The November Food Spending of 2023

Onward to November's Food Spending Report.....

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for November 2023.

I have posted November'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 November.  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. We are a family of 2(and 2 dogs).
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KROGER

OOP  $84.31

Qs/Gift Cards $336.92

Value $421.23

Savings  79.98%

OLLIE'S

OOP $9.76

Value $15.98

Savings  38.92%

SUPER 1 FOODS

OOP  $4.88

Value  $7.77

Savings  37.00%

WALMART

OOP  $207.13

Qs/Gift Cards $207.86

Value  $414.99

Savings  50.09%

********************
My best Store Savings Total was at Walmart with a savings of 50.09%.  My worse rate was at Super 1 Foods with 37.00%.  

I shopped at 4 different stores in NOVEMBER.

TOTAL Spent in November......$306.08

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards....$553.89

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.....$859.97

TOTAL Savings of........64.41%

This closes out the NOVEMBER food/toiletries/etc. spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month....The leftover travel stipend  monies helped pay for some food after we got home.  I also made strategic purchases with rebates as is my want.

The Monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 26.62% in November to 64.41% compared to October's 37.79% savings average.  The big factor is such a great difference in the savings rate came from that leftover stipend money from the trip to Ohio and catching some good deals.  Since we have an adequate income and food should be a pleasure in life(no way am I going to eat unseasoned rice and beans for my remaining days like some people)I will buy quality food and pay the price at the register.  I may not like the price but I will deal with it.

With 11 months accounted for, I have spent a Total of $4,460.35 on groceries/HBA/paper goods/etc. in 2023.

2023 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$4,460.35

2023 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$7,757.88

2023 Grand Total Saved...............................$3,297.53

2023 Yearly Savings Total..............................42.51%

The average per month amount spent is $405.49 in 2023 at this point.

LOOKING AHEAD TO DECEMBER......December will be a crapshoot.  We have plans to travel to see family for part of the month so there should be less food spending than usual.

Remember that I withdraw all my cash rebate monies(Ibotta, Coupons dotcom, Shopmium, Checkout 51 and other miscellaneous rebates sent to my Paypal)at the end of the year and add it back into my food budget, so at the end of the year my food spending will go down.  The other savings apps like Fetch, Shop Kick, Kroger Cash Back that let us get free gift cards(or $ off your grocery total-Kroger), those are added back in when I cash those points in along the way.  Alexa app gives me Amazon credit onto my account but I don't buy food on Amazon(sometimes I buy dog food there)so I really don't know how to count that.

At the end of the third quarter of the year, I'd accumulated--$962.99 in Ibotta(most in my bank account as I don't like to leave Ibotta monies on the platform), $309.40 in Paypal from Shopmium ,Coupons dotcom as well as an odd rebate or two from another source, $43.35 in Kroger Cash Back I haven't spent, $36.78 in Shop Kick, $62.20 in Swag Bucks to redeem, $16.75 on Alexa for Amazon gift cards and some points on Fetch that aren't even worth considering at this point.  Without counting the Fetch that's $1,431.47 in cash or scrip total to put toward the grocery spending in 2023 which lowers my OOP on food spending to $2,342.73 give or take at that point.  I'll add in what rebates where earned in the fourth quarter too once 2023 is in the books. 8-)

If you have other ideas or guidelines you follow please leave a comment and share your thoughts with us all.

*  How much did you spend on food/toiletries in November?

*  Do you track your yearly food spending?  It's really not that hard or time consuming; just have your receipts and either track it in a notebook or on a spreadsheet.

*  What was your savings percentage buying on sale and/or with coupons versus 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

2019 Food Spending Report.....the November Edition

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for NOVEMBER 2019.

I have posted November'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 November.  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  $27.18
Value  $42.84
Savings  56.55%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $11.17
Value  $55.29
Savings  79.80%

MALACARI'S
OOP  $22.47
Value  $40.54
Savings  44.57%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $10.87
Value  $20.10
Savings   45.92%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP  $49.27
Value  $7908
Savings   37.70%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC  $1,231.36
Value  $1,231.36
Savings  100%

TARGET

OOP  $47.47
Qs/Ads $17.22

Value  $64.69

Savings 26.62%

WALMART
OOP  $12.64
Value  $13.64
Savings  7.33%

WEIS
OOP  $206.27
Qs/Ads  $267.44
Value  $473.71
Savings  56.46%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet 79.80% and Aldi's at 56.55%.   My worst savings rate was at Walmart with 7.33%.
I shopped at 9 different stores in November.

TOTAL Spent.........................................$387.07

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales.................$402.82

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased........$789.89

TOTAL Savings of ................................51.00%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for October w/R-A........$387.07
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales w/R-A....................$1673.89
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$2060.96
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items.....................81.22%

This closes out the November food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
We spent just under my $400 budgeted amount for food/toiletries in November.
Rah team.
I used some of my free and discounted gift cards, as well as store script this month to lower the out of pocket a bit.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 19.25% in November 2019 to 80.85% compared to the October's 61.60% savings average.
That was mostly due to all the free things I got at Rite-Aid on the Black Friday Weekend sales.
Without R-A the savings rate was a presentable 51.00% so it's all good.


With 11 months accounted for, I have spent a Year-To-Date Total of $4,295.63 on food/toiletries in 2019.


2019 Yearly Total Spent To Date....................$4,295.63

2019 Yearly Total Value of Items To Date....$ 15,675.79

2019 Total Saved To Date...............................$ 11,380.16

2019 Yearly Savings Total To Date of............72.60%

The average per month amount spent so far is $390.51 in 2019 which went down .34¢ per month from October's average.  That's a very slight decrease but I'll take it! lolz

LOOKING AHEAD To December.............
Ah Christmas time again!
The larder is packed full so I want to eat down pantry and freezers.  Other than family home for Xmas I don't plan any extravagant meals for December.  Daughter isn't here for her birthday so there will be no Birthday meal out then.  We've got no parties to attend and bring food to either.  I've already got a hunk of roast in the freezer for Xmas(plus 2 turkey breasts since I cooked the whole bird for T'giving)and a ham too.  We aren't a big baked goods/sweets eating family at the Holidays except for a couple of pies or cakes on Xmas and I stopped making Xmas cookies years ago as nobody ate them and I ended up throwing more than a few away. 8-(

I'll be cashing out all of my little pots of monies collected throughout 2019 so far during this month to put toward the December food budget.  I'll transfer it all to the bank account and when I buy food items with my cc I'll transfer the funds.  I hope I can cover all the food expenses in this way and not have to pull from income for it this month.

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?

*  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

Food & Toiletries Spending 2017.....November Update

* I am done food shopping for November so am posting this a couple of days early.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for NOVEMBER 2017.

I have posted November'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 November.  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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BIG LOTS
OOP  $11.56
Value  $20.50
Savings  43.61%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $8.00
Value  $31.33
Savings 74.47%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $22.18
Value  $39.39
Savings  43.69%

MAINES
OOP  $79.19
Value  $150.03
Savings  47.22%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $28.35
Value  $55.27
Savings  48.71%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $722.79
Value  $722.79
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $72.17
Qs/Ads  $53.02
Value  $125.19
Savings  42.35%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $160.27

Qs/Ads  $159.36

Value  $319.63

Savings  49.86%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 74.47% and Weis at 49.86%.  My WORST savings rate was at Shursave Market at 42.35%.

I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$381.72

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$359.62

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$741.34

TOTAL Savings of ..................................48.51%
Total Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1464.13
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items..........73.93%

This closes out the November food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into November wanting to spend $300 on food/toiletries but went over by $81.72.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 10.58% in November to 73.93% compared to October's 63.35% savings average.  Over a 70% savings rate is only because of all the freebies from Rite-Aid in November.  It's a anomaly which will disappear next month.  8-)

With 11 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $3953.73 on food/toiletries in 2017 which is a 68.31% savings rate for the year to-date and averages out to $359.43 spent per month so far in 2017.

LOOKING AHEAD To December........
I need to use up any store script/gift cards I have accumulated to keep cash spending down in December.  I will put some of my side cash(rebate/refund/post coupon/etc.)into play in December as well.  As all my kids will be home(Daughter the whole month, CB for 2+ weeks and Eldest son for 2 weeks as well)they may blow up my budget but I don't mind as I haven't had them all home together for at least 3 years.   I am going to try to keep the food budget at $400 but if it goes over, I won't mind.  ;-)

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?
*  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

November Food Spending Week 2, Meal Plan Week 3

Last week's meal plan is in the books.  Here is what actually happened....

SUNDAY--Pork Chops, Cabbage, Sweet Potato Fries
MONDAY--Cheeseburgers, Green Beans
TUESDAY--Chicken Quesadillas, Corn
WEDNESDAY--Chinese Take-Out

THURSDAY--Lasagna, Salad *Lasagna is in the freezer leftover from previous meal
FRIDAY--Leftovers(I finished up my Crab Soup, Hubs had his Chinese.)
SATURDAY--Light Lunch out w/Hubs(salad) and Scrounging for Dinner(I had a can of Beefaroni)


Basically the meal plan was adhered to except for the Salmon, which was moved to this week's menu.

I come into this week with leftover grilled chicken from Tuesday's dinner.  I used it in this Sunday's dinner.

See my previous posts with my food shopping for last week.  Besides what I posted about I also hit another ShurSave store(one that takes IPQs)and finished off the spending needed to get my gift certificate reward.  I bought pie crusts, cranberry sauce(used IPQs), 7-Up, chips, baking cups, cookies(used ManuQ) and 2 big bags of dog chow(used IPQs)and spent $36.01.  6 of these items also counted toward the store making a $5 donation to the Wounded Warriors Project in my name.  That's a win/win as far as I'm concerned. 8-)
Total for all the food shopping last week came to $65.66.

My savings percentage was 75.10% last week, as the reg. retail was $263.69 on the groceries I brought home.  That $42 on the gift card went a long way toward lowering my OOP for the week.

My running total spent for the month is now at $122.45, which puts me right on target to stay within my $250 monthly food budget. 

This week's menu.....

SUNDAY--Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
MONDAY--Spaghetti & Meatballs
TUESDAY--Teriyaki Salmon w/ Veggie Fried Rice
WEDNESDAY--Kielbasa, Potato Salad, Cabbage
THURSDAY--Squash Casserole & Leftovers
FRIDAY--Breakfast for Dinner
SATURDAY--Leftovers

Items needed for this menu.....Cabbage, Squash, Eggs and the weekly ubiquitous milk purchase. 

If I find anything to stock up on for cheap this week I have about $60 to play with this week plus $25 in free money from a Catalina Q and 2 Store Rewards.

How about you? 
Do you have your Turkey Day menu set yet?

I am having trouble finalizing mine.  I am having 7 over for the meal but Daughter's BF is a picky eater I am told, #2 son is sort of picky, the Nephew is very picky and Daughter is probably on a diet after eating at the college dining hall for the last 2+ months.  She tells me they put laxatives in all the food because there is no fiber or vegetable matter and it's all highly processed junk so they have to, to keep everyone from being constipated and wreaking havoc on the schools plumbing.
Okay......lol

I have a turkey and I'll do stuffing.  I might fore go mashed potatoes and do baked sweet potatoes instead.  Rutabagas are a definite seasonal thing I fix at the Holidays and I'll make corn for the picky BF(because it's the only veg he'll eat).  I'll probably make a green veggie too, cranberry sauce, rolls and pie.  I will just do a crudité plate(raw veggies and dip)beforehand.

So what's on your menu for next Thursday?


Sluggy

November Budget Results....Food & Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for NOVEMBER 2010.

I have posted November's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2010 and updated the Yearly Totals.
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 5(4 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 14.

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $8.56
Value $32.61
Savings  73.75%

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP  $59.32

Qs/Ads  $28.32
Value  $87.64
Savings  32.31%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $10.06
Value  $24.30
Savings  58.60%

OLLIE'S(regional discount chain-takes no coupons)
OOP  $8.71
Value   $17.98
Savings  51.64%

PRICE CHOPPER(Northeast)
OOP  $30.99
Qs/Ads  $20.60
Value    $51.59
Savings  40.0%

REDNER'S(does not double coupons)
OOP  $70.90
Qs/Ads  $71.62
Value  $142.52
Savings  50.25%

RITE AID
OOP $21.61 (whole amount put on free Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads  $1,405.67
Value  $1,427.28
Savings  98.49% before gift cards/ 100% savings after free gift cards

WEIS (local chain Grocery store that doesn't take IP Qs in my town/doubles up to $1 total)
OOP  $63.78
Qs/Ads  $78.70
Value  $142.48
Savings   55.24%

I don't track Rite-Aid's +Ups here, nore 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 RECV'D. IN NOVEMBER
Pinecone Research....$3.00
Subtotal........$3.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES

VISA Preloaded (Giveaway win)...$10.00
Dunkin Donuts(Giveaway win)....$5.00
Staples Ink Recycling Reward....$12.00

Subtotal....$27.00

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$30.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

DOVE....free Deodorant Sample
HEALTHY CHOICE...BOGO Free Coupon
MEGA RED....free 2 month supply
VOCALPOINT...Barilla Pasta Coupons(1 was for a free box)


My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, The Bakery Outlet at 73.75% and Weis Markets at 55.24%.

TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$252.32
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1,674.08
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.............$1,926.40
TOTAL Savings of..........86.90%

TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$3.00

TOTAL OOP After  Rebates....................$249.32
TOTAL Savings of..................................87.06%

This closes out the November spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-

I went over my budget for November by $2+, but with my WHOOPING HUGE Cash rebates this month(LOLOL)offsetting the spending, I kept the food/toiletries expenditures just under my $250 limit.  I was able to pick up some extra baking supplies for the stockpile and discounted meats in November and still stay close to my budget.

What's ahead for December 2010.....

I'm keeping the food budget set at $250.  #1 son will be home for a couple of weeks this month, plus there is the added costs for providing a Holiday meal(Christmas).  My blogging buddy Annie Jones is doing a Pantry Challenge for December HERE.  I might try to join in on this one.  If I do, I hope to spend alot less than what I've budgeted.  We shall see how this goes....

As always, any rebates received in December will be added to the food budget to offset what we spend.

With eleven months of the year behind us, we have averaged $199.28 per MONTH after rebates on food/toiletries spending for 2010 for a family of 4-5 adults/teens + 2-3 pets.
That's approx. $46.64 a week.  I'd call that pretty darn good for a family our size! ;-)
How did you do in November with your Food Budget?  Leave a comment or link to your post and let us hear!  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