Budget Feb 27-March 13 2026

coffee date from last week!

This month we did our taxes and got our tax return. It was $3,134 which was a huge blessing. We put $2,000 in savings and will be placing the rest (1,134) into our budget. 

Feb 27-March 6: Budget 1,567

• Pandora Subscription $13
• Trash $32
• Reuben Piano $120
• Tithe
• Target $160
• Goodwill $23
• Health Nut $17
• Kroger $66
• Gas $60
• Ice Cream $20
• Bakery Date $7
• Summer Hats $87
• Birthday Present for Daddy $60
• Amazon $105
• Keen Sandals for Becky $74
• Xero Shoes Sandals for Reuben $90

That brings our spending to $984 for this week, leaving 583 to roll over into next week.

We did all our spring and summer clothes shopping this week. We went to target and I got Reuben one summer outfit, Esther one summer outfit, and Becky two summer outfits. Then we went to goodwill and picked up a few other things...goodwill is by far better prices but sometimes you can't find anything. I think we did good! 

Becky needed a pair of closed toe sandals for summer. I'm a shoe minimalist, even with my kids. Each child is allowed up to four pairs of shoes. For them, I like to have a pair of closed toed sandals for summer, and a pair of open toed sandals. Then we always have a pair of church shoes (that also work for piano recitals) and a pair of boots (for rain, cold days) on hand year round. In winter we nix the sandals and add a pair of winter waterproof snow boots into the rotation. I do the same for myself. It's simple, and then because we are so minimalist on shoes I can afford to buy the barefoot shoes that help my kids posture... however, I could not for the life of me find a pair of closed toe sandals in size 1 or 2 for Becky, so I bought her a pair of Keen sandals. They are the closest to what I wanted that I could find-- I wanted a pair like this, zero drop and wide toe box. Hopefully Becky likes what she gets. 

Becky lost her hat last year and Esther has the same one, so I wanted to repurchase it. It's the butterfly hat from Sunday Afternoons. I also bought myself a straw hat. Mine broke last year, the webbing in the brim fell apart. It was sad. I bought myself this one in large. On Amazon, the most expensive thing I bought was this new piano book for Becky! This is the one her studio uses and thus, we need it for her piano lessons. I also bought a book for a friend, a cookbook for Reuben, a hairbrush and some hair headbands. 

I hope my husband likes his birthday gift. He turns 41 this year! 

March 6-13: Budget 2,150

• Brian Phone $35
• Internet $20
• Tithe 
• Raw Milk savings 50
• Becky Piano savings $100
• Azure $643
• Swimming $30
• Walmart $252
• Postmark $92
• Mommy Shoes $100
• Reuben next size up shoes $90
• Fresh Market bread to take to a potluck $23
• DMV $59 
• Home Depot $13

That brings our total spending to $1,557 for this week, leaving $593 left in our budget to roll over. 

What did I buy on postmark? I got Esther two cardigans. We looked at goodwill and target last week and there was nothing! I also got myself a 2 cardigans. I get cold in summer and I found I did not have what I wanted when unpacking my spring clothes.

The next item on my list was more shoes. I got Becky and Reuben shoes last week, but I had a few other items on my list--mainly a pair of shoes for me. Last summer, I really needed a pair of closed toed sandals and I am trying these Freet shoes from PedTerra. I have very wide feet and always buy the mens sizes so I hope these work...(they haven't arrived yet) I also saw while I was on the website that Reuben's Koel Madison sandals are being discontinued so I bought him a pair in size 39 for next summer. Reuben has a really high arch and very wide feet like his mother and...he also is prone to sweaty feet. He's wearing the 37 right now and I have a pair of 38s put up for him already but since we love these shoes I definitely want to stock up. He wears these sandals year round and I honestly don't know what he will wear when we can't find them. I love the Koel Madison sandals and I cannot find them anywhere to purchase in the USA in a wide variety of sizes...or any sandals that look comparable. Hopefully they will make more and PedTerra will stock them. 

What did I order from Azure? Oh, so many things! Einkorn penne, sourdough sandwich bread, brown rice, einkorn flour, sourdough spaghetti, frozen raspberries, strawberries and cranberries, paprika powder, smoked paprika, parsley, basil, garlic powder, lemon pepper, sourdough crackers, chocolate rounds in Mexicano, dark, eggnog, and salted, summer sausage, A2 strawberry yogurt, A2 vanilla yogurt, Bagels plain and cinnamon raisin, raw cheese, Lavender caramels, peppermint cups, and peanut butter cups. In total my order was 15 cases for 115 lbs. 

Remember in last week's budget I saved 100 for raw milk and 100 for piano and 100 for cognitive brain development? We are not moving forward with brain development and thus I will split that savings between the milk and piano, bringing those buckets up to 150 each. So now our savings buckets hold:

• Raw Milk $200
• Becky Piano $250

Our raw milk payment is due in April 2026 and piano is due in May 2026. 

On our credit card, we put Brians gym membership ($35, YMCA) and the payment to file our taxes ($185) which, total, was a little over $200...I need to keep better track of what goes on the credit card. We pay it off every month but since my husband has it, I don't usually think about what is going on it and I don't check it. 

Budgeting is never easy. What does your budget look like?