Question:
While this has been covered before in many ways it is such a good topic it is time to revive it once again.
While life on the road can put a huge dent in your pocketbook there are ways that you can save money and send more money home each week. Here are a few of them:
1. Get yourself a check debit card. Use this to pay for the majority of your purchases. Avoid getting cash from ATM's and only use cash when needed. I find the debit cards better than a credit card for the simple reason that it can be too easy to buy things with an actual credit card when you really can not afford it.
2. Avoid getting cash advances except in emergencies and when paying for company reimbursed expenses like tolls, scales, lumpers, etc.
3. Eat only 1 meal per day in the resteraunt. Generally speaking breakfast is the cheapest but eat what ever meal works best for you based on your overall schedule. A 12v cooler works well to keep lunch meat, leftovers from home, etc fresh for several days. An inexpensive 12v stove works well to reheat left overs or heat canned foods/soups. Tip....If you take fresh meats or left overs with you from home freeze them first and they will keep longer in the cooler and help keep the cooler colder.
4. Buy as much of your supplies that you are not reimbursed for as you can at your local store while you are at home. (Wal Mart, Kmart, etc.) You will save up to and over 50% versuses buying these items in a truck stop. Pens, notepads, paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, etc. Also buy books, movies, etc for entertainment other places besides the truckstop. The bottom line is do not buy anything more in a truck stop than you absolutely must buy.
5. When you are layed over find other things to do besides hanging out inside the truck stop. The video games, slot machines, and toys inside the truckstops become very alluring when you are bored.
6. Plan your trips carefully. Try to shower where and when you fuel to avoid possibly having to pay for a shower on down the road.
7. Keep records for yourself showing every trip you run, the pay for that trip, and all reimbursable expenses you have for each trip. Then compare each settlement to your trip record to ensure you have gotten paid and reimbursed properly.
8. Make a budget and stick to it.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Visit the dollar store. You can buy pens, pencils, notebooks, paper, cleaning and laundry supplies. I got dry eraser board markers to write notes on the windshield and clipboards to keep the paperwork organized. You can even buy plastic eating utensils and disposable plates. Even a cheap umbrella for those times you need to get out and look while backing up in the rain. This is where I buy my work gloves and a package of bungee cords to keep stuff in place. Why pay high truck stop prices?

Answer:
About using the check/debit card for purchases.
This is mostly for those whom are married or have someone else at "home" taking care of your personal business such as your bills.
If you only have one checking account all money is deducted from, make sure you keep those who might be paying your bill for you up to date on how much money you have spent with the debit card. If you don't, between the debit card user and the check writer, there might be an over draft.
Never take the account balance listed on any receipts you may get at face value. There might be outstanding checks written that just haven't hit the bank yet.
Just remember.... when ya hit bottom, at least you're on solid ground!

Answer:
Someone, I don't remember who (Rosie, maybe?) suggested keeping a "piggy bank" in the truck with you and throwing any loose change in it on a regular basis. That becomes your "play" money. You might even budget a certain amount to go there as well. Then, when you find yourself in a position where you would like to have some "play" money (like a casino or something), you've got it. Seems like sound advice to me...I've done this for many years. Started out when I was a young pup in the military. Took an old Spanada bottle (remember that rot-gut?) and filled it with all the pennies, nickles and dimes from my pocket every day. It adds up quickly, and since the change is in such small denominations, you don't really ever miss it.

Answer:
Originally posted by BDGFN:
Someone, I don't remember who (Rosie, maybe?) suggested keeping a "piggy bank" in the truck with you and throwing any loose change in it on a regular basis. That becomes your "play" money. You might even budget a certain amount to go there as well. Then, when you find yourself in a position where you would like to have some "play" money (like a casino or something), you've got it. Seems like sound advice to me...I've done this for many years. Started out when I was a young pup in the military. Took an old Spanada bottle (remember that rot-gut?) and filled it with all the pennies, nickles and dimes from my pocket every day. It adds up quickly, and since the change is in such small denominations, you don't really ever miss it.
That's what I did when I was over-the-road, saved the day's change in a gallon jug. In the course of a year, just saving silver, (no pennies), I filled it...to the tune of nearly $800!! Then, I started just saving dimes & quarters, took about a year and a half and that came out to over $900! Not too shabby for "pocket change"!

Answer:
Originally posted by uturn2001:
While this has been covered before in many ways it is such a good topic it is time to revive it once again.
While life on the road can put a huge dent in your pocketbook there are ways that you can save money and send more money home each week. Here are a few of them:
1. Get yourself a check debit card. Use this to pay for the majority of your purchases. Avoid getting cash from ATM's and only use cash when needed. I find the debit cards better than a credit card for the simple reason that it can be too easy to buy things with an actual credit card when you really can not afford it.
2. Avoid getting cash advances except in emergencies and when paying for company reimbursed expenses like tolls, scales, lumpers, etc.
3. Eat only 1 meal per day in the resteraunt. Generally speaking breakfast is the cheapest but eat what ever meal works best for you based on your overall schedule. A 12v cooler works well to keep lunch meat, leftovers from home, etc fresh for several days. An inexpensive 12v stove works well to reheat left overs or heat canned foods/soups. Tip....If you take fresh meats or left overs with you from home freeze them first and they will keep longer in the cooler and help keep the cooler colder.
4. Buy as much of your supplies that you are not reimbursed for as you can at your local store while you are at home. (Wal Mart, Kmart, etc.) You will save up to and over 50% versuses buying these items in a truck stop. Pens, notepads, paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry supplies, etc. Also buy books, movies, etc for entertainment other places besides the truckstop. The bottom line is do not buy anything more in a truck stop than you absolutely must buy.
5. When you are layed over find other things to do besides hanging out inside the truck stop. The video games, slot machines, and toys inside the truckstops become very alluring when you are bored.
6. Plan your trips carefully. Try to shower where and when you fuel to avoid possibly having to pay for a shower on down the road.
7. Keep records for yourself showing every trip you run, the pay for that trip, and all reimbursable expenses you have for each trip. Then compare each settlement to your trip record to ensure you have gotten paid and reimbursed properly.
8. Make a budget and stick to it.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Can I take you along after training and school? You posts are excellent!!! keep up the good work
Hey, if life throws you a curve ball, try and take a swing at it. Who knows what might happen

Answer:
Eating in the truck stops is pretty expensive, but I quickly got tired of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Don't even get me started on the nutritional factor of TS food.
I am home for a few days and will be getting one of those food vacuum sealers. I figure I can cook some chicken and veggies, seal it, keep it in the cooler, and just use one of those 12v stove thingies to reheat.
If I get it I'll let ya know how it works out.

Answer:
The eating the one meal a day in the truckstop definately is worth it and saves a bunch of money.....
I go to Walmart before going out and spend about $20 for whole week (5 days - regional) of food for breakfast and lunch.
Then live on $50 or less each week getting one good hot meal of any sort....
So for about a year now my expenses havent been more than $70 per week.
"Hakuna Matata".....Greg
All for the love of a good woman.


Answer:
Another way to save money! Get an inexpensive tackle box and fill it up with items that are usually outrageously priced in the truckstops!
Bandaids,gauze,white tape,peroxide,alcohol pads,hand wipes
Aspirins,Tylenol,Rolaids,Tums,vitamins,cold remedies.(only put prescriped meds in there that have YOUR prescription tag on the label)
Scissors,tweezers,nail clippers,needle and thread or a small sewing kit.
Believe me buying these at your local K-Mart,WallyWorlds will safe you bunches and you will be some what prepared for some of those events that happen when your least prepared for them!
******************************
A real princess can be known because she can feel a
pea right through twenty mattresses and twenty eider-down quilts.
Nobody but a real princess could be as sensitive as that.



Answer:
but it is more than just getting away from the snadwhich thing. There is the "just being around" other people and getting the heck out of the truck for a while factor too.
Also in the long run it will save you money. It will do this because if you live off of the food you carry with you only it soon becomes such humdrum faire that you will find yourself eating 2 and 3 meals a day in the resteraunt.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
I never thought about using a tackle box, but it sure makes sense. Thanks 7 of 9!

Answer:
I have a "5 day" cooler from Walmart. Keep ham, cheese, milk, and 2-liters of soda in it (but keep the cheese and meats in ziplock freezer bags, so they stay dry!!). The squeeze bottles of mayo, mustard, and Cheese Whiz saves creating more trash; quick and easy, too. Have some bacon bits, too. I carry plastic forks, paper plates, and napkins, and use the top of the cooler for a table. I also get the little cans with pop lids of tuna, Vienna sausages, potted meat, and fruit cups for variety. Breakfast (when I have it) is granola bars or Pop Tarts. I will soon get some kind of stove or warmer, so I can eat hot meals without breaking down and going to the Iron Skillet along about Thursday.
But this, I can eat on all week and have a lot left over to carry into next week with.
My food and ice cost for the week: $24
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
this might be too personal,
but TS food gives me the sh!tz,
get mason jars and keep milk with you good for the body and cereal is an excellent way to start the day,
you could also make sub sandwiches at home,leave out the mayo or oil,and put the lettuce and other veggies that you like on there in a baggie,than wrap the sub with individual baggies of veggies together,a little mayo out of a jar or oil from a squeeze bottle and a wholesome lunch or dinner is quick and easy.
I even heat bottles of water on the dash to rehydrate those ramen noodle cups,add bacon bits or spices and your ready to go.
left lane for large cars