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 also Depression: Envision that it is possible to present one all-natural prep work into your daily diet plan, which might confirm to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for individuals with depressive conditions. What if the addition of this preparation, created on the basis of a significantly well-known and tested chemical substance of plant beginning, is not just possibly really reliable, however is not connected with the danger of side effects normal of pharmacological medicines? Is it even possible? Where’s the catch? Do you would like to know even more? Read this article In this short article we will certainly cover: What is depression? THC distinctions Depression as well as the endocannabinoid system What is depression? Main definitions suggest that depressive disorders, also recognized informally as clinical depression, are characterized by: abrupt clinical depression of an individual’s state of mind, in the unfavorable direction, of moderate to solid strength of the intensity of the skilled changes, for more than a couple of weeks. There may be one or more factors for the incident of changes. It likewise happens that it is challenging to identify any type of indisputable reason. We really usually come across the declaration that it is a world disease of the 21st century – it influences both older and also more youthful people. Our education is trivial for depression, not to mention our revenues – it can impact any individual. Therapy of clinical depression boils down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy and also psychoeducation, phototherapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also even more all-natural activities related to the climax of physical activity and also the intro of considerable adjustments in the everyday diet regimen. It is as part of natural approaches of combating as well as neutralizing depression that the incorporation of cannabis preparations with cannabinoids normally taking place in the plant in the daily diet plan is getting a growing number of popularity in the world. Cannabidiol CBD, discovered in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, shows up in countless clinical researches as a possibly efficient cannabinoid in the treatment of depression. Importantly, it is a 100 natural chemical substance of plant origin. Interestingly, depression is among the 3 most usual mental disorders in which patients resort to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, full range hemp oil with CBD or CBD pills. Records from consumers as well as their positive point of views on the efficiency of e.g. CBD oil or full range hemp oil with natural CBD are expanding at an unmatched speed. THC and CBD cannabinoids – differences The key cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). They show hostile impacts, which suggests that CBD minimizes the effects of THC. What are these results? THC has an intoxicating impact, triggers a feeling of ecstasy, impacts cognitive functions, but likewise kicks back. Big, regularly eaten doses of THC are taken into consideration hazardous to the human brain. Extreme intake of THC can cause psychosis, absence of inspiration, and also long-term adverse modifications in cognitive function. Both THC and CBD influence the endocannabinoid system in the body. Their activity, as already discussed, is inconsistent. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When creating images, CBD slows down the deficiency of anandamide sources, as well as THC quicken this process. Nevertheless, this does not imply that THC is just an unsafe cannabinoid as well as should not be in the preparation in all. On the other hand. Its little presence in hemp preparations is even necessary in order to acquire the so-called result. harmony. THC in full spectrum hemp oil is present in such a low as well as, significantly, legal amount. This amount is so little (less than 0.2) that it does not create drunkenness. Working together, THC and also CBD have better possibility than either molecule performing alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its importance for people dealing with clinical depression? Read on! CBD, Clinical depression and the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a crucial system in charge of the policy of standard human physiological processes, such as energy administration, neurohormonal and also neuroimmune links, electric motor activity, mood as well as inspiration, and also fat metabolic process. The endocannabinoid system consists of a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is naturally created in the human mind. Its manufacturing is boosted by e.g. exercise, as well as to a lower extent by the so-called collaborate with the body (massage!). Its sources are “used” to keep the appropriate functioning of the body, including in the field of mental health. As received this research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are related to a lowered danger of developing psychotic symptoms. A high degree of anandamide is also associated with a favorable result on the decrease of depression as well as stress and anxiety signs. This system is still not completely recognized, but it appears logical that a strongly clinically depressed mood in an individual time period for a specific case, and also with the synchronised absence of activities focused on its renovation, causes a climax of the increase of unfavorable thoughts. As depressive conditions create, they can become a lot more unsafe kinds of conditions, e.g. psychosis, delusions or schizophrenia. Reducing this procedure as promptly as feasible might turn out to be essential in the effective therapy of mental disorders of human performance.

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