Ringing Out the Old...Good Riddance to 2013

I've been looking back at 2013.....both what I hoped to achieve/do/be when the year was new and contemplating how much(if any)of it came to fruition.

And I think I can safely say that I am GLAD to be kissing it's ass goodbye.
Seriously.

Except for a few highlights, 2013 was one of the least favorite years.
I guess almost dying will color your experience of a year that way, huh?

I never got around to posting a Grand List of Goals for 2013, frankly because I didn't get around to it early in the new year and when I did start forming them, well, I had a health crisis so that sort of(frivolous by comparison)thing just flew out the window. 8-)

I did do a monthly goal list in 2013 but I didn't keep those lists when the particular month was over.  Sometimes I rolled anything not accomplished into the next month and sometimes I just let them drop off.

Overall I can look back and see that I didn't read as much as I had hoped, didn't sew as much as I had planned(still am not sewing here!lol), and didn't see the number on the scale I wanted to by year's end.

But on the other hand, I got healthier, changed some bad habits/lifestyle choices, reached out more to others(friends AND family), appreciated my Hubs more, and cleared out things from my life.
Even with that almost dying thing happening, maybe 2013 wasn't so bad.......nah, it still sucked. lolz


I will say that we did experience some good things in 2013 so it wasn't all bad here at Chez Sluggy.

First the Personal Lowlights of 2013(bad things first, good things last, so we can end this on the positive).....

5.   How much financial "outgo" happened this year....between car repairs and replacements, dental problems, home repairs and remodels and new heating systems that don't work and college outlays, it was an expensive year.
4.  Various small crisis my kids' experienced in 2013....#2 Son's accident was the worst of those things.  Nobody died or was seriously injured physically or emotionally but I'm the mom, so I worry.
3.  Losing one of our last 2 dogs.
2.  Having a child(almost grown though)move her life 1200 miles away from us.
1.  Experiencing a health crisis that almost took me down.

And now the Highlights of 2013.....

5.  #1 Son finished college and transitioned smoothly into the working world.....not the dream job he wanted but it's a good start.
4.  #2 Son made strides toward adulthood(got license, good work ethic at school and his job, developed a passion for music, formed a plan for beyond high school and was happier socially, etc.)
3.  Keeping on track financially despite the unforeseen monetary pitfalls that had to be addressed so Hubs can retire in a few years.
2.  Did a lot more traveling and connecting in real life with friends and reconnecting with family.
1.  Made strides in turning my life around-from taking better care of my health, to cleaning out clutter and old ways that were weighing me down, to being a better steward of our money.

**At this point the hotel internet went down and took the last half of my post with it, because we had to check out so I couldn't save what I had written.  Of course, it was deep and profound but I can't remember 2 minutes ago, let alone 8 hours ago, so no one will ever see it now.
So trust me, it was awesome.....lol!**

2013 was a mixed bag of good and bad, with one really big bad.   But even the bad stuff can end up making you better if you learn the lessons it teaches. 
While I am thankful to still be among the living, having a health crisis kicked me in the ass, which is what I probably needed.  I got serious about my health and got myself out of a rut I had been in for years.  I have changed behaviors, let go of some emotional baggage, am appreciating certain people more and leading a more balanced and fuller life.

You can leave now 2013.  I appreciate the lessons you taught me but you have overstayed your welcome!
Bring on 2014!!
I still have a lot of work to do on myself but I'm taking names and I'm gonna kick ass......

Here's to all my readers, friends and family who have accompanied me on this journey through 2013.
May 2014 be brighter and better and our paths be full of opportunities!  Cherish those people in your life and keep those who have gone before you alive in your hearts.

Here's to us all......

Sluggy
 

My Mystery Giftie Revealed!

You may have seen this mystery box that was under my tree last week......

Well on Christmas morning we opened it up and revealed the contents.....

A really nice set of ceramic coffee/tea mugs that came in their own stand.  Now to figure out where to put this.....

The colors were spiffy too!
Especially this one.....

That picture was bad, here's a better one with the true color.....

And don't I look spiffy as well drinking from this awesome purple mug??

Do you see how large they actually are when they aren't stacked?
I got curious so I filled one and emptied the water into a measuring cup to see how much it holds.....

Holy Moley!!
3 Cups......

These aren't mugs, these are colorful measuring cups!

Or TANNER thanks I like to drink a lot!.......lolz

Thanks "T"!

You are awesome......

And why do I look like a cartoon turtle in this bad selfie?

Sluggy

Food & Toiletries Spending.....December Update & YEARLY Grand Totals

Onward to December's food spending report & closing out the 2013 Totals.....

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for DECEMBER 2013.

I have posted December'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 December.  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)& 1 dog. No kids under 17.
******************

MAINE SOURCE(restaurant supply store)
OOP  $21.69
Value  $30.87
Savings  39.74%

RITE-AID
OOP  $4.19
Qs/Ads/+Ups  $360.58
Value  $364.77
Savings  98.85%
 

SHURSAVE STORES(small local independent affiliated stores)
OOP  $68.08

Qs/Ads  $54.17

Value  $122.25

Savings  44.31%

WEGMAN'S
OOP  $39.92
Qs/Ads  $8.00
Value  $67.08
Savings  40.50%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $151.23

Qs/Ads  $130.57

Value  $281.80

Savings  46.33%

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 December.....$0.00

GIFT CARDS and CERTIFICATES....$0

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

COUPONS and FREEBIES

1 x Free Coke 12 pack Q from MyCokeRewards

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 98.85%, Weis at 46.33% and the Shursave Market at 44.31%.  My WORST savings rate was 39.74% so I think I did exceptionally well in December on the value of what I got!
I shopped at 5 different stores this past month.

TOTAL Out of Pocket........$285.11

TOTAL Coupons & Store Sales Savings...$581.66

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$866.77

TOTAL Savings of...................................67.10%

This closes out the December food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....

I went into December wanting to cut my food/toiletries budget by $100, to $300 budgeted for ALL purchases, to make up for overspending in November by about $120.
I met that challenge.
Go me! 8-))

In December, total savings percentage for the year has gone UP 6.32% over November's year-to-date total of 60.78%, to 67.10%. 

If you add my November and December food spending together it comes to $867.89, which makes my monthly average $433.95 for those 2 months.  I am still over my $400 goal per month for Nov./Dec. but I got close.

As you can see my Savings Rate in December remained high, partly because of my Rite-Aid shopping.
Without the Rite-Aid totals added in, my December Savings Rate is 44.04%.  Achieving a savings rate in the 40's is what I strive for.  Add in Rite-Aid totals and my overall Savings Rate hits  67.10%.
 

We kept the food spending under $300 this month but still splurged on Prime Rib Roast for Christmas dinner(plus fresh seafood on Dec. 23rd) and ate very well otherwise all of December. 

So what is my secret to spending so little on groceries and toiletries?

I chalk this up to.....

* I buy loss leaders.

* I use a smallish assortment of coupons(to buy things I would have bought anyway).

* I use a price book, tracking to stock up when groceries where at their rock bottom price in the sales cycle.  I never pay full price for anything that will eventually go on sale....ok, maybe not never but very infrequently.

* I buy items on instant markdown and substitute them for other ingredients that are more expensive that week(or keeping those marked down goods for later in the freezer).

* I cook from scratch a good deal of the time, because it makes sense and I have to watch what I eat and have to keep my sodium intake low.

* I buy in season whenever possible.

* I have started to cook/serve/eat less food at meals so we have little to no food waste.  Sometimes I purposely cook more than we are going to eat for planned leftovers.

This is NOT to say that I don't follow/do all this all the time.  I do splurge and pay more for some things occasionally or just don't bother due to boredom or lack of energy, etc. or make mistakes.  But more often than not, these are my guidelines and how I keep more money in our pocket.

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

 

Here is the run down of the Grand Totals for my Food & Toiletries Spending for 2013--
 

2013 Total Saved $4,008.31

2013 Yearly Total Value of Items  $8,569.13

2013 Yearly Total Spent $4,560.82

2013 Yearly Savings Total of  46.77%

Yes, I saved almost HALF of what I would have spent if I just ran to the store and bought whatever/whenever I felt like buying by thinking ahead and exercising some restraint over my behavior.

 

The average monthly food/toiletries spending this year was $380.07.  We kept our food/toiletries spending average BELOW $400 per month in 2013.

 

How much did you spend on food in December?
Do you track your yearly food spending....if so how did you do this year?
 

Sluggy

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.....I Need a Drink!

Yes, we are stranded in a motel off an interstate today.
Like Sonya Ann we are having really miserable luck with cars lately.  Maybe she is causing this bad luck?  Ok, I need to think that because if it's not her, then this is all on me.

Anyway, in the midst of a jolly good time spending time with our #1 Son on the west coast of PA, the car decided to misbehave.  It was too bad to ignore and attempt to limp home and cross fingers that we didn't break down somewhere on the road on the way home.

So Hubs is 2 miles away sitting at a Firestone Car Repair Center with the chariot and I am stranded in a motel room by the interstate watching it snow outside......

How nice!
Wouldn't you want to spend your vacation in this way too? lolz

So keep our chariot in your prayers today that the work gets finished so we don't have to extend our stay and that the weather holds out so we can get home.

Fun, fun, fun!

Sluggy

Moms + Beer=Questionable Behavior

I am one gal who is all about having a good time, but let me just say that if you are 2 years old, it is cute if you stand up on a table in a restaurant and dance but it's so wrong to do this if you are 40-ish mom and your 10 year old-ish kids are with you........

Great role modeling lady!  I hope your daughter doesn't end up a pole dancing stripper....not that there is anything wrong with being one......8-)))

Hey! I've made some questionable life choices in my 50+ years, but that one?  Never.  But then again, I'd probably be buying them a new sturdier table.......

Sluggy