Savings Tracking

I know I have talked before about tracking your savings, but I want to discuss it again.  I have been keeping a spreadsheet tracking my spending and savings since 2011.  I will admit I don't register every receipt into my spreadsheet because at times I just forget.  If I carried my laptop everywhere I went then maybe it would be easier to register the receipts.  :-)  Moving right along...

Tracking your savings helps you to see what you are spending the most on, how much if anything you are saving, what can you cut if you need.  I know my weakness in summertime is Starbucks Vanilla Bean or Strawberries and Cream Frappachino.  When I see Starbucks on my spreadsheet day after day I know it's time to cut that for a bit.

So exactly how do I track my spending?  I track the date, store, total before savings, total after savings, amount saved and percent saved in an excel spreadsheet.  Recently I was registering some receipts from 2013.  Since 2013 just started I had to insert a new tab to my spreadsheet.  I was amazed and driven when I saw my figures from 2012.  I know I didn't register every receipt, but from what I did I was very impressed with how much we saved.  It was shocking at the amount if we had paid full price we would have spent.  Seeing all the figures in front of me has driven me to continue to use coupons, not pay a lot for things and just save!!

So far in 2013, with the receipts I have registered in my spreadsheet, I have saved $114.87.  The average percent saved is 48%.  However that does not really reflect my percentage saved each shopping trip.  Trip 1 41%, Trip 2 96%, Trip 3 75%
The 41% brings down my average percent saved.  For it being only January 13th I am quite happy with my savings thus far.
How much have you saved this year?