We Totally Forgot These Big Expenses! My Off-Grid Budget as a First-Time Homesteader

Hi there friends, January is finally done! How did Will and I do this first month of zero-based budgeting??

As first-time off-grid homesteaders, we really had to think about expenses differently. I chose zero-based budgeting because it gave each dollar a "job," either as a fixed expense or variable expense.

My fixed expenses are costs that stay the same, no matter the weather or usage. This includes things like car payments. Following is my list of fixed expenses:

Cell Phone: $130
Car Payments: $1140
Trailer: $1000
Insurance/Medical: $350
Waste Management: $47
Internet: $120
Subscriptions (i.e., streaming services, etc.): $58

Total: $2845

The variable expenses are more volatile, based on weather and use. With cold temperatures reaching into the teens this last month, we did use a bit more propane than expected. 

Following is my list of expected variable expenses for January:

Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $490
Laundry: $120
Groceries: $800
Home Improvements: $2000
Propane: $100
Dining out/entertainment: $345

Total: $3855

Following is what we actually spent for January:

Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): $403
Laundry: $58
Groceries: $463
Home Improvements: $1939
Propane: $82
Dining out/entertainment: $432
Pet: $362
Online purchases: $240

Total: $3979

Oops! We forgot two MAJOR expense categories: our wonderful dog and online purchases.

However, because we were positive in most categories, those two oversights didn't break the bank as much as expected.

Here's the comparison:

Fuel (gasoline, kerosene, diesel): +87$
Laundry: +62$
Groceries: +337$
Home Improvements: +61$
Propane: +18$
Dining out/entertainment: -87$
Pet: -362$
Online purchases: -240$

Total: -$124

Not too bad!

With the weather getting a little warmer, I expect our propane and kerosene costs to decrease just a bit. We also had quite a bit of money left in our home improvement budget and ended up purchasing a clothes dryer! Although I'm still including a laundromat budget for the big items that don't fit in the mini washing machine we have, I am hopeful we will save some money overall.

One big win with having a set budget was the change in Will's project management. He researched everything and purchased the items online for pickup, ending impulse buys. Because he wasn't rushing down the hill for needed items all the time, he completed more projects around the homestead and still had a bit of cash left over! Win-win!

Let's Keep it Going!

Our very first budget analysis as first-time homesteaders is complete. Tracking our monthly finances has been an eye-opener for both of us! I'm curious to see how we do in February with our newfound knowledge of how budgeting actually work.

Tracking all these expenses did expose how much we were splurging on dining out/entertainment. I'm hoping we'll eat more at home this next month, while growing our cashback app rewards to redeem for gift cards at our favorite restaurants. (Free meals?? Yes please!)

Do you have a favorite cashback app? I'm always looking for ways to get rewards for grocery shopping! Leave your favorite cashback apps in the comments below. 

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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