Budget Sep 14-20th and 21-27th

September 14-20th

Alright, I'm back to budgeting after a few weeks of chaos, car wrecks and chronic illness...

Our budget for the week of September 14-20 is $1,218. We have nothing left over from previous budgets to add. Our credit card was due so we paid $532 on that, and also I paid hot yoga ($95) our Electric bill ($283) and our tithe. After all that we had $258 left over which I am sure we will spend on groceries today. The no-spend challenge awaits for the rest of the week. Given how I am recovering still (at least I can cook now) I think it will okay, though we do need gas and that will have to be put on next week if it won't fit with the grocery budget. Also we need diapers... I lump that into groceries since we get them from the same place, does anyone else do that?

Brian just got back from the store and spent $190.19 at Walmart. This is what he bought and the prices if anyone is interested

• 4 notebooks at 0.35 cents each
• Nellies Free Range Eggs 5.24
• Org Broccoli x2 7.72
• Large Huggies diapers 39.77
• Potatoes (precious) 3.84
• tomatos 2.98
• organic bell peppers 3.46 x 2
• yarn for Becky in yellow 3.77
• 2 glass food storage containers 5.26 each
• Great value half and half 5.64
• Sour Cream 3.27
• Cream cheese 2 pack 5.47 x 2
• Nuts 9.72
• Powdered Sugar 2.22
• Salsa 3.76 
• Maple Syrup 17.97
• Salsa 3.76
• Carrots 2.62
• Cubanelle peppers 2.62
• Yellow squash 0.87
• Organic zucchini 2.96 
• Blue chops 5.98
• 16oz salted butter 4.47
• Chocolate 3.44 x 2
• Bacon 6.97
• Strawberries 3.77
• Apple Bag 6.97
• Onion Bag, yellow 3.64

The Walmart total was $187.64 with three taxes it came to $190.19. That leaves $67.81 for gas for the week so it looks pretty perfect... I'll update below if we spend more. (And we did)

I was disappointed to find our credit card was so high. It's about 800 that we owe for the next payment! Our credit card got used a lot after my wreck. My husband doesn't cook and I wasn't able to for two days so he got pizza and cava, the first day, and I know he also did take out once on the second day but for the life of my poor concussed brain I can't remember what it was. The take-out break was great but also expensive. On top of that, he put some groceries on the credit card and also a few amazon orders (we got the girls Halloween outfits...and socks, lol) We also had to buy parts for our "spare" car which he is going to fix this weekend so I have something to drive. The van was towed away by our insurance to see if it is totaled or can be repaired. So our credit card had quite a lot on it...anyway, we will work on paying it off completely through the next 2 paychecks.  

After the $67 I bought gas for $10, my husband got gas in his car for $30 and we spent $9 at Advance Auto leaving $15 to roll over into next week. 

September 21-27th

In this time period we owe audible (22.95) our water-bill (I budget 80, I am not sure how much it is yet) and we saved 100 towards our raw milk payment which is due in October, and 100 for our house tax bill which is due in December. I also put 150 in our emergency fund. We also have our weekly tithe. 

We have the same spending to start with this week--1,218. After subtracting all of the above bills, it leaves us 715.57 for the rest of week. 

I'm going to update this post as we spend...

This week we spent...

$40 on a costume for Reuben, I got out $150 in cash that we spent various places, some at the farmers market and some put into Christmas savings and some into my wallet, we spent $75 on supplements and $40 on a dress for me at Poshmark, and $43 in gas and $109 in car parts, $20 on a case for our Nintendo switch so we can take it on vacation to the beach next week and 11 on a iron on patch for a dress I like that has a hole in it. We also spent $131 at Walmart. This left 130.24 to roll over into the next two weeks budget! 

The Crazy Week

Man, I don't even know where to begin. This week Brian had off and it's been good and difficult in so many ways. So every time we try to slow down and have a vacation usually we end up arguing about something. We are getting better at communicating and I hope we can work on our relationship even when he's working a lot...vacations are hard for that reason.

Anyway, I wanted to go get my hair cut this week, just because it's been getting really heavy and bothering me a lot when I do yoga. It's a lot of weight on my neck. Here's my before and after! The hairdresser was awesome and we found out we grew up on the same street in Madison Heights. How crazy is that. She straitened my hair which is interesting, I never take the time to do that. Maybe I'll buy a straightener. I really like it and it's super light on my neck and will make yoga so much easier.

On the way home someone ran into the back of my car.

I'm so thankful that the kids were at home with daddy. Actually, my mom was on the way to my house to watch them because we were supposed to go on a date. Instead I went home and gave myself a dose of aconite and arnica, and went to bed with an ice pack on my neck and then did a round of castor oil packs. I'm okay, but I probably have a concussion and definitely have some whiplash. 

Today I feel a lot better. My neck and shoulder hurts a lot still so I am doing another round of homeopathy and ice/castor oil. I don't think I'll be going to the gym next week mostly because I don't want to drive that broken car, but I should definitely wait until my neck heals up a bit. Who knows how long that will take? 

The only other car we have right now is a four seater stick shift, which I cannot drive. I have never learned how to drive a stick shift. So I had to miss Reuben's first football game today which was really disappointing.

Right before my hair appointment and before the wreck, I got a text about a lady who does Brain Coaching (using something called Equipping Minds) which we were looking into for Becky's dyslexia. I finally found out she has dyslexia as well as dysgraphia (thought her dysgraphia is a lot better). And this lady charges 1k per 13 week session (it's 850 + a 150 fee for supplies) and we just can't afford that. I was crushed. Becky is really struggling and I wanted to get her into a program to help, and as the lady wanted us to start this coming Monday...there was no way. I will have to find another way to help her. Please pray that I can be a good advocate for her and figure something out. 

It's been a really hard two days.

And Brian goes back to work on Monday, we don't have a car, and I didn't prep any food for our week. I'm in pain and I'm sad and everyone is struggling. But the weather is amazing and I have a wonderful family that I love and who love me.

Perfection and Illness

I think chronic illness is very unfair. For the first part I have no energy most of the day but have to feed, clothe and homeschool three kids. Okay, that part is my choice. But everyone says exercise will give you energy! It's everywhere. Have you tried exercising? Whenever I go to a conventional doctor it's like their motto, their slogan and I'm so over it being screamed at me from every corner of the office and internet.

I'm going on walks almost every day and to local yoga three times a week and I'm still exhausted. It's not working. It isn't even helping my blood sugar which is annoying. And yes I am doing cardio at least once a week. Maybe I should up that. Where will I find the energy? God only knows. 

By the way, it's been about a year since I started exercising regularly so I don't just need more time. I guess I need something else and I wish I knew what it was. I'm so tired of being tired.

ANYWAY.

It's the weekend. I'm so excited. Becky had a minor cold early this week and Reuben currently has it so it will be a relaxing weekend at home. But he isn't too sick and I expect him to be well by Sunday which, if I'm trusting my gut instinct correctly, will be great because our co-op is coming to our house Monday! 

It is hard to be miserable chronic-illness wise and yet be filled with so much joy parenting/seasonally wise. The weather is beautiful. I have the door and windows open almost all day and Esther has been riding her little bike and both girls have been traipsing around the yard. Reuben would too, only he's sick... literal life perfection. If only I felt well enough to enjoy it! 

I gave up budgeting until September. It's just not working. I don't know how we are surviving but today we paid a $700 yearly car insurance bill and next week I owe $445 for piano for the next four months so...I don't know if we are going to make it but, if you can believe it, I stopped caring. We will or we won't and life will go on. Also our van needs new tires in October before it will pass inspection, it also needs a window fixed (it won't roll down) and something is wrong with the steering. Brian is going to work on it tomorrow. Send prayers, mostly for me because I want him to watch the kids so I can sleep! Hah. But he will have his head in the car for at least two hours? Three? All day? I really don't know I guess it depends on what he finds. Also I realize it's a blessing to have a husband who knows how to fix cars. I only wish he could be in two places at once because he's home so rarely from work and I'm exhausted. 

Prayers are needed. God is so good. Pray for energy for me and that I can find out what is wrong so I can stop fighting my own body! And for our car that fixing it will not cost a lot. And that Reuben will feel better. 

We had a great week at school. The kids worked so hard! Mama did too. A new week starts soon and maybe I'll have energy. I can always hope.