Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Food & Toiletries Spending......November Update


 Onward to November's food spending report.......



Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for NOVEMBER 2014.

I have posted November's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2014 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in November.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3(2-3 at home this month)& 1 dog. No kids under 18.

******************
BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $11.00
Value  $33.93
Savings  67.58%

BIG LOTS
OOP  $25.86
Qs/Ads  $12.37
Value  $38.23
Savings  32.36%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $4.90
Value  $12.50
Savings  60.80%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $77.71
Qs/Ads  $61.86
Value  $139.57
Savings  44.32%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $33.98
Value  $57.88
Savings  41.39%

P&R OUTLET
OOP  $6.03
Qs/Ads  $7.64
Value  $13.67
Savings  55.88%

RITE-AID
OOP  $10.28
Qs/Ads/+UPs  $319.38
Value  $329.66
Savings   96.88%
 
SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $229.74
Qs/Ads  $69.02
Value  $298.76
Savings  23.10%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP  $34.24
Qs/Ads  $52.25
Value  $86.49
Savings  60.41%

TARGET
OOP  $10.39
Qs/Ads  $16.25
Value  $26.64
Savings  61%

WEIS MARKETS
OOP  $140.61
Qs/Ads  $142.39
Value  $283.00
Savings  50.31%
 

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 96.88%, the Bakery Outlet at 67.58% and Target at 61%.  My WORST savings rate was the Shursave Market at 23.10%.
What is more impressive is that I had a 50.31% savings rate at Weis Markets AND I spent almost $150 there.  It's easy to get a great savings rate at a store where you only buy a few things but is you make many purchases there it's a lot more difficult!

I shopped at 11 different stores this past month.  I tried a few of new places for me or places I don't go to often as it's not in my regular routine.


TOTAL Out of Pocket........$584.74
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$735.59
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,320.33
TOTAL Savings of...................................55.71%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............42.01%

This closes out the November food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

Well I sucked big time at staying under $350 in November.  What can I say......

The monthly savings percentage went down by 10.13% in November to 55.71% compared to October's 65.84% average.  I blame this on me buying stuff not at it's best low price in order to have enough spending at the local market to earn a gift certificate during their yearly promotion.  I also bought things I don't need now(stocked up)and not at the best prices. sigh.  With the way I shop I haven't been able to earn one of those certificates for YEARS now!  But every year I fall back into a bad pattern and try to spend, spend, spend. sigh.
I need to pull this post up next Nov. 1st and reread it so I don't fall into that old familiar trap next year!

The savings percentage went down for the year by .03% after adding November's numbers in. 

Total spend on food/toiletries so far this year after 11 months.....$4,588.66.

The average monthly food/toiletries spending to-date for the year after adding in November's numbers is back up to $417.15.   That's what happens when you spend almost $600 in one month on food/toiletries.
bleh.

I have a decision to make concerning $17 I was refunded at Rite-Aid this month(a $12 refund and a $5 refund for +Up Rewards and Coupons that were applied post sale.  I'll just use this to cover my small amounts I pay on each transaction at R-A after the +Up Rewards are applied to my total in December, which means that probably ALL my OOP costs will be covered until the end of the year at Rite-Aid.
8-)))


LOOKING AHEAD TO DECEMBER......

Let's just say I'm planning on staying under $5K total for the year on food/toiletries spending. That gives me $411.34 to play with in December.  College Boy will be home most of December as he comes home from school for the term a week from this Friday.

I would really like to keep the yearly spending total at $4,800.  This gives me a monthly average for the year of $400 a month spent.  Sounds much better than a $416 per month total that staying under $5,000 gives me.
But that would mean limiting myself to $211.34 food spending in December.  I probably could do that, especially if we eat out for dinner more than 2 times this month.

I'll try to keep it under that but don't hold your breath.
I suck.......
 
If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share yours with us all.
 
*  How much did you spend on food/toiletries in November?
*  Do you track your yearly food spending?
*  If so, how are you doing thus far in 2014?
 
Sluggy

3 comments:

  1. I track my food & household expenses. I aim for $400 a month but spend around $450 (give or take). I track it every day and when I see myself nearing my budget amount I stop spending.
    I've found out (the hard way) when those stores offer those certificates of free bird or whatever, I spend more just to get that stupid free $25 turkey/ham/whatever. You save more money by just outright buying the bird. Period! And doing your regular shopping. THEY have it all figured out how to successfully separate you and your money. I won't be fooled again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't track much but chicken sh*t from my yard into the house. I so admire your tenacity and I learn so much from you, I love it!

    ReplyDelete

Hey there! Thanks for leaving a comment.
All Anonymous commentors will be deleted.
Please include your name in your comment, or choose the 'Name' option and put your name or whatever you call yourself, in the box. Thank you.

Though I moderate it's partly to keep trolls at bay but also partly so that I read every comment. I don't often respond to comments so if you need me to answer you please write me at my email addy posted on my "About Me" page, linked on the side bar.