Sort of Legal

Month 3 was my favorite month of travel to date and my cheapest. That’s what I call a win-win.

Spending time at free campsites, hostels, and friends and family helped me keep lodging under $300! After a few months on the road, grocery shopping for van-life comes more naturally and I make fewer unnecessary purchases and have less food waste. Since lodging spending was down, I enjoyed eating out a few times including a delicious empanada spot at The Argentos in Dillon, CO.

I certainly think about spending. Less spending = less money needed = less work I don’t enjoy. But, I don’t feel like I’ve been deprived of anything on this trip. To the contrary, some of my favorite experiences – like sleeping on passes in Colorado with killer views – have come from making efforts to keep spending low. And, I’ve realized that a lot of my favorite things are free including hiking and hanging out around a campfire with cool people.

For Comparison, My Prior Spending Reports:
Month 1 Spending Report
Month 2 Spending Report

WEEK 9: August 4 – August 10
TOTAL SPENT: $531.89

LODGING COSTS: $106.03

DATE	LOCATION	COST
8/4/19	(Little) Larissa & Ethan’s Lone Tree, CO	$0.00
8/5/19	(Little) Larissa & Ethan’s Lone Tree, CO	$0.00
8/6/19	(Little) Larissa & Ethan’s Lone Tree, CO	$0.00
8/7/19	Ember Hostel Denver, CO	$52.38
8/8/19	Fish Hostel Denver, CO	$53.65
8/9/19	Max’s Couch Denver, CO	$0.00
8/10/19	Campsite at Twin Lakes Twin Lakes, CO	$0.00

OTHER COSTS: $425.86

CATEGORY	COST
Beverages/Eating Out	$162.21
Groceries/Supplies	$99.57
Gas	$44.38
Car	$0.00
Health	$29.20
Other	$90.50

*Notes: Beverages and dining out encompasses meals as well as my favorite expensive beverages: coffee and craft beer.

WEEK 10: August 11 – August 17
TOTAL SPENT:  $195.42

LODGING COSTS:  $0.00

8/11/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00
8/12/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00
8/13/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00
8/14/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00
8/15/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00
8/16/19	Campsite Near Rabbit Ears Routt Nat’l Forest, CO	$0.00
8/17/19	Natashya & Brent’s Dillon, CO	$0.00

OTHER COSTS:  $195.42

CATEGORY	COST
Beverages/Eating Out	$80.03
Groceries/Supplies	$66.23
Gas	$49.16
Car	$0.00
Health	$0.00
Other	$0.00

WEEK 11: August 18 – August 24
TOTAL SPENT:  $311.94

LODGING COSTS:  $67.30

8/18/19	Black Lake Vail, CO	$0.00
8/19/19	Camp at Shrine Pass Vail. CO	$0.00
8/20/19	Salida Hostel Salida, CO	$33.65
8/21/19	Salida Hostel Salida, CO	$33.65
8/22/19	Glacier NP Apgar Campground	$0.00
8/23/19	Camp Above Twin Lakes Twin Lakes, CO	$0.00
8/24/19	Camp White River Nat’l Forest, CO	$0.00

OTHER COSTS:  $244.64

CATEGORY	COST
Beverages/Eating Out	$71.28
Groceries/Supplies	$103.67
Gas	$55.69
Car	$0.00
Health	$14.00
Other	$0.00

WEEK 12: August 25 – August 31
TOTAL SPENT:  $490.23

LODGING COSTS:  $68.66

8/25/19	Kiser Slough Rez Grand Mesa, CO	$0.00
8/26/19	Uncompahgre Nat’l For Wal-Mart* Montrose, CO	$0.00
8/27/19	Campground Silverton, CO	$20.00
8/28/19	Pull of Highway Silverton, CO	$20.00
8/29/19	Wal-Mart Brigham City, Utah	$20.00
8/30/19	Descend on Bend** Fort Rock, Oregon	$34.33
8/31/19	Descend on Bend** Fort Rock, Oregon	$34.33

*Switched spots in the middle of the night
**Event fee of $102.99 covered 4 nights but I only did three so divided weekend rate by 3 for my nightly cost.

OTHER EXPENSES: $421.57

CATEGORY	COST
Beverages/Eating Out	$59.67
Groceries/Supplies	$173.32
Gas	$124.42
Car	$47.16
Health	$17.00
Other	$0.00

GRAND TOTAL: $1,529.48

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Note: Expenses don’t include business expenses or flat rate personal expenses which are car insurance, health insurance, my mailbox, storage, and streaming subscription services.