Have It Your Way....

 Well at least one Presidential candidate has worked at a McDonald's. lol  I know it's a publicity stunt but I'm just sayin'.  I've been to that Mickey D's....

Sluggy

Income & Spending.....the September Edition

Now that we are living on an annuity, 401K$ withdrawals, personal savings and social security payments, I am still going to keep track of our monthly spending and income, and hopefully we'll still be able to live BELOW our means and I'll have some leftover monies each month to tuck aside.

We went into retirement in June of 2017 with no debt, no mortgage nor a car payment.

I am trying to be as transparent as I can with how much is coming in and how much is going out. 8-)

On to the September report--

I have 2 goals for September.....

The 1st is to actually finish the month in the black and not the red.

The 2nd is to try to have a little cash leftover at the end of the previous month to tuck back into a slush fund.  This slush fund may be applied toward unforeseen bills that are coming due in subsequent months, to spend on "extras/wants" during the year or to just sit there and grow until the end of 2024.

*  I do not include/report on our retirement accounts here, just the non-retirement ones.

I'm happy to report that we finished up September in the black.

The amount extra we ended the month of September with?....$3,811.54

Income or Funds We Can Access

The "income" in September---

*  Monthly annuity payment of $2,530.11

*  SS income of $3,828.70

*  Interest earned on non-retirement accounts of $1,413.06

Total "Income" for September....$7,771.87

Expenses in September---

*  Irregular bills in September were $0.00

*  Variable expenses in September came to $3,252.90

*  Medical Premiums in September were $707.43

Total Expenses....$3,960.33

$7,771.87-$3,960.33=$3,811.54.

Slush Fund coming into September of $67,630.38 and the addition of $3,811.54 in September, our end of September 2024 Slush Fund comes to $71,441.92.

The Slush Fund, on it's own page(tab at the top of the blog), shows an addition of $3,811.54.

Outgo

As for the variable expenses this September, here are the good and bad side of things.....

Here are the GOOD THINGS

*  The cellphone bill was .06¢ higher than in August.
*  The WAM was the same as the previous month.
*  My Amazon card was $229.32 less than in August.
*  The Joint Mastercard was $32.64 less than last month.
*  Hubs Amazon card was $326.91 less than in August.
*  Hubs Aviator card was $2,484.14 less than last month.
*  My Aviator card was $289.68 less than in August.

HERE are the BAD THINGS

*  The Water bill was $2.10 more than August's bill.
*  The electric bill was $46.65 more than the previous month.
*  The joint Mastercard was $8.08 higher than in August.(not a big thing)

The Food Budget costs for September are in another post HERE.  Food costs are included in the credit card payments(mainly but sometimes our WAM cash too).

FINAL THOUGHTS for September 2024---Financially it was a good month.

GOING FORWARD INTO October 2024--We've got three irregular bills--house insurance(ouch!) and the dogs go to the vet and the groomers.  So the 0outgo will be about $1,600 higher in October for those alone.  We are also still trying to recoup what we paid out for the Alaska cruise we couldn't go on in August due to a medical issue.  The cruise line only refunded 25% of what we paid and is making us go through the travel insurance we purchased to get the rest of what we are out.

Here's hoping 2024 treats us all even better financially! 8-))

So how was your September financially?

Did you spend less than the income you had in September?

Did you stay within your budget or not?

What did you do with any money leftover at the end of the month?

Did you pay down/off any debts or put extra toward your mortgage principle or into savings, in an emergency fund or retirement account?

Or did you blow all your excess monies after bills were paid on a "want"?

If you post your financial progress on your own blog, leave a link in the comments so we can  go check out your progress too and celebrate or commiserate with you!

Sluggy

Frugal Friday....the October 18th Edition

  There are a few Frugal wins over the past week.....

*   I bought some stuff at Kroger this past Tuesday.

I got some great deals.  The can of almonds were $1.13 on clearance(also part of the Buy 5 Deal), the Justin's dark chocolate cashew butter cups were .98¢ on clearance and I had an Ibotta rebate for .75¢ back, making them .23¢ ea.(I got 5 but ate one so there are only 4 in the photo), the Reese's packs were .52¢ each(again, I ate one before I took the photo), the Dolly Parton Betty Crocker Chocolate cake mixes were $1.08 each.  The Protein bars(Cliff Builder Bars)were .75¢ each after sale and rebate.  The BC frostings were .99¢ each after rebate and sale.  The Melatonin bottles were BOGO and I had a $6/2 coupon so they cost $2.99 for both.  The bag of Sambucus Elderberry Lozenges was $1.02 after sale/coupon/rebate.  The oatmeal was just on sale for $1.49.  The Beggin' Strips were negative $1.17 for both after sale, coupon and rebate.  The Pedigree treats were $1.99 for both after sale and rebate.  Not pictured is the Dove whole body deodorant which cost minus .01¢ after sale/coupon/rebate.
The GM cereals were $4.47 for all 3 after rebate.(food bank items).  The chocolate chips were $2.74 each after coupons and rebate(food bank items).  I also bought 2 lb. of strawberries(better price this week but I was out), some reduced price salad kits and 2 lb. of yellow squash for $1.19 lb.

*  I picked these up after I saw a Youtuber's deal..........

4 travel size Jergens lotions.  Too bad Walmart doesn't carry the Cherry Almond scent as that is my favorite. 8-)   I also took a screenshot of the offer as this deal was a Shop Kick one and they are notorious for pulling offers between when you get rung up at the register and when you get home to send for it.

Well I only got the kicks for 1 item last night so I contacted them(as it was still 4 items qualified last night on their app)so I wrote them last night.

Wake up to an email from "Brett" this morning informing me I could only get kicks for 1 item(and looked and the offer is only for 1 item this morning).

So since this is not my first rodeo with Shop Kick, I sent him the screenshot I took in the store of the offer which said 4 items and reminded him of my date/time stamp on the receipt I submitted, which he has, and stated my case.

If they don't make this right, I'll just return the other three and rebuy them 1 at a time until they pull the offer. 

Anyway, these should be .47¢ each with the offer and great for keeping in your car or purse.

*  Not much else going on here.  Hubs too a big load to the Food Bank this week.  I've been trying to walk more with just the cane and had some 

Rxs filled at Walmart. Had an appointment with the Neurosurgeon's office and I don't know why since the Pain Management doc did a nerve black on me which worked.  I just think they want me to have back surgery which I refuse to do. The weather has finally cooled down on hell's front porch and we opened windows for a couple of days.  We didn't eat out all week either. 

*  I found money!

I found two pennies at Walmart on Saturday the 12th, while leaving the store.

I found a dime in the back of the car on the 14th.  Don't know who's it is or where it came from so I am counting it. lol

Total Found last week..... .12¢

Grand Total Found this Year.......$8.68 & 5.30 Euros

That's all I got and all I can do right now.

Any frugal wins in your neck of the woods?  Let's hear all about them!

Sluggy   

Food Spending....September 2024

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

Here are my FOOD BUDGET spending totals for September 2024.

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

ALDI  

OOP  $6.46

Sales  $1.52

Value  $7.98

Savings  19.05%

KROGER

OOP  $351.35

Qs/Gift Cards  $282.94

Value $634.29

Savings  44.61%

WALMART

OOP  $176.17

Qs/Gift Cards $74.34

Value  $250.52

Savings  29.68%

********************
My best Store Savings Total was at Kroger with a savings of 44.61%.  My worse rate was at Aldi with 19.05%.  Not a bad savings rate average overall though.

I shopped at 3 different stores in SEPTEMBER.  Luckily I did most of my grocery shopping at Kroger in September. ;-)

TOTAL Spent in September......$533.98

TOTAL Coupons/Sales/Gift Cards....$358.81

TOTAL Value of Items Purchased.....$892.79

TOTAL Savings of........40.19%

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

THOUGHTS & COMMENTS for this month....

On the surface our spending was a little high but that doesn't figure in all the rebating cash I got back.  Even so, we had a goodly savings percentage over regular retail anyway.

The Monthly food spending savings percentage went Down by 17.23% in September to 40.19% compared to August's 57.42% savings average.  A lot lower in September but still over 40%.  That's ok by me.

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-because I don't have to). 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 $4,381.76 on groceries/HBA/paper goods/etc. in 2024.  Food prices have gotten to the ridiculous level, haven't they?

2024 Yearly Total Value of Items  $10,665.24

2024 Total Saved   $5,330.53

2024 Yearly Total Spent  $5,334.71

2024 Yearly Savings Total of  49.98%

The average per month amount spent is $592.75 in 2024 so far but that's before all the rebate monies are added in.

Remember that I withdraw all my cash rebate monies(Ibotta, Shopmium, TaDa, Checkout 51, Swag Bucks, My Points and other miscellaneous rebates-Aisle, Tremendous, etc. and have it 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 Cash Back), 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.

Because I don't like to let money sit in these rebate accounts and Paypal, I send $$ to my bank account throughout the year.  So far I have sent $2,182.71 from various rebating programs and through Paypal to my bank.  If you add in all that my food spending at the 9 month point in 2024 comes in at $3,152 or $350.22 per month.

Besides all I sent to my bank account I have more $ sitting in these various rebating programs as well as in Paypal.  This is not counting Alexa, ShopKick or Fetch, which all comes out in gift cards or Amazon credit.

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER 2024.....

I am trying to eat down freezer/pantry in October and it seems like most of my grocery spending has been for the Food Bank.  I hope to spend less in October than in September but time will tell.  Inflation is still crazy high so spending is more than I'd like it to be.

Gone are the days of a $350 grocery budget.

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 keep 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

This Week on the Dining Table....Oct.13 to Oct. 19

One of the local grocery stores here keeps advertising a special on "Calabaza" Squash.  What is pictured looks like a light skinned zucchini and is not in fact Calabaza Squash.

Here is a a Calabaza Squash....

Calabaza is a type of pumpkin and neither resembles what is pictured in color or shape.

A little more digging and I found what they pictured is a Calabacita(it's Spanish name), which is known as a Mexican Zucchini.  It's English name is Tatum Squash.

Calabacita as well as Zucchini are Summer Squashes while Pumpkins like Calabaza are Winter Squashes.

I know you were all on pins and needles over this. 8-)

September's Meal Planning turned into a big fat Cluster "You Know What"  so we are starting fresh in October.

Onward to the meal planning!

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

1. Sunday--Salmon, Roasted Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Steak, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Pineapple

3. Tuesday--Beer Brats(rolls optional), Zero Sugar Baked Beans

4. Wednesday--Chicken Parm, Spinach Soufflé, (Hubs Spaghetti too)

5. Thursday--Subway 1/2 a sub, Salad

6. Friday--Leftover Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Veggie TBD(Salad?)

7. Saturday--Assorted Leftovers

And here's what actually happened....

1. Sunday--Salmon, Roasted Brussels Sprouts

2. Monday--Steak, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Grilled Pineapple

3. Tuesday--Beer Brats(rolls optional), Zero Sugar Baked Beans

4. Wednesday--I had Green Beans(Hubs had Brats)

5. Thursday--Subway subs

6. Friday--Chicken Parmesan, Teriyaki Green Beans

7. Saturday--Roasted Broccoli, Roast Chicken

I was too tired to get dinner on the table in a timely fashion on Wednesday so Hubs started a row with me and he made his own dinner(of leftover brats)and I had some of the planned green beans.  We had that Wednesday meal on Friday.  I picked up a day old Roasted Chicken at Walmart and a reduced bag of Broccoli at Kroger so Saturday's dinner became Roasted Broccoli(with Balsamic drizzle on it)and a reheated half a chicken(I used the other half to make a bowl of chicken salad for lunches).

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

*  Salmon

*  Steaks
*  Brats

*  Chicken Patties

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

*  2 lbs. Shrimp

                    

Last week we spent $173.92 grocery shopping.  

Total shopping comes to $321.05 for October.   There are 17 shopping days left in October.  

Rebate monies earned this month so far.....

I've earned $174.07 on Ibotta in October.

I've earned $3.00 on Shopmium in October.

I've earned $0.00 on TaDa in October.

I've earned $23.48 on Checkout51 in October.

I've earned $59.49 on Aisle, etc. in October. (Haven't gotten my Nature Valley rebate yet from June.)

I've earned 16,160 points on Fetch from food shopping in October.

I've earned 2,237 points from food shopping on Shop Kick in October.($8.94)

I've earned 468 Points on My Points in October.(not sure what the conversion rate it here)

I've earned 1,638 from food shopping on Swag Bucks in October.($16.38)

That is $260.04 in rebates(not counting Shop Kick/Fetch/MyPoints/Swag Bucks/The Insiders were I earned gift cards)on $321.05 of grocery spending so in reality it's $61.01 in food spending after the rebate apps I count. I now separate out the Food Bank donations and don't count those in the grocery spending(but I do count any rebates on those items) so it's a win/win--the food bank gets a large donation of goods and I get a lower grocery bill.

My savings percentage for the last week was 53.71% and the monthly savings total for October comes in at 48.64% spent.

Leftovers going into this week....Lasagna, Meatloaf, Garlic Bread, Roasted Broccoli, Chicken Salad(I made from the leftover Roast Chicken, 2 Brats, Baked Beans and Green Beans.

Other than any loss leaders, things I can pick up for the food bank or a special on strawberries at Kroger that starts Wednesday, I don't plan on much grocery shopping this week.

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

1. Sunday--Leftover Lasagna, Salad, Leftover Garlic Bread

2. Monday--BBQ Pork, Coleslaw, Asparagus

3. Tuesday--Leftover Meatloaf, Assorted Leftover Veggies

4. Wednesday--Homemade Sauce with Pasta, Salad

5. Thursday--Crab Cakes, Leftover or Frozen 

Veggies

6. Friday--Chicken Strips, Leftover or Frozen Veggies

7. Saturday--Shrimp, Leftover or Frozen Veggies

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? 

Sluggy