Woohooo! Month 2 was a lot less stressful than Month 1 because I’ve learned a lot about navigating “CRV-Life” (van-life n a CRV) from finding and getting more comfortable at free and low cost campsites to how to shop for supplies so I only eat out or grab a beer or coffee when I want to and can really enjoy it. Overall, I cut spending my over $1,000 compared to month 1. (For comparison: Month 1 Spending Report.) I think that the ability to plan better and be resourceful will help save more money when I do settle down somewhere.
Lodging still accounted for just under 50% of my total spending, but I spent $500 less than in month 1 despite a bachelorette party and staying in a nice DoubleTree on Quebec St. in Denver before my flight to Texas out of Denver International. (You better believe I asked for one of they’re signature chocolate chip cookies when I left at 2:30AM for my flight.)
WEEK 5: JULY 7 – JULY 13
TOTAL SPENT: $383.51
LODGING COSTS: $237.31
| DATE | LOCATION | COST |
| 7/7/19 | Kokanee Creek Campground Nelson, BC, Canada | $29.36 |
| 7/8/19 | Wal-Mart Moscow, ID | $0.00 |
| 7/9/19 | Hell’s Gate State Park Lewiston, ID | $25.14 |
| 7/10/19 | North Ridge Campground McCall, ID | $18.02 |
| 7/11/19 | Open Roads Festival Jug Mountain Ranch, ID | $54.93 |
| 7/12/19 | Open Roads Festival Jug Mountain Ranch, ID | $54.93 |
| 7/13/19 | Open Roads Festival Jug Mountain Ranch, ID | $54.93 |
OTHER COSTS: $146.20
| CATEGORY | COST |
| Beverages/Eating Out | $24.34 |
| Groceries/Supplies | $84.98 |
| Gas | $36.88 |
| Car | $0.00 |
| Health | $0.00 |
| Other | $0.00 |
*Notes: Beverages and dining out encompasses meals as well as my favorite expensive beverages: coffee and craft beer.
WEEK 6: JULY 14 – July 20
TOTAL SPENT: $438.55
LODGING COSTS: $104.58
| 7/14/19 | Boise National Forest Mores Creek Summit, ID | $0.00 |
| 7/15/19 | Sawtooth National Forest Stanley, ID | $0.00 |
| 7/16/19 | Stanley RV & Camp Stanley, ID | $26.84 |
| 7/17/19 | Sawtooth National Forest | $0.00 |
| 7/18/19 | Stanley RV & Camp Stanley, ID | $26.84 |
| 7/19/19 | Sawtooth National Forest Sun Valley, ID | $0.00 |
| 7/20/19 | KOA Missoula, MT | $50.90 |
OTHER COSTS: $333.97
| CATEGORY | COST |
| Beverages/Eating Out | $60.41 |
| Groceries/Supplies | $170.39 |
| Gas | $97.57 |
| Car | $0.00 |
| Health | $000 |
| Other | $0.00 |
WEEK 7: JULY 21 – JULY 27
TOTAL SPENT: $544.65
LODGING COSTS: $162.72
| 7/21/19 | KOA Whitefish, MT | $51.36 |
| 7/22/19 | KOA Whitefish, MT | $51.36 |
| 7/23/19 | Apgar Campground Glacier NP, MT | $20.00 |
| 7/24/19 | Apgar Campground Glacier NP, MT | $20.00 |
| 7/25/19 | Glacier NP Apgar Campground | $20.00 |
| 7/26/19 | Wal-Mart Butte, MT | $0.00 |
| 7/27/19 | Camp Near Cunningham Cabin Bridger-Teton Nat’l Forest, WY | $0.00 |
OTHER COSTS: $381.93
| CATEGORY | COST |
| Beverages/Eating Out | $38.10 |
| Groceries/Supplies | $147.47 |
| Gas | $87.36 |
| Car | $0.00 |
| Health | $0.00 |
| Other | $115.00 |
Other costs were park admissions. I did the week, single-park pass for Glacier for $35, which was not my most prudent decision since an annual “America the Beautiful” national parks pass is only $80. I bought the annual pass when I crossed into Yellowstone.
WEEK 8: JULY 28 – AUGUST 3
TOTAL SPENT: $777.28
LODGING COSTS: $518.07
| 7/28/19 | Camp Near Cunningham Cabin Bridger-Teton Nat’l Forest, WY | $0.00 |
| 7/29/19 | Camp Near Elk Refuge Bridger-Teton Nat’l Forest, WY | $0.00 |
| 7/30/19 | KOA Laramie, WY | $34.10 |
| 7/31/19 | DoubleTree Denver, CO | $132.97 |
| 8/1/19 | Bachelorette AirBnB Dripping Springs, TX | $117.00 |
| 8/2/19 | Bachelorette AirBnB Dripping Springs, TX | $117.00 |
| 8/3/19 | Bachelorette AirBnB Dripping Springs, TX | $117.00 |
OTHER EXPENSES: $259.21
| CATEGORY | COST |
| Beverages/Eating Out | $109.87 |
| Groceries/Supplies | $62.34 |
| Gas | $65.00 |
| Car | $0.00 |
| Health | $22.00 |
| Other | $0.00 |
GRAND TOTAL: $2,143.99
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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.
