2017 Food & Toiletries Spending......August Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2017.

I have posted August'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 August.  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 3-4(3-4 at home this month). No kids under 21.

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ALDI
OOP  $24.91
Value  $43.75
Savings  43.06%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $9.00
Value  $35.12
Savings  74.37%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $3.00
Value  $4.50
Savings  33.33%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $58.17
Value  $94.29
Savings  38.31%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $74.93
Value  $74.93
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $64.57
Qs/Ads  $51.35
Value  $115.92
Savings  44.30%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $174.29

Qs/Ads  $204.03

Value  $378.32

Savings  53.93%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 74.37% and Weis Markets at 53.93%.  My WORST savings rate was at that Dollar Tree at 33.33%.

I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.  Or rather my Daughter and I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$333.94

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$337.96

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$671.90

TOTAL Savings of ..................................50.30%
Total Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$746.83
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items..........55.29%

This closes out the August food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I wanted to stay under $420 spent in August and I ended up $86.06 under that mark.  I am pleased as punch I could meet that expectation.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 9.79% in August to 55.29% compared to July's 65.08% savings average.  We still have over a 50% savings rate so it's all good.

With 8 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $2,760.34 on food/toiletries in 2017 which is a 69.37% savings rate for the year to-date and averages out to $345.04 per month spent in 2017. 8-)


LOOKING AHEAD To September........

With College Boy back at school we are down to 3 adults at home for meals.  With Hubs home full time now I am hoping any remaining food waste will go away.  Hubs doesn't want to eat sandwiches for lunches(as he did mostly when he was working)and he loves leftovers so he is more than happy to attack dinner leftovers.  8-)))
Setting a monthly budget for September.....Hmmm, let me think.  Not much will be available in the way of Holiday deals(mostly baking items/canned goods)this month but we'll need to get tomatoes to can at the farm.
I am thinking $350 budget for September will be sufficient.  Since we are still living on a reduced income this coming month if I can do it for less than that, more's the better. ;-)

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 August?
*  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

2017 Food & Toiletries Spending.....May Update

* Posting my grocery totals a bit early as I am done food spending for May.  If for some reason I shop again before Thursday, this amount will go onto June's spending.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2017.

I have posted May'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 May.  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 3-4(4 at home this month). No kids under 21.

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ALDI
OOP  $5.32
Value  $10.87
Savings   51.05%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $13.09
Value  $48.41
Savings  73.00%

RITE-AID
OOP  $1.50
Qs/Ads/PPs  $182.12
Value  $183.62
Savings  99.18%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $62.27
Qs/Ads  $52.21
Value  $114.48
Savings  45.61%

TRADER JOE'S
OOP  $41.85
Value  $75.48
Savings   44.55%

WALMART
OOP  $13.96
Value  $23.88
Savings   41.54%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $76.31

Qs/Ads/Free Gift Cards  $217.20

Value  $293.51

Savings  74.00%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 99.18%, Aldi's at 51.05% and Weis at 74.00%.  My WORST savings rate was Walmart at 41.54%.
Ok, having a "worst" savings rate of 41.54% is not too shabby..... ;-)

I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$214.30

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$535.95

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$750.25

TOTAL Savings of ..................................71.44%

This closes out the May food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into May not knowing where we'd come out on the budget since I was away for half of the month and the family was loose with my food budget. I also spent $61.13 on various foods to bring home while in VA too(most of that spending was for a case of wine at Trader Joe's).  And I actually had a brain fart and spent $1.50 in REAL MONEY at Rite-Aid this month instead of spending down $1.50 in Plenti Points! ugh ugh ugh
Any month I can stay under $300 in food spending is a good month in my book so I am happy overall with how the money played out in May.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 5.61% in May to 71.44% compared to April's 77.05% savings average.  Not worried about that since over a 70% savings rate is still awesome.  ;-)

With 5 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $1,565.90 on food/toiletries in 2017 which is a 72.77% savings rate for the year to-date and averages out to $313.18 per month spent in 2017. 8-)


LOOKING AHEAD To June........
Well I've got $260 in prepaid Visa cards($200 was purchased and $60 was a "freebie").  If I can only spend that $260 on food in June it won't add to my OOP spending for the month since they were paid for in April(but the $200 will still count against my food spending since they weren't free).  If I can stay at that amount or less it means no additional $ put on the credit card in June to pay off in July.

I need to balance stocking a few items so that when we leave mid-July the kids still have plenty in the pantry/freezer to prepare meals with and not overspending in June on deals.  I think $260 is enough to get the job done.  I'd love to stretch it out into July until we leave on our trip too but that might be too optimistic.  $260 to cover food for 6 weeks(or $43.33 per week)?  We shall see if THAT's do-able!

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 May?
*  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

2017 Food & Toiletries Spending....March Update

* Posting my grocery totals a bit early as I am done food spending for March.  If for some reason I shop again this week, this amount will go onto April's spending.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MARCH 2017.

I have posted March'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 March.  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 3-4(3-4 at home this month). No kids under 21.

******************

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $22.00
Value  $83.02
Savings  73.50%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $12.00
Value  $35.76
Savings   53.42%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $129.32
Value  $249.91
Savings   48.25%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $67.52
Value  $67.52
Savings  100%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $82.52

Qs/Ads/Gift Cards  $271.98

Value  $354.50

Savings  76.72%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, Weis Markets at 76.72% and the Bread Outlet at 73.50%.  My WORST savings rate was Maine Source at 48.25%.
Ok, having a "worst" savings rate of almost 50% is not too shabby..... ;-)

I shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$245.84

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$617.39

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$863.23

TOTAL Savings of ..................................71.52%
TOTAL Savings w/o Rite-Aid of ..............69.10%

This closes out the March food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into March wanting to stay under $300 spent OOP on food and toiletries.
Thanks to using some gift cards I stayed $54.16 under budget.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by .33% in March to 69.10% compared to February's 68.77% savings average.

With 3 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $1,091.06 on food/toiletries in 2017 which averages out to $363.69 per month spent in 2017. 8-)


LOOKING AHEAD To April........
Though College Boy won't be home for Easter we will most probably host the Brother in-law and Nephew for that meal.  I already have a ham in the freezer I picked up for free at Weis at Christmas, I'll make my own rolls and deviled eggs(with eggs I already have here), so the only expense will most likely be fresh or frozen veggies I'll pick up in April.  Easter this year shouldn't break the bank.
Plus we'll  have a good bit of ham leftover for other meals in April(though I really don't eat ham anymore the Hubs and Daughter can eat it).

As for the rest of April,  I want to try for a $200 grocery spending month.  We've got lots in the pantry/freezer/stockpile heading into April.  If April turns into a good stock-uppurtunity month I have $477.89 in gift cards for places that sell food/toiletries(though I rarely pay money for toiletries) Ican put some of the food purchases on($205.01 in Weis cards, $60 on a Visa Debit Card from Kohl's purchases, $125.44 in Target gift cards, a $25 Giant Markets gift card, and $62.44 left on my Rite-Aid gift card).
I don't plan to stock-up on things in April but I have the means to pay for it if it happens.

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 March?
*  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

2017 Food & Toiletries Spending....February Update

* Posting my grocery totals a day early as I am done food spending for February.  If for some reason I shop again today, this amount will go onto March's spending.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2017.

I have posted February'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 February.  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 3-4(3 at home this month). No kids under 20.

******************

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $4.75
Value  $17.26
Savings  72.48%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $31.28
Value  $49.30
Savings   36.55%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $331.67
Value  $331.67
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $21.52
Qs/Ads $34.20
Value  $55.72
Savings  61.38%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $236.40

Qs/Ads  $251.02

Value  $487.42

Savings  51.50%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 72.48% and the Shursave Market at 61.38%.  My WORST savings rate was Maine Source at 36.55%.
The bulk of my money was spent at Weis Markets in February and I had a 51.50% savings rate there.
I shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$293.95

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$647.42

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$941.37

TOTAL Savings of ..................................68.77%
TOTAL Savings w/o Rite-Aid of ..............51.79%

This closes out the February food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into February wanting to spend $300 on food and toiletries.
I came in $6.05 under even with stocking up on a few things this month.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 4.48% in February to 68.77% compared to January's 73.25% savings average.

With 2 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $845.22 on food/toiletries in 2017 which averages out to $422.61 per month spent in 2017. 8-)


LOOKING AHEAD To March........
College Boy will be home for 1 of the 4 weeks in March.  I want to try for another $300 grocery spending month anyway.  We've got lots in the pantry/freezer/stockpile heading into March.
If I can't keep under $300 I should be able to stay close.

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 February?
*  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