Food & Toiletries Spending.......the October Edition

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2018.

I have posted October'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 October.  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 4-5(4 at home this month). No "kids" under 22.

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

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $10.95
Value  $47.49
Savings  76.94%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $2.09
Value  $4.00
Savings   49.99%

GIANT
OOP  $36.63
Value  $91.89
Savings  60.14%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $30.02
Value  $49.97
Savings  40%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $61.87
Value  $236.29
Savings  73.82%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC  $449.35
Value  $449.35
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE
OOP  $13.16
Value  $21.24
Savings  54.07%

WALMART
OOP  $15.94
Value  $23.26
Savings   31.17%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $110.20

Qs/Ads  $82.62

Value  $192.82

Savings  42.85%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 76.94% and Ollie's at 673.82%.  My worst savings rate was Walmart at 31.17%.

I shopped at 9 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket for October..........$308.46

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales............$435.97

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.........$744.43

TOTAL Savings of ................................58.56%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for October.....$308.46
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales....$885.32
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid.....$1193.78
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items........74.16%

This closes out the October food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
October was a decent month, lots of savings on groceries bought and I stayed well under $400($91.54 under).  I could have bought less but am pleased at how the spending turned out this month.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 2.19% in October 2018 to 74.16% compared to September's 76.35% savings average.
The free stuff from Rite-Aid skewers my averages but without R-A I am at a 58.56% savings.  So even without R-A we are doing well on the "savings" front.

With 10 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $4264.09 on food/toiletries in 2018 which is a 73.70% savings rate for the year so far and averages out to $426.40 spent per month in 2018.  Back down to within $26.40 for my monthly spend goal of $400.  I am not complaining about that! ;-)

LOOKING AHEAD To November.......
Let the Holiday games begin! lol  Lots of baking and other food deals coming up.  I need to take a pantry/freezer inventory before I go shopping for Thanksgiving goodies, etc.  I know we'll need a turkey but otherwise not sure on what else.
I hope to keep it at or below $400 spent for the 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 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?

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


Sluggy

Food & Toiletries Spending 2017.....October Edition

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

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2017.

I have posted October'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 October.  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 21.

*****************
ALDI
OOP  $28.95
Value  $51.93
Savings  44.25%

BIG LOTS
OOP  $55.58
Value  $89.41
Savings  37.84%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $7.75
Value  $28.83
Savings  73.12%

MAINES
OOP  $14.70
Value  $40.18
Savings  63.41%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $22.68
Value  $32.66
Savings  30.56%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $380.63
Value  $380.63
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $101.06
Qs/Ads  $50.16
Value  $151.22
Savings  33.17%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $212.96

Qs/Ads  $222.73

Value  $435.69

Savings  50.12%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 73.12% and Maines at 63.41%.  My WORST savings rate was at Ollie's at 30.56%.

I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$443.68

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$386.24

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$829.92

TOTAL Savings of ..................................46.64%
Total Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1210.55
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items..........63.35%

This closes out the October food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into October wanting to spend $400 on food/toiletries but went over by $43.68.  Over by less than $50 so not bad. Lots of meat deals and the Holiday food deals heated up last month and I took full advantage of them. ;-)

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 9.79% in October to 63.35% compared to September's 53.56% savings average.  Anything over a 40% savings rate works for me. ;-)

With 10 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $3572.01 on food/toiletries in 2017 which is a 67.57% savings rate for the year to-date and averages out to $357.20 spent per month so far in 2017.

LOOKING AHEAD To November........
Not much needs buying in terms of Thanksgiving items.  The turkey will be free with grocery store points, I've got some of the veggies already and cranberry and 1 container of pie mix in the freezer.  I make the rolls and gravy from scratch and have purchased what I need to make those already.  I don't know what loss leaders will crop up but I'll be ready to acquire those cheaply.
Unless things go awry I should be able to stay under $300 on food spending in November.

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?

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


Sluggy

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

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2014.

I have posted October's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2014 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in October.  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 3(2 at home this month)& 1 dog. No kids under 18.

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


FOOD LION
OOP  $12.92
Qs/Ads  $2.46
Value  $15.38
Savings  16%

SAM'S CLUB
OOP  $65.06
Value  $88.00
Savings  26.06%

SAV-A-LOT
OOP  $7.77
Value  $9.35
Savings   16.90%

SHOPRITE
OOP  $47.65
Qs/Ads  $89.09
Value  $136.74
Savings  65.15%

TARGET
OOP  $5.81
Qs/Ads  $16.27
Value  $22.28
Savings  73.92%

RITE-AID
OOP  $10.29
Qs/Ads/+UPs  $464.51
Value  $474.80
Savings   97.83%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $87.77

Qs/Ads  $39.03

Value  $126.80

Savings  30.78%

WALMART
OOP  $13.79
Qs/Ads  $11.30
Value  $25.09
Savings  45.04%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $118.23

Qs/Ads  $64.51

Value  $182.74

Savings  35.30%
 

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 97.83%, Target  at 73.92% and Shoprite at 65.15%.  My WORST savings rate was Food Lion at 16%.
I shopped at 9 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$369.29

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$711.89

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,081.18

TOTAL Savings of...................................65.84%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............40.80%

This closes out the October food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I thought I came close to the $300 budget but I miscalculated spending earlier in the month by $50.
meh.

The monthly savings percentage went down by 7.66% in October to 65.84% compared to September's 73.50% average.

The savings percentage went up for the year by 1.61% because of the great savings month that was October.  After September my yearly % of savings was 52.79% and after adding October in it stands at 54.40% for the year.
8-)

Even if I remove my Rite-Aid shopping out my October totals that monthly total is $359.00 spent with a 40.80% savings rate. 
Not bad.

Total spend on food/toiletries so far this year after 10 months.....$4,004.15.

The average monthly food/toiletries spending to-date for the year so far is $400.42.  Only pennies away from being back down to $400 a month or less.


LOOKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER......

I am going to try again for a $350 food spending budget this month.  It's just Hubs and I here this month except for Thanksgiving break when #2 Son comes home for a few days.  There is the whole overblown Turkey day meal but we will try to keep it low key this year.  A turkey and about 4 sides and pie.
No gluttonous feast this year.

And I can't seem to do a $300 food month so I'll wave the white flag and concede to $350 a month this November.

 

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?
*  If so, how are you doing thus far in 2014?
 

Sluggy

October Budget Results.......Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2011.

I have posted October's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2011 and updated the Yearly Totals.
I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in October.  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 15.
******************

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $12.78
Value  $43.40
Savings  70.55%

BIG LOTS
OOP  $50.33
Qs/Ads  $40.00
Value  $90.33
Savings 44.29%

CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP  $257.26

Qs/Ads  $159.96
Value  $417.22
Savings  38.34%

FOOD LION
OOP  $36.87
Qs/Ads  $11.57
Value  $48.44
Savings  23.89%

GIANT PA  

OOP  $17.78

Qs/Ads  $24.74

Value  $42.52

Savings  58.19%

REDNER'S
OOP  $63.79
Qs/Ads  $74.56
Value  $138.35
Savings 53.90%

SAVE-A-LOT
OOP  $14.21
Qs/Ads  $6.40
Value  $20.61
Savings  31.06%

WEIS (local chain Grocery store in my town/doubles up to $1 total)
OOP  $152.04
Qs/Ads  $317.94
Value  $469.98
Savings  67.65% 

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 SEPTEMBER
Pinecone...$3.00
Subtotal........$3.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
$0.00
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$3.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

2 MyBlogSpark Giveaways

1 Shampoo & Conditioner to Test

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were the Bakery Outlet at 70.55%, Weis at 67.65 and GiantPa at 58.19%.
I shopped at 8 different stores in October.


TOTAL Out of Pocket....sit down for this one!.....$605.06
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$665.79
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1270.85
TOTAL Savings of...................................52.40%


TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$3.00
TOTAL Out of Pocket After Rebates........$602.06
TOTAL Savings including Rebates...........$668.79
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1270.85
TOTAL Savings After Rebates...................52.62%

This closes out the October spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-I did indeed go WAAAAAY over my $250 food budget, as planned.  But there was a method to my madness here.  The local independent grocer has a 5 week program where if you hit a certain amount of purchases during that time, you get a gift certificate at the end of November.(They also threw in another Buy $30 of baking items, Get a $10 Catalina Q deal so these items qualify you for both certs.) So I've been buying items there to get me to the total I need for those 2 certs.  It's stuff I'd be buying anyway maybe in the next couple of months, so I'm just buying them a bit earlier to get the bonus cert.  I have been waiting until items go on sale, so at least I am not paying full retail for them, but I am not, for the most part, able to use coupons on the items there.

It's weird after 9 months(and the year before this one as well)to have spent so much money on groceries in 30 days time.  I look back about 4 years ago, to when I use to go the the grocery store with a "sort of list" and no meal plan whatsoever.  I would regularly spend $150-$200 a week and barely have anything left at the end of the week.  If I had to replenish staples(eggs, flour, butter, etc.), I'd spend even more.

What's ahead for November.....
I've still got some more spending to do to get to my gift cert. at the local independent grocer.  As for Turkey Day provisions, I'll need a bird and a few other things but not much to make that meal.
I'm going to try to use down the frozen foods I have here in November.  The freezer can use a clean out and a defrosting before winter sets in.  I'm going to shoot for $300 in food spending in November.

With 2 months left in the year, we have spent a total of $2,509.75 of our income on food/HBA in 2011.
That comes out to $251.27 per month.
We brought home items with a reg. retail value of $12,469.57.
That's a savings of $9,959.82 or 79.85%.

How did you do in October with your Food Budget?
What are your challenges for November?  Any family coming to stay....Holiday Celebrations?.....or is your school/work schedule too busy to shop/cook/eat as a family?

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

Food Spending for Week 3 & Meal Planning Week 4

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


SUNDAY--Country Fried Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Green Bean Almondine
MONDAY--Leftovers
TUESDAY--Soup
WEDNESDAY--Barbeque Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Rolls
THURSDAY--Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Sauteed Cabbage
FRIDAY--Scrounge whatever you can find
SATURDAY--Chinese Take-out

I only cooked half of what I had planned.  #2 son didn't want to eat the nights Hubs wasn't home so I just had soup or leftovers.

I spent....sit down for this...... $148.60 at the grocery stores last week.
Ack!
I did the Kraft Deal at the local store 3 times.  How could I not when it gave me bags of shredded cheese for $1.87?lol  I also bought canned veggies for half price, cranberry sauce on sale, bags of sugar to get to $30 to earn a $10 Catalina(not quite there yet)and some on sale frozen fruit bars, chips and some soda to hide from  #2 son.  I am also working on my Thanksgiving Voucher at this store so all things being equal, I'll be going there until Thanksgiving to spend the grocery money.

I also used my $10 in Redner's Cats to get 3 bags of sweet potato fries and 3 jars of pasta sauce for .14¢ OOP.  The $5 Weis Cat was used on 3 bags of burritos, leaving me an OOP of $5.01.  I am going back up to Weis today since the burritos were advertised as 3/$10, but my receipt has the amount it took off keyed in wrong in their system, so they came out to 3/$10.01.  I am going to have them make good on their "if it rings up wrong on sale, you get your money back and the product free" guarantee.

Hubs just shook his head at me and said, "You are REALLY going up there because you were overcharged a penny?", when I told him my plan.
Damn right I am! lol

My savings percentage was 45.83% last week, as the reg. retail was $274.32 on the groceries I brought home.

This week's menu.....
SUNDAY--Baked Catfish, Crab Cakes, Hush Puppies, Coleslaw
MONDAY--Kielbasa, Onions, Sauerkraut, Rolls
TUESDAY--Chicken & ? or ?
WEDNESDAY--Lasagna in the Freezer or ?
THURSDAY--Hot Dogs or ?
FRIDAY--?
SATURDAY--?

The Brother-IL is staying here for 3 days and we are bugging out for a mini-vacation so I have little control over the menu after Monday as he will cook what he wants.
When we get back I'll whip up some meals or have what we didn't last week(like the Chicken & Dumplings and/or Quesadillas).

At present, my October food spending stands at $459.82 with 7 days left in the month.  I've left $400 in the dust and am creeping up on $500 for the month...which is double what I usually spend.  Between laying in a few things today for BIL, nephew and #2 son and leaving them some cash for necessities I forget, $500 is gonna happen at least.

I'm hanging onto a 55.22% savings rate over regular retail for October.  Hoping to stay over 50% for the month when all is said and done.

How much have you spent this month on food/toiletries?
Has it been an expensive month or a cheap month for you?

Sluggy

Food Spending for Week 2 & Meal Planning Week 3

Last week's meal plan is in the books.

SUNDAY--Burger King-Hubs was not home, #2 son had a sleepover so I used a coupon to get fast food for $9.99 + tax for the teens.  I had whatever leftovers where in the fridge.
MONDAY--Grilled Reuben Sandwiches
TUESDAY--Tacos, Corn, Refried Beans
WEDNESDAY--Hot Dogs on buns, Boston Baked Beans
THURSDAY--Pork Chops, Roasted Potatoes and Carrot/Broc./Cauliflower Medley
FRIDAY--Leftovers
SATURDAY--Subway since #2 son was gone to a competition until 1 am.

I spent $28.50 at the grocery stores last week.  $5.08 was for rye bread and  sauerkraut for Ruebens, $12.78 at the Bread Outlet for 10 items(the seasonal bagels-pumpkin and cranberry were in!!, rolls, bread and donuts for Hubs).  The other $10.64 was for milk, 3 bunches of celery at .99¢ ea. and to do the GM deal at the local market, by getting 8 packages of Green Giant veggies, which after $4 instant discount, sale prices and 2 x $1/3 manuQs cost me .50¢ per package.
There was also a Redner's Cat deal I could have rolled my GM Cats AND I could have done the GM deal more times at the local market but my back is still not up to snuff, so I only did the bare minimum of driving/leaving the house last week.   Which was good for my wallet but bad for getting the deals.

And what did I do with 3 bunches of celery?
I cleaned and cut them up and frozen it for later!  .99¢ doesn't come around very often, so I won't be forced to buy any this winter when it's $3.49 a bunch!  Celery is something you always need....from soups, to chowders, to making bases, to stuffings, to mire poire.  I'll probably buy more when it goes on discount again right before Thanksgiving. ;-)

My savings percentage was 61.03% last week, as the reg. retail was $73.14 on the groceries I brought home.

This week's menu.....
SUNDAY--Country Fried Steak, Roasted Potatoes, Green Bean Almondine
MONDAY--Chicken Quesadillas, leftover Green Beans
TUESDAY--Breakfast?
WEDNESDAY--Barbeque Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Rolls
THURSDAY--Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Sauteed Cabbage
FRIDAY--Chicken and Dumplings
SATURDAY--Kielbasa, Onions, Sauerkraut, Rolls

Tues. Hubs won't be home for dinner so I might just make a big plate of pancakes for #2 son's dinner, as that would please him immensely and I'll just have soup or something.
The Pulled Pork is leftovers in the freezer from this summer when I smoked a pork shoulder.
About the only item I need for this menu is a head of cabbage(for coleslaw)and I'll saute the other half up to have with the Chicken Parmesan.

There are 2 deals at the local market this week.....a Kraft Buy $20/Get instant $5 off Deal(basically a 25% savings on each item you buy)and a $10 Cat WYB $30 of baking products Deal.  I see lots of cheese, some Oreo cookies, sugar and flour in my future.lol  I need to buy at the local market anyway to get my purchases up to a level to earn a Thanksgiving check so this helps.

I have $5 Cat to spend at Weis and $10 Cat to spend at Redner's.  No Cats to roll them into but I'll find something to buy.

At present, my October food spending stands at $311.22 with 14 days left in the month.  At this point, I foresee going over $400 by the end of the month. 
I'm trying not to freak out over this, as I haven't been higher than $364.30 in any month so far this year.

How are your food expenses doing this month?

Sluggy