2019 Food Spending Report.....the September Edition

* I am posting this a few days early as I am done food spending for September.  Anything bought between now and Oct. 1st will go on October's food budget. *

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2019.

I have posted September's totals on the Total Grocery Savings Page located HERE and have updated the 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 5(3 at home this month). No "kids" under 23.
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ALDI'S
OOP  $32.70
Value  $54.61
Savings  40.12%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $4.89
Value  $15.96
Savings  69.96%

FARM
OOP  $18.50
Value  $70.63
Savings  73.81%

MALACARI'S
OOP  $40.28
Value  $69.76
Savings  42.26%

OCEAN STATE JOB LOT
OOP  $100.72
Value  $221.75
Savings 54.58 %

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC  $249..98
Value  $249.98
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKETS

OOP  $24.15
Qs/Ads $15.89

Value  $40.04

Savings 39.69%

TARGET
OOP  $12.51
Value  $25.29
Savings  50.53%

WALMART
OOP  $47.13
Value  $70.40
Savings  33.05%

WEIS
OOP  $181.44
Qs/Ads  $266.20
Value  $447.64
Savings  59.47%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Farm at 73.81% and the Bread Outlet 69.96%. My worst savings rate was at Walmart with 33.05%.
I shopped at 10 different stores in September.

TOTAL Spent.........................................$462.32

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales.................$553.76

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased........$1016.08

TOTAL Savings of ................................54.50%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for September w/R-A........$462.32
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales w/R-A....................$803.74
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1266.06
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items.....................63.48%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
We spent well OVER my $400 budgeted amount for food/toiletries in September.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 5.08% in September 2019 to 63.48% compared to the August 68.56% savings average.


With 9 months accounted for, I have spent a Year-To-Date Total of $3,513.76 on food/toiletries in 2018.


2019 Yearly Total Spent To Date....................$3,513.76

2019 Yearly Total Value of Items To Date....$13,402.46

2019 Total Saved To Date...............................$9,888.70

2019 Yearly Savings Total To Date of............73.78%

The average per month amount spent so far is $390.42 in 2019 which went up $8.99 per month due to more spending in September.

LOOKING AHEAD To October 2019.......
I will be gone for a lot of October.  Food I buy while awhile won't count against my food budget except for items I buy to bring home to use.  Hubs will be "in charge" of food spending for most of this month. It should be an interesting month because of that. lolz  I have no clue if we'll stay under $400 for October or not.  Stay tuned.....

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 September?

*  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?

Is anyone out there up for tracking expenditures and trying to spend less but still eat well?


Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Unseasonably Hot September" Edition................

The last few days(and I see 7 more are coming this week)it's been very warm and muggy, especially for this late in September here.  The perpetual motion machine named Dixie Belle has even been waylaid a bit and actually lays in a bed for more than 3 seconds at a time.  Summer is not loosening her grip on NEPA.

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Chili, leftover rolls
2. Monday--Chicken Cordon Bleu, Veggie TBD

3. Tuesday--Barbecue Chicken Thighs, Yellow Squash and Onions, other Leftover Sides

4. Wednesday--Steak Ravioli w/Sauce, Salad

5. Thursday--Salmon, Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrots

6. Friday--Steak
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Chili, leftover rolls
2. Monday--Leftovers(I had a BLT)

3. Tuesday--Barbecue Chicken Thighs, Yellow Squash and Onions

4. Wednesday--Chicken Cordon Bleu, leftover Yellow Squash and Onions

5. Thursday--Steak, Caesar Salad

6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Leftovers

Last week saw 4 nights of home cooked dinners, 3 nights of leftovers/ffy, and 0 nights of Eating Out/Take-Out.

Everything happened except the Salmon meal and the Ravioli which moves to this coming week.

I tried my hand at making Chicken Cordon Bleu from scratch.  Maybe I should have tried an actual recipe or something? lolz  They were tasty but a messy disaster because I pounded my chicken too thin inadvertently.  I tried to make "burritos" or pockets with them, so the cheese didn't leak out.  This meant using so many toothpicks and they still leaked!  They were just messy and time consuming and now I know why when Hubs wants this dish I buy them pre-made and frozen. lolz
The dish's taste vs. work wasn't worth it for me.

What got put into the freezer last week.....

* Just a small baggie of home grown broccoli.  I didn't buy any meats or cheese for the freezer. (Unless I decide to shred up some of that 6 lbs. of cheddar I got at Walmart last week but the clip at which Ex-College Boy goes through cheese......)

What got taken out of the freezer and used last week.....
* Stew Beef pack and a less than 1 lb. hunk of London Broil
* Some shredded Swiss cheese(about half a package)
* 3 T-Bone Steaks

One trip to Weis($32.24), a trip to the Ocean State Job Lot($72.70), and a trip to Walmart($47.13)brought the weekly spending to $152.07 and my September Total spending on food to $376.78.

My savings percentage last week was 51.25%(without Rite-Aid trips)and September's monthly savings total comes in at 55.05%(w/out R-A).

I have 7 more food shopping/spending days in September.  The budget is $400 so I have very little left to spend($23.22)before September is through.
As I am hitting OSJL this week before their annual "20% off everything in the store Sale" is over I am assuming now I will be over for the month.  But it will be worth it.
And as I was almost $100 UNDER budget for food/toiletries in August and the fact that I won't be home for a good part of October(=no food shopping)I don't feel too bad about going over this month.

Leftovers going into this week......2 Pork Chops, Carrots, Asiago Rice, Goulash, Egg Noodles, Chili.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Spaghetti with Sauce, Meatballs, Salad
2. Monday--Leftover Pork Chops w/Apricot Glaze(glaze is new), Asiago Rice, Veggie TBD

3. Tuesday--Salmon, Roasted Sweet Potato and Carrots, Mac and Cheese

4. Wednesday--Hot Dogs w/Chili, Beans

5. Thursday--Steak Ravioli with Sauce, Salad

6. Friday--Leftovers or FFY
7. Saturday--Leftovers or FFY

This week will see 5 new meals cooked, 3 night of leftovers/FFY, and 0 nights of  Eating Out.

What needs buying for this menu?  Nothing.  I've got everything here in the fridge, freezer or pantry.  It's a good thing too since I am about out of food budget for the month.

Of course, except for Sunday(which is in the books now)or tonight's leftover fest, this plan can change in a hot minute depending on if I feel like eating/making this menu or not when that particular night is here.
Cooks prerogative rules, am I right!? lolz

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week? 

Sluggy  

September 2013 Budget Results.....Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2013.

I have posted September's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2013 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 Summary.

My spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Pet Supplies, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 5(3 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 17.
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FARM STAND

OOP  $22.40

Value  $64.45

Savings  65.24%

FOOD LION
OOP  $22.54
Value  $30.31
Savings  25.63%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $90.31

Qs/Ads  $111.71

Value  $202.02

Savings  55.30%

WALMART
OOP  $79.77
Qs/Ads  $37.03
Value  $116.80
Savings  31.70%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $71.55

Qs/Ads  $47.44

Value  $118.99

Savings  39.87%

I am no longer adding my rebates received into my food budget directly. I will use them on food on occasion and will note that when used.  I will keep track of rebates/gift cards/certs received here as before however.

REBATE CHECKS RECEIVED IN September.....$0.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES....$0

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$0.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Zero

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were  at  the Farm Stand 65.24%,  at  the Shursave Market at 55.30% and at the Weis Markets  at 39.87%.  I food/toiletries shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$316.01

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$216.56

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$532.57

TOTAL Savings of...................................40.66%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into September with my usual $400 budgeted for food/toiletries purchases.
I stayed under budget by about $80.  It might have been by a wider margin had I not had a problem with my foot.  Having to send Hubs out for groceries was both good and bad.....good in that, I was more apt to use stuff we already had at home and bad in that, when something was needed he didn't care to shop around for the best price or buy it when it was on sale. sigh.....
We did end up taking food to the Reunion and we spend more on eating out while on the trip, but the eating out $ comes out of Entertainment not the grocery kitty.
 

I did NO Rite-Aid shopping last month again.  As we approach the holidays I will be going back to Rite-Aid a bit for their awesome Holiday specials, if they appear this season.  Though I don't need any toothpaste, soap or shampoo for at least another year, I'll take some home if it's free or drastically discounted when I am there.  8-)

 

Looking ahead to October---We have our annual Ocean City October Get-Away coming up.  #2 Son and whoever stays here with him will have to be fed so while a few days most of us won't be here to eat groceries will still need to be provided.  I also have a couple of restaurant discount/freebie coupons that expire this month so Hubs and I will be going out to eat at least twice in October besides the OC trip.  I really want to keep the OC trip food purchases low but that's a post for another day. ;-)

There are no birthdays or other activities going on in October that should make our food purchases rise above our $400 allotment.
I am going to work on using up some freezer goods this month to get ready to restock it with fresh meats.
 

And here is the run down of my Food & Toiletries Spending for 2013 so far this year--
 

2013 Total Saved $2,249.36

2013 Yearly Total Value of Items  $5,522.65

2013 Yearly Total Spent $3,273.29

2013 Yearly Savings Total of  40.73%

 

In September, total savings percentage for the year has gone DOWN .01% over August's year-to-date total of 40.74%, to 40.73%.  So we saw a VERY slight decrease in our savings rate on food/toiletries spending for the year.
We are holding steady in the 40%s.
Works for me! 8-)

 

How much did you spend on food in September?
 

Sluggy