Question:
Does any one out there have any tips on road survival with out spending everything you make?
james jacobs

Answer:
You've come to the Right Place for "Budgeting Tips" while OTR.
Why Some Drvrs Can't SAVE Money OTR(click here)
Cash Advances(click here)
Company Reimbursments(click here)
OTR Expenses(click here)
Rokki's Budgeting Tips(click here)
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Check out Dave Ramsey, for more Financial Peace advice.(click here)
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If you have more questions or just want to "chat" drop me a line at chocltsnda@etrucker.com or rokki@etrucker.com

Answer:
You'll need a small 12 volt cooler to start out with. With Summer coming on they do not cool real low but enough to keep some things cool for a few days. Then your best bet is to buy foods that will last without being super cool. Lunch meat, fried chicken from home, stuff like that work in mine.
I carry a small 12 volt water heater for coffee and a 12 volt cooking pot. The pot works well for reheating most foods and comes with replacable liners. Small Aluminum trays. It's a nice item for cooking it's just not super fast.
For food I carry everything from whats above, crackers, canned food and stuff for breakfast. You can also get sodas and put them in the cooler. Some drivers carry a small ice chest full of Ice to put in their drinks. They empty and refill it with ice daily. The more I carry in my truck to eat that won't spoil the less I spend. It also allows me to sleep in rest areas and other places and wake up with some food and coffee without running to a TS. Shop walmart and buy your supplies for less.
Also when you order at truck stops stay away from the buffets. Their not healthy, the food doesn't usually taste like it looks and it's not cheap. Order from the menu or ala carte and you'll get what you want often for less. Remember $10.00 is cheap for any meal in a truck stop. Breakfast maybe a little less but with coffee it can be close. Not only has fuel prices risen so has everything else at a TS so be careful and plan.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Stay away from cash advances!! By taking cash advances, you are spending money that you won't make for another 2 weeks. BAD HABIT to get into.
Don't eat every meal in a truck stop. And you don't have to eat much either. You are not swinging iron, or shoveling s**t for 12 hours a day, you don't need to eat like it. This is why truckers get obese. They burn few calories during their day, but eat like they are training for the New York Marathon. I eat a decent breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, and a good sit down dinner (not at a truckstop, but a real restaurant if I can find one).
Don't smoke. A 2 pack a day smoker will literally burn up over $2500 in a year just on cigs. Can you think of better things to spend an extra $2500 on? I sure can.
Don't buy anything in a truckstop that Costco or Sams Club sells. You will pay dearly for the convenience.
WHY IS MY BEER DARKER THAN YOUR COFFEE??
Answer:
Stay single ya cant believe how much cell phones and calling cards will run you if you are trying to stay in touch with that someone special.
Learn to get by on one good meal a day. Never eat before going to bed waste of money. You will just wake up even more hungry the next morning.
Do not spend, at home; over your head, in other words live within you means. Dont go so far in debt that it makes your life hell on the road. If by the time you pay all your bills and you have to live like an animal on the road then you need some help getting your spending under control at the old homefront.
Me? I would rather do without a new car, sofa, whatever(I do have those things by the way) at home than worry about money to eat on.
"A choice between doin' ten years, and takin'out some stupid !@#$,ain't no choice at all."
Mr.White (Reservor Dogs)

Answer:
Buy all the supplies you can from your local discount store and grocery store while you are at home.
Do not eat more than one meal a day at the truck stop or resteraunt.
Avoid getting cash advances if at all possible for personal reasons. Only get them to pay for company reimbursed items and then only if you need to. If you do need a cash advance plan to get it when you fuel otherwise you will end up paying up to $5 to have the advance processed and cashed at the truckstop.
Avoid using ATM's on the road. There are transaction fees of up to $3 for cash withdrawls. Get yourself a debit card instead and then be sure to kep track of what you are spending.
At the end of the day put all your loose change in a cup or jar. You will be suprised how fast this adds up.
Only two things I know of are infinite. The universe and human stupidity, and I am not real sure about the universe.
Answer:
Its a fact that hard work supresses apetite while inactivity increases apetite. An apple or grapefruit is a good alternative, no preparation and keep you going well (fruit will spike your metabolism and then after 90 minutes it will fall off). Good diet is really a habit, and you can creat a habit in a month. Try not to get famished, and for sure don't be famished at a t/s. When you're hungry, its hard to resist asperated grease. I suggest premaking meals at home. I really like sub sandwhiches, and have many premaid - to nuke them, package veggies separately.
I think a lot of truckstop purchases are boredom related. So stay in rest areas and power walk for 15 or 20 minutes. You can checkout talking books at your library.

Answer:
http://www.booksinmotion.com/
www.audiobooks.com

Answer:
Bring as much as you can. On our little adventure Bob and I went grocery shopping and the little money we spent saved us a lot. Yeah you get tired of turkey sandwiches, but things in truck stops are very expensive.
The 12v cooler is a must have. The one Bob has worked great. Kept things cold for the entire trip. Cyanide showed me his truck while we were waiting for Bob's to get finished and he keeps a LOT of food and stuff under the bunk. I am quite sure he saves a ton of money by doing it that way.
Stay away from the video games. Those things will eat a $10 worth of quarters within minutes.

Answer:
Got the SF at Wally World, usually a 3 week supply at a time, downed two per day, and I hit Subway's whenever I came across them, if I hadn't already for a particular day. Got the 12" sub, so for me that was two meals spread over that many days, so that was the most cost-effective (and healthy) way for me to go.
'Cuz Lord knows, whenever I hit the OH, PA. or NY pikes, I needed what cash I had in my pocket for them cashbox operators! :-)
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I'm not a truck driver, I'm a professional tourist!

Answer:
The advice given regarding cash advances. It's true that a cash advance is money you haven't earned and as such it should be considered a loan. But you are, in essence, borrowing the money from yourself at 0% interest.
Take a set amount advance (no more than 150.00) once a week when you buy fuel and budget your road expenses from that money.
I guess I disagree with the post regarding the cell phones and calling cards as well, there's bunches of cheap phone cards available on the 'net and places other than truck stops. A cell phone will save you time which, as we all know, is money. You can find reasonably priced plans like AT&T Digital One Rate and Sprint and Verizon. Click Here
A lot of what's needed to live well on the road is self-discipline. Personally, I don't mind eating at a T/S but I only eat one meal a day and it's my relaxation time. It's more expensive than eating at a Denny's or McDonalds but it suits me. I try to save money in other places to subsidize my restaurant choice. Blah Blah Blah. Once again I ramble on.
Read all the advice and figure out what works for you.
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." ...Soren Aabye Kierkegaard


Answer:
I guess I missed the post about cell phones and calling cards. I have both. I use flying J's driver rewards card as a calling card. It's only 7.9 cpm, not to bad. I also have a cell and wouldn't leave home without it. Nothing like getting directions that lead you to a dead end street. It's a little hard sometimes to go back to a truck stop or park along the road to call them again. Just buy a certain plan with x amount of minutes and don't go over them. That's when they can get real exspensive.
I wouldn't drive without both. Their also nice when you just want to call someone special and say hi. Makes driving a little nicer at times.
Lots of good tips up there. The more you carry with you the less you have to spend.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
I Don't leave home w/o my Cell Phone either.
I also have a Nationwide Toll-Free Pgr.
And I use my Natsn Frequent Fueler Card as my Phone Card.
Not only do I earn Points for using it when fueling, but I earn points when I re-charge it as a Phone Card.
After reaching (X) amount of points you Automatically get $10 CASH back.(the cashier at the trkstp gives you the CASH when she runs your card thru & gives you your Printout of your total points.)
I would usually Save $30-$50 of the Cash that I earned from the Points & use That to Re-Charge my Phone card.(therefore it does Not cost Me a penny to re-charge the card...I get FREE re-Charges.)
Get it?
The carrier pays for the fuel that I use my Natsn card to earn Points with.....
After earning (X) amount of points I Automatically get $10 CASH.....
I SAVE that Cash until I have Earned about $30-$50......then....
I use the $30-$50 to Re-Charge the Card.
Cleaver, huh? That's how I get the FREE Re-Charges.

Answer:
Not meant as critisism Choclit,but you could sqeeze the Buffalo off a Nickle. Your financial tips are saving people lots of money.
Mike
Answer:
I take that as a Compliment. lol