Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2011.
I have posted August'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 August. 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(3-6 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 15.
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BAKERY OUTLET
OOP $4,78
Value $22.74
Savings 79.98%
BIG LOTS
OOP $27.72
Value $43.97OOP $27.72
Savings 37%
CARONE'S(small local independent store)
OOP $71.63
Qs/Ads $29.53OOP $71.63
Value $101.16
Savings 29.20%
DOLLAR STORE
OOP $4.00
Value $6.96
Savings 42.53%
KMART
OOP $3.00
Qs/Ads $2.07
Value $5.07
Savings 40.83%
MAINE SOURCE(restaurant/party supply store)
OOP $59.30
Value $128.03
Savings 53.68%
RITE AID
OOP $3.13 (whole amount put on free Rite-Aid Gift Cards)=$.00 actual OOP
Qs/Ads/+Ups $125.61
Value $128.74
Savings 97.57% before gift cards/ 100% savings after free gift cards
ROEHNER'S PRODUCE MARKET
OOP $4.75
Value $9.98
Savings 52.40%
WEIS (local chain Grocery store in my town/doubles up to $1 total)
OOP $105.22
Qs/Ads $70.00
Value $175.42
Savings 40.02%
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 AUGUST
Pinecone Research....$6.00
Rite-Aid SCR...$22.38
Subtotal........$28.38
GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES
$0.00
TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$28.38
COUPONS and FREEBIES
Coke.....Free ITEM Q
Drumstick Ice Cream....Free ITEM Q
Pantene.....Free ITEM Q x 3
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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were from Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bakery Outlet at 97.98% and the Maine Source at 53.68%. I shopped at 8 different stores in August.
TOTAL Out of Pocket...............................$280.40
TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$341.67
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$622.07
TOTAL Savings of...................................54.93%
TOTAL of CASH Rebates........................$28.38
TOTAL Out of Pocket After Rebates........$252.02
TOTAL Savings including Rebates...........$370.05
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$622.07
TOTAL Savings After Rebates...................59.49%
Since my Rite-Aid shopping(which contains No OOP)always skews my savings percentages, I like to figure my Totals without the Rite-Aid numbers also.
TOTAL OOP after Rebates.....$252.02
TOTAL Value of Items Purchases(w/out Rite-Aid items)....$493.33
TOTAL Savings After Rebates(w/out Rite-Aid items).....49%
My food savings percentage seems to run about 50%-60% for the strictly food items only.
Those Rite-Aid purchases always boost up my savings total about 20% points. This month Rite-Aid purchases only boosted my Savings Percentage just over 10%.
This closes out the August spending.
THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month-
With the crazy busy August here, I am thankful I only went over my food budget by $2.02. I would have stayed under budget if I hadn't supplied a day of Gatorade to the kids during Marching Band Camp, but I'm glad I did that even at the expense of my food budget.
Lots of fresh product and meat were purchased in August. But not much stocking up on good deals since there were very few deals this month. I also didn't shop much at Rite-Aid so I don't have lots of free to me items to boost my savings total for August.
What's ahead for September.....
The freezer is exhibiting signs of passing on to the "Big Freezer Place in the Sky". I am trying to empty it out before the day comes when it won't get cold anymore so I won't be stocking up on any frozen food or meat deals until we replace it.
I'm hoping to keep September's food spending to $250 but if I go as high as $300 I won't complain.
With the higher food prices here I may be looking at $300 as my baseline going forward. It doesn't make me happy one bit, but it is what it is. Having just 3 of us at home this month might let me squeeze by on $250 one more month so cross your fingers on that! ;-)
How did you do in August with your Food Budget?
What are your challenges for September? Any family coming to stay....or are you trying to figure out a food budget for the new school year because your kids are in lots of activities and you need to eat "on the go" more?
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
What's ahead for September.....
The freezer is exhibiting signs of passing on to the "Big Freezer Place in the Sky". I am trying to empty it out before the day comes when it won't get cold anymore so I won't be stocking up on any frozen food or meat deals until we replace it.
I'm hoping to keep September's food spending to $250 but if I go as high as $300 I won't complain.
With the higher food prices here I may be looking at $300 as my baseline going forward. It doesn't make me happy one bit, but it is what it is. Having just 3 of us at home this month might let me squeeze by on $250 one more month so cross your fingers on that! ;-)
How did you do in August with your Food Budget?
What are your challenges for September? Any family coming to stay....or are you trying to figure out a food budget for the new school year because your kids are in lots of activities and you need to eat "on the go" more?
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
