Table of Contents
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
-
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:
-
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!
-
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!
I’m really loving the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility
issues? A small number of my blog readers have complained about my website not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox.
Do you have any advice to help fix this problem?
I like the valuable information you provide in your
articles. I will bookmark your weblog and check again here regularly.
I am quite certain I will learn lots of new stuff right here!
Best of luck for the next!
CBD for Anxiety and Anxiety: Visualize that it is feasible to present one all-natural prep work right into your everyday diet, which could prove to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for individuals with depressive problems. What happens if the incorporation of this prep work, produced on the basis of a progressively well-known and also tested chemical compound of plant origin, is not only possibly really reliable, yet is not connected with the danger of adverse effects normal of medicinal medications? Is it even feasible? Where’s the catch? Do you want to know more? Read this article In this post we will certainly cover: What is clinical depression? THC and CBD cannabinoids – differences Depression and also the endocannabinoid system What is anxiety? Official interpretations recommend that depressive conditions, also known informally as clinical depression, are defined by: unexpected anxiety of an individual’s mood, in the unfavorable direction, of moderate to solid strength of the strength of the experienced adjustments, for more than a couple of weeks. There might be one or more factors for the occurrence of changes. It also happens that it is difficult to determine any unquestionable reason. We very commonly encountered the statement that it is a world condition of the 21st century – it influences both older and younger individuals. Our education and learning is trivial for clinical depression, let alone our incomes – it can impact any person. Treatment of anxiety boils down to: pharmacotherapy, psychiatric therapy and also psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy as well as more natural activities connected to the surge of exercise and also the intro of substantial changes in the everyday diet plan. It is as part of all-natural techniques of combating and neutralizing anxiety that the incorporation of cannabis preparations with cannabinoids normally occurring in the plant in the everyday diet is acquiring increasingly more appeal on the planet. Cannabidiol CBD, located in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, shows up in various clinical researches as a possibly efficient cannabinoid in the treatment of depression. Notably, it is a 100 natural chemical compound of plant origin. Remarkably, depression is amongst the 3 most common mental disorders in which patients resort to CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, complete spectrum hemp oil with CBD or CBD pills. Reports from customers as well as their favorable point of views on the effectiveness of e.g. CBD oil or complete range hemp oil with all-natural CBD are expanding at an extraordinary pace. THC and also CBD cannabinoids – differences The main cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) as well as CBD (cannabidiol). They reveal hostile impacts, which means that CBD decreases the effects of THC. What are these impacts? THC has an intoxicating result, triggers a sensation of euphoria, impacts cognitive features, but likewise relaxes. Big, on a regular basis consumed doses of THC are thought about damaging to the human brain. Too much usage of THC can bring about psychosis, lack of inspiration, as well as even long-term negative changes in cognitive feature. Both THC and also CBD influence 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 slows down the exhaustion of anandamide resources, as well as THC speeds up this procedure. Nevertheless, this does not suggest that THC is just a damaging cannabinoid and needs to not be in the prep work in all. On the other hand. Its little presence in hemp prep work is also necessary in order to get the so-called effect. harmony. THC completely spectrum hemp oil exists in such a limited and, notably, lawful amount. This quantity is so tiny (less than 0.2) that it does not trigger intoxication. Collaborating, THC as well as CBD have greater capacity than either molecule performing alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its relevance for individuals dealing with clinical depression? Read on! CBD, Clinical depression and also the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a key system in charge of the guideline of standard human physiological procedures, such as power administration, neurohormonal and also neuroimmune links, motor task, state of mind as well as motivation, and also fat metabolism. The endocannabinoid system includes a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a natural chemical that is naturally created in the human brain. Its production is boosted by e.g. exercise, and to a minimal level by the supposed deal with the body (massage!). Its sources are “made use of” to preserve the proper performance of the body, including in the field of psychological health and wellness. As displayed in this research study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high levels of anandamide are associated with a decreased threat of developing psychotic signs and symptoms. A high level of anandamide is additionally associated with a favorable result on the decrease of depression as well as anxiousness signs. This device is still not fully understood, however it appears sensible that a highly clinically depressed mood in a private period for a details situation, and also with the synchronised lack of activities targeted at its renovation, results in an increase of the influx of adverse ideas. As depressive conditions develop, they can become much more unsafe kinds of conditions, e.g. psychosis, delusions or schizophrenia. Reducing this process as rapidly as feasible might end up being critical in the reliable therapy of mental illness of human performance.
CBD for Anxiousness and also Anxiety: Envision that it is feasible to present one natural preparation right into your everyday diet regimen, which can show to be the key to winning the fight for a calmer life for individuals with depressive problems. What if the incorporation of this prep work, developed on the basis of an increasingly widely known as well as evaluated chemical substance of plant beginning, is not just potentially extremely reliable, but is not related to the danger of negative effects typical of medicinal medicines? Is it also possible? Where’s the catch? Do you wish to know more? Read this write-up In this article we will certainly cover: What is clinical depression? THC distinctions Depression and the endocannabinoid system What is anxiety? Main meanings suggest that depressive problems, likewise understood colloquially as anxiety, are identified by: unexpected depression of an individual’s mood, in the unfavorable direction, of modest to solid intensity of the strength of the seasoned changes, for more than a couple of weeks. There might be several reasons for the incident of adjustments. It also occurs that it is hard to determine any kind of absolute factor. We extremely frequently come across the statement that it is a world disease of the 21st century – it influences both older and also younger individuals. Our education and learning is not important for clinical depression, let alone our revenues – it can impact any person. Therapy of depression boils down to: pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy as well as psychoeducation, photo-therapy, electroconvulsive therapy and also more natural tasks associated with the intensification of physical activity as well as the intro of considerable adjustments in the day-to-day diet regimen. It is as part of natural methods of fighting and also neutralizing clinical depression that the incorporation of cannabis preparations with cannabinoids normally occurring in the plant in the everyday diet plan is acquiring more and more popularity worldwide. Cannabidiol CBD, found in e.g. CBD oil or full-spectrum hemp oil, shows up in various clinical research studies as a possibly efficient cannabinoid in the therapy of anxiety. Notably, it is a 100 natural chemical compound of plant origin. Surprisingly, clinical depression is amongst the three most typical mental illness in which patients consider CBD hemp prep work such as CBD oil, full range hemp oil with CBD or CBD capsules. Reports from consumers and also their favorable opinions on the performance of e.g. CBD oil or full range hemp oil with natural CBD are growing at an extraordinary speed. THC and CBD cannabinoids – distinctions The primary cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are THC (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) as well as CBD (cannabidiol). They show antagonistic effects, which suggests that CBD lowers the effects of THC. What are these effects? THC has an envigorating result, triggers a feeling of ecstasy, impacts cognitive features, but likewise relaxes. Big, frequently taken in dosages of THC are thought about hazardous to the human brain. Excessive consumption of THC can lead to psychosis, lack of motivation, and also also irreversible adverse adjustments in cognitive function. Both THC as well as CBD affect the endocannabinoid system in the human body. Their activity, as already pointed out, is inconsistent. Cbd-a-thc-in-the-endocannabinoid-1 system When writing images, CBD reduces the depletion of anandamide sources, as well as THC quicken this process. Nevertheless, this does not indicate that THC is just a dangerous cannabinoid and also should not remain in the prep work at all. However. Its tiny visibility in hemp preparations is even needed in order to get the supposed effect. harmony. THC completely spectrum hemp oil exists in such a minimal as well as, importantly, legal amount. This amount is so tiny (less than 0.2) that it does not trigger drunkenness. Working together, THC and also CBD have higher capacity than either molecule performing alone. What is anandamide (AEA)? What is its importance for people experiencing clinical depression? Keep reading! CBD, Depression and also the endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid system is a vital system in charge of the policy of standard human physiological procedures, such as energy management, neurohormonal as well as neuroimmune links, electric motor activity, state of mind and also inspiration, and also fat metabolic process. The endocannabinoid system includes a neurotransmitter called anandamide (AEA). Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that is normally produced in the human mind. Its production is boosted by e.g. physical activity, as well as to a lesser extent by the so-called deal with the body (massage!). Its sources are “used” to keep the correct functioning of the body, including in the field of mental health and wellness. As received this research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23580381 high degrees of anandamide are related to a decreased danger of creating psychotic signs and symptoms. A high degree of anandamide is additionally related to a favorable effect on the decrease of depression and also anxiety symptoms. This mechanism is still not totally understood, but it appears rational that a strongly clinically depressed state of mind in a specific period for a details case, as well as with the simultaneous lack of actions focused on its renovation, results in an increase of the increase of adverse thoughts. As depressive problems develop, they can turn into much more unsafe kinds of conditions, e.g. psychosis, deceptions or schizophrenia. Decreasing this process as rapidly as feasible may turn out to be crucial in the reliable therapy of mental illness of human performance.
Thank you for every other informative web site. Where else
may just I am getting that kind of info written in such a perfect
way? I’ve a venture that I’m just now operating on, and I have been at the
look out for such information.