Top

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

DATELOCATIONCOST
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
8/7/19Ember Hostel
Denver, CO
$52.38
8/8/19Fish Hostel
Denver, CO
$53.65
8/9/19Max’s Couch
Denver, CO
$0.00
8/10/19Campsite 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

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

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

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

OTHER ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

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.