2017 Food & Toiletries Spending......August Update

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2017.

I have posted August'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 August.  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(3-4 at home this month). No kids under 21.

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ALDI
OOP  $24.91
Value  $43.75
Savings  43.06%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $9.00
Value  $35.12
Savings  74.37%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $3.00
Value  $4.50
Savings  33.33%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $58.17
Value  $94.29
Savings  38.31%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PPs  $74.93
Value  $74.93
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE MARKET
OOP  $64.57
Qs/Ads  $51.35
Value  $115.92
Savings  44.30%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $174.29

Qs/Ads  $204.03

Value  $378.32

Savings  53.93%

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 74.37% and Weis Markets at 53.93%.  My WORST savings rate was at that Dollar Tree at 33.33%.

I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.  Or rather my Daughter and I shopped at 7 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$333.94

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$337.96

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$671.90

TOTAL Savings of ..................................50.30%
Total Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$746.83
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items..........55.29%

This closes out the August food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I wanted to stay under $420 spent in August and I ended up $86.06 under that mark.  I am pleased as punch I could meet that expectation.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 9.79% in August to 55.29% compared to July's 65.08% savings average.  We still have over a 50% savings rate so it's all good.

With 8 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $2,760.34 on food/toiletries in 2017 which is a 69.37% savings rate for the year to-date and averages out to $345.04 per month spent in 2017. 8-)


LOOKING AHEAD To September........

With College Boy back at school we are down to 3 adults at home for meals.  With Hubs home full time now I am hoping any remaining food waste will go away.  Hubs doesn't want to eat sandwiches for lunches(as he did mostly when he was working)and he loves leftovers so he is more than happy to attack dinner leftovers.  8-)))
Setting a monthly budget for September.....Hmmm, let me think.  Not much will be available in the way of Holiday deals(mostly baking items/canned goods)this month but we'll need to get tomatoes to can at the farm.
I am thinking $350 budget for September will be sufficient.  Since we are still living on a reduced income this coming month if I can do it for less than that, more's the better. ;-)

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 August?
*  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 & Toiletries Spending......April Update

*I am posting this a few days early since I am done shopping for the month.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for APRIL 2015.

I have posted April'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(2-3 at home this month). No kids under 19.

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DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $9.00
Value $18.50
Savings  51.35%

MAINE SOURCE
OOP  $112.79
Qs/Ads $80.63
Value $193.42
Savings  41.69%

PRICE CHOPPER
OOP  $27.64
Qs/Ads $20.03
Value $47.67
Savings  42.02%

RITE-AID *(see below)
OOP  $1.55
Qs/Ads/+UPs  $66.13
Value  $67.68
Savings  97.71%

 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $13.23

Qs/Ads  $6.09

Value  $19.32

Savings  31.52%

TARGET
OOP  $33.76
Qs/Ads $33.41
Value $67.17
Savings  49.74%
 

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $103.44

Qs/Ads  $85.65

Value  $189.09

Savings  45.30%
 

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 97.71%, Dollar Tree at 51.35% and Target at 49.74%.  My WORST savings rate was the Shursave store at 31.52%.



I shopped at 7 different stores this past month. 

TOTAL Out of Pocket........ $301.41

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$241.44

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$542.85

TOTAL Savings of...................................44.48%
TOTAL Savings WITHOUT Rite-Aid.............36.89%

This closes out the April food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I went into April wanting to do a $300 monthly spending and actually accomplished this....if you don't count the $1.55 I spent at Rite-Aid which put me $1.41 over.  ;-)

The monthly savings percentage went down by 25.28% in April to 44.48% compared to March's 69.76% average.
Didn't I tell y'all when I stopped buying stuff at Rite-Aid my percentages would plummet? 8-(

The savings rate for the year so far now stands at 65%.  That's a 3.70% decrease in savings over March's YTD total.  It's still hanging in well over a 40% savings rate for the year but will be going down further unless I jump back into Rite-Aid shopping at a savings rate comparable to before they ditched the +Ups Rewards Program.

I have spent a total of $1,233.86 on food/toiletries in 2015.  That averages out to $308.46andahalf per month.
I'm pretty happy with that.

LOOKING AHEAD To MAY.........

I want to continue to eat down some of our stockpiles of canned/boxed food and empty out the freezer a bit more. We will be back up to 3 adults for May since College Boy comes home on the 9th for the Summer.

I will mostly probably need to increase my food spending in May to accommodate another mouth to feed and buy items Hubs and I don't eat but that College Boy considers essentials.

I won't set a number yet but will play things by ear.  We'll be traveling for part of May so the eating out/vacation spending will increase and the food budget spending may actually not increase even with another person to feed.

What I am trying to say is that May will be a total crapshoot.  8-)
 

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 April?
*  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

This Week on the Dining Table

The  "One More Week and June is Over" Edition.......

 

] High School is over as is Marching Band.  Can't believe this picture was taken over 8 MONTHS ago!  It seems like just yesterday.

 

We are one WEEK from being halfway through 2014.

Where did it go???

 

Here is my list of meals for the second half of June.----

16.  Broiled Salmon, Veggie, Cole Slaw(leftover)
17.  Leftover Beef Stroganoff & Mushroom Risotto, Roasted Cauliflower
18.  Hot Italian Sausage and Spaghetti, Salad
19.  Leftover Burgers and other leftover party foods
20.  French Bread Pizza, Salad
21.  Scallops and Shrimp en Croute, Veggie
22.  Pork Chops, Sautéed Cabbage, Macaroni Salad(leftover)
23.  BLT Sandwiches or Cheesesteaks-Diner's Choice
24.  Battered Fish Portions, leftover party food side dishes
25.  Pulled Pork Sandwiches(leftover), Coleslaw or Veggie
26.  Dinner out with #1Son
27.  Lasagna, Salad
28.  Burritos, Salad
29.  London Broil, Fettuccine w/Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas
30.  Wild Card meal-not planned

And here is what we ate last week(in blue)and what is left to finish out June.......

16.  Broiled Salmon, Veggie, Cole Slaw(leftover)
17.  Leftover Beef Stroganoff and Mushroom Risotto, Roasted Cauliflower
18.  Hot Italian Sausage and Spaghetti, Salad
19.  Leftover Burgers and other leftover party foods
20.  French Bread Pizza, Salad
21.  Scallops and Shrimp en Croute, Veggie
22.  Pork Chops, Sautéed Cabbage, Macaroni Salad(leftover)
23.  BLT Sandwiches or Cheesesteaks-Diner's Choice
24.  Battered Fish Portions, leftover party food side dishes
25.  Pulled Pork Sandwiches(leftover), Coleslaw, Veggie
26.  Dinner out with #1Son
27.  Lasagna, Salad
28.  Burritos, Salad
29.  London Broil, Fettuccine w/Sauce, Sugar Snap Peas
30.  Wild Card meal-not planned

Right now we have leftover--1 helping of Stroganoff, 2 fish planks, Spaghetti/Hot Sausage, Meatballs, Pulled Pork(which #1 Son will devour when he gets here lol).  We also still have some Potato Salad and ALOT of Baked Beans....why oh why did I buy that #10 sized can of them for the party? LOLZ

It's suppose to be hot today so I'll probably do the #23--BLTs/Cheesesteaks--tonight.

After tonight that leaves 6 meals on my list.
Wednesday we are going out to dinner for #1 Son's birthday meal to THIS PLACE and that is as far as I know for this week how the eating will go.


Last week I did a variety of small shops, $5.23 here, $37.25 there, etc.
Total spent on food came to $76.62, putting me at $297.35 spent on $472.30 regular retail so far in June.  That gives me a 37% savings rate so far this month with 6 days to go in my buying month.
If #1 Son and GF don't want to eat what is left on my menu list, it might involve more food buying this month so check back next Monday for the TWOTDT Post to see what happened.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?
Do you make a menu and how flexible is your plan?

 

Sluggy