44% SAVINGS!

First, let me say Happy New Year to all of my friends and family!

I wrote a really long blog about the highs and lows of the past year but decided to delete it.  You  guys know all of them anyway.  So, I want to tell you about my savings for the past year since that is how this blog started.

Last January 1st I started a spreadsheet and faithfully posted every grocery transaction throughout the year.  I estimated that in previous years we spent an average of $400 per month on groceries.  My goal...spend less.  Did I reach it...YES!!

The total retail cost of our groceries this year was $4,239.46.  The ACTUAL amount out of pocket that we paid was $2,379.49.  That is a savings of $1,864.97 or 44%!  

I think that's great for my first year couponing! I will admit that I was sometimes obsessive and sometimes negligent in my couponing.  I came to realize that if I didn't have time to do coupons that I didn't have time!  Life was not going to end...and this was very freeing for me.

My goal in 2011 is to be more consistent but I still won't let it overwhelm me.  I would like to be at 50% savings by the end of 2011.

My other non-resolutions ( I don't really like resolutions) for 2011....
(1)Get healthy...and that means the whole family! We need to lose weight, exercise more, and eat healthy foods. 
(2) Garden, Garden, Garden!  I would like to garden year-round so all we have to do is pick our food before we eat it. (this will also help the grocery budget). 
(3)   Enjoy Life!  My boys are growing up so quickly.  I want to spend more time laughing, loving, and learning.  I don't want to look back and have regrets.
(4) And most important~ Remember God~ without Him none of the things listed above matters. 

Reflection

Hello Blog.  I haven't seen you in months!  Life seems to get so busy that I hardly have time to breath. 

Now it's Christmas time and we are looking at the end of another year.  I always get reflective this time of year.  I think about what has and has not happened this past year.  I think of loved ones that have past and I feel the sadness all over again.  I hurt for those that we know that have lost loved ones recently.  We will all be going through the holidays knowing that it will never be quite the same.

I also spend some of my timing thinking of the coming year.  What do I want to do differently?  There are always numerous things that come to mind and I get excited in the planning stages.  What will happen that is beyond my control?  Our country is changing so rapidly I wonder what it will look like at the end of next year.  Will I recognize it?  Will I want to? 

In the cold of winter, I think about my garden that I will be planting in the spring.  I have already ordered most of my seeds.  I ponder on where to plant each vegetable.  I wonder what I will try that is new this year.  I also take stock of the things that I have canned to see if what I grew last year was enough to sustain us over the winter.

I believe reflection is good.  You need to judge your past and make changes for the future.  The danger is trying to live in either...the past or the future.  So, I'm going to snuggle up with my family and enjoy this Christmas season. 

From our family to yours....Merry Christmas!