November Grocery Budget
$425 - Actual Spent was $467.34. Yowsa! (does anyone still say that?) We went way over. This category 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. I am blaming overage this month on a vitamin stock-up that was very necessary and keeps us healthy so no regrets. We self-insure for all medical and dental expenses other than our basic healthcare and our health expenses have been much lower this year than anticipated.
I am done trying to meet our $425 goal - effective December 1 the budget has increased to $450 per month which we can afford. If for any reason our income dropped there are other areas I could easily cut. We enjoy cooking and eating nice meals and rarely eat out so take joy in what crosses the plate. We eat well but are still very healthy. Others can do better on a lower budget - we are choosing to spend a little more.
Previous 2013 year to date overage $405.24 plus this month overage of $42.34 for a total year to date overage of $447.58. Coupons used - $5.98.
This month I have a $60 credit with an expensive store to use on groceries (Shoppers Drug Mart) so will try and curb any budget overage that way. I had to walk away from 50lbs of onions for $17.95 from my favorite farm market as don't have an appropriate place to store them. What a great deal that would have been but unfortunately spoiled food makes no sense. We eat a lot of onions - around 1-2 lbs per week so I was sorely tempted.
Hair Budget
Annual budget $250 - $118.33 left in the budget. I got a haircut early in November but I look shaggy - getting the hair done before my work Christmas party on Friday is a necessity! This month $18.65 spent. Total left in budget =$99.68.
Clothing Budget
Annual Budget $200 - $223.94 spent year to date. Spent this month? $17.75 on a jacket and two sweaters at the thrift store, all necessities. You have to buy things when you find them. $241.69 spent year to date.
Christmas 2013
So nice to have the cash to spend on Christmas without getting into debt. The shopping is about 40% done. I hope to have the rest completed by end of next week. No more funds required to be saved!
Losing Weight Challenge
Starting weight June 1, 2013 = 150 lbs. Weight July 1 was 145.6 lbs. August 1 was 144.4 lbs. Sept 1 143.0 lbs. Oct 1 144 lbs. Nov 1 140.8 pounds. Today? 142.7. Up a little. I need to get back on track or fear the weight will just come back. I have turned down cookies every day this week at work and carbs are calling my name - December will be a tough month.
And how did you do this month?
Next time you find an onion bargain like that...first make sure they are "hard" onions and sweet varieties(as those don't keep at all!), then make a root cellar. Depending on your winter climate there you can find/repurpose a plastic storage tub(like a Rubbermaid or any other brand just make sure it's opaque and not the clear variety)as a root cellar for the winter months. Line it with paper bags and put the onions in a paper bag and shut that thing up. We keep ours in the unheated garage and have kept onions from Sept. well into Feb. using this method. I've got about 25lbs. left from my 50lb. bag I bought at the farm back in early Sept.
ReplyDeleteExcellent idea! I shall now keep my eyes out. I have a bunch of those Rubbermaid containers from moving.
DeleteWhenever Aldi has onions really cheap I buy a few bags. Cut the tops and bottoms off and peel the outside, then put the onion whole in a ziploc baggy in the freezer. I use these in my crock pot meals or casseroles. After a few minutes out of the freezer they are thawed just enough to cut up easily.
ReplyDeleteI do freeze some onions but don't have a great deal of space. Love the crock pot cooking!
Deletethats such a great idea!
DeleteYou are doing great! And, agree on the grocery budget - if you can afford it, & it gives you pleasure to bump it up a bit, I say go for it! You are still frugal in your overall lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteExactly. If I tossed the budget out the window all together, well then for sure I would spend far more. Cheers
DeleteOur budget is looking good as we had saved like crazy in anticipation of big out of pocket payments for husband surgery but thankfully his insurance covered way more than we expected, we only paid about $2000 instead of the $10000 we were expecting.
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing great, groceries are so expensive, it takes planning and cooking to keep that budget in check.
What good news that the medical bill was way lower than expected. It does take planning, and when I am tired, all the oomph goes out the window. A well stocked pantry and freezer makes it easier though.
DeleteBefore, I would freeze onion--diced, in rings, large chopped. They freeze well. Now, I dehydrate them and keep in quart jars.
ReplyDeleteI have been on the lookout for a free/cheap dehydrater. Maybe next year's garage sales.
DeleteThis month I really want to get back on track and look at all expenses carefully, miss doing this. Buying bulk carbs like quinoa, bananas sweet potatoes, brown rice and then adding to that for meals from there is helping us stray healthy while eating super cheap.
ReplyDeleteWe have a new bulk place here that I need to check out. The few grocery stores that still have bulk seem to almost charge more than if you purchased a large container. You probably eat the healthiest of anyone I know/follow. Cheers!
DeleteFood has skyrocketed. On holidays I always go over the budget. Vitamins are a necessary item in our budget also. I think you did great.
ReplyDeleteFood has skyrocked, yesterday I went prowling for meat deals and only came home with one item. I refuse to pay $18 for a roast that will only feed us two meals. Today I am making a large batch of chili with 1/2 off ground beef that will feed us at least 3 meals.
DeleteFood is spendy...Went to look for hamburger buns and my mouth all most dropped...But we do mange...Coffee is on
ReplyDeleteBread has steadily increased, although we eat only about 10% of the bread we used to as mostly (*occasionally still have it if we eat out) have stopped eating it.
DeleteOur food costs are manageable. We have an asian store close by that has reams of fresh produce at low prices - nice variety also. We buy veg and fruit that is marked down for our juicer so save that way.I don't eat meat but Michael does, though not a lot. I'd say we're in the $300/month range.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had a nice inexpensive market nearby. The one I found the onions at is by my Mom's house 2 hours away. I did buy 5 lbs of carrots for $3 and 4 large bunches of green onions for $1 - they are huge.
DeleteI can't manage to keep grocery spending from going over the $400 mark. You've got to eat and you're right, you should be eating well. Eating crap costs more in the long end.
ReplyDeleteOur grocery spending is almost the same -- and so is our weight!
As we get older eating healthier is even more important. We eat far less processed food than we used to.
DeleteWe travel every November so you would think I would budget extra? No. I have learned my lesson this year, I will budget it out next year.
ReplyDeleteSaving For Travel (SFT on my sidebar) inspired me with the sealed pot last year. Our goal is different this year but I have now opened a separate account for all my specific savings goals like gifts/christmas/travel. It sure helps
DeleteI say average the money and you are ahead!
ReplyDeleteIt has been hard for us to stay on track with the food budget. Everything seems to cost more and we aren't getting as much. I'm hoping that when DJ goes away to school, we can cut back a bit. I doubt it but we can try.
I thought my bills would be way cheaper when we no longer had the kids every other weekend after we moved but no, instead they come to visit (about one every other month) and we indulge in things they haven't eaten while they are here like crab$$$
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