Budget Jan 17-30 2026

January 17th was my 39th birthday and January 23 was Becky's 8th birthday, so it was a month packed with birthdays and those come with a few extra expenses. 

But even with that, this budget is embarrassing. That's all I'll say. 

Week One: Jan 17th -23

This week the budget held 1,177. I knew that wasn't going to be enough. We pulled out $800 from savings to cover expenses making the budget for this week 1,977. Here is what I spent. 

• Feb payment for cognitive brain therapy $572
• My phone $25
• Yoga $85
• Tithe
• Vitamins $145
• Transfer to savings $150
• Aldi $22
• bought a movie from Youtube for kids $20
• Postmark 228 (this was all unnecessary...)
• Credit Card Payment $500

Total: $1797. This left $180 to roll over into next week.

Week Two: Jan 24-30 

This week's budget was 1,357 plus my dad sent me $100 in the mail for my birthday, making the total budget 1,457. 

• Audible $23
• Electic Bill $279
• Tithe 
• Credit Card Payment $500
• Cava $36
• Fresh Markey $23
• Mission Thrift $18
• Little Givens $28
• Waterbill $72
• Poshmark snow pants for Becky $11 (needed)
• Poshmark 108 (probably unnecessary stuff...) 
• Aldi 44
• Kroger 104
• Gas 24

That made our total $1,320 which left an amazing total of $137 in our account today while we wait for payday tomorrow, and a new budget. 

We also went out to eat for Becky's birthday but my husband used the credit card and so I don't know how much it was...I need to get with him to see those expenses. I keep not remembering the password and having to wait until he is off work and then we are too tired to talk about it. Anyway, I know we owe $1200 on our credit card still and we are trying not to use it. We need to take it out of his wallet! Putting that on my to-do list for next week...

In conclusion. I feel pretty awful about the budget these two weeks. Lots of honesty to say that, but it's true. I did a lot of postmark shopping for little items, $15 here and $20 there but it added up fast and I didn't keep track of what I was doing day to day. Most of it was stuff for the kids. I got two video games we don't have, a cup for Reuben, a travel chess set for him, and a dress for Becky to wear for her birthday, and other various things...The only thing we really needed were some snow pants for Becky as she has outgrown hers. 

I did buy myself a pair of pajamas from postmark but they were not delivered--no tracking--and I was refunded for those, we are waiting on the refund and I will add it to next week's budget. I do need pajamas but I could have waited.

Anyway, the poshmark stuff added up to $336 so I'm going to try to learn from my mistake going forward and just stay off that website unless I am looking for something specific. Paying $1000 on the credit card was ouchy and so was that cognitive brain therapy payment. We need to get the credit card payed off quickly and stop using it, and I'm so grateful we have only one more payment for cognitive brain therapy left, then we will need to save up for Becky's session, which starts in May. 

Well, I'm going to start school with the kids. Wish me luck! 

Snowmageddon

After Esther had the stomach bug, I woke up at midnight with it and threw up until 8:30am. Then I was pretty much comatose and weak until around 7pm--it was hard to walk, I was dizzy and definitely dehydrated and still just sipping water. The only thing I ate that day was homemade applesauce. Anyway, I'll spare you the gritty details, but we all ended up getting it, with poor little Esther having a relapse the next day--poor thing, she got it twice! 

It has now been over 24 hours since anyone has thrown up in my house and I am so so so grateful. The stomach bug is awful. May it never return. 

Everything is locked down this week. We have not been able to leave our home, well, even if we hadn't had the stomach bug. There was about 6 inches of snow and it all turned to ice! We missed church, cognitive brain development, two piano lessons, and picking up our raw milk. Our second cognitive brain development we did try today via zoom but it's not anywhere as good as in-person. 

The snow is beautiful. The kids are having a blast sledding on it--kids really bounce back much easier than adults from sickness. With below-freezing temperatures all week I don't know if we will get out until next week? I don't want to miss swim lessons and I really want to pick up my milk! Brian is going to try to get out tomorrow...It's been so crazy being cooped up inside doing laundry and recovering from, well, throwing up everywhere. At least we had electricity or I really don't know how we would have survived? 

This is our road Tuesday. Packed snow. It has not been plowed and we keep waiting for it to be but...I'm still waiting...

This is our road Wednesday. It's basically just ice. I'm not sure if the picture does it justice...It's terrible and I don't know how they will plough it because how can you plough ice?

This is my happy snow bunny. 

We start school back tomorrow because this homeschool, at least, only takes breaks when we are sick. Or have too many appointments...or if I want too. And being stuck at home is a perfect time to crack open some books and read on. 

God is so good and I'm glad to see the beautiful snow even if it does mess up all my plans.

Becky Turns 8

Becky's birthday was perfection sandwiched between snowmageddon prep and the stomach bug, which hit Esther at 2am today. We are not recovering and I have piles of laundry. 

It is currently raining ice outside while my two year old watches bluey on repeat next to a bucket. We've gone through all the towels and most of the blankets twice since 2am. Brian started out the night half asleep because he picked up his mother at the airport at 11am on Saterday (the 23) and thus got less rest when we were awoken at 2am... Both of us were awake from 2-4 as Esther needed a lot of help. One adult to care for her and the other one to clean up messes/fetch towels. 

One parent slept from 4-7 and the other parent slept from 10:30-1:30. I"ll let you guess which one based on my spelling and coherency. We are also expecting 6-24 inches of snow and I am praying the electricity stays on and that we can make it out of our house by Wednesday because I have places to go and being cooped up for too long makes me depressed. Welcome to my first world problems. 

I forgot to buy chocolate too. Woe knows no bounds.

OH, but Becky's birthday was glorious. We had all her friends and everything just flowed and jived perfectly. I listened to all the moms talk while trying to take pictures and savor the moments. She is divine and I love her. Happy eight years, Rebekah! I love you.

You can't tell from the pictures how wonderful it was. I am not a good photographer anymore--so much out of practice. But it was! We got a cake, chocolate because it's Becky's favorite. I made a raw cheese plate, sourdough crackers, einkorn chocolate chip cookies and a fruit platter. We sang happy birthday and opened presents. It was just perfect. Becky picked La Carreta as her Birthday out-to-eat and we all enjoyed Mexican junk food, which hopefully did not contribute to the problem the following morning. 

It was just a wholesome, good day celebrating my middle child! 

I hired one of my good friends Kimmy to come do face paint and it was perfection! Really, a dream birthday for my Becky. She positively radiated happiness all day. 

What a beautiful day. And she gets, hopefully, some great snow to play in this weekend as a late birthday surprise, as long as the stomach bug doesn't decide to take us out one by one over the next few days...

I dosed everyone with activated charcoal. And prayers. Lots of prayers. 

And that was Becky's 8th birthday, I'll never forget it and I'm sure she won't either.