This Week on the Dining Table.....the October 23rd Edition

 The "I'm Ready for My Closeup Mr. DeMille" Edition.....  

Boy am I a mess!  Had Hubs take this picture on Thursday after we got back from the doctor's office for a wound check.  I feel so fashionable because my shirts now hang off one shoulder like all the cool kids. lolz  And everything I own(except the 4 new bras)don't fit.  At least no clothes are falling off(yet).  Back to PT this morning and then off to a new PCP in the afternoon.  Fun times....

This is day 134 of the "diet".  Yay!  If you can call what went on lately as a "diet".  Down 41 lbs. since the cruise(not counting the 8 I gained on the cruise and then lost again).

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned for last week.......

1. Sunday--1 yogurt, 1 Chicken Strip

2. Monday--1 yogurt, No Clue

3. Tuesday--No Clue

4  Wednesday--No Clue

5. Thursday--No Clue

6.  Friday--No Clue

7. Saturday--No Clue

And here's what actually happened........

1. Sunday--1 yogurt, 1 Chicken Strip

2. Monday--1 yogurt, Lean Cuisine Chicken Enchilada Dinner(blech)

3. Tuesday--1 piece of Toast(nauseous), 1/2 Chicken Sub, Protein Drink

4  Wednesday--Yogurt Shake, 1/2 Chicken Sub, Veal Parm, Broccoli

5. Thursday--Zaxby's Cobb Salad

6.  Friday--Yogurt cup, 2 Catfish Strips, Green Beans, Cole Slaw,1 leftover Veal Parm, leftover Broccoli

7. Saturday--Yogurt Cup w/Flaxseed Granola, Sesame Chicken and Green Beans, 1 Apple, 1 spoon of Peanut Butter

No going back to old habits and eating patterns for me!

What got taken out of the freezer last week...

*  1 Lean Cuisine Dinner

*  1 Chicken Strip

*  Box of Chicken Parms

*  Bag of Broccoli

What got put into the freezer last week....

*  1 bag of Meatballs

*  2 TV Dinners

*  2 boxes Ice Cream Cones(might give to Daughter)

Last week we spent $1.97 on grocery shopping for October.  We used some of that travel stipend that is left and there was a full price rebate on the bag of frozen meatballs.  There were 3 take-out meals(which made 6 meals for me).

Grand Total shopping comes to $210.11 for October.   

There are 8 shopping days left in October.

I've earned $138.62 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $30.00 on Shopmium in October.

I've earned $5.75 on Alexa app in October.

I've earned $2.10 on Kroger Cash Back in October.

I've earned 10,284 points from food shopping on Fetch in October.

I've earned 3,744 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.

I've earned 2,294 SB from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.

That is $176.47 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $210.11 of grocery spending so in reality it's $33.64 in food spending after the 4 rebate apps I count. 

My savings percentage for the last week was 94.44% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 41.44% spent.  

Leftovers going into this week...leftover Chinese takeout and rice.

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--leftover Catfish and Green Beans, Pork Tenderloin

2. Monday--No Clue

3. Tuesday--No Clue

4  Wednesday--No Clue

5. Thursday--No Clue

6.  Friday--No Clue

7. Saturday--No Clue

I am NOT menu planning, period.  I have earned the right not to in my mind at this point.  I am giving up control of meals to Hubs.  I will put in requests now and then.

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 last week?

Any deals on food at your stores this week?  

I may post sporadically after this one or I might not, depending on drugs and stuff. 

Sluggy   

Food Spending.....the September 2023 Report

 Onward to September's Food Spending Report.....

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for September 2023.

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. We are a family of 2(and 2 dogs).
****************

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $1.75

VALUE  $2.99 

Savings  41.47%

KROGER

OOP  $248.50

Qs/Gift Cards $200.96

Value $449.46

Savings  44.71%

SUPER 1 FOODS

OOP  $67.42

Value  $104.03

Savings  35.20%

WALMART

OOP  $145.12

Qs/Gift Cards $29.85

Value  $174.97

Savings  17.06%

********************
My best Store Savings Total was at Kroger with a savings of 44.71%.  My worse rate was at Walmart with 17.06%.  

I shopped at 4 different stores in SEPTEMBER.

TOTAL Spent in September......$508.12

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards....$293.52

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.....$801.64

TOTAL Savings of........36.61%

This closes out the SEPTEMBER food/toiletries/etc. spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month....Well I didn't keep spending at $350 or less as I had liked to.  Blame Ibotta, store deals(I'm looking at you Kroger!), inflation and being hungry when I shop(well, nowadays it doesn't matter when I shop, I am ALWAYS hungry!lol).  I can't believe what things cost so I tend to want to stockpile when I see something we use on special(because in this economy you know the price is only going to increase with time).  I also can't believe with how little I eat since June that it costs so much to buy food(see comment above about inflation).  Plus I think Hubs is taking up the slack in the eating department. ;-)  I am just glad I don't have three ravenous children at home to feed anymore!

The Monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 3.85% in September to 36.61% compared to August's 40.46% savings average.  Between all factors(and no Rite-Aid where I use to get "paid" to bring things home from there)it's nearly impossible to have a savings rate of more than 30%....and achieving that 30% is with trying very hard!  Since we have an adequate income and food should be a pleasure in life(no way am I going to eat unseasoned rice and beans for my remaining days like some people)I will buy quality food and pay the price at the register.  I may not like the price but I will deal with it.

With 9 months accounted for, I have spent a Total of $3,774.20 on groceries/HBA/paper goods/etc. in 2023.

2023 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$3,774.20

2023 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$6,286.93

2023 Grand Total Saved...............................$2,512.73

2023 Yearly Savings Total..............................39.97%

The average per month amount spent is $419.36 in 2023 at this point.

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER......

Not predicting what I will spend but I'll be keeping tabs on the grocery bills in October. We'll be gone for a week this month and I won't be up to cooking much the week we get back(and maybe the following week).  Not sure if Hubs is up to filling in as cook or if we'll be getting takeout instead.  We'll see how much is spent on food this month.  I hope to have a low spending month, even with the crazy inflation these days.

Remember that I withdraw all my cash rebate monies(Ibotta, Coupons dotcom, Shopmium, Checkout 51 and other miscellaneous rebates sent to my Paypal)at the end of the year and add it back into my food budget, so at the end of the year my food spending will go down.  The other savings apps like Fetch, Shop Kick, Kroger Cash Back that let us get free gift cards(or $ off your grocery total-Kroger), those are added back in when I cash those points in along the way.  Alexa app gives me Amazon credit onto my account but I don't buy food on Amazon(sometimes I buy dog food there)so I really don't know how to count that.

At the end of the third quarter of the year, I've accumulated--$962.99 in Ibotta(most in my bank account as I don't like to leave Ibotta monies on the platform), $309.40 in Paypal from Shopmium ,Coupons dotcom as well as an odd rebate or two from another source, $43.35 in Kroger Cash Back I haven't spent, $36.78 in Shop Kick, $62.20 in Swag Bucks to redeem, $16.75 on Alexa for Amazon gift cards and some points on Fetch that aren't even worth considering at this point.  Without counting the Fetch that's $1,431.47 in cash or scrip total to put toward the grocery spending in 2023 which lowers my OOP on food spending to $2,342.73 give or take at this point in time.

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

*  How much did you spend on food/toiletries in September?

*  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 versus 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 2022....the March Report

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for MARCH 2022.

I have posted March'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 March.  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. 
*****************

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $25.77

Value  $71.76

Savings  64.09%

LIQUIDATOR

OOP  $37.47

Value  $73.47

Savings  49.00%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC/Gift Cards  $465.88

Value  $465.88
Savings  100%

WALMART
OOP  $157.36

Qs/free Gift Cards  $209.35
Value  $366.74
Savings 57.08%

WEIS

OOP  $21.70

Qs/Sales  $15.48
Value  $37.18
Savings  41.64%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, Dollar General  at 64.09%, and Walmart at 57.08%.

The worst rate was at Weis(PMITA)Markets at  41.64%.  
I shopped at 5 different stores in March.  

TOTAL Spent in February................$242.30

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards...$306.85

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased....$549.15

TOTAL Savings of .............................55.88%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for February w/R-A..............$242.30

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards w/................$772.73
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid...$1,015.03
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items....................76.13%

This closes out the March food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....As predicted grocery pending was lower(since we were only home half of the month). Duh.  Don't ask about our food spending on the trip. Ouch!  Big cities out West=high spending for restaurant food.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 7.88% in March 2021 to 76.13% compared to the February's 84.01% savings average.  I'm ok with that.

With 3 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $883.30 on food/toiletries in 2022.

2021 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$883.30

2021 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$4,916.41

2021 Grand Total Saved...............................$4,033.11

2021 Yearly Savings Total.............................82.03%

The average per month amount spent is $294.43 in 2022.

LOOKING AHEAD To April 2022.......Now that we are home I hope to be eating down what we have at home.  I am sure groceries will be bought but who knows how much. ;-)  With the inflationary costs now I'll still try to keep the spending at or under $400.00.

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 March?

*  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 2021.....the December & Year-End Report

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for DECEMBER 2021.

I have posted December'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 December.  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(2-3 eating at home this month). No "kids" under 25. 
*****************

CVS

OOP  $2.41

Value  $17.86

Savings 86.51%

FOOD LION

OOP  $42.61

Value  $52.71

Savings  19.16%

OCEAN STATE

OOP  $6.84

Value  $10.00

Savings  31.60%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC/Gift Cards  $521.58

Value  $521.58
Savings  100%

SCHIFF'S

OOP  $17.74

Value  $25.68

Savings  30.92%

WALMART
OOP  $77.80

Qs/free Gift Cards  $306.10
Value  $383.90
Savings  79.73%

WEIS

OOP  $63.72

Qs/Sales  $35.46
Value  $99.18
Savings  35.75%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, CVS at 86.51% and Walmart at 79.73%.

The worst rate was at Food Lion at 19.16%.  I just bought a salt-cured ham at FL and those never go on sale(got a bit off with my loyalty card tho). 8-)
I shopped at 7 different stores in December.  

TOTAL Spent in December.................$211.12

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards...$378.21

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased....$589.33

TOTAL Savings of .............................64.18%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for December w/R-A..............$211.12

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards w/................$899.79
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid...$1,110.91
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items....................81.00%

This closes out the December food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....It was a GREAT lower spending month!  Spent almost half of what I usually shoot for and just a tad more than in November(which was also a very low spend month)so I am pleased.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 11.11% in December 2021 to 81.00% compared to the November's 92.11% savings average.  Compared to November there was a lot less free stuff from Rite-Aid in December(no Black Friday Sales deals). ;-)

With 12 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $3,683.86 on food/toiletries in 2021.

2021 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$3,683..86

2021 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$21,866.88

2021 Grand Total Saved...............................$18,183.02

2021 Yearly Savings Total.............................83.15%

The average per month amount spent is $306.99 in 2021.

But wait!  There's more.....

December is when I cash out/add in all my rebating monies for the year.  Here are those amounts that posted to my bank account.......

*  Ibotta....$2,823.29

*  Post Coupon/Refunds...$341.17

*  Coupons dotcom.....$134.16

*  Checkout 51....$110.12

*  Aisle.....$36.28

Total to add to December's Income to counteract the Food Spending....$3,445.02

$3,683.86-$3,445.02=$238.84 total spent on Food shopping in 2021!  We ate well, donated boxes of foodstuffs/toiletries to our local food bank and shared with various relatives and it cost us a grand total of $238.84.  I went after the rebating harder than ever this year!  In 2020 I was able to cut our OOP on food/etc. in half.  In 2021 I blew the doors off our food spending!!

I also have in the other apps, going forward into 2022, that I can only cash out for gift cards(which I used during the year at food stores to bring my OOP down)....

*  Shop Kick....$33.64

*  Swag Bucks...$79.51

*  Fetch....$26.15

*  Tada....$13.20

That's another $152.50 in potential food savings I have in reserve going into 2022!

LOOKING AHEAD To January 2022.......

With January comes the bad weather so most of my shopping will be done in town, if at all.  We are packed to the gills with food/toiletries/HBA/paper products so I am going to try to stay out of the stores except for freebies after rebates, to roll/spend Bonus Cash at R-A and if we need perishables(which we will).  I am not going to put a $ amount on what I may spend but I am hoping for a low number.

I have folks who tell me all the time that only spending a few hundred a year on food/etc. is preposterous and not do-able.  I'm here to tell you it IS do-able!  Yes, it takes work and effort but once you get into the right frame of mind and you "get" the knack of this process these kinds of savings are manageable.  Even if you work....you may not get the same results, as I have more time to devout to this way of shopping but you can work miracles still with your food spending combining coupons and rebate offers and a little planning.  Rebates are just not on processed foods anymore(though they still make up a large part of the offers most months).  

Shoot for a modest goal of $20 in rebates the first month and see how you do, then increase your goal the next month.  Even if you only do $20 in rebates each month for a year, that's $240 LESS you'll spend on food and $240 MORE you can put toward something else like an electric bill, a car note, your rent/mortgage or save toward retirement.  

Plus you'll be able to bless others in so many ways.......if not to a food bank or less fortunate relative, selling your stockpile for cash(and at a reduced price to the buyer-saving them money too)or in my case, using my excess to hold Giveaways on the blog to bless my readers.

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 December?

*  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

2020 Food Spending Report.....the December Edition & Yearly Wrap Up

Onward to December's Food Spending report & the Yearly Wrap-Up on Food Spending........

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for DECEMBER 2020.

I have posted December'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 December.  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(2-3 at home this month). No "kids" under 24.
*****************

ALDI'S
OOP  $23.34
Value  $39.27
Savings  40.57%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $4.98
Value  $23.55
Savings  78.85%

CVS

OOP  $3.23
Qs/Ads/ECBs  $107.97

Value  $111.20

Savings 97.09%

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $18.96

Qs/Ads  $38.79

Value  $57.75

Savings  67.17%

MALACARI'S
OOP  $11.20
Value  $16.97
Savings  34.01%

OLLIE'S
OOP  $8.95
Value  $13.64
Savings   34.38%

P and R DISCOUNTS
OOP  $15.04
Value  $40.90
Savings   63.23%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC  $862.67
Value  $862.67
Savings  100%

SHARP SHOPPER  

OOP  $39.79

Value  $62.88

Savings  36.72%

TARGET

OOP  $0.00

Value $29.53

Savings  100%

WALMART
OOP  $115.50
Value  $231.81
Savings  50.18%

WEGMAN'S

OOP  $2.40

Value  $7.94

Savings  69.77%

WEIS

OOP  $234.24

Qs/Sales  $194.28
Value  $428.52
Savings  45.34%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, Target at 100% and CVS at 97.09%.   My worst savings rate was at Malacari's with 34.01%.
I shopped at 13 different stores in December.  That's a high number of stores for me.

TOTAL Spent.........................................$474.43

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales.................$589.53

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased........$1063.96

TOTAL Savings of ................................55.41%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for December w/R-A........$474.43
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales w/R-A....................$1452.20
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$1926.63
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items.....................75.38%

This closes out the December food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
We spent almost $75 over my food budget for December.  This included all special Holiday foods as well.  Given Covid-19 I am not too surprised the total was over $400 and glad it wasn't over $500.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 8.93% in December 2020 to 75.38% compared to the November's 84.31% savings average.
Black Friday R-A sales made November better than December, as it does most years. 

With 12 months accounted for, I have spent a Year-To-Date Total of $4714.40 on food/toiletries in 2020.

2020 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$4,714.40

2020 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items....$16,040.69

2020 Grand Total Saved...............................$11,326.29

2020 Yearly Savings Total............70.61%

The average per month amount spent is $514.43 in 2020.

Now let's add all my small pots of monies I save throughout the year to put toward groceries....refunds and "post coupons"($126.98) as well as various cash back apps--Ibotta($1255.49), Saving Star($52.75), Coupons dotcom app($23.50)and the change part of the Found Change for 2020($14.55). 

Add my small economies pots totaling $1,473.27 into my Food /Toiletries Spending Budget and the spending goes to....

2020 Yearly Grand Total Spent............$3,241.13
2020 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items...$16,040.69
2020 Grand Total Saved..............$12,799.56
2020 Yearly Savings Total........79.79%

The average per month amount spent is $270.10

LOOKING AHEAD To January 2021.............

Perhaps we'll stay home/out of the food stores and eat down except for needing fresh veg/dairy.
Let's see how little I can spend in January on groceries.  


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 December?

*  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