I was very excited to come out ahead in my grocery budget for the year! After being over budget the last couple of months rather badly I was starting to think maybe I wouldn't be able to actually keep my budget for the year. But I really tried to keep my spending minimal for Dec. That coupled with the fact that we were gone for pretty much a whole week really helped.
Now I'm trying to decide if I should try to keep my grocery budget for 2012 at $190 or up it. I know the deals aren't as good as they used to be and yet I enjoy a challenge too. This past year I was able to stay within budget and that was even with buying ahead on diapers for this baby. (I have roughly 30 packs of diapers and several big packs of wipes stocked up.) I also have quite a bit of meat bought up ahead as well. So what do you think? Should I try for $190 again or up it to $210?
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $74.56
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $209.70
Week 1: $19.43
Week 2: $14.91
Week 3: $39.2
Week 4: $1.00
Credits: $6.95
This was thanks to a Saving Star deposit.
Ending Monthly Balance: $122.39
Balance carried from Jan.-Nov.: -$91.41
Ending Annual Balance: $30.98
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am under budget by $30.98 for this year.
Showing posts with label Monthly Spending Summary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Monthly Spending Summary. Show all posts
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Nov.)
Whew! I managed to dig myself out of my grocery budget hole at least a little bit this month! And I'm feeling good about that. Now if I can only not spend much this month, I just might be able to end the year in the black! We shall see.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $228.52
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $525.66
Week 1: $55.96
Week 2: $71.46
Week 3: $37.88
Week 4: $30.80
Week 5: $32.42
Credit: $84.69
This was for a number of things including a bunch of rebates and a return to Giant for some stuff that didn't ring up correctly.
Ending Monthly Balance: $143.83
Balance Carried from Jan.-Oct.: - $137.58
Ending Annual Balance: - $91.41
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $91.41 for the year.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $228.52
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $525.66
Week 1: $55.96
Week 2: $71.46
Week 3: $37.88
Week 4: $30.80
Week 5: $32.42
Credit: $84.69
This was for a number of things including a bunch of rebates and a return to Giant for some stuff that didn't ring up correctly.
Ending Monthly Balance: $143.83
Balance Carried from Jan.-Oct.: - $137.58
Ending Annual Balance: - $91.41
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $91.41 for the year.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Oct.)
Oh my. I was working on my November Spending Summary and realized that I never had posted my October one! I had it all typed up and everything but it was still sitting in my drafts. So here you go, rather late. And you'll see that I was horribly over budget. Not good.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $123.15
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $330.18
Week 1: $72.01 89.31
Week 2: $5.88 49.24
Week 3: $25.26 135.35
Week 4: $20.00 56.28
Other Expenses: $186.00
This was for 24 lb. butter, $67 worth of meat and some misc. grocery purchases that I used cash for.
Credits: $40.74
This was a $5.75 Saving Star credit as well as Rite Aid Rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $268.41
Balance Carried from Jan.-Sept.: -$59.17
Ending Annual Balance: -$137.58
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $137.58 for the year.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $123.15
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $330.18
Week 1: $72.01 89.31
Week 2: $5.88 49.24
Week 3: $25.26 135.35
Week 4: $20.00 56.28
Other Expenses: $186.00
This was for 24 lb. butter, $67 worth of meat and some misc. grocery purchases that I used cash for.
Credits: $40.74
This was a $5.75 Saving Star credit as well as Rite Aid Rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $268.41
Balance Carried from Jan.-Sept.: -$59.17
Ending Annual Balance: -$137.58
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $137.58 for the year.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Sept.)
I know this is being posted a month late, but we have been so busy that Vince got behind on bookwork and so I was waiting until he balanced everything in our budgeting program to make surer I was accurate on my postings here.
This was another high spending month, but then 5 week months always do tend to be more. Still, I was disappointed to see that I am a bit over-budget for the year. I don't know that that has ever happened this late in the year. I'm trying to figure out if it is because 1.) grocery prices are rising 2.) the deals aren't as good as they used to be or 3.) I'm just simply not being careful enough with my spending. At any rate, I'm going to really try to get ahead again!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $204.89
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $461.74
Week 1: $37.09 56.47
Week 2: $24.94 72.20
Week 3: $75.84 94.58
Week 4: $58.82 131.60
Week 5: $8.20 106.89
Other Expenses: $81.13
This was for $60 cash for milk that we buy from a local farmer and also 12 packs of Parmesan cheese that I got really cheap through an Amazon deal.
Credits: $9.99
This was for 2 rebates as well as a $6.00 credit from Saving Star.
Ending Monthly Balance: -$86.03
Balance carried from Jan.-Aug.: $26.86
Ending Annual Balance: -$59.17
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $59.17. Not good! Going to have to work on getting ahead again!
This was another high spending month, but then 5 week months always do tend to be more. Still, I was disappointed to see that I am a bit over-budget for the year. I don't know that that has ever happened this late in the year. I'm trying to figure out if it is because 1.) grocery prices are rising 2.) the deals aren't as good as they used to be or 3.) I'm just simply not being careful enough with my spending. At any rate, I'm going to really try to get ahead again!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $204.89
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $461.74
Week 1: $37.09 56.47
Week 2: $24.94 72.20
Week 3: $75.84 94.58
Week 4: $58.82 131.60
Week 5: $8.20 106.89
Other Expenses: $81.13
This was for $60 cash for milk that we buy from a local farmer and also 12 packs of Parmesan cheese that I got really cheap through an Amazon deal.
Credits: $9.99
This was for 2 rebates as well as a $6.00 credit from Saving Star.
Ending Monthly Balance: -$86.03
Balance carried from Jan.-Aug.: $26.86
Ending Annual Balance: -$59.17
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. So actually, I am over budget by $59.17. Not good! Going to have to work on getting ahead again!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Aug.)
Whew! This was NOT a good month. I way overspent and nearly used up all of my cushion, which isn't too comforting since I still have apples to buy and I'd like to stock up on meat at a local meat sale in Sept. Seeing how much I spent this month really made me aware of how lax I've gotten with my spending. I've rather subconsciously slipped into the mode of just buying things that I kind of want even if it isn't the best price ever. When I could just do without it.
The upside to my overspending is that some of it was done on items that I submitted rebates for. So in the next month or two I should see a nice credit on here thanks to that.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $229.57
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $265.95
Week 1: $46.50
Week 2: $131.80
Week 3: $47.24
Week 4: $4.03
Other Expenses: $87.85
- This was for groceries at a bulk food store, tomatoes and 1 1/2 bu. peaches to can.
Credits: $12.99
- I have Rite Aid Sing;e Check Rebates to thank for this!
Ending Monthly Balance: - $114.43
Balance carried from Jan.-July: $141.29
Ending Annual Balance: $26.86
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $26.86 for the year.
The upside to my overspending is that some of it was done on items that I submitted rebates for. So in the next month or two I should see a nice credit on here thanks to that.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $229.57
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $265.95
Week 1: $46.50
Week 2: $131.80
Week 3: $47.24
Week 4: $4.03
Other Expenses: $87.85
- This was for groceries at a bulk food store, tomatoes and 1 1/2 bu. peaches to can.
Credits: $12.99
- I have Rite Aid Sing;e Check Rebates to thank for this!
Ending Monthly Balance: - $114.43
Balance carried from Jan.-July: $141.29
Ending Annual Balance: $26.86
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $26.86 for the year.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (July)
Another bigger month of spending, mostly due to buying peaches and subscribing to the Sunday paper. I'm pretty sure that my expense for the newspaper subscription should pay for itself through the coupon savings I'll have, but I still hated to lay out the money for it!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $138.25
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $206.80
Week 1: $11.80
Week 2: $54.27
Week 3: $15.65
Week 4: $56.53
Other Expenses: $93.61
- $45.76 of this was for a years subscription to our local Sunday paper. This is the first I've ever actually paid to subscribe to the Sunday paper but my one source of getting it free is no longer available, so I needed to do something! The rest was for 1 1/2 bu. of peaches that I froze to enjoy the rest of the year.
Credits: $88.00
- This was for some rebates that I did.
Ending Monthly Balance: $46.14
Balance carried from Jan.-June: $95.15
Ending Annual Balance: $141.29
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $141.29 for the year. This doesn't make me feel too great because I still have apples, some more peaches and tomatoes to buy to can/freeze. I guess I'll have to see if I can be really under budget for the month of August! :)
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $138.25
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $206.80
Week 1: $11.80
Week 2: $54.27
Week 3: $15.65
Week 4: $56.53
Other Expenses: $93.61
- $45.76 of this was for a years subscription to our local Sunday paper. This is the first I've ever actually paid to subscribe to the Sunday paper but my one source of getting it free is no longer available, so I needed to do something! The rest was for 1 1/2 bu. of peaches that I froze to enjoy the rest of the year.
Credits: $88.00
- This was for some rebates that I did.
Ending Monthly Balance: $46.14
Balance carried from Jan.-June: $95.15
Ending Annual Balance: $141.29
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $141.29 for the year. This doesn't make me feel too great because I still have apples, some more peaches and tomatoes to buy to can/freeze. I guess I'll have to see if I can be really under budget for the month of August! :)
Friday, July 8, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (June)
Aren't they beautiful!?Whew! I spent more this month than I have in a while. And then besides I got blueberries and strawberries too. I hadn't done any figuring so I was a little scared that I had totally used up all the extra money I had been saving, so I was rather relieved to see there is still some left. I'm going to be buying peaches and apples soon so I'm sure that will eat up the rest of it. I expect that in the next month or two I'll be in the red and have to work myself out.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $204.46
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $405.28
Week 1: $31.37
Week 2: $24.15
Week 3: $24.16
Week 4: $34.59
Week 5: $90.19
Other Expenses: $243.98
This was for 40 lb. of blueberries and 80 qt. strawberries. We ate some of both fresh but then I froze the rest and we'll enjoy them in smoothies, in desserts, plain and mixed with other fruit the rest of the year. Every year I kind of gasp at the amount when it comes to forking over the money for fruit, but every year I decide it is worth it. We love fruit and I figure it is not only healthy, but doing it this way also ends up being cheaper than buying fresh fruit or frozen fruit throughout the year at a grocery store.
For instance, I paid $1.60/lb. for the blueberries. I was looking at ice cream at Giant the other day and noticed that their frozen blueberries were $3 something a lb. It was then I realized that buying fruit in bulk like this and doing the work of freezing it on my own is really a lot cheaper.
Credits: $25.65
This was from two different rebates that I did.
Ending Monthly Balance: $11.19
Balance carried from Jan.-May: $350.32
Ending Annual Balance: $95.15 (deducted the strawberries and blueberries from my balance and this is what is left)
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $95.15 for the year.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (May)
Okay, so this is a month late, but with all the busyness and not feeling well, I just didn't get this done last month. Plus, Blogger lost some of my info so I had to spend a bunch of time going through receipts etc. figuring stuff out. :( And honestly, that is part of the reason I put this off for so long.
I didn't spend much at all this month- just not a lot of deals and I really didn't need much so we lived off our stockpile and stuff that was in the freezer. It was good to get some things used up but I probably should do it another month yet!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $45.71
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $265.12
Week 1: $6.76
Week 2: $25.25
Week 3: $13.70
Week 4: $0
Credits: $32.23
Ending Monthly Balance: $13.48
Balance Carried from Jan.-April: $173.80
Ending Annual Balance: $350.32
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $350.32 for the year. No worries though, I will use this up fast when it comes time to can and freeze produce and fruit! In fact buying strawberries and blueberries in June have already eaten up a bunch of it!
I didn't spend much at all this month- just not a lot of deals and I really didn't need much so we lived off our stockpile and stuff that was in the freezer. It was good to get some things used up but I probably should do it another month yet!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $45.71
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $265.12
Week 1: $6.76
Week 2: $25.25
Week 3: $13.70
Week 4: $0
Credits: $32.23
Ending Monthly Balance: $13.48
Balance Carried from Jan.-April: $173.80
Ending Annual Balance: $350.32
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $350.32 for the year. No worries though, I will use this up fast when it comes time to can and freeze produce and fruit! In fact buying strawberries and blueberries in June have already eaten up a bunch of it!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary
I did pretty well this month with our grocery budget, even though I bought a pile of stuff. I've really been trying to cut back on buying things unless it is (1) a super good price or (2) something we really need because our cupboards, freezer and pantry are quite full!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $157.02
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $410.34
Week 1: $53.87
Week 2: $34.78
Week 3: $26.86
Week 4: $41.51
Credits: $38.97
- This was all from Rite Aid Single Check Rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $118.05
Balance carried from Jan.-Mar.: $101.85
Ending Annual Balance: $173.80
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $173.80 for the year. No worries though, I will use this up fast when it comes time to can and freeze produce and fruit!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $157.02
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $410.34
Week 1: $53.87
Week 2: $34.78
Week 3: $26.86
Week 4: $41.51
Credits: $38.97
- This was all from Rite Aid Single Check Rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $118.05
Balance carried from Jan.-Mar.: $101.85
Ending Annual Balance: $173.80
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $173.80 for the year. No worries though, I will use this up fast when it comes time to can and freeze produce and fruit!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Mar.)
Here's my spending summary for March. I was surprised to find that I was under budget. I had felt like I was spending a lot and never got around to checking just how I was actually doing. So I was rather relieved to see that I was quite a bit under budget. I'm going to need that extra money when I start buying fruit and veggies to can and freeze!
Monthly Grocery/ Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $173.15
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $554.15
Week 1: $21.99
Week 2: $25.98
Week 3: $48.87
Week 4: $29.05
Week 5: $47.26
Credits: $12.98
Ending Monthly Balance: $160.17
Balance carried from Jan. & Feb.: +$72.02
Ending Annual Balance: +$101.85
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $101.85 for the year.
Monthly Grocery/ Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $173.15
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $554.15
Week 1: $21.99
Week 2: $25.98
Week 3: $48.87
Week 4: $29.05
Week 5: $47.26
Credits: $12.98
Ending Monthly Balance: $160.17
Balance carried from Jan. & Feb.: +$72.02
Ending Annual Balance: +$101.85
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $101.85 for the year.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Feb.)
This is kind of pathetic, but I realized the other day that I never posted my monthly spending for Feb. So here it is, for whatever it is worth. :)
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $120.16
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $624.50
Week 1: $58.62
Week 2: $6.72
Week 3: $15.25
Week 4: $39.57
Credits: $11.00
- from Rite Aid Rebate
Ending Monthly Balance: $80.84
Balance carried from Jan.: - $8.82
Ending Annual Balance: +$72.02
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $72.02 for the year.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $120.16
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $624.50
Week 1: $58.62
Week 2: $6.72
Week 3: $15.25
Week 4: $39.57
Credits: $11.00
- from Rite Aid Rebate
Ending Monthly Balance: $80.84
Balance carried from Jan.: - $8.82
Ending Annual Balance: +$72.02
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $72.02 for the year.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Jan.)
Starting a new year of budgeting is always kind of fun and kind of scary. It's fun because their is a whole new year ahead of me and it's fun to think of all that I will be able to save. And it's scary because I wonder how I'll do and if I'll be able to keep in budget.
I had previously mentioned that I was thinking about dropping my monthly grocery budget to $180 a month, but after discussing it with my husband we decided to just leave it where it is. He had been reading a number of articles recently that were speculating that grocery prices were going to rise quite a bit this year so we thought maybe we should plan for that.
This year, for a variety of reasons, we decided to "wipe the slate clean" so to speak and start our budget out at $0. So the extra money I had in my grocery budget from last year is going to go towards some meat we are purchasing inexpensively from some farmer friends of ours.
Anyway, here's the breakdown of my monthly spending. I didn't do as good as I had hoped but I feel okay with it nonetheless. I usually don't spend anywhere near my budgeted amount in Jan. and am able to set quite a bit aside for canning and freezing costs that we have later in the year. However I am hoping that Feb. and March will be lower spending months and will allow me to get ahead a bit and save up for my canning costs.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $198.82
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $551.47
Week 1: $0.99
Week 2: $57.45
Week 3: $74.87
Week 4: $65.51
Ending Monthly Balance: -8.82
I went over budget by this amount. Not a good idea!
I had previously mentioned that I was thinking about dropping my monthly grocery budget to $180 a month, but after discussing it with my husband we decided to just leave it where it is. He had been reading a number of articles recently that were speculating that grocery prices were going to rise quite a bit this year so we thought maybe we should plan for that.
This year, for a variety of reasons, we decided to "wipe the slate clean" so to speak and start our budget out at $0. So the extra money I had in my grocery budget from last year is going to go towards some meat we are purchasing inexpensively from some farmer friends of ours.
Anyway, here's the breakdown of my monthly spending. I didn't do as good as I had hoped but I feel okay with it nonetheless. I usually don't spend anywhere near my budgeted amount in Jan. and am able to set quite a bit aside for canning and freezing costs that we have later in the year. However I am hoping that Feb. and March will be lower spending months and will allow me to get ahead a bit and save up for my canning costs.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $198.82
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $551.47
Week 1: $0.99
Week 2: $57.45
Week 3: $74.87
Week 4: $65.51
Ending Monthly Balance: -8.82
I went over budget by this amount. Not a good idea!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Monthly Spending Summary (Dec.)
I was so curious how I would come out at the end of the year. It has been such an up and down thing. I started the year out with extra leftover at the end of the month for several months. Then this summer when I was canning and freezing I was actually over budget for a while and wondered if I'd be able to reign it in. But the last couple of months I was way under budget again and so I was rather curious just how it would all pan out.
I am not totally decided what I am going to do with my "extra" money, however some friends of ours are offering us a great price on some beef that they raised. So I'm thinking of putting my money into that.
I'm also toying with the idea of cutting my budget by $10-$20 a month, but I'm a little scared I won't be able to stick with it. What do you think? Can I do it? Would I be crazy? I'd love your input!
Anyway here's all the figures.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $177.12
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $300.74
Week 1: $47.24
Week 2: $48.14
Week 3: $21.93
Week 4: $23.28
Week 5: $36.53
Credits: $132.85
- This was from rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $44.27
Balance carried from Jan.-Nov.: $177.24
Ending Annual Balance: $322.97
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $322.97 for the year.
How did you do this year? Were you able to stick with your budget? And would I be nuts to try to cut my budget back some?
I am not totally decided what I am going to do with my "extra" money, however some friends of ours are offering us a great price on some beef that they raised. So I'm thinking of putting my money into that.
I'm also toying with the idea of cutting my budget by $10-$20 a month, but I'm a little scared I won't be able to stick with it. What do you think? Can I do it? Would I be crazy? I'd love your input!
Anyway here's all the figures.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $177.12
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $300.74
Week 1: $47.24
Week 2: $48.14
Week 3: $21.93
Week 4: $23.28
Week 5: $36.53
Credits: $132.85
- This was from rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $44.27
Balance carried from Jan.-Nov.: $177.24
Ending Annual Balance: $322.97
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months. So basically I am ahead by $322.97 for the year.
How did you do this year? Were you able to stick with your budget? And would I be nuts to try to cut my budget back some?
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (Nov.)
I spent very little this month. As I said before, I really didn't need that much and we also have had meals coming in the last 2 weeks which means that I for sure don't need to buy as much groceries as normal.
If you look back over my Weekly Spending Summaries for the month though, you'll see that I did actually buy quite a lot of stuff. What really helped was the fact that there were some amazing sales combined with some great coupons which meant I was able to get a lot of food and cosmetics for free.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $60.88
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $398.27
Week 1: $26.18
Week 2: $19.82
Week 3: $9.63
Week 4: $5.25
Other Expenses: $26.18
- this was for some vitamins and an ink cartridge
Credits: $21.57
- this was a rebate as well as a return that I did
Ending Monthly Balance: $65.49
Balance carried from Jan.-Oct.: $52.73
Ending Annual Balance: $177.24
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous month. So basically I am ahead by $177.24 for the year.
If you look back over my Weekly Spending Summaries for the month though, you'll see that I did actually buy quite a lot of stuff. What really helped was the fact that there were some amazing sales combined with some great coupons which meant I was able to get a lot of food and cosmetics for free.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $60.88
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $398.27
Week 1: $26.18
Week 2: $19.82
Week 3: $9.63
Week 4: $5.25
Other Expenses: $26.18
- this was for some vitamins and an ink cartridge
Credits: $21.57
- this was a rebate as well as a return that I did
Ending Monthly Balance: $65.49
Balance carried from Jan.-Oct.: $52.73
Ending Annual Balance: $177.24
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous month. So basically I am ahead by $177.24 for the year.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (Oct.)
These five week months always make it hard for me to stay under budget. I thought I was doing pretty good, but obviously, I didn't do as well as I thought! However, thanks to last month's huge excess I still came out okay.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $235.58
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $496.38
Week 1: $42.61
Week 2: $36.38
Week 3: $60.65
Week 4: $49.83
Week 5: $46.11
Other Expenses: $156.20
- This was for 6 1/2 bu. apples that I made into applesauce (1/2 bu. was for my grandparent's) and also a bunch of ham, turkey, and Lebanon bologna that I bought at a meat sale.
Credits: $82.95
-This was from a whole bunch of rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $308.83
Balance Carried from Jan.-Sept.: $171.56
Ending Annual Balance: $52.73
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous month. So basically I am ahead by $52.73 for the year.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $235.58
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $496.38
Week 1: $42.61
Week 2: $36.38
Week 3: $60.65
Week 4: $49.83
Week 5: $46.11
Other Expenses: $156.20
- This was for 6 1/2 bu. apples that I made into applesauce (1/2 bu. was for my grandparent's) and also a bunch of ham, turkey, and Lebanon bologna that I bought at a meat sale.
Credits: $82.95
-This was from a whole bunch of rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $308.83
Balance Carried from Jan.-Sept.: $171.56
Ending Annual Balance: $52.73
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous month. So basically I am ahead by $52.73 for the year.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (Sept.)
I am always amazed at the things I learn when I do these monthly spending summaries. For one thing, I had no idea that I saved nearly $450 between coupons and sales this month! That's just crazy! I also didn't realize that the amount of rebates that I had deposited this month was so high. Of course, I was rather excited about that and was very amazed to see what that did to my annual budget.
I'm so thankful for the wiggle room I'll have now because I have a bunch of meat that I ordered for this month and that will take a chunk out of my budget. I'll also be buying apples to make applesauce, which will conclude my canning and freezing for the year. So hopefully from now on I will be able to stay under my monthly budget.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $175.40
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $446.32
Week 1: $77.31
Week 2: $28.71
Week 3: $44.20
Week 4: $25.18
Other Expenses: $41.86
This was for several different things including grapes that I made into grape juice.
Credits: $195.69
Believe it or not, most of this was from rebates that I received. I had a whole bunch of them finally arrive and wow, it was fun to see it boost my budget!
Ending Monthly Balance: $21.57
Balance carried from Jan.-Aug.: $3.13
Ending Annual Balance: $171.56
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months as well as this months huge credit. So basically I am ahead by $171.56 for the year. I'm going to love that wiggle room, let me tell you!
How did you do this month? I'd love to hear about it!
I'm so thankful for the wiggle room I'll have now because I have a bunch of meat that I ordered for this month and that will take a chunk out of my budget. I'll also be buying apples to make applesauce, which will conclude my canning and freezing for the year. So hopefully from now on I will be able to stay under my monthly budget.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $175.40
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $446.32
Week 1: $77.31
Week 2: $28.71
Week 3: $44.20
Week 4: $25.18
Other Expenses: $41.86
This was for several different things including grapes that I made into grape juice.
Credits: $195.69
Believe it or not, most of this was from rebates that I received. I had a whole bunch of them finally arrive and wow, it was fun to see it boost my budget!
Ending Monthly Balance: $21.57
Balance carried from Jan.-Aug.: $3.13
Ending Annual Balance: $171.56
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left over for the year. This comes from being under budget in some previous months as well as this months huge credit. So basically I am ahead by $171.56 for the year. I'm going to love that wiggle room, let me tell you!
How did you do this month? I'd love to hear about it!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (August)
I went over budget again this month, but thankfully not by much. I honestly anticipated it being much worse. I am nearly all done with buying fruit to can/freeze but I do still have to do apples and I'd also like to do grape juice.
Last month I had mentioned that I had a boatload of rebates that I was hoping would come and help "bail me out" this month. Well, I still haven't gotten most of them! I thought I had requested my Rite Aid Single Check Rebates and hadn't, so I won't get them til this month. But the good news is that this month I should receive roughly $100 in rebates so that will really give me a boost.
Anyway, enough of all that.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $206.62
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $403.46
Week 1: $41.72
Week 2: $75.88
Week 3: $50.61
Week 4: $38.41
Other Expenses: $83.85
- 1 1/2 bu. peaches: $47.85
- 1 1/2 bu. beans: $36
Credits: $25.78
- Mostly from rebates
Ending Monthly Balance: $264.69 (over budget by $74.69)
Balance carried from Jan.-July: $77.82
Ending Annual Balance: $3.13
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left from previous months when I was under budget. I kind of tried to plan ahead for the extra expense of fruit and veggies that I buy to can and freeze. So basically I am ahead by $3.13 for the year. Such a small amount doesn't really make me feel very comforted, but at least I'm not over budget I guess!
How was your month? Feeling good about it? Or were you like me and went over budget once again?
Last month I had mentioned that I had a boatload of rebates that I was hoping would come and help "bail me out" this month. Well, I still haven't gotten most of them! I thought I had requested my Rite Aid Single Check Rebates and hadn't, so I won't get them til this month. But the good news is that this month I should receive roughly $100 in rebates so that will really give me a boost.
Anyway, enough of all that.
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $206.62
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $403.46
Week 1: $41.72
Week 2: $75.88
Week 3: $50.61
Week 4: $38.41
Other Expenses: $83.85
- 1 1/2 bu. peaches: $47.85
- 1 1/2 bu. beans: $36
Credits: $25.78
- Mostly from rebates
Ending Monthly Balance: $264.69 (over budget by $74.69)
Balance carried from Jan.-July: $77.82
Ending Annual Balance: $3.13
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left from previous months when I was under budget. I kind of tried to plan ahead for the extra expense of fruit and veggies that I buy to can and freeze. So basically I am ahead by $3.13 for the year. Such a small amount doesn't really make me feel very comforted, but at least I'm not over budget I guess!
How was your month? Feeling good about it? Or were you like me and went over budget once again?
Monday, August 2, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (July)
Okay, so I went over budget rather horribly this month and I can't blame it all on buying fruit to freeze. I did have to buy extra food for family reunions etc., but then at the same time we were gone quite a bit this month so in some ways I doubt we ate as much as usual here. Honestly, I'm not really sure how my expenses got so high.
One thing I did think of was that I bought a number of higher priced items that I submitted rebates for and I still haven't gotten those rebates back. I know that did make a difference. According to my records, I have $88.26 worth of rebates coming to me and that is not even counting the Rite Aid Single Check Rebates which would probably be at least around $60. So hopefully next month I'll even things out a bit.
At any rate, if you've been thinking I never go over budget, here's proof. I mess up too!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $218.58
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $351.75
Week 1: $8.98
Week 2: $64.00
Week 3: $67.97
Week 4: $10.24
Week 5: $67.39
Other Expenses: $140.48
- 40 lbs. Blueberries: $58.50
- 1 1/2 bu. Peaches: $51.00
- Misc.: $30.98
Credits: $44.18
This was mainly from Rite Aid and other rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $314.88 (over budget by $124.88)
Balance carried from Jan.-June: $202.70
Ending Annual Balance: $77.82
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left from previous months when I was under budget. I kind of tried to plan ahead for the extra expense of fruit and veggies that I buy to can and freeze. I'm hoping that the above amount will still cover apples for applesauce, tomatoes for tomato juice and maybe spaghetti sauce, peaches for canning and green beans. Hopefully by the end of next month I'll know!
How did you do this month? Did all the fresh fruit/veggies put you under too? Or are you staying right on track?
One thing I did think of was that I bought a number of higher priced items that I submitted rebates for and I still haven't gotten those rebates back. I know that did make a difference. According to my records, I have $88.26 worth of rebates coming to me and that is not even counting the Rite Aid Single Check Rebates which would probably be at least around $60. So hopefully next month I'll even things out a bit.
At any rate, if you've been thinking I never go over budget, here's proof. I mess up too!
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $218.58
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $351.75
Week 1: $8.98
Week 2: $64.00
Week 3: $67.97
Week 4: $10.24
Week 5: $67.39
Other Expenses: $140.48
- 40 lbs. Blueberries: $58.50
- 1 1/2 bu. Peaches: $51.00
- Misc.: $30.98
Credits: $44.18
This was mainly from Rite Aid and other rebates.
Ending Monthly Balance: $314.88 (over budget by $124.88)
Balance carried from Jan.-June: $202.70
Ending Annual Balance: $77.82
- In case you are confused, this is the amount I have left from previous months when I was under budget. I kind of tried to plan ahead for the extra expense of fruit and veggies that I buy to can and freeze. I'm hoping that the above amount will still cover apples for applesauce, tomatoes for tomato juice and maybe spaghetti sauce, peaches for canning and green beans. Hopefully by the end of next month I'll know!
How did you do this month? Did all the fresh fruit/veggies put you under too? Or are you staying right on track?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (June)
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $183.84
Total Saved with Coupons & Sales: $258.27
Week 1: $74.38
Week 2: $40.74
Week 3: $8.70
Week 4: $60.02
Other Expenses: $194.00
This was for 80 qts. of strawberries and 1 bushel of peas.
Credits: $39.48
Ending Monthly Balance: $338.36 (over budget by $148.36)
Balance carried from Jan.-May: $351.06
Ending Annual Balance: $202.70
I'm sorry if all that was hard to follow. Basically I had a huge credit from the past 5 months and this month because of buying fruit and produce to freeze, I dipped into that some. However, I still have $200 surplus, for which I am thankful because I still have fruit and veggies that I want to buy to can and freeze!
Now that I'm not feeling so icky with my pregnancy I really should try to do a "live out of the pantry/freezer month". I should, but I'm not sure I have the motivation to do it! Making food is still not something I enjoy doing as much as I normally would...but maybe I can compromise and do it for 2 weeks. We'll see... :)
Total Spent: $183.84
Total Saved with Coupons & Sales: $258.27
Week 1: $74.38
Week 2: $40.74
Week 3: $8.70
Week 4: $60.02
Other Expenses: $194.00
This was for 80 qts. of strawberries and 1 bushel of peas.
Credits: $39.48
Ending Monthly Balance: $338.36 (over budget by $148.36)
Balance carried from Jan.-May: $351.06
Ending Annual Balance: $202.70
I'm sorry if all that was hard to follow. Basically I had a huge credit from the past 5 months and this month because of buying fruit and produce to freeze, I dipped into that some. However, I still have $200 surplus, for which I am thankful because I still have fruit and veggies that I want to buy to can and freeze!
Now that I'm not feeling so icky with my pregnancy I really should try to do a "live out of the pantry/freezer month". I should, but I'm not sure I have the motivation to do it! Making food is still not something I enjoy doing as much as I normally would...but maybe I can compromise and do it for 2 weeks. We'll see... :)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Monthly Spending Summary (May)
Monthly Grocery/Household Budget: $190
Total Spent: $84.31
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $152.02
Week 1: $1.06
Week 2: $43.88
Week 3: $20.95
Week 4: $18.42
Credits: $8.37
This was from a return and also two transactions from back at the beginning the year that never deducted from our bank account. Have you ever had that happen? We do periodically when we use our bank card and I always feel bad, but there really is no way to make it right with the store where it happened.
Ending Balance: $75.94 (or $114.06 extra)
Balance Carried from Jan.- April: $237.20
I guess I just didn't spend much this month, partly because I didn't always feel like chasing the deals and partly because it just seemed like the deals were just not that great.
I was feeling pretty good about how much extra I had, but I'm afraid this month I'm going to make a bit of a dent into that extra with buying strawberries (I freeze a ton!) and meat. We are nearly out of both chicken and hamburger so I am planning to restock on that.
I admit I've gotten a little lazy about being careful how I spend my grocery money. Not that I've really done horribly, but I think with knowing all the extra money I had I sort of subconsciously thought I didn't have to be as careful and I have bought various things I would not normally buy at all or at least not for full price. I don't really feel terribly bad about it, but it is just good for me to be aware that I am going to need that extra money for fruit etc. Hopefully it will make me be a little more conscious of how I spend it.
Total Spent: $84.31
Total Saved with Coupons/Sales: $152.02
Week 1: $1.06
Week 2: $43.88
Week 3: $20.95
Week 4: $18.42
Credits: $8.37
This was from a return and also two transactions from back at the beginning the year that never deducted from our bank account. Have you ever had that happen? We do periodically when we use our bank card and I always feel bad, but there really is no way to make it right with the store where it happened.
Ending Balance: $75.94 (or $114.06 extra)
Balance Carried from Jan.- April: $237.20
I guess I just didn't spend much this month, partly because I didn't always feel like chasing the deals and partly because it just seemed like the deals were just not that great.
I was feeling pretty good about how much extra I had, but I'm afraid this month I'm going to make a bit of a dent into that extra with buying strawberries (I freeze a ton!) and meat. We are nearly out of both chicken and hamburger so I am planning to restock on that.
I admit I've gotten a little lazy about being careful how I spend my grocery money. Not that I've really done horribly, but I think with knowing all the extra money I had I sort of subconsciously thought I didn't have to be as careful and I have bought various things I would not normally buy at all or at least not for full price. I don't really feel terribly bad about it, but it is just good for me to be aware that I am going to need that extra money for fruit etc. Hopefully it will make me be a little more conscious of how I spend it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)