Budget Totals for 2010!

It has now been one year since I decided to set and follow a budget for the first time in my life. I've never spent excessively, but I've never carefully tracked my spending either. This was the first year I've held myself accountable.

My budget may sound high, but it includes more than groceries: $800 a month for every trip to Kroger, Earthfare, Target, Wal-mart, Sam's Club, Walgreen's, CVS, craft store, bed and bath store, clothing store, farmer's market, and restaurant. It does not include my hubby's trips to Home Depot or Lowes, gas, prescriptions, doctor visits, pet store, or entertainment. I decided to follow the spending I could control and where I could see the highest savings. I might track some of our spending differently in 2011.

Since I haven't posted since my October totals, here are the numbers for November. I did not include any Hawaii vacation spending, as that was from another budget.

• Groceries: $412.73 (saved $189.71)
• Pharmacies: $78.55 (saved $217.17--73%)
• Other: $124.19 (saved $31.24)

Total Spent: $615.47

Total Saved: $438.12 (42%)
Rebates received: $40.99

TOTAL: $574.48

Debt from over-spending in October: $211.28

Total Under Budget: $14.24

Here are my totals for December, excluding some gifts bought online:

• Groceries: $405.92 (saved $283.57)
• Pharmacies: $98.56 (saved $129.93)--half was for Christmas cards
• Other: $109.02 (saved $62.10)

Total Spent: $613.50

Total Saved: $475.60 (44%)

Total Under Budget this month: $186.50

All and all, it's good news for 2010. I had budgeted $9600, I spent $9352.17, and I saved $6602.65 (41%). Some months I went over; some I made a real effort to save. That's how a real budget works. So if you're wondering if couponing is worth the hassle, it saved me $6600 last year and I spent within my means; so you bet 'ya! Check back later in the month to see my budget goals for 2011.

How did you do with a budget last year? Are you going to budget this year? What tips can you share for budgeting?

Stretching your Christmas Budget, Volunteering Ideas, and Library Programs

Miss me? I've just returned from a mini vacation in Hawaii with my hubby (our first without the kids since we didn't have kids--8 years!). I went completely unplugged: no cellphone, no emails, no blogging, no Facebook, not even an internet search for local restaurants. It was refreshing, but it's not in my DNA to cut technology out of my life completely. I see great value in sharing ideas and building communities through it.

In that spirit, I'm playing a bit of catch-up from my period of being unplugged, and I'd like to highlight three great posts from local mom bloggers to hopefully help you save time / money / hassle or to simply inspire you this holiday season.

The first is from Julie at Sharing Savings with You. As a librarian, she has two posts about all the FREE events at the library in December, Merry Merry at the Library: one for Knox County and one for Blount County. We'll probably try to catch Santa at the Karns Library on 12/8 at 4pm. Bobby may be catching onto the fact that there are "several Santas" but the one who does the library rounds is really great!

Next is from Coupon Katie: Setting & Stretching Your Christmas Budget. Can I confess that I've never actually set a budget for Christmas before? Shock! Gasp! Moan! I still haven't really sat down with a list and made final decisions about what I'm giving to whom. If you're a procrastinator like me, you should really check out her tips.

Finally, Christy at Coupons are Money posted: Ways to Volunteer this Christmas Season. It's a great list to peruse for inspiration for how to involve your kids. If you don't have plans tomorrow, consider helping with the Coats for the Cold event for KARM 12/4. Even if you find quick, simple ways to teach your children the value in giving back, I encourage you to do so. This Sunday is the annual Stuff a Stocking event at our church. Parishioners have brought specific items (I donated a slew of items I've acquired for free the past few months through Couponing for Charity), they're spread out on a table, and then we all go round and round stuffing each stocking with an assortment of goodies. The kids especially like this because it's easy and dynamic and we're finished before they lose interest.

Thanks to all the great bloggers contributing posts this season: Coupon Katie, Coupon Mommie,Couponing in Critical Times,Coupons Are Money, Frugalissa Finds, Frugally Farming Family,Knoxmoms.com, Knoxville Mamabelle,Knoxville on a Dime, Sharing Savings with You.

Budget totals for Sept. & Oct.

I haven't been posting regularly about my budgeting, but I have been keeping track. For those of you new to my budget posts, this is the first year I've truly kept track of my spending. It's been a struggle, but I'm trying to keep on track.

My monthly budget of $800 includes all groceries, farmer's markets, u-pick farms, clothing, craft stores, dollar stores, office supplies, dining out, pharmacies, and big box stores. I aim for $500 of that to be in groceries and $300 for everything else. At the end of August, I was only over $11.13 and had almost made up for two months of excessive spending.

September was a tough month for me because we had several dinners out with our anniversary and birthdays. Just when I got out of a hole, I dug another one.

Here are my September totals:

• Grocery: $551.00 (saved $319.35)
• Pharmacies: $103.29 (saved $237.37)
• Dining out: $156.19 (saved $33)
• Other: $232.40 (saved $112.36)

Total Spent: $1042.88

Total Saved: $702.08 (40%)

Rebates received: +$13.66

Debt from August: -$11.13

TOTAL: $1040.35

TOTAL OVER BUDGET: $240.35

So did I do any better in October? Here are my October totals:

• Grocery: $622.83 (saved $351.61)
• Pharmacies: $58.71 (saved $245.77--81%!)
• Clothing: $53.00 (son's uniforms on consignment)
• Other: $94.20 (saved $71.67)

Total Spent: $828.74

Total Saved: $669.05 (45%)

Rebates received: +$57.81 (including consignment sale profits)

TOTAL: $770.93

Debt from September: $240.35

TOTAL CURRENTLY OVER BUDGET: $211.28

Though I'm doing better for November so far, I'm not sure I will be able to pull myself out of the hole with the holiday spending on the horizon. I think it's fair to give myself some extra for presents, but I haven't yet set my Christmas budget. I'm totally procrastinating. If you need some tips for setting and staying on budget for Christmas spending, be sure to check out Coupon Katie's posts.