The Grocery Game Challenge Dec 23-29, 2013 #4- Final grocery budget yearly analysis
GROCERY BUDGET YEAR-END REVIEW
Where has the 2013 year gone because it certainly seems like it’s flown by since we posted the first Grocery Game Challenge post in January.
This year has certainly proven that we can get over any hurdles we create with our grocery budget but not without turbulence.
There were a few months that we spent more than the grocery budget of $235.00 per month and it took a while to get back on track.
Some of the items either purchased on the stockpile budget or just included in the main shop were bought to accumulate so it will become cheaper for certain items throughout this coming year.
A prime example of this is the “Clear Shampoo” which was at an unbelievable bargain of $0.99, which has led to acquiring approximately a year’s supply.
To be honest it didn’t feel so good having to spend less and less each month so we hope that next year we can try our hardest to stay out of the stores when we don’t need to be in them and to stick to the grocery budget.
In 2014 we will likely start using the Checkout 51 program so we can start saving more money on groceries every month. Now that we have the IPOD we have loaded the free Checkout 51 app and are ready to go.
I’m not sure what our grocery budget will be starting in January 2014 but from the numbers below I don’t imagine in will change too much. However, we are always open to new opportunities to save money in the grocery budget which will stretch the budget further.
The grand total spent on grocery shopping this year was $2626.03 which was $193.35 under budget but if you include the stockpile budget of $195.88 we were actually $2.53 over budget. That’s a pretty astonishing figure considering we set the budget for groceries way back in December last year.
You can see how budgeting your money for each month and then maintaining your spending habits can give results down the line.
We spent less than the amount we projected and budgeted for groceries in 2013 although we did introduce the stockpile budget which was a new category in our budget.
The stockpile budget allowed us to spend up to $20 per month on food that went on sale for an amazing deal that we wanted to stockpile. This has helped us out quite a bit and will likely continue to be part of our budget.
The rendezvous account is something we think we will not continue with rather we will budget more in our entertainment budget each month to make sure we are saving enough for holidays and any day trips we want to go on.
- Did you stick to your grocery budget all year?
- How did your year-end numbers look like and what changes will you make in 2014 to your grocery budget?
Final grocery budget numbers 2013
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00 or $78.33 week with one no-shop week per month or $58.75 for 4 weeks per month. (During the months with 5 weeks we just make it work)
- Total Discounts Used 2013: $99.70
- Total Gift Cards Given Used 2013: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used 2013: $50.00
- Stockpile Budget Used 2013: $195.88
- Total Coupons in 2013:$402.52
- Total Spent To Date 2013:$2626.03 Under budget by $193.35
- Rendezvous Account: $65.38+$17.24 =$82.62<> This is money saved if there is any leftover at the end of a month of grocery shopping for a date night for the wife and I.
December grocery game challenge posts
If you missed any grocery game posts for the month I will post the line-up for the month each week here in this section for you. I will announce the December grocery game winner in the first Grocery Game Challenge 2014 for January.
- The grocery game challenge Dec 2-8, 2013: How often do you go shopping for groceries?
- The grocery game challenge Dec 9-15,2013 #2: How not to miss in-store and unadvertised deals
- The grocery game challenge Dec 16-22, 2013 #3: Who does the grocery shopping in your house?
Grocery saving tips
Click, Save and Print. It’s that easy!
Free Money Saving Downloads are awesome lists that were created to get us on track to work towards reaching our budgeting goals and now we are sharing them with you.
I hope you take the time to get back on track and start the saving process in your grocery budget today.
Get organized with a freezer inventory, meal plan, shopping list, price comparison list and much more all for FREE.
NEW!! You can now download the Canadian Budget Binder Budget Spreadsheet in Excel…… Grab it while you can… It’s FREE! We use it to budget.. check it out!
Ultimate grocery shopping guide
Everything you want to know about grocery shopping in Canada is below with new information added monthly. If you missed a Grocery Game Challenge post some of the most popular posts are listed below. If you know a topic that should be discussed, speak up. I want to know. Happy reading.
- Let Your Coupons Expire And Save Money
- Welfare Food Challenge $26 Per Week In The Grocery Budget
- What A No-Shop Week Really Means
- Should You Buy It Now Or Buy It Later?
- Stock Up On Items When You Can
- The Cost Of Organic Food
- What Foods You Should Not Eat and Organic Gardening
- Knowing Your Prices Is The Key To Saving Money In The Grocery Budget
- Product Price Adjustments Don’t Miss The Savings
- Scanning Code of Practice In Canada (SCOP)
- How To Start Saving Money On Groceries In Canada?
- How Much Should My Grocery Budget Be?
- Top Ten Ways To Cut Your Grocery Budget
- Meal Planning For The Budget
- The Grocery Game Challenge and Our Grocery Budget
- Grocery Budget Saving Tips
- Food Shopping On A Budget
- How To Grocery Shop
- Grocery Store Self-Scanners
- Food and Vegetable Preparation
- Best Time To Grocery Shop
- Organic Food Costs
- Why Shopping Hungry Is Not A Smart Idea
- Are We Eating Too Much Food?
- Discount Days and Rewards Programs
- Getting Back On Track With Food Budgeting
- Why You Should Ignore Your Grocery Flyers
- The Low-GI Diet and Your Budget
- How To Track Grocery Expenses
- Comparing Prices With a Price Comparison List
- Why Too Much Salt Is Not Good For Us
- Shopping More Than Once Per Week
- Food Samples When Shopping
- Food Waste In Canada
- Go on vacation and save on groceries
- Grocery Store Activities For Kids
- Buying When There Is A Limit
- How do you like your bread?
- Holiday Baking On A Budget
- International Grocery Store Shopping
- Back To Basics More For Less
Food food and more food
Metro
- 1 x Egg Nog $2.49
- Nabob coffee Sake $4.50
- Sardo Olives Sale $1.79
- Selection Olives Sale $1.49
- Bicks Pickles $2.99
- 7x Clear Shampoo Sale $3.99-$3.00 peelie coupons
- Pedigree Marrow Bone dog treats $4.99
Total out-of-pocket $33.92
Yearly grocery budget for two: $2819.38
- Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $235.00 or $78.33 week with one no-shop week per month or $58.75 for 4 weeks per month. (During the months with 5 weeks we just make it work)
- Total Budget For December $235.00-$10.28 overspend= $224.72
- Total Coupons Used this Week : $18.00
- Total Discounts this Week: $0
- Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
- Total Rewards Points Used: $0
- Stockpile Budget: $20.00 Used $20.00 chicken
- Total Spent This Week: $33.92
- Total Spent So Far for December $59.14+$3.97+$33.92=$203.47
- Total Over/Under spend this shop: $0
- Total Over/Under spend for the month: Under $21.25
- Total Left to Spend for the Month: $21.25
- Total Coupons Used This Month: $50.00
- Total to Carry Over Next Month: $0 New year starting 2014
- Total Spent To Date This Year: $206.95 (Jan)+ $160.77 (Feb) + (March)$169.62 + (April) $397.74+(May) $155.68 + (June) $216.01+ (July) $235.83 + (August) $182.35 + (September) $255.69 + (October) $196.64 + $245.28 (November)+ (December) $203.47= $2626.03 (does not include stockpile budget) Year to date -193.35 under budget
- Rendezvous Account: $65.38+$17.24 =$82.62<> This is money saved if there is any leftover at the end of a month of grocery shopping for a date night for the wife and I.
- Weekly Overview: We are home at the relatives for the Christmas and New Years festivities so we didn’t need to spend too much this month.
Canadian Coupons Found
No coupons found this week as we did not go grocery shopping. Check back next week to see what we find. Post your finds as well in the comment section if you like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the rules first and if you have any questions email me or comment on this post with your question and someone will answer you as soon as possible.
- Do I have to be Canadian to post my Grocery Shop?
No, you don’t have to be Canadian to post your shops only to win a monthly prize. We have fans who post their grocery shop who live all over the world.
- When does the Grocery Game close each month?
The Grocery Game Challenge closes at midnight of the last Sunday of the last post for the month. You can post your shops all month-long.
- Does your Grocery Budget include health and beauty and laundry products?
Yes our Grocery Budget includes such items as shampoo, conditioner, laundry soap, fabric softener, dish soap etc. We don’t mind stockpiling items that won’t be affected by expiry dates or have long expiry dates but not so much food any more. It’s just one way to help cut your budget to save money.
Here are your latest Coupon Match-ups of the week and your weekly Checkout 51 offers from 25 Newspaper Inserts around Canada compliments of Save Big Live Better that you can use to help you save money in the Grocery Game Challenge.
- What is an FPC?
An FPC is a free product coupon which means you can get a free product as described on the coupon.
You can find all your store coupon policies here. If you are not sure it’s always best to call the store and ask.
I can tell you about grocery shopping and what we do in terms of shopping to save money and how it works for us. There are no wrong or right answers, just smart choices. Over time you will gradually learn where you should and shouldn’t go in the grocery store or at least how to say no, I’m on a budget I need to buy this or that.
You may also substitute items in order to stick to your budget to make it work. Nobody is perfect, heck we struggle with this t of our budget like many people do and this is why the grocery game challenge was created.
If you have just joined The Grocery Game Challenge get ready to dive deep into your grocery budget and learn just where you are spending, how much you are spending and what you are saving.
You’ve made a wise decision.
Welcome to The Grocery Game Challenge Canada!
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I shop for 2 adults and an almost 3 year old boy. Our budget is $90/week or $450 for this month and includes laundry, health/beauty, etc.
Walmart
Royale Tiger Towel 2 x $4.78 – 2 x $3.00 coupons – 2 x $1.00 CartSmart
Coupons $6.00
CartSmart rebate $2.00
OOP $2.80
RCSS
Gay Lea whipped cream $3.19 – FPC
Potatoes (10lbs) $1.67
OOP $1.67
RCSS
Chocolate santa $1.04
Cadbury chocolate $1.25
Goldfish (PM Target) 4 x $1.99 – 2 x $1.00 coupons (plus earned 4 x 2,500 pcplus points)
McGraw cologne $5.44
Coupons $2.00
OOP $11.74 (plus earned $10 in pc points)
RCSS
Almond milk 2/$7.00 – 2 x $1.00 coupons
Breyers ice cream $4.99 – FPC
Yoso coconut yogurt $3.99
Deli Fresh turkey (PM FC) 2 x $2.99
Oranges (PM NF) $2.14
Coupons $6.99
OOP $17.11
RCSS
Campbell’s soup 6 @ 2/$1.00
NN broth 2 x $1.77
Coconut yogurt $3.99 – FPC
Arctic gardens (PM IGA) 8 x $2.50 – 8 x FPC (plus earned $4.00 in pc points)
Catelli gluten free $2.99 – FPC
Royale (PM Target) 2 x $3.99 – 2 x $1.00 coupons
Deli Fresh turkey (PM FC) 2 x $2.99 – $5.00 coupon
Bread $2.17
Bagels 2 x $3.37 – 2 x 50% pink stickers (-$3.38)
Cucumber (PM FC) $.99
Strawberries (PM FB) $1.97 – $1.00 coupon
Broccoli (PM Longos) $.99
Carrots 3lbs (PM WM) $1.27
Bananas $1.18
Buckley’s lozenges (PM Sobeys) $2.99 – $2.00 coupon
Coupons $36.98
OOP $27.85
RCSS
NN vinegar $1.97
NN marshmallows $1.97
Hershey’s nuggets 2 x $3.69 – 2 x $2.00 coupons – $4.00 CO51
Neilson’s goldenbuds 3 x $.74
Coconut yogurt $4.59 – $3.99 (exchanged the previous one purchased)
Nutrigrain soft bakes $2.98 – FPC
Cream cheese (PM Sobey’s) 2 x $1.99
Coupons $6.98
CO51 $4.00
OOP $15.40
Total Grocery Amount Budgeted For the Year : $4,680 ($90/week)
•Total Grocery Budget for the Month: $450 (5 shopping weeks this month – last month was supposed to be for us but ended up only being 4)
•Total Coupons Used this Week : $52.95
•Total Coupons Used This Month : $217.79
• Total Coupons Used this Year: $1980.21
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this week: $4.00 + $2.00 CartSmart
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this month: $24.00
• Total Checkout 51 rebates this year: $172.00
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this week: $0
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this month:$0
• Total Colleague Discount (CD) this year: $394.31 (Unfortunately September was the end of using the card for us as we are no longer allowed to use it)
• Total SCOP this week: $0
• Total SCOP this month: $1.76
• Total SCOP this year: $9.39
•Total Gift Cards Given Used this Week: $0
•Total Spent This Week: $76.57
•Total Spent So Far for December: $410.17
•Total Over/Under spend this shop: N/A
•Total Over/Under spent for the month of December: N/A
•Total Left to Spend for the Month: $39.83
•Total to Carry over Next Month: I do not carry over to the next month.
•Total Spent To Date This Year: $4209.42
•Weekly overview: I had a lot of FPC’s and coupons I wanted to use before they expired this week and I was able to use the ones I felt were most important. I am $470.58 under budget for the year, but if you add in my meat order I am $47.97 over budget. I am going to have to try changing up some numbers for next year. Overall I am pleased with how we did as I’m sure I’ve never spent so little on groceries in a year lol. This was my first full year budgeting and participating every week in the GGC. I am very thankful for this game and Mr CBB 🙂
Hey Jen…
Where did you get the $3.00 paper towel coupons and what is the Cart smart? We are doing the PC PLUS program now which is great so far. Congrats on a successful grocery and budget year as I’m sure you’ve learned lots about your financial health. What I’m sure you learned the most about it all is that it’s not over… budgeting, and money management is ongoing. Keep up the good work and let’s hope 2014 is even better for you. You get ballot 1
Finally got here to get this posted!! The only place I went this week was Foodland. I cashed in my turkey bucks for a turkey that was tossed into the freezer for Easter.
Dec 24
2 tomato paste @.69- 1.38
1 can pineapple- 1.19
bananas- .54
1 pasta sauce- 1.79
3 W/W bread @ 1.79- 5.37
1 tomato sauce- 2.29
2 raisin bread @ 2.49- 4.98
2 bags frozen veggies@ 2.50- 5.00
1 plum sauce- 2.98
1 unsweetened coconut- 1.49
2 cider mix @2.99- 5.98
4lbs butter @ 2.99- 11.96
1 sour cream- 2.99, 1.00 coupon
1 sunflower oil- 3.99
1 ground turkey- 4.49
1 Baker’s chocolate- 4.49, .30 coupon
1 package garlic sausage- 4.65, 50% discount, 2.33
2 4l milk @4.79- 9.58
3 blocks cheese @4.99- 14.97
1 jug water- 5.49
1 case ginger ale- 5.78
1 turkey- 25.00, 18.00 turkey bucks
Tax- 1.76
Total- $114.97, 21.63 in coupons and discounts
Dec 24
2 boxes mac and cheese @.69- 1.38
6 packs mini eggs @.99- 5.94
1 weekly newspaper- 1.50
bananas- .94
1 pasta sauce- 1.79
1 cole slaw- 1.79
1 tomato sauce- 1.88
1 egg nog- 2.49
1 bunch celery- 2.49
1 bag frozen veggies- 2.50
2 Dawn dish soup @2.79- 5.58, 1.00 coupon WUB2
1 pack Hersey Hugs- 3.49
1 grated parmesan cheese- 3.62
1 4l milk- 4.79
1 almond extract- 5.25
1 juf water- 5.49
1 case ginger ale- 5.78
Tax- 2.70
Total- $58.40, 1.00 coupon
Total budget for month- $600.00
Total coupons this week- $22.63
Total spent for this week- $175.87
Spent for the month- $1037.91
Total over/under for week- $15.87over
Total over/under for the month- $437.91 over!!!!
Left for month-00000
Total coupons for month-6.50+8.50+14.00+22.63=$51.63
Total YTD-J$818.08+F$598.07+M$770.12+A$938.07+M$650.13+J$876.78+J$734.75+A$625.95+S$800.56+O$637.38+N$608.12+D$1037.91=$8766.62
So not good for the year!!! This was the worst month all year and that says something!! I need to do some very serious thinking for next year and work a lot harder at keeping things lower. I will be running the numbers in total to see where I can do better and to get on track. It’s a new year and a new beginning for my GGC and I will be working very hard next year to do better. I’m not sure if my budget was realistic for last year and that is something else to think about. Give me a couple of days to think about all this and see where I can go from here……
Hey Christine,
Looks like the turkey bucks came in handy for you for Easter so it was well worth collecting them. The butter was a good deal so I would have stocked up as well. I’m happy that you were able to see the numbers and now you can base your goals for 2014 on those numbers so you know where you need to improve. I look forward to your shops in 2014 and watch how it all unfolds for you. Keep at it, never give up…. you get ballot 20. Mr.CBB
Those turkey bucks mean I got a 7kg turkey for $1.00 kg!!!! Not too shabby a price there and we will get lots of meals out of that bird!!!
Our weekly budget is $100 a week making this month $400.
Well I don’t have any receipts for this week since the hubby did some last minute shopping for me and used the money that our father in law had slipped us at xmas to help out, it wasn’t necessary but greatly appreciated and the kids had extra pop, chocolate milk and a take out lunch while they are here for their visit.
I am very happy to be under budget this month and year!! We have been able to cut back this year compared to last and even have a stockpile to keep us going for a little while as the new year brings us our new edition to the family. Not really sure where we will sit financially until my benefits kick in. I would like to keep the same weekly budget going if we can or we may cut back a little bit if and when need be. I hope being at home encourages me to cook and bake from scratch even more than I do already and the hubby is a great help in general so I think if we really work at it we can make it work. We have had some chats about goals and things we would like to do with our money and have agreed on many things but we can’t count our eggs before they hatch, but I am happy we can talk about it and be on the same page about what we work so hard for.
Here are end of the year numbers
December
$196.36 total oop
$251.29 total coupons
2013
$4834.66 total oop
$3689.43 total coupons
We were $365.34 under budget for the $100 a week we budget for!!!
I remember us spending almost $1000 a month before and am happy and proud to be able to get us to where we are now!
I am so thankful for this page, everyone that is here and all the things I have been able to learn 🙂
So all the best to Mr.CBB and everyone in 2014 and making their budgets work the best they can!!!
I’m happy to hear that you are both able to talk about your personal finances because that is key. When you are both on the same page it makes it much easier to work with a budget because you both know what you can and cannot spend. Life is so much easier for us now and we are happy. Do what you need to do in order to get it right… I look forward to reading about your shops in 2014 and how cooking from scratch and your planning for shopping works out for you. Smile.. Mr.CBB You get ballot 19.
DECEMBER – Week #4 of 5
– December 23rd-29th, 2013
2013 GROCERY BUDGET / STOCKPILE BUDGET AND US RESERVE:
•Total Grocery Budgeted For Year: $142.50 x 12 = $1,710.00 for 2 adults
•Total Stockpile Budgeted For Year: $47.50 x 12 = $570.00 for 2 adults
•Combined Grocery Budget for 2013: $190.00 x 12 = $2,280.00
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REMARKS FOR THE WEEK:
I don’t respond well to stress and a family upset this week left me drained and less than enthusiastic about travel at this point. So, I pushed back our little get away until the Family Day weekend in February. We might as well go when I am able to enjoy it.
We have a miniscule Canadian shop to report this week…all 68 cents worth of it! Unfortunately, the little purchase put us 11 cents over on our 2013 budget. Close, but no cigar on finishing out the year on budget. On the plus side though we still have $400.00 worth of reserves available to carry into 2014 (so really I am not over… I have $399.89 in reserves but for simplicity sake… let’s just say I am 11 cents over). Plus, we still have US reserves remaining for shopping next week. Let’s see if I can finish the US shopping on track for the year! LOL 🙂
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OUR “CANADIAN” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
Safeway – Maple Ridge
1 bag Green Salad $0.68 Super Saver Coupon
•Total OOP: $0.68
• Grocery Budget OOP: $0.68
• Stockpile Budget OOP: $0.00
• Cash Hiding Spot: $0.00
** Earned 0 Air Miles on this shop **
** USED $3.00 in Coupons **
** SAVED $0.00 Loyalty Savings on this shop **
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OUR “US RESERVE” SHOPPING THIS WEEK:
PLANNING ANOTHER US SHOP FOR NEXT WEEK!
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2013 Y-T-D CANADIAN GROCERY SAVINGS:
•Total Loyalty Card Price Reductions This Year:
J$40.04+F$44.48+M$98.35+A$50.00+M$3.00+J$0.00+Jy$55.55+Au$36.66+S$52.74+O$71.36+N$17.25+D($6.00+5.77=11.77)= $481.20
•Total Coupons Used This Year:
J$60.46+F$0.00+M$11.79+A$12.48+M$1.50+J$54.54+Jy$ 42.16+ +Au$3.80+S$38.57+O$21.98+N$24.43+D($6.00)= $277.71
•Total More Points Earned This Year:
J265+F248+M151+A26+M0+J59+Jy7+Au26+S0+O141+N15+D(12+132=144)= 1,082 Points
•Total Air Miles Earned This Year:
J57+F10+M30+A83+M0+J161+Jy20+Au1+S208+O80+N30+D1= 681 Air Miles
•Total Thrifty’s Points Earned This Year:
Jan-Sept 988+ O297+N321+D0= 1606 Points
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2013 Y-T-D CANADIAN GROCERY SPENDING:
•Total Grocery OOP Spent So Far This Year:
J$217.50+F$198.39+M$72.90+A$215.04+M$70.12+J$49.97+Jy$114.23+Au$100.49+S$130.85+O$111.97+N$144.75+D($14.50 to borscht+$2.25 overage+$110.00 trf to US-$10.00 trf from Stockpile+$2.99+$11.98+10.21+0.68= $142.61)= $1,566.57
•Total YTD Grocery Budget So Far:
J$190.00+F$190.00+M$108.79+A$142.50+M$142.50+J$50.00+Jy$114.36+Au$99.62+S$110.00+O$133.69 +N$142.50+D($142.50) = $1,566.46
•Total Over/Under on the YTD Grocery Budget: $0.11 OVER << Picture my having a little Boo Hoo!
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2013 Y-T-D CANADIAN STOCKPILE SPENDING:
•Total Stockpile OOP Spent So Far This Year:
J$0.00+Feb$0.00+M$81.21+A$77.55+M$17.45+J$82.86+Jy$79.24+Au$0.00+S$20.00+O$47.50+N$59.46+D($15 to re-stocking+$10.54 to US Reserve+$10.00 to Groceries=$35.54)= $500.81
•Total YTD Stockpile Budget:
J$0.00+Feb$0.00+M$81.21+A$47.50+M$47.50+J$82.86+Jy$35.64+Au$43.60+S$20.00+O$47.50+N$47.50+D$47.50 = $500.81
•Total Over/Under YTD Stockpile Budget: $0.00 AVAILABLE
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2013 RE-STOCKING RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Re-Stocking Budget:
J$0.00+Feb$0.00+M$0.00+A$0.00+M$0.00+J$0.00+Jy$17.50+Au $17.50 +S$27.50+O$27.50+N$20.00+D$15.00=
$125.00 AVAILABLE
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2014 Y-T-D BORSCHT STOCKPILE RESERVE:
•Total 2014 Borscht Stockpile Budget:
J$0.00+Feb$0.00+M$0.00+A$0.00+M$0.00+J$120.00+Jy$32.50+Au$30.50+S$32.50+O$12.50+N$32.50+D$14.50=
$275.00 AVAILABLE
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• TOTAL FUNDS SPENT IN 2013: $2,067.38
$2,280 is budgeted for JAN-DEC '2013 INCL. but with cash additions from a gift, recycled bottles, cash hiding spot money and repayments of funds owed to us…we increased our reserves to also have:
$125.00 Freezer Re-Stocking Fund
$275.00 Borscht Fund
Total $400.00 TO BE CARRIED FORWARD TO 2014
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CURRENT CLOSING GROCERY POSITIONS FOR DECEMBER:
CANADIAN $’s
Groceries: ($0.11)
Stockpile: $0.00
Cash Hiding Spot: $0.00
2014 BORSCHT: $275.00
Re-Stocking Funds: $125.00
US $’s
Our Reserve: $120.54
US Cash Hiding Spot: $0.00
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The valid rain checks I hold are as follows:
Safeway:
3 dozen Lucerne Large Eggs @ $1.33 (Good until Feb 7th)
4 Butcher’s Cut Side Bacon @ $8.99 (Good until Feb 20th)
4 Butcher’s Cut Boneless Honey Dinner Ham 1 Kg @ $8.49
(Good to Feb 26th)
2 Butcher’s Cut Beef Sausages 500g @ 2 for $5.00
(Good to March 6th)
2 Butcher’s Cut Beef Sausages 500g @ 2 for $5.00
(Good to March 6th) – SECOND RAIN CHECK!!!!
4 Butcher’s Cut Side Bacon @ $8.99 (Good until March 19th)
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Hi Mary,
You both did amazing Mary, $0.11 is great… even though you still have the carry over I can understand the simplicity of it all. As I was reading your post I might start to track our numbers as we go along like you so I don’t have to go back and add it all up at the end of the year. Time savings is just as important as spending money. Well done this year Mary… congratulations and thanks for cheering us on and the rest of the gang.. we all need support from each other and to be honest we are an amazing group of savers even if we are a small group. I hope 2014 brings us new fans that want to save money in the grocery budget and jump on board. Cheers… you get ballot 13…… P.S if you have that handy yearly GGC list I could surely use it… I’m rubbish at figuring out the best route for weeks. 😉
Mr CBB… I was thinking about that list and I thin I will include it in my December week 5 post so that all the folks can budget easily for 2014 with no horrible surprises to find a week 5 when they thought it was only 4! 🙂
I would love that Mary… that way we can all plan the weeks ahead of time… if that’s the way it works out. I used your schedule all year it’s just I’m at the relatives and forgot the printout at home and thought last week was the last week of the year, my fault. I really did appreciate you doing that for me. 🙂
What a great year!!!! I need to post last week’s as well as this week but I’ll get there. I need to do some very serious thinking about where to go next year with the grocery budget. If nothing else it’s been quite the learning experience!!!! Merry Christmas to you and the Mrs!!!!
Good for you Mr & Mrs CBB! You did a great job this year with budgeting, changing your eating habits and re-stocking new items, overcoming a splurge or two during the year… it just goes to show that we can all stay on budget if we work together!
I am actually taking December as a “5 week” month with December 30th-Jan 5, 2014 as my final week. Should I post my last week of December in your week 1 of January??
Hi Mary,
Thanks, it was a busy year for all of us who posted but we learned and we pulled through. Sure go ahead and post as you go along. Either way you are tracking and get a ballot for every post. 🙂 Merry Christmas to both you and Larry… it’s been one heck of a year. x