Planning for February 2026: Zero-Based Budget as a First-Time Homesteader

 

Well friends, out with January and in with February! 

Sticking with a zero-based budget, I've split my budget plan into two categories: Fixed expenses and Variable expenses.

My fixed expenses are costs that stay the same, no matter the weather or usage. Will and I decided to cancel one of our streaming services, which will save us roughly $6/month. Following is my list of fixed expenses:

Cell Phone: $130
Car Payments: $1140
Trailer: $1000
Insurance (i.e., car, medical, etc.): $350
Waste Management: $47
Internet: $120
Subscriptions (i.e., streaming services, etc.): $52 

Total: $2839

My variable expenses include the expenses that do change based on weather and usage. Last month, I totally forgot to account for online orders and pet expenses (oops!), so those two categories are now included. 

Additionally, we decided to purchase a cheap clothing dryer rather than driving to the laundromat. We're hoping this is more cost effective in the long run. Following is my new list of variable expenses:

Laundromat: $50
Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $450
Groceries: $800
Home Improvements: $2000
Propane: $100
Dining out/entertainment: $250
Pets: $100
Online orders: $200

Total: $3950

Since tracking our spending, we've really fine tuned our expenses. I'm slowly cutting back on our grocery bill and purchasing more items that need prep (like dry beans, rice, etc.). I can't wait to get my garden up and running this year, and (hopefully!) it can supplement our grocery bill!

Also last month, we used a hefty amount of rewards from cashback apps for dining out. This month, we decided to limit our dining out to $250, with the goal of cooking more at home. 

Savings

Since our variable expenses increased, I only had about $10 for savings this month. However, if we are in the green by the end of the month, I plan to roll that difference into our garden project.

A big part of homesteading is recycling and reusing items around the property, so we decided to use old trees from our property to construct garden beds, saving us a few hundred dollars in lumber. We do still need top soil, manure, a greenhouse and fencing, so saving we shall continue.

After the garden is complete, whatever is left over will either go to the vacation fund or our next project: the chicken coup! 🐔

Here we go again!

I have my second budget plan as a first-time homesteader!

Although budgeting has been an uncomfortable challenge for me, I am pleased with how we've done so far, and look forward to seeing our homestead grow.

Resources:

Free digital download of my planning budget on my Ko-fi page: https://ko-fi.com/s/296a2ecf34 
Feel free to edit and make it your own!

This blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. I am not a finance professional, and this is not financial or legal advice. 

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