How to track grocery spends?

Viking_mfw

Does anyone have any genius ideas for tracing grocery spends in detail? Ie I want to be able to see how much we've spent (for example) on diet c*ke in a month, and hopefully over a year. I am at present worrying I'll just have to type out each receipt onto a spreadsheet and I have no clue how to structure that anyway! 

All ideas gratefully received!

dreaming

When I was planning my early retirement I wanted to know how much I was spending on "treats" etc. Turned out to be quite a shock as they had crept up over time to become more everyday spending rather than treats. I didn't go into quite the detail you may want to but when I did shop I just highlighted what wasn't strictly necessary and entered that into my spreadsheet (or you could just write it into a notebook). At the time I was working long hours in a stressful job (hence wanting to retire) so shopped once a week mainly and I thought I was quite money savvy. When I looked into it over a few weeks I realised that nearly a quarter of the bill was for things like a bottle of wine, a dessert, a microwave meal, a magazine, some chocolate etc. All things I felt I deserved but actually did not add any real value to my life. I also did the same with tv channels and subscriptions and found that despite the seemingly endless number of channels I only watched a few so now use Freeview (with the odd free trial for Christmas viewing, for example). Now, when I do buy a nice bottle of wine or a magazine it really does seem like a treat, although I do still eat too much chocolate. Recording the results doesn't have to be fancy (although I love a spreadsheet) and it soon becomes a habit.

swingaloo

Cant help with the spreadsheet but I fully understand where you are coming from.

I decided to do it a couple of years ago. I kept every receipt and then highlighted everything on it that was either an impulse buy, craving or unnecessary. 

I totalled up the highlighted items and the other items and listed them on either side of a page. After about 5 weeks I was so shocked at how much was on the impulse side that I decided I must take action. 

So now I dont look at my receipt any more, I just throw it away! 

YorksLass

@dreaming - I did that too and was surprised at just how many treats there were.  Now I save a couple of pounds each week in a separate purse (I call it my Happy Cash) and use that for the odd bar of chocolate, bunch of flowers, CS purchase etc.  Some weeks I don't spend it at all and then I can have a bit of a splurge without feeling guilty.

@Viking_mfw - Why not try using a trial "structure" on a piece of paper first, then you can tweak it before you commit it to a spreadsheet?  My own grocery budget spreadsheet isn't fancy and has just four columns - food, household & cleaning items, toiletries & OTC meds plus a miscellaneous column for anything that doesn't fit into the others.  

BridgetTheCat

If you order online it’s fairly easy to import the data from your ereceipts to excel or similar. If you shop in person and get paper receipts it’s possible you could scan them and import the data from the scan but with more potential for error.

mandy47

My banking app breaks down spending for me. Obviously doesn't point out treats. 

weenancyinAmerica

Sounds like the best way to check on individual items is to keep receipts for the month and use a highlighter to mark the purchases you want to follow. You can use different colors for different items if it helps. Then just use your computer or phone to add them up each month. You can even target just one item a month - drinks one month, chocolate the next, flowers the next, if it is easier.

QrizB

I'm sure there are apps (intended for business expenses) where you can photograph a receipt and it turns it into a spreadsheet/database page.

They might be paid-for but you might be able to find a trial version?

See for example here:

https://www.techradar.com/best/best-expense-trackers

PipneyJane

I’d suggest a simple spreadsheet, then you can have the columns you need/want and add extra ones if you decide to track other things.  Use the spreadsheet app that came with your phone, so that you always have it on hand.

- Pip

JIL

I buy my Pepsi max in bulk on a Tuesday in Iceland. I know exactly what I spend on my habit. 

It depends how in depth you wish to track.
A spreadsheet is probably the best way, then you can filter.

Alternatively a few coloured highlighter pens on the receipts. A colour for treats, a colour for household, a colour for meats, a colour for veg...... 

Sarahspangles

I use YNAB, with categories for cleaning supplies, alcohol, groceries, medicines or toiletries, and pet care. I don’t split groceries down further, but I do sometimes look back at a month’s receipts to see where it all goes. I cut the grocery budget by 10% when I retired and that nudges me to consider what’s in my basket before I check out (mostly online). That’s the point I can actually influence the outcome!

I used to work near Western Europe’s largest C*ke factory and after watching the tankers roll up day after day to fill the tanks of chemicals I gave up drinking the stuff.