Food Spending 2022....the October Report

* Again, I am still not up and running as normal.  So busy with life here but I pop in when I can with an update.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for OCTOBER 2022.

I have posted October'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 October.  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 2(and 2 dogs).
****************

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $51.42

Qs/Ads  $29.04

Value  $80.46

Savings  36.09%

DOLLAR TREE

OOP  $1.25

Qs/Ads  $.54

Value  $1.79

Savings  30.16%

KROGER

OOP  $92.35

Qs/Ads  $58.53

Value  $150.88

Savings  38.79%

SUPER 1 FOODS 

OOP  $90.66

Qs/Ads  $66.29

Value  $156.95

Savings  42.24%

WALMART
OOP  $327.44

Qs/free Gift Cards  $151.19
Value  $478.63
Savings 31.59%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Super 1 Foods at 42.24%, Kroger at 38.79% and Dollar General at 36.09%.

The worst rate was Dollar Tree at 30.16%.  
I shopped at 5 different stores in October.

TOTAL Spent in October................$560.11

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards...$315.29

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased....$875.40

TOTAL Savings of .............................36.02%

This closes out the October food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....well I knew that when we got a house to set up the food spending would explode and it did.  Very little food was brought 1,431 miles with us(a little canned food and dog food but none of the open stuff and the refrigerated or frozen food)so the this past month and the next few will see large food expenditures to restock.  Under $600 isn't too bad considering I have no Rite-Aid any longer(sniff)and no Aldi.  I am doing the best I can.  We are still not in full on cooking mode as we are still finding kitchen stuff(or not finding it.....hello? pots and pans!)so easy and/or premade dinners are being subbed out.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went DOWN by 6.22% in October 2022 to 36.02% compared to the September's 42.24% savings average.  

With 10 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $2,557.94 on food/toiletries in 2022.

2021 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$2,557.94

2021 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$11,198.19

2021 Grand Total Saved...............................$8,640.25

2021 Yearly Savings Total..............................77.16%

The average per month amount spent is $255.79 in 2022.

LOOKING AHEAD To November 2022......I am continuing to rebuild our food stockpile when I see a deal.  I suspect the spending will be high as the price of groceries is rising weekly it seems nowadays.  Spending on food should level off in December as we won't be shopping much due to life circumstances then so November is my time to add to the stockpile.

I know that all my Rite-Aid freebies really kept my OOP spending low and my savings percentage high and I am really missing it.  But such is life and I am trying not to dwell on the higher numbers as this is my new reality.

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 October?

*  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

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Treading Water" Edition.....

An anonymous person didn't care for my selfie on the beach in Florida last time so here's another shot of me on the beach....well part of a leg and toes.  8-)

This week we are still treading water in Louisiana and living at Daughter and Son in-law's house.  We closed on our house here but we have nothing to put in it yet so living at Daughter's still.  Anybody know how to get smoke out of a house?  The previous owners were smokers. bleh.

Onward to the meal planning!

Not my Plan so not my headache. lol

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

1. Sunday--Turkey meatballs in gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, cranberry

2. Monday--don't remember

3. Tuesday--Shakshuka, Pita

4. Wednesday--Chicken Penne and Pesto

5. Thursday--Mediterranean Goulash

6.  Friday--Sweet and Sour Pork w/Peppers, Rice

7. Saturday--Big Salad

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

*  Nothing

What got taken out of the freezer and used...

* Nothing

                                                   

I spent $227.23 on food/toiletries/HBA this last week at Kroger and Walmart.

This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $319.39 for October so far.  Most of my Kroger trip was to get some staples on sale as I am in "build up the pantry" mode.

There are 7 shopping days left in October.

I've earned $86.49 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $18.00 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $1.00 on Coupons dotcom in October.

I've earned 3,377 points from shopping on Fetch in October.

I earned 1,646 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.

I've earned $0 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.

That's $105.49 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $319.39 in grocery spending so in reality it's $213.90 spent after the 3 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 30.54% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 28.93% so far.  

Leftovers going into this week....don't know, don't care. 

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

1. Sunday--?

2. Monday--?

3. Tuesday--?

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6.  Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu?  Not my menu and I don't shop for it.  I've got some tv dinners for the nights we don't have the daughter's box o' meals.

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?  

Sluggy 

September To-Do List

Here is how September's To-Do List turned out....

* Pay Bills  DONE  We got all the bills paid for Sept.  So many bills, soooo many bills....*Sluggy buries her head in her hands*

* Pack & Move  DONE  It was painful and long but we got it done.  3 days to drive here.

*Read 1 Book  FAIL  Is it any wonder why I didn't do this this month? lol

* Hold Giveaway  FAIL  No Giveaway in September and they are suspended until some unknown date.

* Mail Giveaway  FAIL Ditto

* Clean out Inserts/Coupon Envie  DONE  Well this chore has become easy as I haven't gotten a newspaper/coupon insert since August and I have very few coupons left.

* Edit more Old Photos  DONE  I almost caught on a photo editing until I went to Florida earlier in October. lol

* Post about Old Trips  FAIL  With the move I've done very little of anything but pack boxes, drive and survive at my daughter's house. 8-)

* Work on Genealogy  FAIL  Nope, see above.

* Arrange for moving POD and Dumpster rental  DONE  Dumpster came, was filled and left.  POD came, was filled and left.  Pods didn't hold it all so we had to rent a storage unit too which Hubs has to go back and bring that all down here.  Imagine if we hadn't gotten rid of a dumpster worth and about 12 car loads full of stuff to charity?  Geez

* Spend Bonus Cash  DONE  I spent it all down.  Got a few things we needed like dog food and snacks for the move.  I bought stuff for 2 employees I liked as well to use it all up.  Gonna miss Rite-Aid and my friends there. 8-(((

* Eat Down the Freezer/Pantry  DONE  We ate down as much as we could.  Anything we couldn't fit in two tubs(non-perishable stuff)was given away to family and friends.  We did have to throw a bit out as well.  Sigh.....

* Pack for the Move  DONE  Somehow it all got packed up with help from 2 of our adult kids.  We left some appliances(stove, fridge, dishwasher, washer, dryer, lawnmower, chest freezer, smoker)for whomever buys the house along with extra flooring material, ice melt, snow shovels, etc.

* Power Wash House and Porch  DONE  Younger son came and helped out with this.  The outside looked sparkly.  Hubs also did a final seal on the back deck.

* Put House on the Market  DONE  We signed the contract,  the agent brought in a cleaning crew to spiffy up the interior and the sign went up in the front yard before we got to Louisiana.

* Move  DONE  Yep we hauled ass outta PA September 12th and arrived here late on the 14th.  Now we wait for the house to sell.

While some To-Do List items fell by the wayside(cuz they weren't important or time sensitive right now)a lot got done(well it HAD TO get done!).  Moving halfway across the country is difficult even when things go right.  We've still got possessions in PA but by this time next week they will all be here in LA.  We donated or threw out what we didn't love and what would cost more to move than to replace once we landed somewhere here.

Do I ever want to do this again?  That would be a definite NO!  I'd rather slit my wrists actually.  I'll live here until it's time to haul my dead carcass off.  If you'd have told me I'd celebrate my 40th Wedding Anniversary by packing up my life and hauling it 1,431 miles I'd have said you need your head examined.  Moving puts a strain on finances and relationships in even the best marriages. 8-)

Can I just say that I am GLAD this phase is over?? ;-)

Have you ever pulled up stakes and moved your life a long distance?  What was your experience like?

Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Monday Post is Back" Edition.....

Me on the beach in Florida trying not to get sunburned. I think I lasted 10 whole minutes. lolz

Well it is and it isn't.  Still living at my Daughter and Son in-law's house and not in control of meals.  It is killing every frugal bone in my body that my daughter orders these meal kits(for convenience as she gets home late)which are overpriced.  I offered to shop and cook but she insists on doing it this way so we eat whatever is in the kit on the days dinner is provided and the other 3 nights a week we either eat leftovers, make something ourselves(ie-tv dinners)or go out or don't eat dinner.  This is what it is and by next month we'll be on our own in our own place.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Shrimp Mushrooms and Pasta, Salad, Garlic Bread(Kay bought, Kim cooked)

2. Monday--Leftover above

3. Tuesday--Steak, leftover Salad, Garlic Bread(Sluggy bought the steaks, Anne cooked)

4. Wednesday--Arby's roast beef sandwich

5. Thursday--leftovers I think?

6.  Friday--Chicken and noodle dish(too peppery so only ate the chicken out of it)

7. Saturday--a peanut stew of chicken, sweet potatoes and kale(This was tasty.)

I was in Florida and Alabama until Thursday when I spent the day on a Greyhound bus and back in Louisiana the end of the week.  No actual cooking on my part all week. ;-)

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

*  3 tv dinners

* 1 pt. of ice cream

What got taken out of the freezer and used...

* Nothing

                                                   

I spent $92.16 on food/toiletries/HBA this last 2 weeks at Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Walmart.  I spent $$ at Walmart and Publix while in Florida but that's vacation spending. ;-)

This brings our food/toiletries/paper goods Total to $92.16 for October so far.  Hubs spent something while I was gone but I don't have his receipt so don't know what he spent while I was away. 

There are 14 shopping days left in October.

I've earned $14.49 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $9.00 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $0 on Coupons dotcom in October.

I've earned 456 points from shopping on Fetch in October.

I earned 0 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.

I've earned $0 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.

That's $14.49 in rebates(not counting the Shop Kick/Swag Bucks/Fetch)on $92.16 in grocery spending so in reality it's $77.67 spent after the 3 rebate apps I count.

My savings percentage for the last week was 24.63% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 24.63% so far.  

Leftovers going into this week....don't know, don't care. 

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

1. Sunday--Turkey meatballs in gravy, mashed potatoes, peas, cranberry

2. Monday--?

3. Tuesday--?

4. Wednesday--?

5. Thursday--?

6.  Friday--?

7. Saturday--?

What do I need to buy to fix everything on this menu?  Not my menu and I don't shop for it.  I've got some tv dinners for the nights we don't have the daughter's box o' meals.

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 have only been in Walmart, Dollar Tree and Dollar General here.  Everything else is far away. 8-(

Sluggy 

Food Spending Report....the September Edition

* Again, this is way late but I'm trying to get back on track.*

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for SEPTEMBER 2022.

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, Pet Food & tax where applicable. We are a family of 2(and 2 dogs).
****************

DOLLAR GENERAL

OOP  $29.90

Qs/Ads  $23.06

Value  $52.96

Savings  43.51%

RITE-AID
OOP  $0.00
Qs/Ads/BC/Gift Cards  $125.62

Value  $125.62
Savings  100%

WALMART
OOP  $141.16

Qs/free Gift Cards  $38.45
Value  $179.61
Savings 21.40%

*********************
My best 3 Store Savings Totals were Rite-Aid at 100%,  Dollar General at 43.51% and Walmart at 21.40%.

The worst rate was Walmart at 21.40%.  
I shopped at 3 different stores in September.

TOTAL Spent in September................$171.06

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards...$61.51

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased....$232.57

TOTAL Savings of .............................26.45%

TOTAL Out of Pocket for September w/R-A..........$171.06

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards w/................$187.13

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased w/Rite-Aid...$358.19
TOTAL Savings with Rite-Aid items....................42.24%

This closes out the September food/toiletries spending.

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month.....Well I knew it wouldn't be pretty as we couldn't take any food with us(there are some staples that moved but they are in storage just yet).  Daughter mostly provides dinners(she gets a meal box every week which gives us 4 dinners plus a 5th of leftovers one night)but we are on our own for the other 2 nights, plus all breakfasts and lunches and we have limited space in her fridge and pantry for purchasing our food.  There are also only 2 grocery choices nearby-Walmart and Dollar General which is very limiting.  As we get acclimated here we'll branch out to other food sources.

The monthly food spending savings percentage went UP by 3.54% in September 2022 to 42.24% compared to the August's 38.70% savings average.  

With 9 months accounted for, I have spent a Grand Total of $1,997.83 on food/toiletries in 2022.

2021 Yearly Grand Total Spent....................$1,997.83

2021 Yearly Grand Total Value of Items.....$10,322.79

2021 Grand Total Saved...............................$8,325.26

2021 Yearly Savings Total..............................80.65%

The average per month amount spent is $221.99 in 2022.

LOOKING AHEAD To October 2022......Still in transition here so the grocery game will remain the same.  I did spend on grocery items while on my trip so October's spending will be more than September's tab.

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 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 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