March Budget Results - It's Officially Spring!

Although March is not over yet, in an effort to make sure this post goes up before our holidays I am calling the March budget officially done.

March Grocery Budget 
March's grocery budget was $450 plus $4.05 left from February underage for a total $454.05.  Actual Spent was $456.62.  Close enough! $8.75 coupons used.  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.  As we are away two weeks of April I have adjusted next month's grocery and non-food items to $250 less overage of $2.57 = $247.43 which also gives extra room for over the counter meds which we still need while away rather than just halving it.

This was a great stock up month.  Chicken was the name of the game.  I bought 8 kg of chicken legs($1.50 per kg) and 4 kg of skinless boneless chicken breasts ($2.66 per kg) all at rock bottom prices.  Yes, we eat chicken parts primarily because I cannot get a decent price on a whole chicken and refuse to pay 3 times more just to do so.  Some don't like chicken legs, but we love them.   This week I slow roasted them on the BBQ and they tasted incredibly good. They take a lot of patience turning so you don't burn them but man, so worth it.  I also bought and chopped up another ham.  This last week we have been trying to eat up things in the freezer and veggies so nothing goes to waste and if there is anything left I will give it to Mom when we leave.  The only problem with that is that Friday hubby went to the store to buy pop that was on sale and came back with $7 cheese stuffed peppers.  Note to self, must always have munchies in fridge, and keep hubby away from deli section of grocery store.

Hair Budget $175 per year
Zero spent in March.   We leave on holiday April 4th so expect to get my hair cut this week to make it easier to take care of on holiday.  Left in the budget for the year = $156.77.

Clothing Budget $200 per year
This month I bought a great pair of pants for $4.00 and those incredible Clark's shoes for $22.25 both at the Thrift store.  $164.14 left to go in the clothing budget for the year.

This photo of Lisbon, Portugal is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This photo of Amsterdam, Holland is courtesy of TripAdvisor

This weekend has been spent doing last minute paperwork for our company and packing.  We have a very full work week before we depart to Vancouver on Friday night and then Saturday fly on to Portugal where we will spend 8 nights then 3 in Holland.  I kind of feel like the little kid who knows school is getting out soon.  We have carefully saved and pinched pennies and now we have two weeks off in Europe!  I have only ever taken one other two week holiday and that was when I was 19 years old, and as a couple we have never been away on holiday over 8 days.  My only concern is whether or not we will have access to do laundry.  On the safe side I have packed a little laundry soap so worst case scenario we can do some washing in our hotel room sinks.  Five Sleeps!