Monthly Budget Review

Total spent on coupons $12 (8 Sunday papers delivered 3 of the 4 weeks)
Total value of coupons used $67.10 (only includes newspaper coupons, does not include Internet Printable coupons that I don't pay for)

Rebates- received $15 in rebates sent in November see here and here, and sent in $30.54 in rebates this month see here and here

Groceries
Budgeted $350
Actual $351
Household
Budgeted $100
Actual $101
Total
Budgeted $450
Actual $452

Where the money was spent:
Albertsons $82
Winco $156
Walmart $115
Costco $49
Eddy's Bakery $6

This month, I did a better job of sticking to the budget.  Also, I didn't shop at Albertsons as much as I usually do, so I didn't use as many coupons as most months.  Albertsons has a great ad that lists most of the sale items available in their store, so it's easier to do coupon match-ups with sale items.  Whereas, Walmart only lists some of their items on sale, and WinCo has no ad at all.  So, I take my coupon binder with me in the store so that I can take advantage of unadvertized sale prices.

It is easier to make a budget then it is to stick by it, but I am getting better about that.  I keep ALL of my receipts and calculate my numbers as I spend money to help keep me on the right track.  But, inevitably there will be a great sale at the end of the month that I have to try not to indulge on in order to stick to the budget.  This is a work in progress.

Leave a comment if you have any tips for staying on budget.