AUGUST 2012 Budget Results.......Food and Toiletries Spending

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for AUGUST 2012.

I have posted August's totals on the right side bar under Total Grocery Savings for 2012 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(3-5 at home this month)& 2 dogs. No kids under 16.
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FARM STAND
OOP   $31.50

Value   $80.48

Savings  60.86%

RITE-AID

OOP  $.70

Qs/Ads/+Ups/Gift Card  $613.06

Value  $613.76

Savings   99.88%

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $346.94

Qs/Ads  $269.18

Value  $616.12

Savings  43.69%

WALMART

OOP  $17.88

Value  $31.14

Savings  42.58%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $88.92

Qs/Ads  $73.01

Value  $161.93

Savings  45.09%

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

Total...$0.00

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

COUPONS and FREEBIES

Nothing.

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My best 3 Store Savings Totals were the Rite-Aid at 99.88%,  the Farm Stand at 60.86%, and Weis at 45.09%.  l shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$485.94

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$1,017.49

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$1,503.43

TOTAL Savings of...................................67.67%

This closes out the August spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into August with $400 budgeted for food/toiletries for the month.  I obviously blew through that mark plus another $85.94.  Having all 5 of us home for almost a week and having #2 Son(aka the Eating Machine)home full time helped push me over but I gave myself an extra $100 last month so I'll have to see where we went off course.  I suspect it's a little more junk food and extra spending on fresh veggies/fruits AND the almost $100 I spent on meats at the Meat Sale at the local market.  Also, the bulk of the farm stand purchases were either for canning pepper relish or for veggies to freeze for this winter's consumption.

So yes, now I see where that $185.94 went. ;-)

Again, I didn't use many coupons in August, not counting Rite-Aid, where I use many MANY coupons!lol 

At strictly grocery outlets, I used 2 coupons and 2 catalinas I earned to be exact.

 

LOOKING AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER......

I will be keeping my food budget at $400 for September.  #2 Son is home again.  I might be going back to the farm stand for Fall veggies and I want to leave myself some budget room for stocking up opportunities this month if they come along.

How did you do in August with your Food Budget?
Did you stick to it?
Did you find any good rock bottom prices to stock up on groceries?

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

More Boring Weis Catalina Rolling Trips.....Yes, this is the Last Post!

Saturday was the last day for the Catalina Deals at Weis so I did 4 more transactions before calling it quits.  the 1st two transactions were done at a Weis Market south of here....the regular shelf prices were a bit lower in this town but luckily I noticed in time to make sure I have a high enough total in shelf prices to get the Cats.




Transaction #1

5 x Chef Michael Dry Dog Food  Shelf price $3.79=$18.95/Sale price $3.50=$17.50
4 x Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix  Shelf price $1.95=$7.80/Sale price $1.00=$4.00
3 x Carnation Evaporated Milk  Shelf price $1.19=$3.57/Sale price $1.00=$3.00
2 x Aquapod Water  Shelf price $2.50=$5.00/Sale price $1.00=$2.00
SubTotal....Shelf price $35.32/Sale price  $26.50   **Shelf needed to be over $35 this time.**

Coupons Used
5 x $2/1 Chef Michael Dry Dog Food ManuQ=$10.00
4 x $.50/1 Nestle Hot Cocoa Mix doubled to $1.00=$4.00
1 x $.50/2 Carnation Evaporated Milk doubled to $1.00=$1.00
1 x $10 OYNO Catalina from last transaction=$10.00
Coupon Total.....$25.00

$26.50-$25.00=$1.50+$1.05tax=$2.55 OOP
And received a $10 OYNO Catalina.





Transaction #2

4 x OEP Taco Seasoning  Shelf price $.85=$3.40/Sale price $.625=$2.50
2 x OEP Refried Beans  Shelf price $1.39=$2.78/Sale price $1.00=$2.00
4 x Pillsbury Crescent Rolls  Shelf price $2.19=$8.76/Sale price $1.66=$6.67
2 x Pillsbury RTB Cookies  Shelf price $3.39=$6.78/Sale price $2.50=$5.00
1 x Yo-Plus Yogurt  Shelf price=$2.59/Sale price=$1.50
1 x Choc. Cheerios Cereal  Shelf price=$3.59/Sale price=$2.50
1 x Wheaties Fuel Cereal  Shelf price=$3.99/Sale price=$2.50
SubTotal....Shelf price  $31.89/Sale price  $22.67 **Shelf needed to be over $30 this time.**

Coupons Used
1 x $.60/2 OEP IPQ doubled to $1.00=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls ManuQ doubled to .80¢=$.80
1 x $1/1 Pillsbury RTB Cookies ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Yo-Plus Yogurt ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.55/1 Choc. Cheerios Cereal IPQ doubled to $1.00=$1.00
1 x $.75/1 Wheaties Fuel Cereal IPQ doubled to $1.00=$1.00
1 x $10 OYNO Catalina=$10.00

Coupon Total.....$18.80

$22.67-$18.80=$3.87 OOP
And received an $8 OYNO Catalina plus a $4 OYNO Catalina(Pillsbury)& a $3 OYN Meat Purchase Catalina(OEP).

Then it was back to Teeny Tiny Town Saturday evening to finish up.....






Transaction #3

6 x Green Giant Veggie Steamers  Shelf price $2.50=$15.00/Sale price $2.00=$12.00
2 x Progresso High Fiber Soup  Shelf price $2.19=$4.38/Sale price $1.34/.33=$2.67
1 x Yo Plus Yogurt  Shelf price=$2.79/Sale price=$1.50
3 x OEP Refried Beans  Shelf price $1.45=$4.35/Sale price $1.00=$3.00
4 x OEP Taco Seasoning Mix  Shelf price $.89=$3.56/Sale price $.625=$2.50
SubTotal......Shelf price $30.08/Sale price $21.67  **Shelf price needed to be over $30 this time.**
1 x Ground Beef  4.81lbs.($6.15+$5.83)=$11.98
Total(using Sale price for Catalina items)......$33.65

Coupons Used

4 x $.40/1 Green Giant Veggie Steamers ManuQ doubled to $.80=$3.20
1 x $1/2 Green Giant Veggie Steamers ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.50/2 Progresso Soup ManuQ doubled to $1.00=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Yo Plus Yogurt  ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.55/2 OEP ManuQ doubled to $1.00=$1.00
2 x $3 Instant Discount Sticker on Ground Beef=$6.00
1 x $8 OYNO Catalina from last transaction
1 x $3 OYN Meat Purchase Catalina from last transaction
Coupon Total......$24.20

$33.67-$24.20=$9.45 OOP
I received an $8 OYNO Catalina and a $3 OYN Meat Purchase Catalina.(And I still have my $4 Pillsbury Cat which I didn't spend in this transaction.)







Transaction #4

4 x OEP Refried Beans  Shelf price $1.45=$5.80/Sale price $1.00=$4.00
2 x OEP Taco Seasoning Mix  Shelf price $.89=$1.78/Sale price $.625=$1.25
2 x OEP Taco Shells  Shelf price $2.29=$4.58/Sale price $1.25=$2.50
2 x BC Cookie Mix  Shelf $2.19=$4.38/Sale price $1.67=$3.34
4 x Pillsbury RTB Cookies  Shelf price $3.19=$12.76/Sale price $2.50=$10.00
1 x Pillsbury RTB Cookies  Shelf price $3.49/Sale price $2.50=$2.50
1 x Pillsbury Crescent Rolls  Shelf price $2.29/Sale price $1.67
SubTotal.....Shelf price  $35.08/Sale price  $25.26  **Shelf price needed to be over $35 here.**

Coupons Used
1 x $1/2 BC Cookie Mix ManuQ=$1.00
2 x $1/2 Pillsbury RTB CookiesManuQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Pillsbury RTB Cookies ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $.25/1 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls ManuQ doubled to .50¢=$.50
1 x $4 OYNO Catalina=$4.00
1 x $8 OYNO Catalina=$8.00
Coupon Total....$16.50

$25.26-$16.50=$8.76 OOP
And I received an $8 Catalina, a $4 Catalina and a $3 OYN Meat Purchase Catalina.

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Well, that is what was SUPPOSE to happen!
What actually happened was that the Taco Shells did NOT ring up at sale price and I ONLY got a $4 Deal Catalina instead of the $8 Catalina, along with the $4 Pillsbury and the $3 OEP Cats.
Looks like the Taco Shells either were not included in the eligible items for the Cat or they weren't coded right.  They were correct according to the ad, the shelf tag, etc. so I get to call Catalina tomorrow to see if they were included or not.  I may get my $8 Cat or I might not depending on what Catalina says.  Either way, the store screwed up(ad price not ringing up correctly)so I'll go back to the store and make Weis honor their "If it rings up wrong, you get it free" Policy.  At least I'll get my $4.58 back and get to keep the Taco Shells so it's all good.

Because of the Taco Shell problem, my OOP was $10.84 instead of $8.76.
After I get the $ back from Weis for the shells my OOP will be $6.26(after deducting the $2.50 the shells should have been.)
I did get the 2 $4 Cats and the $3 meat Cat so $11 in Cats, added to the 2 $3 meat Cats I still have for a total of $17 in Cats leftover.
No big loss on the $4 instead of $8 Cat if I don't get the $8 from the Catalina company, since I wasn't planning on rolling these Cat Deals anymore this week.

GRAND TOTALS for this Week's Catalina Deals
Value of  Items purchased....$339.64
Out of Pocket......$50.91
Catalinas Earned.....$119.00
Catalinas Used.....$102.00
Sales & Coupons Used.....$186.73
Savings of.....85% + $17 in Catalinas to spend

After the last 2 weeks of Catalinas I am going to take a well deserved break from grocery stockpiling.  I need to spend the next week in the garage putting away and organizing it all.

Sluggy