Food Spending 2022....the February Report

 Onward to February's Food Spending report......

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for FEBRUARY 2022.

I have posted February'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 February.  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, Pet Food & tax where applicable. We are a family of 3(2-3 eating at home this month). No "kids" under 26. 
*****************

ALDI

OOP  $35.06

Value  $47.01

Savings  25.55%

OCEAN STATE

OOP  $0.00

Value  $4.00

Savings  100%

OLLIE'S

OOP  $3.20

Value  $7.00

Savings  54.29%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC/Gift Cards  $1,130.24

Value  $1,130.24
Savings  100%

WALMART
OOP  $236.01

Qs/free Gift Cards  $516.46
Value  $752.47
Savings 68.66 %

WEIS

OOP  $45.55

Qs/Sales  $14.16
Value  $59.71
Savings  35.71%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%,  Ocean State at 100%, and Walmart at 68.66%.

The worst rate was at Aldi at  25.55%.  
I shopped at 6 different stores in February.  

TOTAL Spent in February................$319.82

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards...$550.37

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased....$870.19

TOTAL Savings of .............................63.25%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for February w/R-A..............$319.82

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards w/................$1,680.61
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid...$2,000.43
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items....................84.01%

This closes out the February food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....Unlike I predicted Weis(PMITA)Markets didn't get many of my grocery dollars in Feb.  Most of what I bought was from Walmart where I recouped most(if not all)of what I spent on Ibotta rebates.  Same goes for Rite-Aid.I got stuff and didn't spend anything out of pocket there either.

I DID spend more than I planned on in February but I have $613.93 in rebate monies total so far for 2022 and I've spent $641.00 OOP so far in 2022 so my actual food/toiletries/HBA/etc. spending is $27.07 for the year.  I'll take that all day long. 8-)))

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by .91% in February 2021 to 84.01% compared to the January's 83.10% savings average.  

With 2 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $641.00 on food/toiletries in 2022.

2021 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$641.00

2021 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$3,901.38

2021 Grand Total Saved...............................$3,260.38

2021 Yearly Savings Total.............................83.57%

The average per month amount spent is $320.50 in 2022.

LOOKING AHEAD To March 2022.......

Well we are traveling a lot in March so the month is an unknown but probably there won't be a lot of  grocery shopping.  Will attempt to eat from stockpile and freezer while we are home.

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 February?

*  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 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 Spending Report.....the May Edition

* Doing this Monthly Report a couple of days early since I'm finished food shopping for May. *

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2020.

I have posted May'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 May.  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(3 at home this month). No "kids" under 24.
*****************

CARONE'S/SHURSAVE
OOP  $9.98
Value  $15.46
Savings   35.45%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $4.00
Value  $6.98
Savings   42.69%

MAINES

OOP  $32.82

Value  $50.67

Savings  33.23%

MALACARI'S

OOP  $25.65

Value  $43.89

Savings  41.56%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP  $31.87
Value  $44.20
Savings  27.90%

PandR DISCOUNTS
OOP  $80.01
Value  $171.17
Savings  53.26% 

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC/GCard  $188.34
Value  $188.34
Savings  100%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP   $77.41
Value  $146.08
Savings  47.01%

WALMART(+ online one)
OOP  $91.42
Value  $157.11
Savings  41.81%

WEIS
OOP  $207.74
Qs/Ads  $87.28
Value  $295.02
Savings  29.58%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, P and R Discounts at 53.26% and Surplus Outlet at 47.01%.   My worst savings rate was at Price Chopper with 27.90%.  Except for the "discount/surplus" stores and R-A of course my rates other places were a lot lower than usual.  I suspect it's because of the pandemic(both higher food rates at "regular" grocery stores and me not bothering to wait for a better price and grabbing some things when not a great deal for fear of not being able to find it later on?).  Who knows?

I shopped at 10 different stores in May.

I also earned $40.99 in cash rebates in May which helps offset the spending once I cash those in at the end of 2020.

I also took out any spending on food for the Memorial Day cook-out as that goes in the Entertaining Category(what little we do).  That was an additional $74.56 you don't see reflected in the numbers below.

TOTAL Spent........................................$560.90

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales................$369.68
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased........$930.58

TOTAL Savings of ................................39.72%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for May w/R-A........$560.90
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales w/R-A....................$188.34
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$188.34
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items.....................49.87%

This closes out the May food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into May having no clue where we'd land on the spending since we didn't really alter our way of eating/what we ate last month.  Said spending was high, there's no debating that.  But given the circumstances lately I'll embrace still being under $600 for May. ;-)

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by .42% in May 2020 to 49.87% compared to the April 2019 rate of 50.29% savings average.  A very insignificant jump down in savings rate.  I'm all good with that!

With 5 months accounted for, I have spent a Year-To-Date Total of $1770.52 on food/toiletries in 2019.

Going into 2020 before the pandemic blew the wind out of my sails I wanted to stay at or under $4K for the yearly food spending.  At this point I don't think that will happen but we'll keep plugging along anyway.


2020 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$1770.52

2020 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$4875.66

2020 Grand Total Saved...............................$3105.14

2020 Yearly Savings Total............63.69%

The average per month amount spent is $354.10 at this point in 2020 which went up some from April's average.  As long as I'm around $400 per month it's all good.

LOOKING AHEAD To June 2020.............

Except for fresh produce(we do have some)we have good stores of food right now heading into June.

June is when I try to do less cooking(oven type)and more stove top, crock pot or grilling.  I also don't like to eat as much cooked foods preferring cold foods(salad season!).  If I can stay away from buying crappy snack foods the grocery budget should be a-ok.  Can I stay under $400 in food spending?  Maybe, maybe not.  Can I shoot for under $500 in the current conditions?  I hope so!


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?

*  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 2018......the September Edition

* I won't be doing anymore food spending this month so I'm posting this a bit early.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2018.

I have posted September'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 September.  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  $10.00
Value  $41.31
Savings  75.80%

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP  $38.94
Ads/Qs  $45.00
Value  $83.94
Savings  58.55%

GIANT
OOP  $19.11
Value  $79.74
Savings  76.03%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $54.65
Value  $108.58
Savings  49.67%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC  $965.93
Value  $965.93
Savings  100%

SURPLUS OUTLET
OOP  $34.40
Value  $67.67
Savings  49.17%

WALMART
OOP  $17.67
Value  $31.27
Savings   43.49%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $311.58

Qs/Ads  $366.35

Value  $677.93

Savings  54.04%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, Giant at 76.03% and the Bread Outlet at 75.80%.  My worst savings rate was at Walmart at 43.49%.  If your worst savings rate is well over 40% that's great, right? ;-)

I shopped at 8 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket for September..........$486.35

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales............$604.09

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.........$1090.44

TOTAL Savings of ................................58%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for August.....$486.35
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales....$1570.02
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid.....$2056.37
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items........76.35%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
September's spending was off the rails.  I spent $86.35 more than my $400 food budget.
We have the money for it so it's not like it's a problem for our finances though.  I just take money from another area in September where we were under budget.  If I had to dip into savings to cover this overage or if I spent the money foolishly and didn't get great value for my dollars this would be serious.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went Up by .06% in September 2018 to 76.35% compared to August's 76.29% savings average.
The free stuff from Rite-Aid skewers my averages but without R-A I am at 55.40% savings.  So even without R-A we are doing well on the "savings" front.

With 9 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $3955.63 on food/toiletries in 2018 which is a 73.66% savings rate for the year so far and averages out to $439.51 spent per month in 2018.  We crept back up away from my $400 per month average for the year in September.

LOOKING AHEAD To October.......
October is looking like an austere grocery spending month.  Except for those items we run out of every week(milk, fresh produce, fresh fruit, etc.)we are well stocked so I am going to try to put the brakes on food spending this month, or do what others call a Pantry Challenge.  I am not a fan of these things(since they just trigger in me a response that makes me want to spend more lol)but I am going to try to not grocery shop beyond the immediate essentials.  No stocking up in October.  This might work since October is typically when there are few food deals around in my area......the lull before the November/December holiday deals.
Except for the Shursave Market which runs a Thanksgiving Promo starting in early Oct.(You spend on anything in the store and accumulate points toward a Turkey Day gift certificate-not a free turkey.  Depending on your spending level you get either a $10 or a $20 certificate between early Oct. and early Nov.)
Since I typically don't spend the bulk of my food dollars at this chain I hardly ever earn even the $10 certificate but I feel compelled to spend $ there at the last minute to "catch-up" and earn that cert....even though it's really NOT a great deal to do so.

We'll see how October plays out.  ;-)

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?
*  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%
 

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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

Food & Toiletries Spending.....May Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MAY 2014.

I have posted May'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 May.  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 4(3 at home this month)& 1 dog. No kids under 18.
******************

DOLLAR GENERAL
OOP  $21.16
Qs/Ads  $12.71
Value  $33.87
Savings  37.52%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $117.76
Qs/Ads  $43.05
Value  $160.81
Savings  26.77%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $147.43

Qs/Ads  $93.93

Value  $241.36

Savings  38.91%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $238.28

Qs/Ads  $159.57

Value  $160.81

Savings  40.10%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Weis at 40.10%,  the Local Grocer at 38.91% and the Dollar General at 37.52%.  My WORST savings rate was at Maine Source at 26.77%.
I shopped at 4 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$524.63

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$309.26

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$833.89

TOTAL Savings of...................................37.08%

This closes out the May food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into May wanting to trim the spending to around $300.
Not.
Even.
Close.
LOLZ

Actually though I spent $333.20 for May through the 30th when we got home.  If I had waited until Sunday the 1st of June to do grocery shopping, instead of going out on Saturday the 31st of May, I would have been close.

Technically everything I bought on Saturday was for eating in June so the last $191.43 I spent in May should go on my June spending sheet, right?  8-)

I'll leave it on May's and try to stay under $400 for the rest of June.



LOOKING AHEAD TO JUNE......

Well we have a graduation party to throw and then #1 Son and his GF are coming to visit for a week at the end of June. 
So much for staying under $300 this month! lolz

 

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

Total spend on food/toiletries so far this year.....$2,036.09
The average monthly food/toiletries spending this year so far is $407.22.
We are over $400 per month average now.  I will get it back under $400 as soon as possible.

 

How much did you spend on food/toiletries in May?
Do you track your yearly food spending?
 

Sluggy