy any. I use vinegar and baking soda.
dishsoap/dishwashing powder- $3 a month for the soap and $7 for the powder (I use a natural one).
There has to be more, this looks pretty measly!!
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: non-food items budget?
