2016 Food & Toiletries Spending.....July Update

* I've closed out the July books a couple of days early as I am done shopping.  Anything bought in the next 2 days will come out of August's funds. *

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for JULY 2016.

I have posted July's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2016 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.  I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in July.  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(5 at home this month). No kids under 20.

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

BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $11.93
Value  $35.72
Savings 66.60%

BOYER'S MARKET
OOP  $39.50
Value  $77.17
Saved  $37.67
Savings  48.81%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $11.18
Value  $18.18
Savings  38.50%

FOOD LION
OOP  $24.93
Value  $36.55
Saved  $11.62
Savings  31.79%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $52.29
Value  $89.46
Savings  41.55%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Value  $19.29
Saved  $19.29
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $85.78
Qs/Ads $144.54
Value  $230.32
Savings  62.75%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $348.96

Qs/Ads  $376.40

Value  $673.94

Savings  55.85%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, Bakery Outlet at 66.60% and Shursave Market at 62.75%.  My WORST savings rate was at Food Lion at 31.79%
I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$574.57

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$489.95

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1064.50

TOTAL Savings of...................................46.02%

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/R-A.....$1082.79
TOTAL Savings including Rite-Aid shopping....46.94%


This closes out the July food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into July wanting to do a $450 food budget for the month.  I ended up going over by a whooping $124.57.
Ouch.

Again I am still trying to find the spending sweet spot.  Some of my spending in July was due to picking up good deals which we'll use later on in the year and there were many good deals to be had since July 4th was this month.  I picked up more meats/proteins for the freezer than I used in July so the freezer is fuller at the end of the month than it was at the beginning.

At least my savings rate is up again to 46.94%(only a bit of that was due to Rite-Aid shopping)while in June it had dropped to 39.80%.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went up by 7.14% in July to 46.94% compared to June's 39.80% savings average.
I'll take that savings rate all day long!

With 7 months accounted for, I have spent a total of $2379.22 on food/toiletries so far in 2016 which averages out to $339.89 per month spent.  This is $39.11 higher per month than the average in June was.
But then again, I am feeding 2 extra people this year so that increase is not so bad.


LOOKING AHEAD To August 2016.........

I will continue with my usual shopping ways in August....buy loss leaders or great deals which we can use, use a few coupons, cash in points for gift cards or buy discounted gift cards to food stores when possible.
I am going to give myself $500 for August.  Not sure if this amount will work for August as Hubs and I are going away for 9 days and I'll need to leave some cash here for the kids to buy groceries and you know they won't be as careful with their purchases as I am.  ;-)

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 July?
*  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

2015 Food and Toiletries Spending.....July Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for JULY 2015.

I have posted July's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2015 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly Totals there.  I am listing subtotals for each store I purchased from in June.  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(3-4 at home this month). No kids under 19. 
Remember too that youngest son's friend often stays over at our house during the school break and eats here sometimes so I am feeding an additional person sporadically.

******************
BAKERY OUTLET
OOP  $7.50
Value  $35.22
Savings  78.71%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $9.05
Value  $21.65
Savings  58.20%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $44.38
Value $67.57
Savings  34.32%

MALACHI's(produce market)
OOP  $3.97
Value $6.99
Savings   43.20%

RITE-AID
OOP  $100.00
Qs/Ads  $61.03
Value  $161.03
Savings  37.90%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $3.42

Qs/Ads  $0

Value  $3.42

Savings  0%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP  $56.32
Value  $91.39
Savings  38.37%

TARGET
OOP  $0.00
Value  $40.46
Savings  100%
 

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $227.26

Qs/Ads  $228.99

Value  $456.25

Savings  50.19%
 

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Target at 100%, the Bakery Outlet at 78.71% and Dollar Tree at 58.20%.  My WORST savings rate(besides the local market were I just bought a gallon of milk and milk is NEVER on sale in PA so it was 0% savings there)was Maine Source at 34.32%.

I shopped at 9 different stores this past month.   Lots of single transactions at lots of stores. The only store I shopped at repeatedly was Weis.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........ $451.90

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$432.08

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$883.98

TOTAL Savings of...................................48.88%

This closes out the July food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into July wanting to do a $300 food budget for the month....after June's spending topped out at $602.03 it was time to reign things in.  8-(
Well if I hadn't bought those Rite-Aid gift cards(to use later in the year to get awesome deals) I could have done a $350.90 spending month and that would have been closer to my target.

The monthly savings percentage went down by 6.72 % in July to 48.88% compared to June's 55.60% average.  If I hadn't purchased the R-A gift cards my monthly savings percentage would have been 53.11% which would have been a 2.49% reduction in savings.

The savings rate for the whole year so far now stands at 58.12%.  That's a 1.4 % decrease in savings over June's YTD total(59.52%).  It's still hanging in well over a 40% savings rate for the year so it's all good. 

I have spent a total of $2,803.56 on food/toiletries in 2015 so far at this point in the year. That averages out to $400.51 per month so just over $400 average per month.  Not a bad thing but I can do better.

June's Grocery Spend Fest  raised the average monthly spending by $42.10 more per month for the year-to-date.
And May's spending raised the average monthly spending by $41.47.  
With July's average monthly spending at $400.51 we are finally heading in the right direction!

With College Boy going back to school next month(and no more coffee, snacks, chicken strips, soda, etc. being bought) I should be able to get this food spending even lower.

If you take my halfway through 2015 total and extrapolate it out for the full year, we are on track to achieve a $4,703.32 Food/Toiletries Spending Year for 2015.

LOOKING AHEAD To AUGUST.........

We'll try for a $350 food budget for AUGUST.  I am done buying special snacks and foods for College Boy for the Summer and he goes back to school on the 15th of August.  Granted I'll have a few items to pick up for him to take to school as he goes back a week before classes start for Marching Band Camp and he'll need food for that week plus snacks and bottled water for the Fall semester.  I've picked up over the course of this Summer some provisions for him to take back to school already, working those expenses into my monthly food shopping budget(drinks, coffee, canned pasta, ramen cups, cereal, etc.)so we shouldn't have to spend much this month, if anything thing, on foods/toiletries for him.

We do need to eat down some proteins in the freezer including a turkey breast this August.  Just getting that out will make quite a bit of room in there for late Summer produce buys coming up I wish to freeze.
 

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 July?
*  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?
 

Sluggy

2015 Food and Toiltries Spending.....May Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2015.

I have posted May's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2015 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly 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 SumMy spending includes Food, Toiletries/HBA, Cleaning Products, Paper Goods & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3(3 at home this month). No kids under 19.

******************
MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $6.78
Qs/Ads $14.39
Value $21.17
Savings  67.97%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $19.11
Value $35.11
Savings   45.57%

RITE-AID *(see below)
OOP  $11.67
Qs/Ads  $23.63
Value  $35.30
Savings  66.94%

SAM'S CLUB
OOP  $26.64
Value  $37.07
Savings  28.14%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $159.20

Qs/Ads  $61.44

Value  $220.64

Savings  27.85%

TARGET
OOP  $5.76
Qs/Ads $12.20
Value $17.96
Savings  67.93%
 

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $286.61

Qs/Ads  $278.80

Value  $565.41

Savings  49.31%
 

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Maine Source at 67.97%, Target at 67.93% and Rite-Aid at 66.94%.  My WORST savings rate was the ShurSave store at 27.15%.

I shopped at 6 different stores this past month. 

TOTAL Out of Pocket........ $515.77

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$416.89

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$932.66

TOTAL Savings of...................................44.70%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............43.82%

This closes out the May food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into May without a firm food budget because the College Boy came home the beginning of the month and  there were many items I don't usually buy that had to be bought for him......essentials like Doritos, TastyKakes, Goldfish crackers, Cream soda, Chicken strips, canned Chili, stuff like that, that makes up the nutritious part of a teenage boy's diet. ;-)

Due to some "deals" at Weis(PMITA)Markets in May, we are stocked to the gills on pickles, salad dressing, flavored yogurt, popsicles and ice cream now.

The monthly savings percentage went up by .22% in May to 44.70% compared to April's 44.48% average.
A 44.70% is a bit better than a 44.48% savings rate so I'll take it.

You'll notice that without the +Ups Rewards at Rite-Aid my savings rate there went to hell-66.94%.  My usual R-A savings rate hovered in the 98% neighborhood until this month.  Yeah, my neighborhood is not so lush anymore.......

The savings rate for the year so far now stands at 60.72%.  That's a 4.28% decrease in savings over April's YTD total.  It's still hanging in well over a 40% savings rate for the year but will be going down further since I am not robbing Rite-Aid blind any longer. *sad face*

I was feeling out of sorts over my total spent on food/toiletries in May....it seemed really high for some reason.
Then I went and looked at 2014's May spending and it was $524.63(even more than what I spent this year)and 2013 was $500.35, so I am only slightly higher that that year.
I feel a bit better about it all now. 8-)

I have spent a total of $1,749.63 on food/toiletries in 2015 so far.  That averages out to $349.93 per month.
May's Grocery Spend Fest  raised the average monthly spending by $41.47 per month for the year-to-date.
meh.

LOOKING AHEAD To JUNE.........

Since College Boy is eating dinner at the restaurant he works at(and he is now working 5 nights a week)I won't be making dinner for him mostly.  He usually gets up at 2ish pm and has coffee and breakfast(cereal, a breakfast sammich or bagel).  He sometimes eats late at night after work but not always at home.
Other than stocking a few basics he requires(chips, tastykakes, breakfast foods, cereal, milk, burritos, chicken strips, burgers)my grocery spending should be fairly normal(under $400)this month. I'll be using down stores from the pantry and freezer this month.  No guests, parties or vacationing going on in June so we are back to the usual eating routine again.

We'll try for a $400 food budget for June.
Last year's June spending was $463.75 so I am sure I can do better than that this June.
 

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?
 

Sluggy

The Plan for Food Spending in 2015

Food Spending.
The bane of my existence. 8-)

Here is a list of what I have spent since 2010(the year I started fully tracking where all the food/toiletries monies went).  Not too scientific as the number of persons being fed varied during these years from 5 to 2, depending on kids at college or not, and kids moving out or not.


2009--$6,254.84 +(I didn't track rebates and gift cards received that year)
2010--$2,291.67 + ($841.73 rebate checks/ $563.99 gift cards received)
2011--$3,080.59 + ($433.22 rebate checks/ $76.00 gift cards received)
2012--$4,196.36 +($67.48 rebate checks/ $5.00 gift cards received)
2013--$4,560.82 +($80.99 rebate checks/ $15.00 gift cards received)
2014--$4,989.49 +($44.54 rebate checks/ $10 gift cards received)

A little explanation of these figures--
I started couponing and deal hounding seriously in Feb. of  2009 so my full year's spending in food was even more than shown that year.  Yikes!
Obviously 2009 was the year I started stockpiling and learning how to coupon in earnest and by 2010 I had a system and ramped up the rebating.

As you can see a combination of rising food prices, a dirth of rebate deals/gift card deals in each succeeding year and a bit of "food lifestyle inflation" and even though I am feeding less people now than in 2010 my food costs have inched up every year since then.

LOOKING AHEAD for 2015.........
With some planning and watching the pennies better we should be able to keep the food/toiletries/paper goods/cleaning products spending at $4800 or less in 2015.
Here's how I am going to do that--

*  Buy Less.  Since we are looking at selling this house and moving within the next 2-3 years I will start reducing the size of our stockpile.  This means using up more of it in 2015 so I'll need to buy less.  Less $ spent + Less stuff to move=Success!

*  Seek out the best deals I can find on what I need to buy.  Stick to my price book principles and think twice before splurging on items I "want" but don't "need".  Make better decisions with the food dollars.

*  Preserve our garden harvest.  We need to get serious about the garden again and can or freeze what we grow.

*   Make more of an effort to find rebates to send for to offset food spending.  Around 2010 saw the end of the Glory Days of rebating/refunding.  Add in that in PA we can't even do the liquor rebate deals most of the rest of the country can participate in. sigh.

*  Food Waste.  While we have minimal food waste most months I could do better.  I will do better.  Successful meal planning goes hand in hand with food waste(or the lack thereof).  By planning you are halfway to eliminating the waster.  8-)

I am hoping that with these measures I can get the spending down below $4800, even though I was $200 over that in 2014 and food prices are predicted to go up 2-3% in 2015.

So what do you spend on food/toiletries a year if you track those expenses?
What measures do you take to keep your food/toiletry costs down?

Sluggy
 

Food & Toiletries Spending......September Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2014.

I have posted September'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 September.  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.

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

FARM STAND
OOP  $28.00
Value  $60.95
Savings  54.07%

GIANT
OOP  $27.86
Qs/Ads  $15.20
Value  $43.06
Savings  35.30%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $15.09
Value  $23.19
Savings  34.93%

SAM'S CLUB
OOP  $51.22
Value  $73.50
Savings  30.31%

TARGET
OOP  $18.78
Qs/Ads  $79.97
Value  $98.75
Savings  81%

RITE-AID
OOP  $8.48
Qs/Ads/+UPs  $449.50
Value  $457.98
Savings   98.15%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $95.22

Qs/Ads  $35.98

Value  $131.20

Savings  35.98%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $107.88

Qs/Ads  $85.33

Value  $193.21

Savings  44.17%
 

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 98.15%,  Target at 81% and the Farm stand at 54.07%.  My WORST savings rate was Sam's Club at 30.31%.
I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$306.67

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$850.80

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,157.47

TOTAL Savings of...................................73.50%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............57.37%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I came close to the $300 budget I shot for this month.
$6.67 over that target.

The monthly savings percentage went up by 9.50% in September to 73.50% compared to August's  64% average.

In addition the savings percentage went up for the year by 3.67% because of the great savings month that was September.  After August my yearly % of savings was 49.12% and after adding Septmeber in it stands at 52.79% for the year.
8-)
But I am not expecting it to stay that high.....though 2013's yearly rate was 46.77% so who knows where it will end up in 2014.  8-)

Even if I remove my Rite-Aid shopping out my September totals that monthly total is $298.19 spent with a 57.37% savings rate. 
Awesome.

Total spend on food/toiletries so far this year after 9 months.....$3,634.86.

The average monthly food/toiletries spending to-date for the year so far is $403.87.  We brought it down from $416.03 which is where it stood after August's spending was added in.
I saw a decrease in the monthly average by $12.16 so far for the year.

While September wasn't the month we got the average monthly food spending back under a $400 per month average, but we got it within $4 of there.
I'll take it!

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER......

I am going to try again for a $300 food spending budget this month.  It's just Hubs and I here this month again and I don't foresee any company coming for meals.
Since we have an extra 3rd paycheck this month it's tempting to loosen the spending in October and buy some food treats.....lobster, steak, and even paying full price for other items.
Shocking, right? lolz
Tempting but it isn't going to happen here!  We will stay the frugal course 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 September?
*  Do you track your yearly food spending?
*  If so, how are you doing thus far in 2014?
 

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The  "July 4th weekend is made for drinking and fire" Edition.......

 

 

 Hubs and I sat and have a fire Friday night while  #2 Son and his friends sat on our front porch to watch the town's fireworks.  We are up high so you can see them over the treetops from our house.

 

Here is my list of planned meals last week----

1.  Fish, Coleslaw, Rutabaga
2.  Pork Chops, Squash Casserole
3.  BLT Sandwiches or Cheesesteaks-Diner's Choice
4.  Tacos
5.  Lasagna, Salad
6.  Leftovers
7.  Leftovers

And here is what we ate last week that was on this list.......

1.  Fish, leftover Coleslaw, Rutabaga
2. Tacos (with ground chicken and beef)
3.  Chicken from the grocery store, Brussels sprouts
4.  Leftovers
5.  Hamburgers(use leftover package of ground beef), COC
6.  Squash Casserole
7.  Lasagna, Salad

Leftovers only 1 night instead of 2 and no chops w/the squash casserole and no BLT or Cheesesteak sammies.
I bought  store-made Chicken I didn't need because it was too hot that day to run the kitchen machinery.

I spent $120.85 on $191.32 worth of groceries last week at 3 stores.
$14 of that was buying drinks for my trip(tea and G2 Gatorade).
Hubs picked up corn and cheese on the 4th and didn't give me the receipt yet, so I'll add that trip into my total sometime later this month.


Going into this week, in leftovers we have.........Fajitas filling(for 1 or 2 tortillas), store bought Chicken(3 pieces), squash casserole and a shit ton of Lasagna.

Here is the plan for this week......

1.  Leftovers
2.  Chicken thighs with Zucchini in tomatoes, Rice
3.  Leftovers
4.  ?
5.  ?
6.  ?
7.  ?

I have zuke, I bought last week, to use up before I leave town so I'll defrost thighs and make my Lena's Chicken recipe.  That should give Hubs more leftovers to munch on after I skip town too.

I have no clue what the family will be eating after Wednesday.  Hubs doesn't want me to lay in supplies for him to cook, which can only mean he's planning on getting a lot of take-out and frozen pizzas, plus eating any leftovers we still have.  lolz
I'll put a portion of the leftover lasagna in the freezer before I go, since they won't want to eat the whole massive pan that's left before it goes South.
 

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten that week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?

 

Sluggy

Food & Toiletries Spending.....November Totals Update

Not that having to write THIS POST did anything to lower my blood pressure after yesterday's rant but some days it's the best one can do. ;-)
Onward to November's food spending report.......

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for NOVEMBER 2013.

I have posted November's totals on the Total Grocery Savings for 2013 Page located HERE and have updated the Yearly 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 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 17.
******************

BIG LOTS
OOP  $25.50
Value  $53.50
Savings  52.33%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $20.89
Value  $77.53
Savings  73.06%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $82.73
Value  $158.58
Savings  47.83%

REDNER'S
OOP  $18.91
Qs/Ads  $9.54
Value  28.45
Savings  33.53%

RITE-AID
OOP  $14.74
Qs/Ads/+Ups  $382.77
Value  $397.51
Savings  96.30%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $227.91

Qs/Ads  $

Value  $386.19

Savings  40.98%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $192.10

Qs/Ads  $

Value  $384.27

Savings  50%

I am no longer adding my rebates received into my food budget directly. I will use them on food on occasion and will note that when used.  I will keep track of rebates/gift cards/certs received here as before however.

REBATE CHECKS RECEIVED IN October.....$0.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES....$0

TOTAL Value of Cash/Store Checks/Gift Card Rebates Received...$0.00

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Zero

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 96.30%, The Bread Outlet at 73.06% and Big Lots at 52.33%.  I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$582.78

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$903.25

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,486.03

TOTAL Savings of...................................60.78%

This closes out the November food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into November with my usual $400 budgeted for food/toiletries purchases.
I went over by $182.78. 
Yikes!
Now this will only be ok if I can lower my food spending in December accordingly by about $180ish.
Spend more in November?.....spend that much less in December.

As you can see my Savings Rate skyrocketed in November for the 40's to the 60's, because of my Rite-Aid shopping.
Without the Rite-Aid totals added in, my November Savings Rate is 48% which is more in line with my track record this year.  Add in Rite-Aid totals and my overall Savings Rate is 60.78%.

You will notice though, Rite-Aid shopping aside, that my savings rates in November were REALLY good!  My lowest rate was 33.53%.  Some months 33% is my best savings rate! lol  I got some really really great deals on prices in November so I am NOT going to whine about overspending too much. 8-)
 

Looking ahead to December---We are not holding a big Christmas gathering here so we won't be having much extra food spending.  And if I can keep from buying a Prime Rib Roast like I did last year, the Christmas food spending shouldn't get out of hand.  We will be doing our traditional Christmas Even dinner out but that cost comes out of the Christmas budget. 
To get to the spending threshold to earn the Thanksgiving Gift Certificate in November I have stocked up on quite a few items I won't have to spend on in December.  I am going to try to eat from the stockpile this month and keep Food Spending in December to between $250-$300. 

 

And here is the run down of my Food & Toiletries Spending for 2013 so far this year--
 

2013 Total Saved $3,426.65

2013 Yearly Total Value of Items  $7,702.36

2013 Yearly Total Spent $4,275.71

2013 Yearly Savings Total of  44.49%

 

In November, total savings percentage for the year has gone UP 3.89% over October's year-to-date total of 40.60%, to 44.49%. 
Holding steady in the mid 40%s with one more month of food spending to go.  I would be very happy to end the year with a savings rate in the 40's.

The average monthly food/toiletries spending so far this year stands at $388.70.
Let's see if I can keep the average monthly spending below $400 for the year after December is done.

 

How much did you spend on food in November?
 

Sluggy