September Month End Budget Update

It seemed like a busy month with shopping but mostly it was a busy super doubles shopping month and then a big break where I thought I was done for the month.  I went every day (and sometimes more than one and to more than one Harris Teeter...I know that I have a problem).  I was well under budget for most of the month and then the deals started coming up that were for things that we needed so it was a quick rise to budget and then over by reluctant choice.

$147.61     Harris Teeter
$26.55     Wegman's
$0.28       Giant
$3.83       Wal-mart
$7.33       Aldi's
$30.91     Target

$216.51   Total OOP

I had a long list of things that I wanted to get this month and I got a few things on the list.  We stocked up on chicken, ground beef, flour, juice, cheese, tissues, frozen pizza, Cheese Its and pull-ups to last a few months.  Next month's list is going to include Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice, Margarine Sticks, milk and lunch meat.  I started a list of things that I needed in October and then found deals at the end of September so I knew that I shouldn't pass them up.  I know that other needs will come up through October (and without a doubt other deals that I can't pass up) but I am hoping to come in really low to make up for this month!!

I saved lots but I don't count any savings at Wegman's, Wal-mart or Aldi's because they basically have the lowest pricing possible on the items that I am getting there and I use very few coupons there (if at all).  I saved a lot at Harris Teeter, Giant, and Target to make my monthly savings pretty big and make me really happy! 
$672.05   Harris Teeter
$24.48     Giant
$26.47     Target

$723.00   Total Saved

77 % Savings for September

(82% just at Harris Teeter which is why I love that store!!!)

What really blows my mind is if I bought all of this month's groceries at full price, it would have cost me $939.51!!  Can you believe that I would have ever spent almost $1,000 on groceries (and that most families spend that a month) because I can't believe it when I look at it in black and white.  I start to beat myself up over the fact that I can't stick to the budget and my husband reminds me that I saved $723 for our family this month.  He also reminds me that I got a lot of nice things that we wouldn't normally buy because I have been able to save so much money which I never would have been able to purchase previously.  It might not be a great paycheck but I will take that and all the hugs that I get from my little guy for my part time job of taking care of my family.

I hope that you take this time to track what you are spending at the grocery store...I do not suggest this to push couponing or cutting back but it helps to get a realistic idea on the total amount of money that your family needs in a month to pay for groceries.  It certainly helps to budget later if you can track the current spending.  It also helps when you wonder where everything has gone at the end of the month and you can at least point to something that tells you all that you spent.  I know that pre-couponing, I wouldn't think twice about what I spent at the store because I "needed" it.  Stay tuned for some articles on how you can save money at the grocery store by tracking what prices make you run to the store to get things :)