2015 Food & Toiletries Spending.....October Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2015.

I have posted October's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2015 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.  I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in September.  If you aren't interested in that much detail, just skip to the bottom for the Totals Sum.  My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3(2 at home this month). No kids under 19. 

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BIG LOTS
OOP  $30.76
Value  $47.70
Savings 35.51%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $5.00
Value  $7.50
Savings 25%

GROCERY OUTLET
OOP  $16.96
Value  $27.16
Savings  47.55%

JEWELL
OOP  $18.61
Value  $25.78
Savings  28%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $45.30
Value  $80.61
Savings  43.80%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/gift card $126.67
Value  $126.67
Savings  100%

 

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $19.37
Qs/Ads $11.85
Value  $31.22
Savings  38%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP  $28.57
Value  $52.04
Savings  45.10%

WALMART
OOP  ($6.72)on free gift card
Value  $8.87
Savings  100%
 

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $73.07

Qs/Ads  $103.78

Value  $176.85

Savings  58.68%
 

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid and Walmart(tied) at 100%, Weis at 58.68% and Grocery Outlet at 47.55%.  My WORST savings rate was Dollar Tree at 25%.

I shopped at 10 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket........ $237.64

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$346.76

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$584.40

TOTAL Savings of...................................59.34%
TOTAL Savings without Rite-Aid...........48.08%

This closes out the October food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into October wanting to do a $300 food budget for the month and I only spent $237.64, leaving me with $62.36 leftover in the budget.

The monthly savings percentage went down by 1.43% in October to 59.34% compared to September's high 60.77% savings average.  Still a great savings rate though for October.

The savings rate for the whole year so far now stands at 59.21%.  That's a .01 increase in savings over September's YTD total(59.20%).  It's still hanging in well over a 40% savings rate for the year so it's all good. 

I have spent a total of $3,723.41 on food/toiletries in 2015 so far at this point in the year. That averages out to $372.34 per month.  That's still under $400 per month average for the year.

LOOKING AHEAD To NOVEMBER.........

We'll try for a $300 food budget for NOVEMBER again like I did in October, since it's just Hubs and I at home now.  No pets either.  But College Boy will be coming home for Thanksgiving for a few days this month.  And there is that behemoth food Turkey Day this month.  Even so, I've already got some of the foods and ingredients in the house for that meal, including a large turkey breast, pumpkin, various squashes and veggies, potatoes, pie and roll making ingredients too.
Plus the freezer and pantry are PACKED otherwise with foodie goodness.  8-)
$300 food budget for November is very doable.
 

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 October?
*  Do you track your yearly food spending?
*  What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons vs. buying at regular retail price last month, if you track that sort of thing?
*  What are your methods for keeping your food spending in check?
 

Sluggy

April Food Spending Week 1, Meal Plan April Week 2

I know I never got around to doing a menu last week.

Shame. on. me.

But here is what actually happened....

SUNDAY--Hamburgers, Corn, Beans

MONDAY--?
TUESDAY--?
WEDNESDAY--Hot Dogs, Beans, Coleslaw
THURSDAY--Hubs Birthday Dinner out
FRIDAY--Veal Parmesan, leftover Rigatoni
SATURDAY--Pizza(take-out)

Yes, I am pathetic that this is all I can remember.lol  I really didn't make a plan last week.  We ate from the stockpile, freezer(and used up some leftovers too)since I didn't go to the grocery store until Saturday afternoon.  The burgers were those Angus burger patties I got the deal on a couple of weeks ago.  I just have to say that they were really Good!  I usually don't care much for those boxed, frozen pre-made burgers but these were actually tasty.  And they were HUGE too!  Next time I'll have to buy bigger buns for them.

The weekly food spending was $76.79 this past week. 

I am scared that spending this much is getting to be a habit with me!

 

One trip on Saturday to Weis(PMITA)Markets.

I got a ham(free when you spent $50, and did I!!), asparagus and leeks specifically for Easter dinner.

I also had coupons that made a qt. of ice cream(or whatever size they are calling it this month),  a can of pineapple and a dozen eggs for free.   The eggs got used up for Sunday's meal.

Things I bought for later use that were on sale.....4 cream cheese blocks, 2 jars of apricot perserves, 2 lbs. of kielbasa(bogo sale), 2 boxes of jumbo pasta shells, 2 large containers of ricotta cheese, 1lb. of flounder, a cantaloupe, 2 boxes of 50% off muffins, a small porketta roast(discounted) and a small package of Lebanon bologna(discounted-for lunches).

My savings rate was only 47% overall.

 

I bought an on sale package of napkins as my stockpile just ran out. 8-(

The porketta is for a new recipe I want to try later this week.  The pasta shells will be cooked up and stuffed with the ricotta(and mozzarella)and frozen for later use.  I have some leeks I didn't use in my side dish on Sunday and some leftover asparagus that I served, so I'll be making leek and asparagus soup this week to use up those items.  the soup recipe calls for potatoes as well, which I don't have, so I'll use form dehydrated flakes which will work just as well.

The month is nearly 1/3 over and I have $223.21 left of my $300 monthly food budget.  As I've spent "about" 1/3 of my food monies, I am on target for the month.

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I'm going into this week with a 1/2 head of cabbage, and after Sunday's dinner....2 leeks, lots of rolls, some leeks in cream sauce

This week's menu.....

SUNDAY--Ham, Asparagus, Leeks in Cream Sauce, Great Aunt Lula's Rolls, Deviled Eggs
MONDAY--Leftovers

TUESDAY--Ham, Mac & Cheese, Cabbage, Leeks in cream sauce
WEDNESDAY--Sausage Sandwiches, Onions, Corn
THURSDAY--Leek Soup and Ham Sandwiches
FRIDAY--Chinese Take-out
SATURDAY--Roast Pork with Dried Fruit, Rolls, Brussell Sprouts

This menu gives us 5 new meals, 1 night of leftovers and 1 take-out meal. 

 Items needed to buy for this menu are....maybe some bread and/or rolls.  I've got everything here already in the fridge, freezer or the pantry.
We'll be buying milk as usual and I want to pick up more eggs as I deviled them all for Sunday's dinner.

The only stock-up opportunities are for orange juice and those bagged salad kits are on sale again at the local independent ShurSave market.  Nothing at Weis is tempting me this week.

So what is everyone else eating this week?

And more importantly, who has some good LEFTOVER HAM recipes?!?!

We gave the BIL a big stack of sliced ham  but there is still tons left.....eek!

Sluggy

March 2012 Budget Results.......Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MARCH 2012.

I have posted March's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2012 and updated the Yearly Totals.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in March.  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 5(3-4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 16.
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BAKERY OUTLET
OOP   $12.67

Value   $36.01

Savings  64.82%

RITE-AID DRUG STORE
OOP  $2.99 put on free R-A gift card so $0.00 OOP

Qs/Ads/+Ups $104.87

Value  $107.86

Savings  100%

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $230.24

Qs/Ads  $203.57

Value  $433.81

Savings  46.93%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $268.36

Qs/Ads  $280.99

Value  $549.35

Savings  51.15%

I don't track Rite-Aid's +Ups here, nor CVS's ECBs & Walgreen's RRs. They will be included when used on purchases under "Coupons".   I'll keep track of what rebates are received monthly.  Rebate money/gift cards will be considered 'income' & will go into the Food/Toiletries budget, offsetting the Out of Pocket. Cash will go immediately into the Budget kitty, while Gift Cards will be calculated in when spent.

REBATE CHECKS RECEIVED IN MARCH
Brita Filters....$10.00

Rite-Aid SCR....$6.99
Subtotal........$16.99

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
Nothing

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$16.99

COUPONS and FREEBIES

2 x Suave Shampoo FREE ITEM Q

1 x P&G  FREE Cover Girl Mascara

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bakery Outlet at 64.82%, and Weis at 51.15%.

I shopped at 4 different stores in March.


TOTAL Out of Pocket........$511.27

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$615.76

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1127.03

TOTAL Savings of...................................54.64%


TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$16.99
TOTAL Out of Pocket After Rebates........$494.28
TOTAL Savings including Rebates...........$632.75
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1127.03
TOTAL Savings After Rebates...................56.14%

This closes out the March spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into March with $300 budgeted for food/toiletries for the month and $176.80 carried over from food monies I didn't spend in Jan. and Feb......so I had $476.80 potentially to spend this past month.

And spend it I did!lol

I spent that AND another $17.48.

But I am ok with spending what I did.  I used the extra cash to stock up on some good deals on meat. By combining annual sales on corned beef in March with clearance deals and store instant discount coupons on end of date items I could stick in the freezer, I got 12+lbs. of fresh ground meat, 12lbs. of Angus burgers, 6 lbs. of fish, 6 corned beef briskets and another roasting chicken too for great prices.

I also did some instant Catalina deals to stock up on "good" pancake syrup, pasta sauces and supply #2 son with quality junk food.lol
My freezer is once again packed to the gills.

LOOKING AHEAD TO APRIL.....
With Easter this week, I'll be doing a bit of shopping soon.  As for the other 3 weeks in April, I don't see me hitting the stores much at all, except for milk and an odd ingredient or two I might need. 

I will be keeping my food budget at $300 for March.  Hopefully no great deals appear so I won't spend so much in April.

How did you do in March with your Food Budget? 


Please leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear about your progress!  By sharing our struggles and efforts we can help each other stick to our budgets and learn to be better guardians of our resources.

Sluggy