Grocery Budget Update

It's been awhile so I thought I'd better take a look at how we are doing on our budget goal for the year. Looking through all my receipts and credit card bills, I just realized what a weird month August is for us, grocery-budget-wise.

Why? Well, for the past 2 years we've gone on a 2-week boating vacation to Canada (last year's actually turned out to be 3 weeks due to weather). Two weeks on a boat to remote areas of Canada. Limited facilities and very limited provisions. For example, this year, toward the end of our stay I could not find a loaf of bread. The two stores on the island that were within walking distance of the marina: both sold out!

As a result, we definitely don't do my "normal" stock up, deal-finding shopping during that vacation because it's just not possible - there are none of the traditional large supermarkets where we are and I just don't have the space on the boat to lug around my coupons, if these mom-and-pop stores would even take them. Even leading up to the trip, we typically go to Costco for the stock up because it all comes in bulk and then I separate into individual portions to pack into coolers, coolers and more coolers (we have a small fridge and an even smaller freezer on the boat).

We spend a lot more than usual in advance of the trip because we are without the ability to just run to the store for little things or take advantage of the deals that may be running during those weeks. Plus, we go with friends and often share dinner responsibilities so I'm not just feeding my family most nights, but this year up to 9 adults as well.

So I decided not to count those unusual circumstances, like the big Costco trip, and just tally what I spent at my normal grocery stores. Even then, I spent quite a bit more than usual in August, it appears.

My monthly budget for this year is $83.62 per month:

July $83.62 + $76.89 (June carryover) = $160.51 - $57 = $103.51
August $83.62 + $103.51 (July carryover) = $187.13 - $105.46 = $81.67
September $83.62 + $81.67 (August carryover) = $165.29 - $93.00 = $72.29.

I'm really hoping that the coming months will have better stock up deals for the holidays! I want to stay on this budget but the holidays could bust it. I also have saved all my grocery receipts separately and am hoping to post some cool final totals at the end of the year, like "amount spent" and the one I'm super curious about "amount saved" from coupons and sales! Should be SO interesting.

How are you doing so far this year??

Free Crochet Ideas E-book

Click Here to download a free e-book full of cool crochet craft ideas that you can do using a minimal amount of yarn. I'm thinking about all the yarn I have leftover from other crafts and projects so this should be fun and since it's free, why not go check it out?!

HOT $10 Mall Gift Card

Here is a great deal that ShopSmartLookFab is running right now. Enter your information for a free $10 gift card to a local mall - simply enter your zip code to find the nearest participating mall.

Be sure to sign up under the "Gift Card Voucher" Tab for the completely free $10 gift card! Sign up fast - they'll even tell you how many cards are still available for the mall you've chosen.

There is a different promo also running where you bring $75 in receipts from the mall and receive a $10 gift card, which would be great if you still need to do some school shopping.

*To my Washington readers: Alderwood Mall was the closest mall to my Woodinville zip code that is participating in this promotion. So if you shop there, or even if you don't, a free $10 gift card might be worth the trip.

Awesome Albertson's: The $1.26 trip

We got back last Saturday from a fabulous 2 week family vacation. No bargain shopping in Desolation Sound, Canada so I was having some serious shopping withdrawals. Luckily, Albertson's was having a fantastic promo that I was able to take advantage of on the last day (Tuesday). Buy $25 worth of select Kraft products and get a $5 ONYO plus a $20 mail-in rebate.

I got:

5 Easy Mac cups ($5)
4 Velveeta cups ($4)
6 Kraft Italian shredded cheese ($10)
1 Ritz Crackerfuls ($2.50)
1 A1 Steak sauce ($3)
2 Philly Cream Cheese ($3)
That was the Kraft purchase to qualify for the rebate and Catalina.

I also got:
1 Albertson's yogurt ($2.29)
1 Starbucks ice cream ($3.79)
1 Rice Krispies ($4.69)
Albertson's brand Quick Oats (it's fruit crumble season! $2.99)
Strawberries ($2.99)
Bananas ($1.46)


Coupons used:
2 BOGO Velveeta cups (-$2)
1 A1 (-$1)
6 Kraft cheese (tearpad) (-$3)
1 Ritz crackerfuls (-$1)
1 $1/2 Philly Cream cheese (-$1)
2 $.55/2 Easy mac cups (-$1.10)
Free Starbucks ice cream (Facebook)(-$3)
Free Rice Krispies (Vocalpoint) (-$4.69)
3 doublers (-$3)

Paid $27.26. I got the $5 ONYO plus another for $1 for buying the Velveeta cups and will send in the for $20 rebate. Total OOP: $1.26!!

How was your shopping this week?