Heading into our van life adventure at the beginning of 2019, one thing that we were hyper-focused on was our van life costs. We had some money saved from working full time, and did not have a ton of money coming in each month. What did that mean? It meant that the more we spent, the shorter our adventure would be! So we HAD to minimize costs, because we wanted to adventure as long as possible! We are going to give you a 100% transparent view into our expenses we had in our third month on the road. Here we go!
In March, we spent a TON of time with family! The whole month in fact. We started the month in Minnesota staying with Zach’s parents, took a Wisconsin trip to see Julie’s parents, and capped off the Midwestern excursion with a wedding in Stillwater, MN in mid-March!
We had an absolute BLAST seeing so much family and friends for the first time since we started our adventure! After the wedding (and Julie passing her nursing boards YAY!!) we took off from Minnesota heading South!
We stopped in Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Waco on our way towards Houston. We had so much fun seeing our new nephew JP in February that we had to go back in March to see him again! We stayed in Houston with our Texas family until the end of March, exploring everything we could while we were there.
Photos from Month 3’s Adventure
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Wedding in Minnesota! -
Wedding in Minnesota! -
Wedding in Minnesota -
Grassy Knoll in Dallas -
JFK Memorial in Dallas -
Grassy Knoll in Dallas -
Magnolia in Waco! -
Magnolia in Waco! -
Magnolia in Waco! -
Hanging with our Nephew JP in Houston! -
Hanging with our Nephew JP in Houston!
Our budget for March was smaller than our January and February budgets because we were spending so much time with Family. We knew we would probably have higher entertainment expenses, but fewer gas and grocery trips, so those expenses would probably be lower. Here’s what we came up with for the budget:
February Budget
Expense | Budget |
Gas | $300 |
Groceries | $100 |
Lodging | $0 |
Auto Maintenance | $100 |
Other / Entertainment | $300 |
Total | $800 |
Now, let’s see how we did!
Gas
Budget: $300 || Actual: $147.93
Exxon (1 fill up) | $28.37 |
Super America (1) | $38.78 |
Cenex (1) | $40.89 |
Holiday (1) | $32.11 |
Other (1) | $7.78 |
Total | $147.93 |
We did WAY better than expected on gas in March. That was mainly due to a few reasons:
- We traveled much less than we thought we would while in MN and WI
- We split gas by carpooling from MN back to Houston
On the trip from MN to Houston, we had the pleasure of riding with some of Zach’s family! It made the road trip SO fun, and also it helped because the gas cost for us was much much lower.
Our Gas Search Strategy
Once we were under 1/4 tank, Julie opens up Get Upside and Google Maps, and searches for gas places on our route in the next 50 miles. We’d find and stop at the cheapest one, whether it was 2 miles away or 48!
If you decide to download Get Upside, use code ‘2GZ28A’ for an extra $.15/gal cash back on your first gas purchase!
Groceries
Budget: $100 || Actual: $116.20
Wal Mart (2 times) | $109.51 |
Gas Station Coffee (3) | $8.86 |
Total | $116.20 |
We were SO close on our grocery budget for March. Close enough that I’m going to give us the benefit of the doubt and say we basically hit our goal.
If only a few more things were on sale at the right time, we could have snuck in right under budget for March. Either way, se la vie, life goes on.
One of our Favorite Recipes
Lodging
Budget: $0 || Actual: $0
Living in our van at Harvest Hosts, National Forests, and Wal Mart parking lots |
$0 |
Total | $0 |
Just like February, we hit our budget DEAD ON for lodging… ZERO! Nada! Zip!
To be honest, finding lodging has become one of the most fun portions of our adventure! Also, to be honest, it has gotten MUCH easier the further West we’ve traveled.
Out West, there is MUCH more public property (National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, Wildlife Areas, etc) that offer opportunities for free camping! What’s more? The land is BETTER!
We have found b-e-a-utiful places to spend the night almost each and every night!
If you are interested in exploring Harvest Hosts, use this link for 15% off a membership:
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Bayou Teche – Harvest Hosts -
Everything is Beachy Here! -
Golden Acres Ranch – Harvest Hosts -
Buffalo National River
Auto Maintenance
Budget: $100 || Actual: $94.69
One oil change and general tune-up | $94.69 |
Total | $94.69 |
In March, Winnie continued to be an absolute CHAMPION on the road! Absolutely no issues to deal with except our regular oil change and tune up.
We try to stay ahead of schedule with these to keep Winnie in as tip top of shape as we can. So far our strategy seems to be working well! Knock on wood…
Other / Entertainment
Budget: $300 || Actual: $660.99
Drinking Out (7 times) | $171.65 |
Eating Out (4) | $60.31 |
Van Improvements | $269.73 |
Subscriptions (Canva, Adobe, Spotify, Planet Fitness) | $62.90 |
Other | $96.40 |
Cash Expenses | $0 |
Total | $660.99 |
Once again we are over budget in our other/entertainment category! I guess you can say we cave in to peer pressure pretty easily.
Being back home with friends we found ourselves going out a lot more. How can you say no to a damn good time?? We have no idea!
Also while we were back in Minnesota, we made some van improvements. Our first two months on the road were a great test drive for what van-life would be like and we learned a ton!
For example, we learned having our kitchen pull out of the back was a huge pain, especially with our bikes on the back. Brushing your teeth/washing your face isn’t very fun using water bottles either.
Therefore, while we were home we rearranged some things in the van and put our kitchen with running water inside! We also added a deck to our roof, which has been by far our favorite improvement! We’ve loved reading, sunbathing, and star gazing on our roof all over the country.
Even though our van improvements took us over budget, they were totally worth it. Having running water in the van and a rooftop deck have been extreme life improvements for us!
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We Added a Sink to the Inside of the Van! -
Rooftop Deck after Construction -
Rooftop Deck after Construction
Total
Expense | Budget | Actual |
Gas | $300 | $147.93 |
Groceries | $100 | $16.20 |
Lodging | $0 | $0 |
Auto Maintenance | $100 | $94.69 |
Other / Entertainment | $300 | $660.99 |
Total | $800 | $1019.81 |
So close, but yet so far. Again and again, it is the other/entertainment category that absolutely CRUSHES us month after month.
We REALLY need to improve our self-control, but we just have so much rootin’ tootin’ FUN when we see friends and family! So sue us. Actually please don’t, we don’t have a lot of money, so you won’t win a lot anyways…
Month 4 Budget
Expense | Budget |
Gas | $400 |
Groceries | $300 |
Lodging | $0 |
Auto Maintenance | $100 |
Other / Entertainment | $200 |
Total | $1000 |
For April, we will be back on the road FULL TIME! That means our budget is back to what it was in February: $1000, broken down just as it is in the table above.
Will we hit it? Will April be the first time this year that we actually HIT our budget? You’ll have to check back to find out!
If you liked this article, use the below image to Pin it and save for later!
If you want to hear more about our budget, here is our budget and spending from February and January!
You always choose timely topics that intrigue my interest. I thank you for that!
There are a number of the cause why shoulder popping occurs, including the shoulder’s agility and intricate design. Before overlaying some of those reasons, let’s shortly evaluate the
shoulder’s anatomy. Gradually increase intensity by not more than 10-15% each days and monitor progress asyou go,
decreasing intensity if discomfort or pain occurs. Prospects have completely different views on the value for money of the cargo
straps. Some discover them worth the fee, high-quality
for the price, and great for transferring giant mattresses.
Muscular shoulders that pop are the cherry on high of a well-built higher physique.
Shoulders that fill out your shirt and support strength
in urgent workout routines make many lifters’ wish lists.
A steady diet of compound strikes like barbell
and dumbbell overhead presses is the muse for boulder shoulders—but
that’s solely part of the equation. The different part
requires movements that isolate the muscle tissue your concentrating on and
the dumbbell entrance raise exercise is the perfect movement
for that. As we’ve established, you are doubtless getting plenty of shoulder work through conventional strength training routines.
Certain elements of your shoulders, particularly your
rear delts, are typically underdeveloped by way of more common coaching,
so some centered work can be particularly beneficial.
You’re kicking issues off with the overhead press, top-of-the-line
workouts for constructing impressive deltoid muscles,
emphasizing the entrance delts.
Observe these steps to guarantee you get front delts that stand out in a crowd.
The chest-supported lateral elevate is an isolation train used to train the medial deltoid.
This exercise is completed with chest help to help further isolate the shoulder joint to provide a
targeted stimulus on the medial deltoid. The underhand barbell
entrance increase is a superb train to isolate the anterior deltoid through shoulder flexion.
Customers find the cargo straps helpful for moving giant furnishings and heavy objects.
Opinions vary on ease of use, value for money, strap size, and luxury.
From the skin, the shoulder appears like a simple joint —but it’s truly one of the complicated joints in the
body. Keep your shoulders, ribs and hips stacked over your knees without arching your again. Maintain the kettlebell with straight arms,
keeping your shoulders open.
This step-by-step guide is broken down into sections so you presumably can easily
discover exactly what you’re in search of to build strong shoulders.
I’ll even be answering all the most common questions related
to shoulders and shoulder workouts. Now we transfer to the
again of the shoulders—the rear delts as nicely as the upper again. You
desire a lighter weight here so you don’t have to heave to
carry the weights up. This takes the standard
lateral elevate and shortens the lever with arms bent at 90 degrees.
This lets you raise a little heavier weight than you probably would
with lateral raises.
In contrast, the group who only stretched
had higher low back instability and hip flexibility (5).
Weightlifting is certainly one of the most harm inclined sports due to the
excessive loads of resistance. To guarantee security and an excellent high quality follow, it’s important to have a steady foundation. In a
patient with neck pain or pain that radiates under the
elbow, a useful maneuver to additional consider the cervical backbone is Spurling’s
test. The affected person’s cervical spine is placed in extension and the head rotated towards the affected shoulder.
Speed’s maneuver is used to look at the proximal tendon of the
long head of the biceps.
There are fairly a quantity of lifts that work our shoulders, starting from the close-grip bench press (for our entrance delts) to the chin-up and barbell row (for our rear delts).
And that’s great, however these lifts help us
construct larger shoulders, not necessarily broader shoulders.
Often, an orthopaedic surgeon will prescribe a series of workout routines geared toward strengthening the shoulder muscular
tissues. A common residence train program can be utilized
along with a formal supervised bodily therapy program.
Ideally, a doctor ought to carry out the process as a end result of some methods could be painful.
Performing this process incorrectly may further
injury the shoulder and contribute to future instability. Dumbbell
upright rows put your shoulders in an advantageous position to carry heavier weights.
This is a good exercise when you have muscular imbalances
between your proper and left sides. Keep Away From the temptation to raise heavy weights past your current
functionality. Gradually enhance the depth and weight of your workout
routines over time. This permits your muscles, tendons, and joints to adapt to the increased load and reduces
the danger of sudden strain or damage.
Regular rotator cuff workout routines are essential for
recovering full shoulder perform. Weightlifting after shoulder substitute
poses risks like joint strain and potential re-injury, necessitating a structured recovery
plan. If you would possibly be suffering from weightlifter’s shoulder, the condition may
reply to conservative therapy. Take a hiatus
from lifting weights, ice the realm, and take anti-inflammatory drugs.
It’s a tough train, so you’ll have to consider recovery time after each session. The pike pushup delivers the goods on this respect in addition to working
your upper again and triceps. If the exercise nonetheless feels uncomfortable,
or you’re in search of an alternative, you need to try the
monkey row.
Really Feel free to rearrange the train order when you don’t
take pleasure in a particular superset mixture or find it too exhausting.
Your back muscles are a number of the biggest and strongest muscular tissues in your physique and require plenty of exhausting work and sweat to develop.
Nevertheless, the effort is value it, as
a muscular again instantly stands out and calls for attention. Shoulder impingement
generally occurs as a outcome of an individual overusing the
shoulder.
Some of one of the best barbell shoulder exercise routines
embody the overhead press. The barbell overhead press is a fundamental exercise
that targets the anterior and medial deltoids, promoting shoulder flexion and
abduction. This compound movement is used finest for effectively constructing power
for efficiency. If accomplished appropriately, adding the dumbbell front
elevate to your shoulder workouts will help enhance shoulder muscle symmetry and power.
If building your pushing power is a objective,
front raises are a fantastic shoulder train to assist.
It’s a classic exercise that has unfortunately disappeared into the mists of
time, but it’s highly effective and a very good various to the upright row.
Earlier Than leaping into the shoulder and arm
exercise, let’s take a short tour of the three muscular tissues and discover how
they work. Your shoulders and arms are prominent physique components
that contribute to practical strength and
are essential in growing an aesthetically pleasing physique.
Clients find the cargo straps useful for transferring heavy objects like furnishings and home equipment.
The straps are easy to use and assist with lifting and carrying gadgets like
washers, dryers, and fridges. Frozen shoulder happens when the robust connective tissue surrounding
the shoulder joint (called the shoulder joint capsule) becomes thick, stiff,
and inflamed.
Remember to rotate your exercises for balanced growth and continuous
enchancment. By Way Of specializing in the lateral and anterior heads of the deltoid muscle, upright rows promote glorious development within the higher physique region. Set up in a entrance plank place, however together with your
toes wider than normal (just wider than shoulder width) whereas dealing
with a low cable or band. Extend one arm and seize
the cable/band and carry out managed rows. Regardless Of being in a plank position this is
truly a vertical pull. You’ll discover that the
glutes, lats, obliques, and abs don’t have any choice however to work collectively on this drill.
This exercise helps you learn how to coordinate your overhead pulling motion whereas being strong via the trunk.
Or, should you’re a powerlifter, check out how you would vary your shoulder workout.
The best way to integrate this exercise could be to carry out it 1-2 occasions a week.
There isn’t any want for high-frequency coaching, as this workout is already
intense and provides enough volume to challenge those boulders for shoulders.
Rather, it’s like water torture, where repetitively
doing a lift that’s barely painful cause harm to build
up. A higher resolution, we’ve discovered, is to make use of the half-kneeling dumbbell overhead press.
We can stimulate an identical amount of progress in our shoulders, but the
load is far lighter, lowering the danger of hurting our lower back.
The kneeling split-stance additionally makes it simpler to do the carry with good posture.
After a bit of practice, most individuals can then shift to doing
the standing overhead press—again, using just a single dumbbell at a time.
It’s somewhat more superior than another shoulder workout
routines, so apply type using lower weights, to start with.
Via the twisting motion, as you increase the dumbbells over your head, a extensive range of different muscle tissue in the shoulders
are activated. Like the regular shoulder press, you’ll want a bench and two dumbbells to carry out this exercise.
They additionally assist with total improved posture, which might make different shoulder workout routines easier
to perform.
Glenohumeral movement could be isolated by holding the patient’s scapula with one hand whereas the patient abducts the arm.
The first 20 to 30 levels of abduction should not require
scapulothoracic movement. With the arm internally rotated (palm down),
abduction continues to one hundred twenty levels. Past 120
levels, full abduction is feasible solely when the humerus is externally rotated
(palm up). You should also know when to extend your weight restrict
if you want to enhance your energy over time
and keep away from hitting a plateau.
After all, our higher traps improve our common energy and
appearance much more than our facet delts do. The extra we can bulk up our traps (and neck muscles)
the stronger we’ll be and the higher we’ll look. The dumbbell military press is a superb movement for higher body strength and permits the athlete to carry
out the overhead motion with a novel range of movement.
The dumbbells additionally provide a possibility to problem stability and the lifter a possibility to change their mechanics for better
comfortability. Normally carried out using a barbell
or an EZ bar, the upright row can really feel
awkward at first, but it’s worth together with in your shoulder exercises if you wish to
enhance size and strength.
This degeneration might happen through repetitive actions or as a part of the
traditional aging course of. The acromion and the coracoacromial ligament type a kind of
bridge or roof excessive of the shoulder known as the coracoacromial arch.
We are lifetime knowledge-seekers who embrace learningnew methods of pondering so as to develop stronger servicesand collaborations with
our global well being care partners. Sanford
is providing strategic help to the partnering with Hospital Metropolitano, a private well being system experiencing dynamic progress.
Sanford beforehand partnered with First Hospital of Kunming’s pediatric outpatient
clinic to establish areas of improvement, develop new alternatives for development and advance the quality of care.
A shoulder separation sometimes results from a comparatively hard blow to the shoulder, similar to what you would possibly maintain in a automotive accident or enjoying
contact sports like football.
References:
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