Thoughts on Budgets

I've mentioned that I've been working on our finances and reading several frugal blogs.  I've set a budget for us (or rather reworked our existing one), and have been tracking through the first two months of this year.  So how are we doing?

We are still quite a ways from meeting the budget I've set for us.  I'm doing SOOO much better on food, but still not hitting my (perhaps ambitious) target for groceries.  Yet it's so much better than 2007.  Dining out is still a challenge -- any advice on dealing with a husband who would eat out 3 meals a day if I'd let him?

Household spending is WAY down, and I'm hitting my budget, thanks to learning how to work the CVS/Walgreens/RiteAid sales.   I also payed off two small and one large nagging debt.  WooHOO.  For the two small ones (from Charles' emergency room visit last August) we've taken that amount and applied it to the next smallest debt, which should pay off soon.  Progress!

I set my initial goals here.  Based on those, I'm doing great.  We have a budget, I've cut my household spending WAY down.  I've sent for almost $400 in rebates.  My emergency fund is 20% funded.  So I guess I need new goals for March?  OK, here we go...

1.  Reach at least 30% on that emergency fund.

2.  Hit my grocery budget for this month.   I've based it on the thrifty cost of food table posted and discussed a bit back, which was $561.70 per month for our family.  That included school lunches and any eating out.  Tight for folks like me with bad habits to break.  Maybe I need to adjust to the $726.70 for low-cost?  We're hitting that, even with the constant pressure to eat out.

3.  Continue to work on eating better at home by using the amazing grocery deals I'm starting to get.  The last two weeks were a bust (IMHO) on grocery shopping deals, but I'm hoping for some good stockpile opportunities.  I want to whittle our grocery budget down enough to get a Food Saver.  Anyone out there got one they like?

So what other goals should I be setting?