August Savings

Well, I completed my challenge for the month of August.  I tracked how much I spent and saved on household items for the entire month.  It was actually kind of fun and I realized just exactly how much I truly do save by using coupons and shopping the sales.

Total spent in August:  $229.38
Retail Value:  $668.15
Total saved in August:  $438.77, or 76% saved

These numbers seem right to me.  Before I was couponing, I spent between $100.00 - $200.00 a week on household items (food, toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, etc.)  Since couponing, I figured I spent about $75.00 a week on household items, but I wasn't completely sure because I never really kept track.  Now I know and I am excited that I did so well this past month!

I learned a lot by doing this.  Keeping track of my spending and savings made me very aware of how much I was spending and in turn I wanted to spend as little as possible.  It really made me think before I purchased something.

I am going to continue keeping track of my spending/savings because I think my spending will vary from month to month, depending on what I am stocking up on and what I already have stockpiled.  For example, I didn't buy diapers at all this month because I had already stocked up months ago.  This month I stocked up on wipes so that won't be an expense in months to come.  I'm curious to see how it fluctuates.

My mom emailed me her tracking spreadsheet for the month and she saved about 50%  even after including a meal for 50 at a family reunion!  Want to join the challenge and keep track of how much you save?  Feel free to download the spreadsheet I am using HERE.  (The formula is set up so you just have to enter how much you spent and how much you saved and it will calculate the retail amount automatically.)

January Report

Well, I've been working on my food storage goals for one month now. It's time to report on my progress.

I have 3 goals in my food storage plan:

1: Build a 3-month supply.
2: Build a financial reserve.
3: Build a 12-month supply.

In my budget (I use the term budget VERY loosely) all household items are grouped together into the grocery budget. This includes food, diapers and wipes (I have 2 in this category), paper products, cleaning products, bathroom toiletries, medications...basically all of the things I have to buy at the grocery store to keep the household running.

Also included in my grocery budget are my food storage purchases. This month I've been able to stock up on things like cereal, toilet paper, laundry detergent, bar soap, and a few other things through the deals I've found couponing. I also went to the cannery before the prices went up.

Okay, here it goes. My January report:

• I spent $562.69 on groceries (Ouch! That seems like a lot.)
  
  
• I increased my 3-month supply by roughly 25%. (Good.)
  
  
• I increased my savings for a financial reserve by 33.25%. (Not much to start with...)
  
  
• I am 76.5% of the way to my 3-month supply goal. (Getting closer...)
  
  
• I am 25.4% of the way to my financial reserve goal. (Yikes!)
  
  
• I am 50.9% of the way to my 12-month supply goal. (Even though I don't have a complete 3-month supply, there are some things I have a year supply of...like soap.)

So, I may have jumped out of the gates a little fast. I spent a lot this month but I don't think this will be typical. There were some good sales and the whole idea is to buy it when it's low. (I can't imagine what I would have spent if I had paid full price!) It will be interesting to see how this compares to the months to come.

I think the thing I am most excited about after working out all the numbers for January is that this is doable. Sure, I've become the meanie rationing mommy, but it's nice to see my goals slowly coming together.