Do some OTR truckers really spend $60 a day?

I've been driving solo for five weeks now and during that time I developed a routine when it comes to meals.

I bought a 40cubic inch 12 volt cooler at Walmart and I fill it with; preserves, deli meat, cheese, yogurt, juice, jar of pickles, pre-made salads, mayo, mustard, and I did buy energy drinks, but I'm tired of having to piss every hour after I drink one. So now I'm trying out coconut water.
For dry storage stuff; Almond butter, apples, bananas, almonds, tuna, crackers, avacodos, and snappea crisps.

Some stuff will last two weeks easy, but most stuff I have to buy weekly and I end up dropping approximately $120 a week. The juice and salads cost the most amount of money.

I'll still splurge and eat out once a week as a reward to myself, but anymore than that and my budget mindset is nagging the hell out of me.

Shower points take care of my showers. So I end up spending maybe $20 a day over the course of six days. I can make up to $900 in a week and no less than $500. So $20 a day is nothing really.

I could see how not having a routine could cost me an additional $40 a day. That or be hungry most of the day.

 

Bringing this thread back from the dead after 2+ yrs for current cost of living updates.

Has anything changed?

Is it still possible to get by for under $20 / day if you pack your own food in a cooler?

 

I don’t see why not

 

Pack your own food you should be able to live at $6 a day (figuring $2 a meal). Yet it can be alot less. IE have a orange for lunch. Yet for me I buy sub sandwich meat. $6 for one week of sandwiches. Two slices of bread and some mayo and I will have lunch for about $1.25. If you have a crock pot and you dont mind making a soup and having that for suppers, you can make a weeks worth of suppers for about $8 for the week. Cereal is cheap too for breakfast. Milk and cereal. Granted I am here at home and my weekly food is about $20, yet it isnt that hard to bobtail to a Walmart and get this food.

 

$20.00 is plenty unless you're a junk food junkie.Many drivers don't even spend $10.00 a day because they prepare meals in the truck. Some use some type of crock pot and the meal cooks while their driving and ready to eat whenever it's meal time.

 

I don't have exact figures because wife buys most of my food at the grocery store and it's mixed in with the rest of the groceries for the family, but the cost of my food is easily less than fifty bucks a week.

I eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Oatmeal (raw) with milk every day. Hard boiled eggs that I cook in a rice cooker/steamer. Sometimes some low salt nuts. Lots of water. Little bit of black coffee.

 

I could eat for less than $20 but I get an hour out of my check every day for lunch when I'm local so I make sure I stop. And I don't go OTR frequently enough to warrant keeping a fridge in my truck. I did just buy a bunch of snacks and I thought I'd gone overboard but it only worked out to about $35. And I've been nibbling on that stuff for over a week now.

 

I probably spend 20 dollars a day. I usually once a week buy a pound of turkey and some bread and some fruits along with water and milk and i’m good. For Dinner I’ll usually have grilled chicken. Flr breakfast toast and eggs. I live pretty cheap and eat healthy. I’m glad i’m not 300 pounds.