Van Life Costs - March - Ruhls of the Road's life on a budget

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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

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!

https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/park-overnight-free/

If you are interested in exploring Harvest Hosts, use this link for 15% off a membership:

Click this Image for 15% off your Harvest Hosts Membership!

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!

We Added a Sink to the Inside of the Van!

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!

https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/van-life-costs-february/

https://ruhlsoftheroad.com/van-life-cost-month-1/

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CBD for Anxiety and Anxiety: Picture that it is possible to introduce one all-natural preparation into your everyday diet regimen, which might confirm to be the key to winning the defend a calmer life for individuals with depressive problems. What happens if the addition of this preparation, created on the basis of an increasingly popular as well as evaluated chemical compound of plant beginning, is not just potentially very effective, however is not associated with the threat of negative effects regular of pharmacological medications? Is it also possible? Where’s the catch? Do you would like to know more? Read this post In this short article we will cover: What is clinical depression? THC distinctions Clinical depression and also the endocannabinoid system What is depression? Main definitions recommend that depressive disorders, additionally recognized colloquially as clinical depression, are identified by: unexpected anxiety of a person’s mood, in the adverse direction, of modest to strong intensity of the intensity of the experienced adjustments, for more than a few weeks. There may be one or more factors for the incident of changes. It also takes place that it is challenging to recognize any absolute reason. We very frequently discovered the declaration that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it influences both older and also more youthful people. Our education is not important for depression, let alone our profits – it can affect any person. Therapy of clinical depression boils down to: pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and psychoeducation, phototherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and even more all-natural tasks related to the intensification of physical activity as well as the intro of substantial changes in the day-to-day diet. It is as part of all-natural methods of combating and neutralizing clinical depression that the incorporation of cannabis prep work with cannabinoids normally happening in the plant in the daily diet is obtaining more and more popularity on the planet. Cannabidiol CBD, located in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, appears in many clinical research studies as a potentially effective cannabinoid in the therapy of anxiety. Notably, it is a 100 natural chemical compound of plant origin. Surprisingly, anxiety is among the 3 most common mental disorders in which individuals resort to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD pills. Reports from consumers as well as their favorable point of views on the efficiency of e.g. CBD oil or full range hemp oil with natural CBD are growing at an extraordinary speed. THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences The primary cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and also CBD (cannabidiol). They show antagonistic impacts, which implies that CBD decreases the effects of THC. What are these impacts? THC has an intoxicating effect, causes a sensation of bliss, affects cognitive features, yet additionally unwinds. Huge, regularly consumed doses of THC are taken into consideration harmful to the human brain. Too much usage of THC can bring about psychosis, lack of motivation, and even irreversible unfavorable adjustments in cognitive feature. Both THC as well as CBD impact the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their action, as already pointed out, is contradictory. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When writing photos, CBD reduces the deficiency of anandamide sources, as well as THC quicken this procedure. Nevertheless, this does not indicate that THC is only a hazardous cannabinoid as well as should not be in the preparation in all. On the contrary. Its little presence in hemp preparations is even necessary in order to get the supposed effect. harmony. THC completely range hemp oil exists in such a limited and, importantly, legal quantity. This quantity is so tiny (less than 0.2) that it does not create intoxication. Collaborating, THC and CBD have higher potential than either molecule performing alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its importance for individuals dealing with depression? Continue reading! CBD, Clinical depression as well as the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a key system in charge of the guideline of basic human physical processes, such as energy administration, neurohormonal and also neuroimmune connections, electric motor activity, state of mind and also inspiration, and also fat metabolic rate. The endocannabinoid system includes a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is naturally created in the human brain. Its manufacturing is promoted by e.g. exercise, and to a lower level by the so-called work with the body (massage!). Its resources are “utilized” to keep the proper functioning of the body, including in the field of mental health. As shown in this research study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high degrees of anandamide are connected with a decreased risk of developing psychotic symptoms. A high level of anandamide is also connected with a positive effect on the decrease of clinical depression and stress and anxiety signs and symptoms. This mechanism is still not fully understood, however it appears logical that a highly depressed state of mind in a private time period for a specific situation, and with the synchronised lack of activities aimed at its improvement, causes a surge of the influx of adverse thoughts. As depressive conditions create, they can develop into a lot more unsafe types of problems, e.g. psychosis, delusions or schizophrenia. Slowing down this process as quickly as possible might end up being vital in the reliable therapy of mental disorders of human performance.

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