Every year, during the last quarter of the year, I stop and ponder what I've spent on food for my family for the year so far.
In 2016 I spent a grand total of $4696.81 on food/toiletries/HBA/paper goods. You may recall that Daughter and her BF moved in with us halfway through that year.
Up until June we were on track to do a $3809.30 food spending for 2016(Jan-Jun spending was $1904.65). We spent $887.51 over what the food was tracking at once Daughter and BF moved here. Had they been here the entire year we could have topped $6K in food spending!
Then the BF moved back to Louisiana at the end of Jan. 2017 and over the next 4 months our food spending tracked at under $300 per month. Hmmm.
I guess this is accurate as I was A--Cooking more food each night when he was living here, as there were more mouths to feed, B-- more food got thrown out as Daughter and BF didn't cotton to eating leftovers and C--I was buying foods I don't usually buy as the BF had particular eating habits(or should that be peculiar?lol). He had a preference for convenience foods and we all know that those cost more than what I call "basic" foods.
Anyway, with the BF no longer eating here the food spending has returned to a level I am more comfortable with. We are currently at $3852.18 with 1.5 months to go.
Let's take a look at monies(other than regular income)I have to apply to the food budget for the rest of 2017. I generally cash everything in(the cash rebates/cash refunds from the stores/post coupons/rolled coins saved)and apply it to December's food bill.
Rebate Apps--
* SavingStar $27.55
* Checkout51 $79.00
* Ibotta $19.25(though I can't cash out until I hit $20, but I'm close now)
* Walmart Savings Catcher $4.23
TOTAL.....$130.03
Rebates & "Post Coupon" Refunds/Unexpected Cash
* Liquor $15.00
* Schwarzkopf hair products $9.62
* Right Guard Deo $7.29
* Can't figure out what I wrote lol $5.35
* Rite-Aid Post Coupon $14.00
* Weis Refund $4.00
* Rolled Coins $55.00
* Nielsen $1(they tucked into a "come back" letter)
* Cash for selling free TRU gift cards $42.00
* Carry over from 2016 that didn't get spent $9.15
TOTAL......$162.41
Food Store Gift Cards/Store Script
* Giant $25.00
* Target $77.68
* Catalinas-Minute Maid $4.00
TOTAL.....$106.68
All the above comes to $379.12 of "free" money to grocery shop.
If needed I also have the cash I have from selling stuff here like excess toiletries/diapers and unwanted items around the house......
Cash Sales
* Selling Toiletries $89.00
* Selling Items around the house $20.00
* eBay Sales $81.44(net after fees/cost of goods sold)
TOTAL.....$190.44
So basically I am in good shape to not have to spend a penny of our regular income on food/toiletries in December and theoretically I could stay at or under $4K in food/toiletries/paper goods spending for 2017. I'd love to be able to be under what was spent in 2016.
How about you?
Do you track your food spending for the year?
Do you apply any cash rebates/catalinas/rebates toward your food budget?
Sluggy
In 2016 I spent a grand total of $4696.81 on food/toiletries/HBA/paper goods. You may recall that Daughter and her BF moved in with us halfway through that year.
Up until June we were on track to do a $3809.30 food spending for 2016(Jan-Jun spending was $1904.65). We spent $887.51 over what the food was tracking at once Daughter and BF moved here. Had they been here the entire year we could have topped $6K in food spending!
Then the BF moved back to Louisiana at the end of Jan. 2017 and over the next 4 months our food spending tracked at under $300 per month. Hmmm.
I guess this is accurate as I was A--Cooking more food each night when he was living here, as there were more mouths to feed, B-- more food got thrown out as Daughter and BF didn't cotton to eating leftovers and C--I was buying foods I don't usually buy as the BF had particular eating habits(or should that be peculiar?lol). He had a preference for convenience foods and we all know that those cost more than what I call "basic" foods.
Anyway, with the BF no longer eating here the food spending has returned to a level I am more comfortable with. We are currently at $3852.18 with 1.5 months to go.
Let's take a look at monies(other than regular income)I have to apply to the food budget for the rest of 2017. I generally cash everything in(the cash rebates/cash refunds from the stores/post coupons/rolled coins saved)and apply it to December's food bill.
Rebate Apps--
* SavingStar $27.55
* Checkout51 $79.00
* Ibotta $19.25(though I can't cash out until I hit $20, but I'm close now)
* Walmart Savings Catcher $4.23
TOTAL.....$130.03
Rebates & "Post Coupon" Refunds/Unexpected Cash
* Liquor $15.00
* Schwarzkopf hair products $9.62
* Right Guard Deo $7.29
* Can't figure out what I wrote lol $5.35
* Rite-Aid Post Coupon $14.00
* Weis Refund $4.00
* Rolled Coins $55.00
* Nielsen $1(they tucked into a "come back" letter)
* Cash for selling free TRU gift cards $42.00
* Carry over from 2016 that didn't get spent $9.15
TOTAL......$162.41
Food Store Gift Cards/Store Script
* Giant $25.00
* Target $77.68
* Catalinas-Minute Maid $4.00
TOTAL.....$106.68
All the above comes to $379.12 of "free" money to grocery shop.
If needed I also have the cash I have from selling stuff here like excess toiletries/diapers and unwanted items around the house......
Cash Sales
* Selling Toiletries $89.00
* Selling Items around the house $20.00
* eBay Sales $81.44(net after fees/cost of goods sold)
TOTAL.....$190.44
So basically I am in good shape to not have to spend a penny of our regular income on food/toiletries in December and theoretically I could stay at or under $4K in food/toiletries/paper goods spending for 2017. I'd love to be able to be under what was spent in 2016.
How about you?
Do you track your food spending for the year?
Do you apply any cash rebates/catalinas/rebates toward your food budget?
Sluggy
