Must start another GOOD SWIFT thread...

[Redcoat wife]

Thanks everybody for all the great intel on an allowance and survival techniques. That helps me to figure out how I can do our finances and to come up with a game plan on how we are going to do this before he leaves.

[doubledragon5]

Originally Posted by Redcoat wife

NickyBobby he's going to Lancaster, TX. I'm taking him up to the Days Inn in Red Oak tomorrow. After the last bus ride from hell to Tulsa and back for an Arrow orientation disaster, I felt sorry for him and am going to take a day off from work to make the 80-mile drive from Waco to Lancaster.
Where are you going for orientation?

You will like that Terminal it is decent size and alwasy clean..Good luck

[semi5150]

Originally Posted by knighton5

The secret to saving money on the road is STAY OUT OF TRUCK STOPS unless your fueling,showering or laundry.... My first year on the road I would eat in truck stops and look at all the goodys for sale., I look back now and think of all the money I wasted (nothing to show for it) except CB etc. DRIVE SAFE

Your statement is so true i just got done with my mentor , the T/A will take your money if you let them .... Not saying they are bad ,they just make it easy to get you to spend your money ...... Do yourself a favor and get a cooler, zip lock bags and make sandwiches put your meat in 1 bag bread in another , and keep mayo in a squezze bottle and mustard .When your ready to eat get a slice of cheeses your meat and bread and put every thing together , from the different zip lock bags thats how every thing will stay fresh and ready to go ... You will save much much more money this way , Note on the bread buy rolls or hamburger buns instead becuz you will use them faster and they will be fresher that way ..... If you do what i stated you will save bigggggggg...... Cuz at the truck stops a premade sandwich from the fridge will cost 5.oo dollars and wont be as fresh or goood , hope this helps .. Oh by the way if you can get some seedless grape go for it nothing like being able to snack on some cool grapes when your rolling thru some of those hot desserts ....

[InMyDreams]

This is all really good information. Thanks everyone for sharing. And thanks for the positivity too!

[doubledragon5]

Make sure you buy all your cleaning stuff, shampoo, soad, toothpast, toilet paper, etc.. from walmar or even sams club.. The one time I had to buy them from a TS, I all most fell on my butt, when it came to paying for it..

[cat 500]

Originally Posted by doubledragon5

Make sure you buy all your cleaning stuff, shampoo, soad, toothpast, toilet paper, etc.. from walmar or even sams club.. The one time I had to buy them from a TS, I all most fell on my butt, when it came to paying for it..

i always stock hubby up before leaving out. (walmart or Dollar store). Saves alot of money.

[doubledragon5]

Same here Walmart or in some cases I use to use the inlaw (mom)...

[6pak4-two]

Originally Posted by Redcoat wife

Thanks everybody for all the great intel on an allowance and survival techniques. That helps me to figure out how I can do our finances and to come up with a game plan on how we are going to do this before he leaves.

I was in the Fly'n J yesterday and saw a cobra cb on sale for $ 79.00 not a bad deal you can spend up to to the sky if you want if your on the road with a trainer or your S/O have them look into it save some money.

[Redcoat wife]

Thanks 6pak. He has a list of things he wants when he gets his own truck. The CB is definitely on there along with the cooler, TV and DVD player. He's not a gamer so no PS2 needed. How about internet? He's wanting an air card for his PC but don't the truck stops and terminals have wireless? Which is more economical? The $60/month for an air card or whatever they charge you to get online at the truck stops and terminals? I know the Flying J's have a deal a year for $150 but I couldn't find any more info on the other truck stops. Do you have enough opportunity (down time) to get online if you are NOT at a truck stop to justify getting an air card anyway?

I already pay Sprint $60 a month for broadband internet in our RV. I have a 6 watt cellular router and a Netgear wireless. The system cost me almost $3000 to have it installed but I can get broadband internet from just about everywhere and I ain't switching to anything else. Got too much invested. It just kind of grates on my nerves to have to pay for two internet subscriptions and I'd rather not if I don't have to.

Ya'll are the experts out there. What do you think about getting an air card? Definitely needed? or can get along without one.

[InMyDreams]

Originally Posted by Redcoat wife

Thanks 6pak. He has a list of things he wants when he gets his own truck. The CB is definitely on there along with the cooler, TV and DVD player. He's not a gamer so no PS2 needed. How about internet? He's wanting an air card for his PC but don't the truck stops and terminals have wireless? Which is more economical? The $60/month for an air card or whatever they charge you to get online at the truck stops and terminals? I know the Flying J's have a deal a year for $150 but I couldn't find any more info on the other truck stops. Do you have enough opportunity (down time) to get online if you are NOT at a truck stop to justify getting an air card anyway?

I already pay Sprint $60 a month for broadband internet in our RV. I have a 6 watt cellular router and a Netgear wireless. The system cost me almost $3000 to have it installed but I can get broadband internet from just about everywhere and I ain't switching to anything else. Got too much invested. It just kind of grates on my nerves to have to pay for two internet subscriptions and I'd rather not if I don't have to.

Ya'll are the experts out there. What do you think about getting an air card? Definitely needed? or can get along without one.

i'd think (and this is my plan) that just about every truck stop would have wifi. and if they don't today ... they will soon. same with shippers/receivers ... so you can get on real quick when you're being loaded / unloaded. it's been my experience that while traveling on the road for work i can usually just pull over next to a business w/ an unsecured wireless network (software helps me find these) and get on really quick. all starbucks, etc. have them too. unless truck stops are behind the times by about 5 yrs they ought to have them.

but what do some of the guys that actually drive have to say? can you get wifi out there? sure would beat 60/mo.