May Budget Results

May Grocery Budget 
$425 - Actual Spent was $446.41

Includes all over the counter medications, personal grooming items, soaps, cleaners and household items for two adults who eat at home 99% of the time.

Previous 2013 year to date overage $64.03 plus this month's overage $21.41= $85.44 year to date overage

Coupons used  - $8.49

I have loads of poultry in the form of chicken breasts, thighs, legs and a turkey left in the freezer.  There is still a small amount of ham left from a stock-up several months ago and some pork ribs but I will need to stock up on beef, fish, and pork chops this month.

Why the continuing overage?  Over the counter medications.  On the upside, other than our excellent basic  BC Healthcare which costs $60 per person per month (in Alberta it was free paid for by the Province)  we are self-insuring for prescription medications, vision and dental costs.  Those have been much lower than anticipated as I have compared costs on buying secondary insurance versus paying as we go, and for 2013 we are way ahead so far.  A big change from both of us being previously employed with companies that had excellent benefit packages.

Later this year we are travelling to Oregon for a wedding and we plan to stock up on over the counter medications so hopefully will be able to see some savings there as Oregon has zero sales tax.  We also plan to load up on office supplies for our Company as toner cartridges for the printer are about 40% lower.

Hair Budget
Annual budget $250 - Left in Budget $189.88.

This month spent $16.50 on a haircut late in the month and used a home color that I had on hand.  Remainder of hair budget for rest of year is $173.38

Clothing Budget
Annual Budget $200 - $172.10 left

This month I was due to buy some underclothes- those I buy new and spent $11.20.

I also received my first senior discount ever (by accident, I am 43) at Salvation Army and bought a shirt for $2.62.

Remainder of clothing budget for rest of year is $158.28.

I got paid for my work at the BC Provincial Election.  The check came in for $260 which included the training and $10 in vacation pay.  They did not make any deductions which was strange but $200 of that has been added to the travel fund and $60 has been added to the Christmas fund.

I am still collecting Swagbucks (click here if you want to join Swagbucks) and am now up to $60 in amazon.ca gift certificates which will also be spent on Christmas.

Lately I have enjoyed sitting on the patio in the sunshine with a cider reading, so picked up three books this week at .25 a piece while thrift shopping.  I seemed to be hooked on British murder mysteries right now and have read 8 books this year.  A library card is free but I prefer to buy books as will likely make the investment back reselling them at my next fleamarket and also trade them with Mom as we have similar reading interests.  I do have Kindle downloaded free on my laptop but buying books that way is costlier than my .25 cent thrift store buys.  Down the road I likely will eventually choose to read more by downloading.

The biggest savings came this month  from renegotiating my telephone/internet/cable contracts.  We changed from two carriers to one and will save $57 each month for the next three months and $20 per month after that permanently.  I also received a free PVR (we have one we bought ourselves so this is a second one) as long as the cable stays with this carrier.  That works out to an annual savings of  $351!!

Have a great week everyone!