So I actually should have shared this sometime last week but I'm a bit behind on this. I hadn't printed out my current budget sheet (which I keep in my checkbook) which means I hadn't taken last months out and gathered all my receipts together to share. And I feel like I'm missing a trip - this just doesn't seem right for some reason. I've gone through the history on the blog here though and looked through all of my receipts. As far as I can tell - this is right. Go us!
7/31 Kroger - 18.47, saved 32.74 (66%)
8/1 Marsh - 30.45, saved 13.03 (30%)
8/7 Walmart - 7.49, saved 6.00 (in coupons, clearance saved me 6.00 also) (?)
8/8 Marsh - 50.13, saved 14.80 (23%)
8/14 Walmart - 6.94, saved 6.04, (50%)
8/14 Marsh - 14.48, saved 1.89 (12%)
8/14 Walmart - 12.36, saved 1.01 (?)
8/15 Marsh - 62.25, saved 40.72 (40%)
8/22 Marsh - 84.14, saved 23.00 (22%)
Total spent for the month: 286.71
Total saved for the month: 145.49
Appx savings for the month: 34%
So - under budget (as far as I can tell) and pathetic savings - not a bad combo I guess! Here's hoping for a better month this time around.
Showing posts with label budget update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget update. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The final budget update - 12 months of hard work!
A few days ago I posted about how far we'd come in getting our debt paid down.
So here is the final listing of balances for the last twelve months (and this is just consumer debt...no mortgage in these figures):
09/09: $22058.63
10/09: $26704.15
11/09: $25712.43
12/09: $24485.66
01/10: $24658.07
02/10: $23569.55
03/10: $22456.59
04/10: $21101.42
05/10: $19588.84
06/10: $18856.25
07/10: $17591.38
08/10: $17077.91
09/10: $16202.50
So from high point to low point, we've paid off $10501.65 - a LOT of debt (and a lot of worry and angst gone too). BUT just one month prior to tracking all this - we still owned a motorcycle. It was Brian's "other woman" and he loved that bike. It was a Suzuki Boulevard M109R and we owed probably $10K on it. In a matter of a few hours, Brian decided to put it on Craigslist, listed it, got some interested buyers and it was sold less than 24 hours later. Brian has said that if he hadn't gone so quickly he might have never sold it. But that huge step for him lopped $10K off our debt almost immediately. So, let's look at that as more like $20K that's GONE forever.
Plus...we've paid CASH for things like:
Dr Johnson - $1000.00
St Vincent - $521.48
Arnett - $389.40
LeeAnn's dance lessons - $285.00
Clarian Arnett - $782.04
roof repair - $800 (appx)
Brian's short term disability (had to use some extra cash to "make up" his paychecks) - $200.00
Giving to someone who really needed it - $162.80
Witham Hospital - $212.77
Burgett Eye Care - $90.00
St Vincent Physicians - $50
St Vincent - $73.14
Anesthesia of Indy - $91.83
Johnson and Deitch - $247.39
Creekside OB/GYN - $25.60
Which totals up to $4931.85 - another LARGE chunk of cash. Depending on how you look at it (I look at it without the motorcycle debt - it was gone before I started tracking), we've paid off and paid in cash $15433.50- plus we saved (and still have) the $1000 baby emergency fund when we first started.
Now, there could be some miscalculations - I could have added one thing too many (although I tried very hard not too) or not added enough (which I don't think I've missed anything) but really? Really!? Just over $15K in 12 months? That's like 1/4 of our income!
It couldn't have been done without the knowledge we learned in our Financial Peace University class (if you haven't taken one - do it!), the committment that we made to each other and ourselves and a lot of hard work (both actually at work and at home).
Want to know how we did it? Let me know - I'd be glad to share our story!
So here is the final listing of balances for the last twelve months (and this is just consumer debt...no mortgage in these figures):
09/09: $22058.63
10/09: $26704.15
11/09: $25712.43
12/09: $24485.66
01/10: $24658.07
02/10: $23569.55
03/10: $22456.59
04/10: $21101.42
05/10: $19588.84
06/10: $18856.25
07/10: $17591.38
08/10: $17077.91
09/10: $16202.50
So from high point to low point, we've paid off $10501.65 - a LOT of debt (and a lot of worry and angst gone too). BUT just one month prior to tracking all this - we still owned a motorcycle. It was Brian's "other woman" and he loved that bike. It was a Suzuki Boulevard M109R and we owed probably $10K on it. In a matter of a few hours, Brian decided to put it on Craigslist, listed it, got some interested buyers and it was sold less than 24 hours later. Brian has said that if he hadn't gone so quickly he might have never sold it. But that huge step for him lopped $10K off our debt almost immediately. So, let's look at that as more like $20K that's GONE forever.
Plus...we've paid CASH for things like:
Dr Johnson - $1000.00
St Vincent - $521.48
Arnett - $389.40
LeeAnn's dance lessons - $285.00
Clarian Arnett - $782.04
roof repair - $800 (appx)
Brian's short term disability (had to use some extra cash to "make up" his paychecks) - $200.00
Giving to someone who really needed it - $162.80
Witham Hospital - $212.77
Burgett Eye Care - $90.00
St Vincent Physicians - $50
St Vincent - $73.14
Anesthesia of Indy - $91.83
Johnson and Deitch - $247.39
Creekside OB/GYN - $25.60
Which totals up to $4931.85 - another LARGE chunk of cash. Depending on how you look at it (I look at it without the motorcycle debt - it was gone before I started tracking), we've paid off and paid in cash $15433.50- plus we saved (and still have) the $1000 baby emergency fund when we first started.
Now, there could be some miscalculations - I could have added one thing too many (although I tried very hard not too) or not added enough (which I don't think I've missed anything) but really? Really!? Just over $15K in 12 months? That's like 1/4 of our income!
It couldn't have been done without the knowledge we learned in our Financial Peace University class (if you haven't taken one - do it!), the committment that we made to each other and ourselves and a lot of hard work (both actually at work and at home).
Want to know how we did it? Let me know - I'd be glad to share our story!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Week of 7/2 through week of 7/23 grocery budget
We had done really well early in the month when it comes to the budget! And then right at the end any of the extra money I had - I blew it. It's been 12 months we've been doing this and I think only twice have we not blown the monthly budget. Ugh. I've GOT to quit that or we're going to need to raise the monthly grocery budget to reflect the fact that we are spending more than what we say. Here it is for this month:
7/3 Marsh - 1.59, saved 0.00
7/3 Marsh - 70.71, saved 63.34 (47%)
7/11 Marsh - 53.05, saved 36.18 (41%)
7/11 Walmart - 3.18, saved 0.00
7/13 Walmart - 13.31, saved 0.00
7/18 Walmart - 30.98, saved 13.30 (?)
7/18 Marsh - 50.91, saved 41.30(45%)
7/24 Kroger - 16.64, saved 44.79 (72%)
7/24 Marsh - 15.14, saved 12.59 (45%)
7/25 Marsh - 82.72, saved 46.16 (36%)
Our total spent was $338.23 and the total saved was $257.66, which is about 46% savings total for the month. So yes, spending $338 is better than the $595 it could have been but really...if the budget is $300 for the month then I REALLY need to stick to it. And it's me! I know it's me. There are some deals that I think I just can't pass up (like the $16.64 @ Kroger last Saturday - we could have gotten away with none of that). Or the fact that I decided (on a whim) to host Christmas in July and spent an extra $19.22 - so just those two things together would have been enough to take it down to $300 (well almost...just $3 shy of that mark). But the stuff I'm giving away from Kroger (which was actually the FREE stuff) and hosting Christmas dinner was very worth it to me...so once again, we blew budget (by $38.23) and I'm okay with (well, mostly).
7/3 Marsh - 1.59, saved 0.00
7/3 Marsh - 70.71, saved 63.34 (47%)
7/11 Marsh - 53.05, saved 36.18 (41%)
7/11 Walmart - 3.18, saved 0.00
7/13 Walmart - 13.31, saved 0.00
7/18 Walmart - 30.98, saved 13.30 (?)
7/18 Marsh - 50.91, saved 41.30(45%)
7/24 Kroger - 16.64, saved 44.79 (72%)
7/24 Marsh - 15.14, saved 12.59 (45%)
7/25 Marsh - 82.72, saved 46.16 (36%)
Our total spent was $338.23 and the total saved was $257.66, which is about 46% savings total for the month. So yes, spending $338 is better than the $595 it could have been but really...if the budget is $300 for the month then I REALLY need to stick to it. And it's me! I know it's me. There are some deals that I think I just can't pass up (like the $16.64 @ Kroger last Saturday - we could have gotten away with none of that). Or the fact that I decided (on a whim) to host Christmas in July and spent an extra $19.22 - so just those two things together would have been enough to take it down to $300 (well almost...just $3 shy of that mark). But the stuff I'm giving away from Kroger (which was actually the FREE stuff) and hosting Christmas dinner was very worth it to me...so once again, we blew budget (by $38.23) and I'm okay with (well, mostly).
Friday, July 23, 2010
A budget plus!
Brian's employer always has a two-week mandatory shutdown in July. He gets paid weekly and of those two weeks, his employer forces him (and others who have enough vacation accumulated) to use 40 hours of vacation for one of the two weeks (which also means he can't file for unemployment for the second week...because that second week he gets $0 pay).
We know this two weeks is coming. It's like Christmas - it happens every year like clockwork. We had plenty of money in our savings account to "pay" us the week that he didn't get paid and then MURPHY happened (and if you've ever read Dave Ramsey you know who Murphy is). Murphy is that unexpected life happening that comes along when you least can afford it.
This Murphy wasn't TOO bad of a Murphy - we didn't have to access our emergency fund but we did deplete our savings account (that we had planned to use to "pay" us). And we could have accessed our emergency fund to get the money we needed for his paycheck last week but we are ahead in paying bills (the mortgage payment I just made today is for September 1) so I knew we had a two or three weeks that we could make it up.
Well, as soon as the roof job was done (the Murphy that visited us was a leaky roof) Brian listed the extra shingles (the guy doing the job miscalculated) on Craigslist and returned everything that they didn't use to the stores it came from (Lowe's and Kramer's mostly). Those returns and the sale of the shingles brought us $298 - we only needed $227 more to make up Brian's paycheck.
In my job I travel between bank branches and when I do so, I am paid mileage. Those mileage checks go directly into my savings account. There was already some money in there and with my most recent check - it was up to $114 - so then we only needed $184 to get to what we needed.
Well today, my check and Brian's check BOTH had "extra" (money over what we budget that normally goes to the debt snowball) on it and I quickly swept that to the savings account and it gave us $661 - $136 MORE than what we needed! So in just one week's time we were able to make up the check that he missed!
Now...his check had four hours of OT from the week before shutdown (they pay them two checks in one Friday...the one they'd normally get and then another for 40 hours...if they work OT that second week...they don't get it until today), 40 hours of vacation (which was what he was forced to take) and eight hours of holiday pay. I'm SO thankful that it worked out like it did!!!
So I was able to pay everything today and we're all done for the month. Within just a few days I'll be able to tell what all we've paid off in one year's time. I can't wait to see the final number!
We know this two weeks is coming. It's like Christmas - it happens every year like clockwork. We had plenty of money in our savings account to "pay" us the week that he didn't get paid and then MURPHY happened (and if you've ever read Dave Ramsey you know who Murphy is). Murphy is that unexpected life happening that comes along when you least can afford it.
This Murphy wasn't TOO bad of a Murphy - we didn't have to access our emergency fund but we did deplete our savings account (that we had planned to use to "pay" us). And we could have accessed our emergency fund to get the money we needed for his paycheck last week but we are ahead in paying bills (the mortgage payment I just made today is for September 1) so I knew we had a two or three weeks that we could make it up.
Well, as soon as the roof job was done (the Murphy that visited us was a leaky roof) Brian listed the extra shingles (the guy doing the job miscalculated) on Craigslist and returned everything that they didn't use to the stores it came from (Lowe's and Kramer's mostly). Those returns and the sale of the shingles brought us $298 - we only needed $227 more to make up Brian's paycheck.
In my job I travel between bank branches and when I do so, I am paid mileage. Those mileage checks go directly into my savings account. There was already some money in there and with my most recent check - it was up to $114 - so then we only needed $184 to get to what we needed.
Well today, my check and Brian's check BOTH had "extra" (money over what we budget that normally goes to the debt snowball) on it and I quickly swept that to the savings account and it gave us $661 - $136 MORE than what we needed! So in just one week's time we were able to make up the check that he missed!
Now...his check had four hours of OT from the week before shutdown (they pay them two checks in one Friday...the one they'd normally get and then another for 40 hours...if they work OT that second week...they don't get it until today), 40 hours of vacation (which was what he was forced to take) and eight hours of holiday pay. I'm SO thankful that it worked out like it did!!!
So I was able to pay everything today and we're all done for the month. Within just a few days I'll be able to tell what all we've paid off in one year's time. I can't wait to see the final number!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
I am really frustrated right now...
I am so meticulous about tracking some things but I've been looking at our September 2009 versus our September 2010 budget. While today is only July 22 the budget I'm working on is labeled September (even though we're going into August) because what I'm paying in August is actually for September. Don't ask me how I got on it that way...I just did. So I'm trying to figure out how much we've paid off in the past 12 months. And while I track our balances each month...that balance has gone down (yay!) and up (boo!) because new debt has been added to it.
And I know, Dave Ramsey would keel over if he heard new debt but really...it wasn't new debt, just bills that came due that we didn't have money put away for yet (we're still working on building up our medical/dental envelope and when insurance doesn't cover $1600 of surgery...we've got to add that into our debt snowball). And one part of it was taking back the student loan payment that my parents had been making for me. That was part of the deal when I went to school...they were going to help me (and they have helped my brother) but they actually got to the point where things were tight (due to some choices my brother made and they needed to help with) so I decided to take that loan balance back and add it to our debt snowball.
So here are the balances for the last twelve months (and this is just consumer debt...no mortgage in these figures):
09/09: $22058.63
10/09: $26704.15
11/09: $25712.43
12/09: $24485.66
01/10: $24658.07
02/10: $23569.55
03/10: $22456.59
04/10: $21101.42
05/10: $19588.84
06/10: $18856.25
07/10: $17591.38
08/10: $17077.91
09/10: not quite ready to be calculated
So from high point to low point, we're looking at just under $10,000 but there have been things we've paid for in cash, in full that never hit the budget spreadsheet (things like LeeAnn's dance class in full last semester and the roof job that we just had done that came in at just under $1k).
Which is where I'm frustrated. I don't remember exactly what all we have paid for out of pocket like that. I know I can go back through my checkbook to see what else I can remember but really? Why didn't I track that stuff better!? I'm going to start doing that now! Or at least I plan to...and actually I might start with that recent roof job. I guess I better ask Brian about costs and such.
I'll update again in a few days when (if) I get it all figured out.
And I know, Dave Ramsey would keel over if he heard new debt but really...it wasn't new debt, just bills that came due that we didn't have money put away for yet (we're still working on building up our medical/dental envelope and when insurance doesn't cover $1600 of surgery...we've got to add that into our debt snowball). And one part of it was taking back the student loan payment that my parents had been making for me. That was part of the deal when I went to school...they were going to help me (and they have helped my brother) but they actually got to the point where things were tight (due to some choices my brother made and they needed to help with) so I decided to take that loan balance back and add it to our debt snowball.
So here are the balances for the last twelve months (and this is just consumer debt...no mortgage in these figures):
09/09: $22058.63
10/09: $26704.15
11/09: $25712.43
12/09: $24485.66
01/10: $24658.07
02/10: $23569.55
03/10: $22456.59
04/10: $21101.42
05/10: $19588.84
06/10: $18856.25
07/10: $17591.38
08/10: $17077.91
09/10: not quite ready to be calculated
So from high point to low point, we're looking at just under $10,000 but there have been things we've paid for in cash, in full that never hit the budget spreadsheet (things like LeeAnn's dance class in full last semester and the roof job that we just had done that came in at just under $1k).
Which is where I'm frustrated. I don't remember exactly what all we have paid for out of pocket like that. I know I can go back through my checkbook to see what else I can remember but really? Why didn't I track that stuff better!? I'm going to start doing that now! Or at least I plan to...and actually I might start with that recent roof job. I guess I better ask Brian about costs and such.
I'll update again in a few days when (if) I get it all figured out.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Week of 6/4 through week of 6/25 grocery budget
6/6 Marsh - 95.35, saved 69.60 (42%)
6/12 Marsh - 59.25, saved 61.38 (51%)
6/20 Marsh - 55.06, saved 25.51 (32%)
6/21 Marsh - 3.53, saved 1.01 (22%)
6/21 Marsh - .99, saved .50 (34%)
6/22 Meijer - 13.98, saved 15.72 (53%)
6/23 Kroger - 40.28, saved 46.83 (53%)
6/24 CVS - .46, saved 12.19 (99%) and didn't use grocery budget monies
6/27 Walmart - 30.77, saved 18.76 (30%)
6/27 Walmart - 3.00, saved 5.00 (62%)
6/27 Marsh - 49.41, saved 32.05 (39%)
6/28 Marsh - .75, saved 1.74 (70%)
Total spent: 352.37
Total saved: 290.29
Percentage saved: 45% or so...
Over budget by 52.37 - BOO. We knew a couple of those weeks though that we were pushing it. And as always, we're okay with that.
6/12 Marsh - 59.25, saved 61.38 (51%)
6/20 Marsh - 55.06, saved 25.51 (32%)
6/21 Marsh - 3.53, saved 1.01 (22%)
6/21 Marsh - .99, saved .50 (34%)
6/22 Meijer - 13.98, saved 15.72 (53%)
6/23 Kroger - 40.28, saved 46.83 (53%)
6/24 CVS - .46, saved 12.19 (99%) and didn't use grocery budget monies
6/27 Walmart - 30.77, saved 18.76 (30%)
6/27 Walmart - 3.00, saved 5.00 (62%)
6/27 Marsh - 49.41, saved 32.05 (39%)
6/28 Marsh - .75, saved 1.74 (70%)
Total spent: 352.37
Total saved: 290.29
Percentage saved: 45% or so...
Over budget by 52.37 - BOO. We knew a couple of those weeks though that we were pushing it. And as always, we're okay with that.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Week of 5/7 through 5/28 grocery budget
Okay, I know straight up I blew budget this month! We went into last weekend knowing that with all the Coke and Pepsi products we were buying, that there was no hope of not going over. But we decide together that it's wise for us to do that every so often to get a deal that we don't want to pass up. I'm actually going to break down my listings below...so I can see how close my regular shopping did in comparision to the budget.
5/7 Kroger - 3.41, saved .84 (21%)
5/7 Kroger - 16.00, saved 28.00 (63%)
5/8 Marsh - 5.38, saved 9.40 (65%)
5/8 Marsh - 51.19, saved 68.84 (58%)
5/15 Marsh - 1.39, saved 1.30 (48%)
5/16 Marsh - 56.84, saved 25.62 (31%)
5/16 Walmart - 17.53, saved 5.94 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price) (25%)
5/22 Marsh - 60.47, saved 78.19 (56%)
5/22 CVS - 2.01, saved 17.00 (appx 90%) - used gift card
5/22 CVS - 5.19, saved 19.97 (appx 80%) - used gift card and left with $5 in ECBs too
5/23 Marsh - 68.64, saved 57.20 (46%)
5/28 Walmart - 27.01, saved 6.04 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/28 Walmart - 40.30, saved 18.08 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29 Walmart - 12.00, saved 17.76 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29 Walmart - 24.08, saved 8.12 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/30 Marsh - 93.37, saved 73.54 (45%) - and about $20 of this was stockpiling pop and razors
Total spent (EVERYTHING): 484.81
Total spent (subracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 354.22 (bummer dude...over budget by $54.22!)
Total saved (EVERYTHING): 435.84
Total saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 328.87
Percentage saved (EVERYTHING): appx. 47%
Percentage saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 48%
So... For sure not the best month but there have been some months were it was worse! I just have to keep working on it and see where we get to. I'm thinking this next month will be better because we got a LOT of stuff in the last few weeks!
5/7 Kroger - 3.41, saved .84 (21%)
5/7 Kroger - 16.00, saved 28.00 (63%)
5/8 Marsh - 5.38, saved 9.40 (65%)
5/8 Marsh - 51.19, saved 68.84 (58%)
5/15 Marsh - 1.39, saved 1.30 (48%)
5/16 Marsh - 56.84, saved 25.62 (31%)
5/16 Walmart - 17.53, saved 5.94 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price) (25%)
5/22 Marsh - 60.47, saved 78.19 (56%)
5/22 CVS - 2.01, saved 17.00 (appx 90%) - used gift card
5/22 CVS - 5.19, saved 19.97 (appx 80%) - used gift card and left with $5 in ECBs too
5/23 Marsh - 68.64, saved 57.20 (46%)
5/28 Walmart - 27.01, saved 6.04 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/28 Walmart - 40.30, saved 18.08 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29 Walmart - 12.00, saved 17.76 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/29 Walmart - 24.08, saved 8.12 (appx - based on Walmart's "regular" price versus the rollback price)
5/30 Marsh - 93.37, saved 73.54 (45%) - and about $20 of this was stockpiling pop and razors
Total spent (EVERYTHING): 484.81
Total spent (subracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 354.22 (bummer dude...over budget by $54.22!)
Total saved (EVERYTHING): 435.84
Total saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 328.87
Percentage saved (EVERYTHING): appx. 47%
Percentage saved (subtracting CVS (gift cards) and stockpiling): 48%
So... For sure not the best month but there have been some months were it was worse! I just have to keep working on it and see where we get to. I'm thinking this next month will be better because we got a LOT of stuff in the last few weeks!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Week of 4/9 through 4/30 grocery budget update
HOLY COW! Unless I've missed a receipt (which I highly doubt) or I've miscalculated (which is highly possible) we came in UNDER budget this month on groceries! Yay, yay, yay! What an awesome feeling! For the last four weeks, here are our receipts:
4/11 Marsh - 31.85, saved 10.31 (24%)
4/17 Marsh - 2.09, saved 0.00
4/18 Marsh - 50.82, saved 19.62 (28%)
4/19 Kroger - 27.54, saved 15.40 (35%)
4/25 Walmart - 34.30, saved 38.88
4/25 Marsh - 51.25, saved 37.43 (42%)
4/26 Kroger - 17.72, saved 22.50 (56%)
4/29 Kroger - 28.93, saved 20.36 (41%)
5/2 Marsh - 43.26, saved 29.63 (41%)
5/5 Marsh - 4.94, saved 2.18 (31%)
So the total spent was $292.69.
The total saved was $196.31.
We would have spent $489.00 (no coupons, no sales).
Which makes for approximately 40% in savings.
So, it's not the highest savings ever. I don't spend mere pennies on my groceries. I have neither the time nor the patience for that. But what I can do is great for our budget and our lives. It allows us to get what we want (maybe not exactly when we want it but I've learned the grocery cycles so well I know whatever it is I want will be on sale again - soon!). I'm so thankful Brian is on board with me couponing (which began way before Dave Ramsey) and that the DR "diet" has tweaked our grocery spending even more.
Here's hoping for another good month!
4/11 Marsh - 31.85, saved 10.31 (24%)
4/17 Marsh - 2.09, saved 0.00
4/18 Marsh - 50.82, saved 19.62 (28%)
4/19 Kroger - 27.54, saved 15.40 (35%)
4/25 Walmart - 34.30, saved 38.88
4/25 Marsh - 51.25, saved 37.43 (42%)
4/26 Kroger - 17.72, saved 22.50 (56%)
4/29 Kroger - 28.93, saved 20.36 (41%)
5/2 Marsh - 43.26, saved 29.63 (41%)
5/5 Marsh - 4.94, saved 2.18 (31%)
So the total spent was $292.69.
The total saved was $196.31.
We would have spent $489.00 (no coupons, no sales).
Which makes for approximately 40% in savings.
So, it's not the highest savings ever. I don't spend mere pennies on my groceries. I have neither the time nor the patience for that. But what I can do is great for our budget and our lives. It allows us to get what we want (maybe not exactly when we want it but I've learned the grocery cycles so well I know whatever it is I want will be on sale again - soon!). I'm so thankful Brian is on board with me couponing (which began way before Dave Ramsey) and that the DR "diet" has tweaked our grocery spending even more.
Here's hoping for another good month!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Week of 3/12 through Week of 4/2 grocery budget
3/12 Marsh - 13.49, saved 3.56 (21%)
3/13 Marsh - 21.39, saved 0.00
3/14 Toys R Us - 26.74, saved 0.00
3/14 Marsh - 37.78, saved 23.08 (38%)
3/14 Walmart - 10.67, saved 0.00
3/14 Menards - 60.49, saved 0.00
3/15 Kroger - 9.90, saved 5.80 (36%)
3/21 Marsh - 96.22, saved 96.55 (50%)
3/28 Marsh - 42.10, saved 56.65 (57%)
3/29 Walmart - 26.17, saved 11.00 + price matching on Cokes
4/3 Aldi - 30.82, saved 0.00 - reimbursed $12.00 from Grandma for buying her ham
4/4 Marsh - 49.05, saved 34.39 (41%)
4/5 Kroger - 28.47, saved 16.40 (36%)
4/8 CVS - 3.34, saved 5.00 (?%) - used gift card
Total spent: 456.63
Paid paid/gift card/from savings: 102.57
Actual spent: 354.06
Total saved: 252.43
saved appx 42%
So I'm back to having gone over the grocery budget. I know that Dave's plan says that if you go over, that means you have to pull from another envelope but that's not how we work it. Because both of our pays can fluctuate weekly (as hourly employees) we put the "extra" from our checks into savings and then at the end of the month, if we haven't had to use it to make up our checks, we use it to make a larger payment on whatever we are working on paying off...so there is always a little extra money in our savings account to cover when I go "over". We've talked about rasing the grocery budget from $75/week to $100/week but I want to keep trying to make the $75 work. Here's hoping!
3/13 Marsh - 21.39, saved 0.00
3/14 Toys R Us - 26.74, saved 0.00
3/14 Marsh - 37.78, saved 23.08 (38%)
3/14 Walmart - 10.67, saved 0.00
3/14 Menards - 60.49, saved 0.00
3/15 Kroger - 9.90, saved 5.80 (36%)
3/21 Marsh - 96.22, saved 96.55 (50%)
3/28 Marsh - 42.10, saved 56.65 (57%)
3/29 Walmart - 26.17, saved 11.00 + price matching on Cokes
4/3 Aldi - 30.82, saved 0.00 - reimbursed $12.00 from Grandma for buying her ham
4/4 Marsh - 49.05, saved 34.39 (41%)
4/5 Kroger - 28.47, saved 16.40 (36%)
4/8 CVS - 3.34, saved 5.00 (?%) - used gift card
Total spent: 456.63
Paid paid/gift card/from savings: 102.57
Actual spent: 354.06
Total saved: 252.43
saved appx 42%
So I'm back to having gone over the grocery budget. I know that Dave's plan says that if you go over, that means you have to pull from another envelope but that's not how we work it. Because both of our pays can fluctuate weekly (as hourly employees) we put the "extra" from our checks into savings and then at the end of the month, if we haven't had to use it to make up our checks, we use it to make a larger payment on whatever we are working on paying off...so there is always a little extra money in our savings account to cover when I go "over". We've talked about rasing the grocery budget from $75/week to $100/week but I want to keep trying to make the $75 work. Here's hoping!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Week of 2/12 through Week of 3/5 grocery budget
2/13 CVS - spent 2.32, saved 21.96 (used gift cards)
2/13 CVS - spent 4.90, saved 21.99 (used gift cards)
2/14 Marsh - spent 44.93, saved 53.38 (55%)
2/21 Marsh - spent 43.45, saved 18.80 (30%)
2/23 Schulz - spent 30.31, saved ?
2/24 Marsh - spent 6.00, saved 3.30 (35%) - for church "pack the pantry"
2/24 Marsh - spent 1.30, saved 0.00 (breakfast one day for work at Marsh!)
2/27 Sears - spent 5.34, saved 0.00 (belt for vacuum)
2/28 Walmart - spent 45.20, saved 9.00 (just in coupons, had some price matching as well)
2/28 Marsh - spent 49.40, saved 68.05 (58%)
3/7 Marsh - spent 64.20, saved 41.27 (39%)
3/10 Kroger - spent 16.05, saved 25.28 (64%)
3/10 Kroger - spent 8.96, saved 7.12 (47%)
342.89 total spending (including CVS purchases w/ gift cards)
298.94 cash spent
270.15 total saved (including savings @ CVS w/ gift cards)
226.20 saved (plus whatever price matching savings at Walmart and sale price on meat at Schulz)
525.14 is what I should have spent (excluding CVS stuff...just looking at cash purchases and savings)
So I saved between 40 and 45% on my grocery trips this past month. AND I stayed under my cash budget! Unreal...this is the first month of tracking that I've actually done that. Here's to another good month!
2/13 CVS - spent 4.90, saved 21.99 (used gift cards)
2/14 Marsh - spent 44.93, saved 53.38 (55%)
2/21 Marsh - spent 43.45, saved 18.80 (30%)
2/23 Schulz - spent 30.31, saved ?
2/24 Marsh - spent 6.00, saved 3.30 (35%) - for church "pack the pantry"
2/24 Marsh - spent 1.30, saved 0.00 (breakfast one day for work at Marsh!)
2/27 Sears - spent 5.34, saved 0.00 (belt for vacuum)
2/28 Walmart - spent 45.20, saved 9.00 (just in coupons, had some price matching as well)
2/28 Marsh - spent 49.40, saved 68.05 (58%)
3/7 Marsh - spent 64.20, saved 41.27 (39%)
3/10 Kroger - spent 16.05, saved 25.28 (64%)
3/10 Kroger - spent 8.96, saved 7.12 (47%)
342.89 total spending (including CVS purchases w/ gift cards)
298.94 cash spent
270.15 total saved (including savings @ CVS w/ gift cards)
226.20 saved (plus whatever price matching savings at Walmart and sale price on meat at Schulz)
525.14 is what I should have spent (excluding CVS stuff...just looking at cash purchases and savings)
So I saved between 40 and 45% on my grocery trips this past month. AND I stayed under my cash budget! Unreal...this is the first month of tracking that I've actually done that. Here's to another good month!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Week of 1/15 through Week of 2/5 grocery budget
1/15 Marsh 11.25, saved 12.89 (53%)
1/16 Sears 24.60, saved $2.00
1/16 Marsh 3.06, saved 0.00
1/17 Meijer 7.96, saved 8.00 (50%)
1/17 Kmart 30.83, saved 0.00 (later transferred $31 from birthday/holiday envelope)
1/20 Marsh 6.37, saved 4.30 (40%)
1/20 Marsh 21.49, saved 20.09 (49%)
1/23 Schulz 60.31, saved $2.00/lb (appx. 40.00)
1/23 CVS 11.23, saved 23.64 (used gift card)
1/23 Marsh 9.13, saved .30 (3%)
1/24 Marsh 37.63, saved 7.88 (17%)
1/30 CVS 11.00, saved 12.94 (used gift card)
1/31 Marsh 73.71, saved 55.34 (43%)
2/1 Kroger 5.25, saved 22.76 (81%)
2/8 Marsh 28.75, saved 19.94 (41%)
2/7 Marsh 26.29, saved 22.13 (46%)
2/9 Walmart 24.58, saved 0.00
2/12 Kroger 3.56, saved 5.50 (64%)
Budget = 300.00
343.94 spent
221.13 saved
565.07 total
appx 40% savings
What is highlighted in light yellow is not calcuated into our totals as I used gift cards or later transferred cash from the appropriate envelope.
The trip to Schulz for steaks was a "stockpile" trip for us. We wouldn't normally buy 12 steaks at one time but at a $2.99 price point, we couldn't pass them up.
So once again, we are slightly over budget for the month. There hasn't been a month yet that I've been under but compared to the $600 and $700 I USED to spend per month, I'll take what I've got now anytime.
1/16 Sears 24.60, saved $2.00
1/16 Marsh 3.06, saved 0.00
1/17 Meijer 7.96, saved 8.00 (50%)
1/17 Kmart 30.83, saved 0.00 (later transferred $31 from birthday/holiday envelope)
1/20 Marsh 6.37, saved 4.30 (40%)
1/20 Marsh 21.49, saved 20.09 (49%)
1/23 Schulz 60.31, saved $2.00/lb (appx. 40.00)
1/23 CVS 11.23, saved 23.64 (used gift card)
1/23 Marsh 9.13, saved .30 (3%)
1/24 Marsh 37.63, saved 7.88 (17%)
1/30 CVS 11.00, saved 12.94 (used gift card)
1/31 Marsh 73.71, saved 55.34 (43%)
2/1 Kroger 5.25, saved 22.76 (81%)
2/8 Marsh 28.75, saved 19.94 (41%)
2/7 Marsh 26.29, saved 22.13 (46%)
2/9 Walmart 24.58, saved 0.00
2/12 Kroger 3.56, saved 5.50 (64%)
Budget = 300.00
343.94 spent
221.13 saved
565.07 total
appx 40% savings
What is highlighted in light yellow is not calcuated into our totals as I used gift cards or later transferred cash from the appropriate envelope.
The trip to Schulz for steaks was a "stockpile" trip for us. We wouldn't normally buy 12 steaks at one time but at a $2.99 price point, we couldn't pass them up.
So once again, we are slightly over budget for the month. There hasn't been a month yet that I've been under but compared to the $600 and $700 I USED to spend per month, I'll take what I've got now anytime.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Budget update...
Oh Dave Ramsey - how I love thee!
Okay, well not really because I don't actually know Dave Ramsey but the lesson Brian and I continue to work on after taking his Financial Peace University class in the fall is still rocking our worlds. We started FPU in September and graduated in December. It seems like it has been so much longer that we've been out of class, on our own - trying to keep it in line and make it all work. The budget gets tweaked all the time still...still after six months of writing a paper budget I'm learning that this does work or that this doesn't work. It is a constant growing for both Brian and I and I'm loving it. Maybe it's the geek in me. And my free spirit Brian just kinda goes along with the flow. He'll check out the budget and agree to it because he's just that kinda guy (it also helps that our budget doesn't swing to extremes...when I make changes it is usually small changes).
When I last updated on January 15th we had just over $1400 to go on a school loan of mine... In just two weeks that balance is down $884.83 - it is getting smaller! We had talked of using our tax refund (what small one we get) to finish this off and start on the next debt but I think we've decided to use that refund to pay off some medical debt we have from the end of 2009 that wasn't covered by insurance or FSA funds (because we ran out of it!). But those bills are going to add up to more than what our refund will be - one bill alone is $1600+.
So I think we're going to try to offer large bills (in cash) to that one big loan to see if we can pay just part of it and still have enough left to pay off the rest as well. It could be interesting. I'll keep updating!
Okay, well not really because I don't actually know Dave Ramsey but the lesson Brian and I continue to work on after taking his Financial Peace University class in the fall is still rocking our worlds. We started FPU in September and graduated in December. It seems like it has been so much longer that we've been out of class, on our own - trying to keep it in line and make it all work. The budget gets tweaked all the time still...still after six months of writing a paper budget I'm learning that this does work or that this doesn't work. It is a constant growing for both Brian and I and I'm loving it. Maybe it's the geek in me. And my free spirit Brian just kinda goes along with the flow. He'll check out the budget and agree to it because he's just that kinda guy (it also helps that our budget doesn't swing to extremes...when I make changes it is usually small changes).
When I last updated on January 15th we had just over $1400 to go on a school loan of mine... In just two weeks that balance is down $884.83 - it is getting smaller! We had talked of using our tax refund (what small one we get) to finish this off and start on the next debt but I think we've decided to use that refund to pay off some medical debt we have from the end of 2009 that wasn't covered by insurance or FSA funds (because we ran out of it!). But those bills are going to add up to more than what our refund will be - one bill alone is $1600+.
So I think we're going to try to offer large bills (in cash) to that one big loan to see if we can pay just part of it and still have enough left to pay off the rest as well. It could be interesting. I'll keep updating!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The thrill of the chase - debt snowball!
In other budget updates - we have paid off another loan (a small loan that was hanging around from my days at FC). Since starting TMMO/FPU back in July we've paid off three outstanding debts (Kohls, Clarian Arnett and TFB) plus covered other expenses including LeeAnn's full year's tuition at dance, small medical bills here and there that weren't covered by insurance (some blood work for me, etc) and there was no money in the FSA left, along with paying a loan payment that my parents usually pay (as part of my agreement from when I went to FC back in '96).
That loan is the next in our debt snowball! The balance is just under $1400 and while my parents are making their regular monthly payments on it, we are also putting the payment amount on it which means it should be gone in as little as three months... Hooray! Then we're down to just two credit cards, a school loan (from IUK) and our vehicle loans. Slowly... Very slowly! But that's how it works...that and a lot of dedication to making this work.
That loan is the next in our debt snowball! The balance is just under $1400 and while my parents are making their regular monthly payments on it, we are also putting the payment amount on it which means it should be gone in as little as three months... Hooray! Then we're down to just two credit cards, a school loan (from IUK) and our vehicle loans. Slowly... Very slowly! But that's how it works...that and a lot of dedication to making this work.
Week of 12/18 through Week of 1/8 grocery budget
So, the last time I did this, I screwed it up royally but I think I've got it right this time.
12/19 Marsh - spent $65.44, saved $101.06 (61%)
12/23 Marsh - spent $10.81, saved $4.75 (31%)
12/26 Walmart - spent $61.68, saved $63.68 (just over 50%) - stockpiling - pulled from savings
12/28 Marsh - spent $113.14, saved $70.16 (39%)
12/29 Marsh - spent $3.24, saved $6.14 (67%)
12/29 Walmart - spent $8.90, saved $12.99 + some with price match (over 50%)
1/2 Marsh - spent $28.30, saved $28.64 (50%)
1/9 Marsh - spent $26.32, saved $18.36 (43%)
1/10 Marsh - spent 58.29, saved $106.88 (65%)
Budget = $300.00
$376.12 spent
$412.66 saved
$788.78 should have been
appx. 52% savings
And of course, I've gota stockpile trip in there... Although it really wasn't a stockpile trip really - more of a get ready for Christmas next year trip and I spent $63.68, saving just over 50%. I purchased items that will be used for presents as well as items to store the candies I make to give away. Plus I splurged and got LeeAnn a pink stocking - just like she had asked for.
So I still went over budget $12.44 (after taking the stockpile trip out) which isn't so bad in my opinion. The crazy thing is - there was money leftover in the envelope. We ONLY pull $75 a week to put into the envelope so I'm not quite sure how there was extra money in there when we went over budget slightly. I'm guessing I'm either missing a receipt or I miscalculated something somewhere but I believe this is fairly accurate.
We also did really well on not having an extra trips to the store mid-week (which can add up quickly) and there was only the one "stockpile" trip too. So only nine trips to the store in that four week period...pretty good if you ask me!
12/19 Marsh - spent $65.44, saved $101.06 (61%)
12/23 Marsh - spent $10.81, saved $4.75 (31%)
12/26 Walmart - spent $61.68, saved $63.68 (just over 50%) - stockpiling - pulled from savings
12/28 Marsh - spent $113.14, saved $70.16 (39%)
12/29 Marsh - spent $3.24, saved $6.14 (67%)
12/29 Walmart - spent $8.90, saved $12.99 + some with price match (over 50%)
1/2 Marsh - spent $28.30, saved $28.64 (50%)
1/9 Marsh - spent $26.32, saved $18.36 (43%)
1/10 Marsh - spent 58.29, saved $106.88 (65%)
Budget = $300.00
$376.12 spent
$412.66 saved
$788.78 should have been
appx. 52% savings
And of course, I've gota stockpile trip in there... Although it really wasn't a stockpile trip really - more of a get ready for Christmas next year trip and I spent $63.68, saving just over 50%. I purchased items that will be used for presents as well as items to store the candies I make to give away. Plus I splurged and got LeeAnn a pink stocking - just like she had asked for.
So I still went over budget $12.44 (after taking the stockpile trip out) which isn't so bad in my opinion. The crazy thing is - there was money leftover in the envelope. We ONLY pull $75 a week to put into the envelope so I'm not quite sure how there was extra money in there when we went over budget slightly. I'm guessing I'm either missing a receipt or I miscalculated something somewhere but I believe this is fairly accurate.
We also did really well on not having an extra trips to the store mid-week (which can add up quickly) and there was only the one "stockpile" trip too. So only nine trips to the store in that four week period...pretty good if you ask me!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Week of 11/20 through Week of 12/11 grocery budget
Remember this post? Yeah...here it is fixed.
11/22 Marsh - 55.49, saved 62.90 (54%)
11/24 Marsh - 6.94, saved 11.19 (62%)
11/25 Walgreens - 2.91, saved 11.72
11/27 Marsh - 30.19, saved .50 (2%) - bought for veggie tray for Thanksgiving gathering
11/28 Marsh - 43.59, saved 67.42 (67%) - triples! And I had some mispriced items.
11/29 Walmart - 12.74, saved 0.00
11/30 Marsh - 14.57, saved 16.47 (53%)
12/3 Marsh - 1.98, saved .61 (24%)
12/5 Marsh - 55.92, saved 56.26 (50%)
12/5 Burger King - 8.97, saved 0.00 (no eating out money but it was food so we opted to eat at BK)
12/9 Marsh - 9.99, saved 10.56 (52%)
12/12 Marsh - 4.99, saved .93 (16%)
12/14 Marsh - 53.07, saved 41.91 (44%)
12/15 Marsh - 11.97, saved 9.00 (43%)
Budget = 300.00
313.38 spent
289.47 saved
602.85 total
appx. 48% savings
I spent $43.59 during triples at Marsh and that was JUST stockpiling... I'm not trying to make excuses here...just reporting what I spent because I also spent that $30.19 on the veggie tray for Turkey Day and that would have dropped us under the $300 level. Also, compared to last month I had 14 trips to the store (and only 12 last month).
Thankfully Brian and I can afford to put a bit from savings to build the stockpile and cover those small trips that I don't plan so well. Here's to next month and sticking STRAIGHT to the budget!
11/22 Marsh - 55.49, saved 62.90 (54%)
11/24 Marsh - 6.94, saved 11.19 (62%)
11/25 Walgreens - 2.91, saved 11.72
11/27 Marsh - 30.19, saved .50 (2%) - bought for veggie tray for Thanksgiving gathering
11/28 Marsh - 43.59, saved 67.42 (67%) - triples! And I had some mispriced items.
11/29 Walmart - 12.74, saved 0.00
11/30 Marsh - 14.57, saved 16.47 (53%)
12/3 Marsh - 1.98, saved .61 (24%)
12/5 Marsh - 55.92, saved 56.26 (50%)
12/5 Burger King - 8.97, saved 0.00 (no eating out money but it was food so we opted to eat at BK)
12/9 Marsh - 9.99, saved 10.56 (52%)
12/12 Marsh - 4.99, saved .93 (16%)
12/14 Marsh - 53.07, saved 41.91 (44%)
12/15 Marsh - 11.97, saved 9.00 (43%)
Budget = 300.00
313.38 spent
289.47 saved
602.85 total
appx. 48% savings
I spent $43.59 during triples at Marsh and that was JUST stockpiling... I'm not trying to make excuses here...just reporting what I spent because I also spent that $30.19 on the veggie tray for Turkey Day and that would have dropped us under the $300 level. Also, compared to last month I had 14 trips to the store (and only 12 last month).
Thankfully Brian and I can afford to put a bit from savings to build the stockpile and cover those small trips that I don't plan so well. Here's to next month and sticking STRAIGHT to the budget!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Week of 11/20 through Week of 12/11 grocery budget
11/15 Speedway - 4.99, saved .99
11/16 Marsh - 70.40, saved 62.55 (47%) - had some rainchecks, savings not quite right
11/18 Marsh - 26.53, saved 44.54 (63%)
11/18 Marsh - 8.61, saved 15.41 (64%)
11/18 Walmart - 14.60, saved 6.40 - plus whatever the price difference was for price-matching
11/22 Marsh - 55.49, saved 62.90 (54%)
11/24 Marsh - 6.94, saved 11.19 (62%)
11/25 Walgreens - 2.91, saved 11.72
11/27 Marsh - 30.19, saved .50 (2%) - bought for veggie tray for Thanksgiving gathering
11/28 Marsh - 43.59, saved 67.42 (67%) - triples! And I had some mispriced items.
11/29 Walmart - 12.74, saved 0.00
11/30 Marsh - 14.57, saved 16.47 (53%)
12/3 Marsh - 1.98, saved .61 (24%)
12/5 Marsh - 55.92, saved 56.26 (50%)
12/5 Burger King - 8.97, saved 0.00 (no eating out money but it was food so we opted to eat at BK)
12/9 Marsh - 9.99, saved 10.56 (52%)
Budget = 300.00
368.42 spent
367.52 saved
735.94 total
appx. 50% savings
I did the three trips in one day (Marsh, Walmart, Marsh) to stock up on cereal (this was in the budget though). And the $43.59 I spent during triples at Marsh was JUST stockpiling...so that takes my total closer to $325 which is STILL over budget. And I'm not trying to make excuses here...just reporting what I spent because I also spent that $30.19 on the veggie tray for Turkey Day and that would have dropped us under the $300 level. Also, compared to last month I had 16 trips to the store (and only 12 last month).
Thankfully Brian and I can afford to put a bit from savings to build the stockpile and cover those small trips that I don't plan so well. Here's to next month and sticking STRAIGHT to the budget!
AND I just realized this is all wrong. Darn it! Those top few lines that are highlighted should have been with the last months grocery budget (which means I blew it out of the water) and that I've still got a week to go on this one. I'm leaving it now and will add to it next week. Ugh!
11/16 Marsh - 70.40, saved 62.55 (47%) - had some rainchecks, savings not quite right
11/18 Marsh - 26.53, saved 44.54 (63%)
11/18 Marsh - 8.61, saved 15.41 (64%)
11/18 Walmart - 14.60, saved 6.40 - plus whatever the price difference was for price-matching
11/22 Marsh - 55.49, saved 62.90 (54%)
11/24 Marsh - 6.94, saved 11.19 (62%)
11/25 Walgreens - 2.91, saved 11.72
11/27 Marsh - 30.19, saved .50 (2%) - bought for veggie tray for Thanksgiving gathering
11/28 Marsh - 43.59, saved 67.42 (67%) - triples! And I had some mispriced items.
11/29 Walmart - 12.74, saved 0.00
11/30 Marsh - 14.57, saved 16.47 (53%)
12/3 Marsh - 1.98, saved .61 (24%)
12/5 Marsh - 55.92, saved 56.26 (50%)
12/5 Burger King - 8.97, saved 0.00 (no eating out money but it was food so we opted to eat at BK)
12/9 Marsh - 9.99, saved 10.56 (52%)
Budget = 300.00
368.42 spent
367.52 saved
735.94 total
appx. 50% savings
I did the three trips in one day (Marsh, Walmart, Marsh) to stock up on cereal (this was in the budget though). And the $43.59 I spent during triples at Marsh was JUST stockpiling...so that takes my total closer to $325 which is STILL over budget. And I'm not trying to make excuses here...just reporting what I spent because I also spent that $30.19 on the veggie tray for Turkey Day and that would have dropped us under the $300 level. Also, compared to last month I had 16 trips to the store (and only 12 last month).
Thankfully Brian and I can afford to put a bit from savings to build the stockpile and cover those small trips that I don't plan so well. Here's to next month and sticking STRAIGHT to the budget!
AND I just realized this is all wrong. Darn it! Those top few lines that are highlighted should have been with the last months grocery budget (which means I blew it out of the water) and that I've still got a week to go on this one. I'm leaving it now and will add to it next week. Ugh!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Week of 10/23 through Week of 11/13 grocery budget
10/26 Marsh - 49.11, saved 33.28 (40%)
10/26 Walmart - 4.55, saved 4.20
10/27 CVS - 1.55, saved 2.61 (63%)
10/28 Marsh - 36.23, saved 25.15 (41%)
10/28 Kroger - 6.89, saved 5.25 (43%)
10/31 Walmart - 29.59, saved 3.00(price matched body wash (saved $.47 each) and Coke)
10/31 Marsh - 50.46, saved 28.76 (37%)
10/31 Marsh - 15.94, saved 6.72 (30%) This was a sale on chips - 33% off Lays.
11/8 Marsh - 64.43, saved 27.16 (30%)
These transactions we pulled $100 from savings to help stockpile:
11/11 Kroger - 4.00, saved 7.30 (64%)
11/11 Kroger - 4.00, saved 7.30 (64%)
11/11 Kroger - 86.54, saved 109.36 (55%)
Budget = 300.00
353.29 spent
260.09 saved
613.38 total
appx. 42% - 43% savings
If we take out the Kroger stockpile trip then these are the numbers:
353.29 - 94.54 (Kroger stockpile trip) = 258.75
260.09 - 123.96 (Kroger stockpile trip savings) = 136.13
394.88 total (Kroger stockpile trip excluded)
appx. 34% - 35% savings for the month (minus the stockpile trip to Kroger)
And that is what happens when you don't make a list and menu plan! My Kroger trip I looked and made a list and went through coupons and went in with a very specific plan (which I had to alter in the store of course due to some items not being available) but the point is when I use a list and make sure I've got my ducks (aka coupons) all in a row, my savings are much better.
10/26 Walmart - 4.55, saved 4.20
10/27 CVS - 1.55, saved 2.61 (63%)
10/28 Marsh - 36.23, saved 25.15 (41%)
10/28 Kroger - 6.89, saved 5.25 (43%)
10/31 Walmart - 29.59, saved 3.00(price matched body wash (saved $.47 each) and Coke)
10/31 Marsh - 50.46, saved 28.76 (37%)
10/31 Marsh - 15.94, saved 6.72 (30%) This was a sale on chips - 33% off Lays.
11/8 Marsh - 64.43, saved 27.16 (30%)
These transactions we pulled $100 from savings to help stockpile:
11/11 Kroger - 4.00, saved 7.30 (64%)
11/11 Kroger - 4.00, saved 7.30 (64%)
11/11 Kroger - 86.54, saved 109.36 (55%)
Budget = 300.00
353.29 spent
260.09 saved
613.38 total
appx. 42% - 43% savings
If we take out the Kroger stockpile trip then these are the numbers:
353.29 - 94.54 (Kroger stockpile trip) = 258.75
260.09 - 123.96 (Kroger stockpile trip savings) = 136.13
394.88 total (Kroger stockpile trip excluded)
appx. 34% - 35% savings for the month (minus the stockpile trip to Kroger)
And that is what happens when you don't make a list and menu plan! My Kroger trip I looked and made a list and went through coupons and went in with a very specific plan (which I had to alter in the store of course due to some items not being available) but the point is when I use a list and make sure I've got my ducks (aka coupons) all in a row, my savings are much better.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)