October is going to be an unusual month when it comes to grocery budgeting.
I normally budget $75 per month for grocery spending. However, I spent almost $71, practically a whole month's grocery budget, at the Sri Lankan store in August, when I stocked up on tea and other items. Therefore, I participated in "Shelftember" in September, eating mostly from the freezer and pantry and buying only fresh produce, dairy, and bread, to make up part of what I had overspent.
I had hoped to keep my September spending to $40 and save $35. However, I was able to keep my grocery spending to a little over $26 and saved almost $49 to make up a good portion of the $71 I had overspent in August. I need to save another $22 in October to make up the whole amount. I am quite confident I can do that. In fact, I have decided to deduct the outstanding amount from my October budget at the beginning of the month.
Therefore, my regular grocery budget for October will be $75 - $22 = $53.
But, October is also when I will host the monthly prayer gathering dinner. In addition to my regular grocery budget, I also budget $25 per month for the rosary prayer gathering and meal that I host once a year, for a total budget of $300 for food, drinks, and any paper goods that will be used. I usually cater for 25 people, including my daughter and me, and that's how I came up with the budgeted amount: $1 per person, per month, for a total of $12 per person. In general, this is one of the few times when I plan a menu before hand and buy what is needed to prepare that meal without planning the menu around what is on sale, although I do try to buy things when they are on sale, etc., because I like a bargain and enjoy getting the most for my money.
Normally, I add the prayer gathering budget to the regular household grocery budget, because I use some of the items I have on hand (like oil, spices, etc.) and leftovers from the prayer gathering meal get incorporated into my regular meals. I am going to do the same, again, for simplicity's sake, but I will try to account for the items I buy for the prayer gathering meal, separately, as much as possible.
So far, I have spent a total of $5.78 (in September) on items for the prayer gathering:
9/18: $4.49 for smoked sausage
9/27: $1.29 for 2 cans of mixed nuts
I was considering extending the eating from the pantry concept to October, as well, for my own personal groceries, buying only fresh produce, dairy, and bread, but I don't know if I can manage to do so. I have several pieces of fish, some sausage, and one package of beef in the freezer, but no chicken, other than the leftovers from what I cooked, yesterday, and no ground beef or any pork. I don't necessarily want to use up all my frozen fish, either, as I am not planning to go back to the Sri Lankan store for more until at least late November. I'll take it one week at a time and see how things work out.
Have you made your October grocery budget yet? Are you planning to do a pantry challenge in October?
Nice post.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Regine. :)
DeleteSounds like you have your food budget well under control. I'm not going to be doing any formal challenges, but the pantry needs a bit of organizing and using things up.
ReplyDeleteI think the October grocery budget will leave me with something leftover to carry forward to November (and the next trip to the SL store!)
DeleteFall is a good time to organize the pantry, before all the holiday preparations take place and we buy things for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I, too, want to do a pantry inventory. I have lots of canned soups and boxes of pasta, but not a lot of other items.
Bless, I think you did fantastic with your budget even considering you'd stocked up lots in August. The way you make your money stretch I find it hard to believe you'll actually end up spending $300 on the prayer meeting, so I have to ask, will you, or do you manage to come in under budget on that as well? xx
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, yes, I do come under budget on the prayer gathering, often. It all depends on what has to be bought for it, each year. Some years, I have served things like baked salmon which cost $8-9/lb.; other years, I've had to stock up on the alcoholic drinks (I don't drink anything alcoholic, but others want whisky, wine, and beer). Sometimes, I order Sri Lankan snacks from my friend who caters, and depending on the item, it can cost $.50 to $1 a piece, and I usually order 100 pieces of at least a couple of items. I can very easily spend upwards of $300 on this meal! :D
DeleteBless you really have done so well making up the over spend in August. In my opinion if you need to please use more than $53.00 in October. You could even wait and make it up in November because you may well have quite a bit of food left over from hosting the Prayer Gathering to carry you thru. As you say "take it one week at a time".
ReplyDeleteWindy and mild here today so laundry going outside on the line.
Thanks, Sandy. The $53 will be more than enough to buy all what I need. I can see myself spending another $25 or so, in October, for bread, produce, and dairy! It's just that I am not sure if I can restrict myself to only bread, dairy, and produce, given the amount of meat I have in the freezer. I might be tempted to buy some chicken or ground beef. I could still do that on the amount I've budgeted for October; it just won't be Shelftober then, that's all. But I don't think that would matter much, do you?
DeleteGlad to hear that the weather is mild. I'm sure you are enjoying the cooler fall weather. :)
The way you budget for your annual party is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI am continuing the storage challenge a bit longer, only because I still have quite a bit of food in my freezer. I am restocking it when sales are at my stock up price point, but I have that on a totally different shelf so it will not get used as I clear out my pre-fall 2017 frozen items.
Thank you, Anne. $12 per person seemed like a reasonable amount and I like to budget throughout the year, so that the funds are there when needed, rather than try to come up with the funds at the last minute.
DeleteI like your method of keeping the newer stock up items on a different shelf, separate from the older items. Do you have a deep freezer or a side-by-side fridge freezer like I do?
I have been reading some of your older posts, as well as the new one, so wanted you to know they were very interesting. I also find it beneficial to focus on the good things. There is much to be thankful for me, as well. Sometimes, I have to focus on it to see it better:)
ReplyDeleteI have spent much time in September restocking the holes in my pantry and freezers, so as a result, the freezers are stuffed. The home canning and freezing are about done, which fills things up even more. When I add the many loaves of bread I got from a day-old rack for 59c/loaf for great bread, the freezers and cupboards are super full.
I always want to have a stockpile. I never want to empty out all of it. It's how I buy at rock bottom prices and then don't buy again until the price goes back down again. But, I do want to stay in control of it--using up older things, being able to find what I want when I want it, etc. So, in October, I plan to grab things that have been there for a while and use them. I also plan to do some shelf organization as things have been shuffled by people looking for items. I like to keep things together that are the same......such as noodles near other noodles.....Some things are pretty mixed up and I may miss using them if I can't see them easily. Then, they aren't a bargain after all.
I am still watching for butter at $2/box. That price may not reappear, as I haven't seen it for a long time now, but if it does, I will buy 10 or even 20 boxes and freeze them. Coffee pods are another thing I'm looking for on a good sale or at Grocery Outlet. If I can get them for about 25c/each, I consider it a good price. I will pay up to 33c/pod. I don't like or drink coffee, so these are for my husband. He's a good sport, but does like certain kinds better than others. He uses them sparingly. So, I'll see what I can find. Although those pods are expensive, when I get them for a low price, I KNOW it's less expensive to have him make his own coffee and take it in his Thermos, rather than buy a Starbucks each morning as many at his work do. So, I'm still looking, and have been for a month. I'll see if I can find what he likes for this price.
Thank you, Becky. As I mentioned before, I am reading your old posts, as well. I finished January 2017, today! :)
DeleteI, too, have my stock-up prices - canned tuna, soup, vegetables, etc. when it is $.49/can. I have been waiting for butter at $2/lb. for more than a year! I finally gave up and stocked up when it went down to $2.50, earlier this year. It normally sells for $4 (well, $3.99). The store sent me a $.50 off coupon for their store brand butter, but even with the coupon, it will come to $3.49. Hope you find a good sale on the butter closer to the holidays, when baking supplies go on sale. Hope you find the coffee pods, too.
Hello my friend! It seems that there are at least 3 of us waiting for those amazing butter sales. I have stocked up when it comes down to $2.99 a pound this year. I am praying that it will come down even further here soon. I do hope you have leftovers from your prayer gathering to pad your pantry this month. I have no idea how you do it but you never cease to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, we'll be the Butter Sale Trio! :D No sale on butter, this week, though. Store brand is $3.99 and Land O'Lakes butter is being advertised for $4.99! I'm glad I still have 3 lbs. in the freezer.
DeleteI just try to take advantage of all the sales, Debbie. That's how I do it. Whole chicken is being advertised for $.87/lb. this week so I will buy 2 for the prayer gathering and keep in the freezer until needed. Then, I'll look for a good sale on the beef.