Food & Toiletries Spending......January 2018 Report

* I am done food shopping for January so am posting this a day early.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for JANUARY 2018.

I have posted January'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 January.  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 3-5(4 at home this month). No kids under 21.

*****************

BIG LOTS
OOP  $45.90
Value  $84.96
Savings  45.97%

BREAD OUTLET
OOP  $3.75
Value  $16.76
Savings  77.63%

DOLLAR TREE
OOP  $10.00
Value  $16.33
Savings  38.76%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/PP/BC  $1234.48
Value  $1234.48
Savings  100%

SHURSAVE
OOP  $44.66
Qs/Ads  $61.84
Value  $106.50
Savings  58.07%

WEIS MARKETS

OOP  $348.38

Qs/Ads  $408.16

Value  $756.54

Savings  53.95%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%, the Bread Outlet at 77.63% and Shursave at 58.07%.  My WORST savings rate was at Dollar Tree at 38.76%.

I shopped at 6 different stores this past month.  

TOTAL Out of Pocket..........$452.69

TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales...$528.40

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased............$981.09

TOTAL Savings of ..................................53.86%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for Dec.....$452,69
TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid....$2215.57
TOTAL Coupons/Store Sales.....$1762.88
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items..........79.57%

This closes out the January food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....
I didn't set a food budget limit going into January because I know the sales cycle here and I knew I'd miss out on some "deals" if my budget was too low.  I hoped to come in between $400 and $500 spending($400 would have been better)and I just about hit that right in the middle. ;-)

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 2.85% in January 2018to 79.57% compared to December 2017's 82.42% savings average.

With 1 month accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $452.69 on food/toiletries in 2018 which is a 79.57g% savings rate for the year so far and averages out to $452.69 spent per month in 2018.

LOOKING AHEAD To February........
I am going to try for a low food spending month in February.  I really need to use up some things in the freezer and do a proper clean out.  I'll set out to spend as little as possible and go from there, with hopes of staying under $200 for the month.

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 January?
*  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

More Rite-Aid on Monday

Had to run an errand on the other side of the river in the Big City down the mountain so I made a quick trip into a Rite-Aid there to see if they were stocked better on the freebies of razor blades and they were.

4 x Playtex tampons on sale=$14.00
2 x Daylogic razor blades on sale=$16.00
1 x Remfresh on sale but Wellness disc. better=$7.99
2 x Prego sauce on sale=$3.00
SubTotal........$40.99

Coupons Used
4 x $2/1 Playtex tampons IPQ(coupons dotcom)=$8.00
1 x $5/1 Remfresh IPQ(HERE)=$5.00
1 x $1/2 Prego sauce IPQ(NLA)=$1.00
Coupon Total.......$14.00

$40.99-$14.00=$26.99 + .50¢=$27.49

I used $20 BC so $27.49-$20=$7.49 OOP
I paid with Plenti Points
I earned back $26 in new Bonus Cash(2 x $3 Playtex, 2 x $8 Daylogic, $3 Remfresh, $1 wyb2 Prego)

Until Rite-Aid implements being able to use partial BC for the larger amounts I need to keep track of what amounts I have available on each card and when each expires.  This is a colossal PITA for one card/account, let alone three!

If anyone is looking for cheap razors do this deal at Rite-Aid this week..............

Schick razors are on sale for $5.99 at Rite-Aid this week.
There is a $3/1 Schick razor Q on coupons dotcom currently.
Print off 2, take them to R-A and buy 2 Schick razors.
2 x $5.99=$11.98-2 x $3/1 Qs($6)=$5.98(plus tax is applicable).
Use Bonus Cash if you have it.
After you received back $4 in Bonus Cash($2 for each razor bought)you'll effective price paid will be .99 per razor(or $1.98 for two)plus any sales tax due.
Not quite free but an awfully good/low price if you need razors. 8-)

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Birthday Week is Over" Edition--

Well another birthday has come and gone.  The roses Hubs gave me are dead and composed.  We still haven't found the time to go out to eat together as everyone is on a different schedule.  We may need to just go and leave someone out.

Here is Chester from last Sunday.  He has removed the fleece blanket from his crate and created a "porch" for himself.  He's chewing on a rawhide stick and using his pink piggy toy as a "table" to hold it. lolz

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

1. Sunday--Tempura Shrimp, Sweet Potato Fries

2. Monday--Beef Shepherd's Pie(my version w/Cornbread not Mashed Taters on top)

3. Tuesday--Birthday Dinner Out?

4. Wednesday--leftover Ham Slices, leftover sides

5. Thursday--Hungarian Goulash, Rice
6. Friday--Tuna Noodle Casserole
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Tempura Shrimp, Sweet Potato Fries

2. Monday--Beef Shepherd's Pie(my version w/Cornbread not Mashed Taters on top)

3. Tuesday--Leftovers

4. Wednesday--leftover Ham Slices, leftover sides

5. Thursday--Hungarian Goulash, Egg Noodles
6. Friday--Leftovers
7. Saturday--Steak, Pear Gorgonzola Salad

Last week saw 4 nights of home cooked dinners, 3 nights of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 night of take-out and 0 night of Eating out.  Mostly everything happened but not when planned always.  We ate lots of leftovers so the Tuna Casserole didn't happen....that goes onto this week's menu.  I used up all the peppers in the freezer on the Goulash.  I found discounted Steaks on Wed. so Hubs and I had a special Sat. dinner alone. ;-)

2 Trips to Weis, 1 trip to the Bread Outlet and 1 trip to Big Lots(that one blew up my plans by having their 20% everything in the store sale last Sunday) brought the shopping last week to $137.95 for all.  That brought January's food spending total to $452.69.  Ouch
There are 2 days left in my shopping month which means I am done spending for January.

My savings percentages last week was 53.40% and the monthly savings so far ends up at 53.86%(without Rite-Aid trips added in).

Leftovers going into this week....... goulash, egg noodles and ham.  Not much leftover here.

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

1. Sunday--Take-Out(Hubs and I only)

2. Monday--leftover Goulash, Harvard Beets

3. Tuesday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Salad or Beets

4. Wednesday--Ham & Cheese Quiche, Brussels Sprouts

5. Thursday--Tacos
6. Friday--Ham & Cheese Omlettes
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 4 new meals cooked, 2 nights of leftovers, 1 night of Take-out/Eat-Out.

The only thing I need to buy to make these meals is pie crust or I'll use Bisquick and make a "crustless" quiche.

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 great deals on food at your stores this week?


Sluggy

Sunday at Rite-Aid, Rolling BC and Converting PPS

First off after last week's wacky deals I had the cashier check my Wellness accounts/coupons and Bonus Cash loaded to them.
"Supposedly" your Bonus Cash should be visible online when you log into your Wellness account at the Rite-Aid site, along with your Load2Card coupons.
I checked all three accounts online at home and NO BC is showing on my card, and only 1 x $20 BC on each of the other cards.  My card should have 1 x $20 BC, daughter's card and son's card each should have 2 x $20 BC attached.  I know that most of the $20 BCs I earned the first week of January when buying diapers on all 3 cards never showed in the online Load2Card place.

So I had the cashier(since she wasn't busy)check each of my card's L2C info and yes, all $100 in BC I had earned are on each of the cards they were earned on.
*Big sigh of relief that I don't have to argue with Corporate on the phone due to missing BC.*

With everything as it should be on my cards in "Bonus Cash Land", here's what I got at Rite-Aid today.

First on the Daughter's card...........

2 x Remfresh on sale but 20% off price better=$15.98
2 x Daylogic razor blades on sale=$16.00
2 x Tic Tacs(clearanced flavor)=$1.68*
SubTotal.......$33.66

Coupons Used
2 x $5/1 Remfresh(1 ManuQ/1 IPQ)=$10.00

$33.66-$10.00=$23.66 + .28¢tax=$23.94

$20 in BC came off making it $3.94 OOP.
I paid with $3.94 in Plenti Points.
I earned back $22 in new Bonus Cash(2 x $8 razor blades, 2 x $3 Remfresh)

I used $20 BC and earned back $22 BC and spent down PPs by $3.94

*I bought the Tic Tacs because they are part of a BC deal this week-Altoids or Tic Tac are 2 for $3 and earn $1 in BC wyb2.  Evidently the clearanced Tic Tacs don't count for this deal.  Oh well, it was worth a try.  I can either keep these(still a good price)or return them.

Then I bought this lot on my son's card...........

1 x Remfresh on sale but 20% off price better=$7.99
2 x Daylogic razor blades on sale=$16.00
2 x Playtex tampons on sale=$7.00
2 x Prego sauce on sale=$3.00
SubTotal.......$33.99

Coupons Used
1 x $5/1 Remfresh IPQ=$5.00
2 x $2/1 Playtex tampons IPQ=$4.00
1 x $1/2 Prego IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total......$10.00

$33.99-$10.00=$23.99 + .40¢tax=$24.39

A $20 Bonus Cash came off so $4.39 OOP.
I paid $4.39 with Plenti Points.
I earned back $23 back in new BC(2 x $8 razor blades, $3 Remfresh, $3 Playtex, $1 Prego).

I used $20 BC and earned back $23 BC and spent down PPs by $4.39.

After coupons and BC earned, the tampons, razor blades and Remfresh are free this week(besides sales tax if that applies in your state-limit 2 deals per card).

The razor blades are straight up $8/Get $8 back in BC.

The tampons are on sale for 2/$7, there are $2/1 Qs on coupons dotcom and they give back $3 in BC when you two 2,(limit 2 deals per card so you can get up to 4 packages)so free after all is applied.

The Remfresh are on sale for $8(or $7.99 if you have Gold Wellness discount), there is a $5 Q available online and this gives back $3 in BC(limit 2 deals per card).

The Prego(using IPQs I've been holding onto for a couple of months now so no longer available to print)was .50¢ per jar after sale/Q/$1 BC wyb2.

I wanted to go up Sunday morning since the Remfresh and razor blades are usually in short supply around here.  I'll go back later in the week for more tampons and sauce probably.

Now I am off to go organize the toiletry stockpile some more and work on February's giveaway box.
Anybody have any requests for specific goodies for the next Giveaway??


Sluggy

What a Frickin' Disaster.....But In a Good Way!

Ok, I spent a LOT of time in Rite-Aid on Friday.  It's all good though because I  brought home lots of items and spent no money OOP(I did spend Bonus Cash, Catalinas and Plenti Points but not as many as I should have evidently).

I can't even begin to detail how the transactions went down because....it got real messy. lolz

A-an employee put the wrong signage on a shelf so 1 Tide I bought didn't qualify for sale or BC which messed up that transaction and there was a return/rebuy and then I didn't have the Load2CardQ to spend again, yadda, yadda, yadda.
B-I tried to use a 30% off email but the items I bought in that transaction that were on sale for BOGO50% didn't give me the better 30% off on them, evidently because the register/computer saw "50% off" and decided that the BOGO50% off(which is effectively 25% off all item involved)was a better deal than a straight 30% off email sale.  So there was more return/rebuy and price modifying and I believe the cashier returned two items I didn't actually buy(bought 4, he returned 6?)so how do we go about fixing that problem inside of another problem?, yadda, yadda, yadda.

In the end I did two transactions on my Daughter's card/account and FIVE transactions on my Son's card/account(two actual transactions, THREE return/rebuys to fix the problems in the actual transactions).
Ugh.
In the returns/rebuys I did end up with another $9.81 in cash.....wtf???  I seriously don't know what happened here. lolz

Let me just tell you that if you got a 30% off on Friday or Saturday email only attempt to use it once.  If you try to do two transactions and use it both times, the computer system won't take it the second time.
Though the coupon in the email you get is the same number for everyone, it only becomes valid/active with your card is swiped/read and it will only work once with your card.  Ask me how I know this? ;-)

Let me just show you the photos of what I got on Friday and then show you a list of everything I got this week at Rite-Aid total and what it all "cost" me, ok?

Friday's haul.......

Oops, I almost forgot these two.....

And the paper products........

List of items bought at Rite-Aid the Week of January 21st--among 3 accounts/cards

*  2 cases H2O
*  4 12 roll packs Scott tp
*  5  18 roll packs Scott tp
*  4 6-pack Scott paper towels
*  4 6-packs Klenex tissue
*  1 18-pack Cottonelle tp
*  3 Irish Spring body wash
*  3 Soft Soap body wash
*  2 packs U-Kotex tampons
*  8 Hershey candy bars
*  2 Tide detergent
*  1 Gain detergent
*  2 L'Oreal shampoo
*  9 Right Guard extreme deodorant
*  4 Dial liquid hand soap
*  4 Neutrogena facial cleanser
*  6 Muscle Milk protein bars

I started the week with $120 in Bonus Cash and $303.71 in Plenti Points.
I ended the week with $100 in Bonus Cash and $265.06 in Plenti Points and $37.67 in cash monies.

In total I spent down $38.65 in Plenti Points, spent down $20 in Bonus Cash, spent $25 in Catalinas earned this week(5 x $5 Cats earned on 5 paper products transactions).

I now have $20 BC on my card(new), $40 BC on son's card(2 new) and $40 BC(1 old, 1 new)on daughter's card so $100 in BC between the 3 cards/accounts, $265.06 Plenti Points left to spend between the 3 cards/accounts, $37.67 in new cash(which went into the postQ/refund envelope) and $398.37 worth of reg. retail value goods I brought home.

Plus I'll be getting another $5.99 in cash rebates($4.99 for buying 3 of the Right Guards AND $1 for buying 2 of the Dial liquid hand soaps)from SavingStar when they get around to posting it to my account there(making it $43.66 back in cash refunds/rebates total for Rite-Aid this week).

Didn't I tell you it's a glorious mess!  8-)))

Sluggy