Wednesday, May 24, 2017

May Grocery Shopping Budget Update

I had set my May grocery budget at $75.00, as usual.  The month started out fine.

In Week 1, I went grocery shopping twice and spent: $2.60 + $11.47 = $14.07
Amount left in the budget at the end of Week 1: $75 - $14.07 = $60.93

In Week 2, I went grocery shopping twice, again and spent: $21.44* + $24.67 = $46.11

* The $21.44 includes $10.48 for two bags of coffee for daughter.  If I take the coffee out of the grocery budget (and pay for it from the gifts budget, for example), the groceries would have amounted to $10.96 for that particular shopping trip and Week 2 grocery totals would have amounted to $35.63

Total spent after Week 2 = $14.07 + $46.11 = $60.18 (with purchase of coffee included); $49.70 (without purchase of coffee included).

Amount left in the budget: $75 - $60.18 = $14.82 (with coffee); $25.30 (without coffee)
In Week 3, I spent $1.51 for bananas (just over 2 lbs. @ $.69/lb) and $13.47 for three additional bags of coffee.    The coffee was $5.99 minus $1.50 coupon = $4.49, each (=$13.47).  My total came to $14.98.
 
Total spent after Week 3 = $14.82 - $14.98 = - $0.16 (with coffee);  $25.30-1.51 = 23.79 (without coffee).

Week 4 grocery shopping is what I bought on Monday, May 22.  Milk ($1.99 for 1/2 gal.), flavored coffee creamer ($1.99), strawberries (2 lbs. @ $.88/lb), cold cuts ($2.50) for sandwiches, and some cans of juice drinks (8 @ $.25 + deposit).  My total came to $10.64.

Total spent after Week 4 = - $.16 - $10.64 = - $10.80 (with coffee); $23.79-$10.64 = $13.15 (without coffee).

Total spent on 5 bags of coffee for daughter = $10.48 + $13.47 = $23.95. 

Obviously, if ones monthly budget is $75, then, spending almost $24 or nearly 1/3 of the budget on coffee for daughter is not a very wise thing to do!  LOL!  If I keep the cost of the coffee in my grocery budget, then, I am $10.80 over budget, this month (and there is another week left in this month?!)

If I take the coffee out, then, I still have $13.15 in the budget. 

This is the closet "bean counter" in me, coming out to account for the budget to the last penny!  LOL.  I guess it really doesn't matter, in the long run.  I have plenty of room elsewhere in my monthly budget to absorb this cost, if I want it to. 

Or, maybe I should just adjust the budget and increase it to $100 for May to accommodate the purchase of the coffee?

The weekly grocery ads came in the mail, today.   There is very little that I need to buy; I need to finish what I have in the fridge and freezer, instead!  I have chicken breasts and shrimp, the frozen meatballs I bought earlier, and still some vegetables and fruit.  

How is your May grocery budget coming along?

12 comments:

  1. My pennys worth is that I would increase this months budget to $100 as you dont want to be short next month. Or out of household as the coffee was not for your consumption. My May budget is healthy, I have %50 still, and I have done this weeks shop. I have been well under my $50 a week since I started it in February, I am seriously starting to think I could lower my weekly amount to $40. I have noticed since I started budgeting I am more mindful of wasting food which I did a lot of, I think I was an impulse shopper before,lol!

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    1. Well done on your grocery budget, Sharon! Being more mindful of food waste is great! I, too, tend to buy too much at a time, thinking I'll eat it all, and end up with it spoiling before I get to it! I am going to wait and see what else I buy before the end of this month and how much I go over budget, before I decide if I will increase the budget. :)

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  2. Do you have a category for gifts? However, like you said, it really doesn't matter in the big picture because you have money for it.

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    1. Yes, I do have a category for gifts ($20/month). And I have a "Miscellaneous" (for things like parking when I go to the doctors', etc.) of $50/mo., so the coffee could be from that budget, too, although I had quite a bit of parking expenses this month.

      Fortunately, I don't need to budget to the penny, anymore. If I did, I wouldn't have bought so many bags of coffee for her. I budget because I like to know just how much I spend in each category.

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  3. Very good budgeting! I like to keep the lower figure and then add in the coffee (if I were you). Personally it helps me stay on budget better. If I upped the budget I would tend to spend that and then the coffee too! Andrea

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. I might just do that - keep the grocery budget at $75 and add the coffee as a one-time expense. Or, I might go back to having daughter as one expense category, as I used to. I stopped including her in my budget when she started working and started being responsible for all her expenses. But I do buy things for her when I see them and send her home with food, etc., when she comes to visit, so I might just include her as an expense category, again!

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  4. My budget is looser and I never worry about going a bit over or coming in a bit under since it all comes out in the wash. And this explains why I am not an accountant!

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    1. Yes, it all evens out in the end, I know. I don't know why I obsess over the grocery budget as much as I do! It's not like I have to account to anyone!

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  5. I would take the coffee out of the budget. It's not your food. Maybe out of the gift kitty? I have to admit I'm not doing so great on shopping since I got back from daughter's. I really need to go back to freezer. I also need to find some lighter meals now that the weather is getting warmer.

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    1. Sharon, yes, I think that's what I'll do. It's hard to get back into routines after being away, isn't it? I suggest stir-fries or grilled vegetables, etc., for lighter meals, in addition to salads.

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  6. I am late to the game, and I think you have decided already how you will handle it, but I would go into the next month with that much less money. I am thinking that most of what you buy after the deficit will be eaten next month anyways. I would not take it from "Gifts" as you will wish that you had your full budget when the time comes. I am sure it will be easy enough to make up for the shortfall in a month or two.

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    1. Susan, you've just stated what I originally planned to do - debit it from June's budget. I am still thinking I might do that! The fact is, I am dithering between the two! I'll see just how much more I'll spend this month (I have to prepare a dessert to take to this month's prayer meeting on Saturday) and then, decide. Maybe split the cost between the two budget categories.

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