Defeat psychological urges and save money

I carried a quality thermos and my own green tea and instant coffee with me. I would simply go into truckstop and get hot water and they were always cool with that. I bought bread and lunch meat from Walmarts along with Canned Food and lots of apples/oranges. I lived OTR for about 60$ a week

 

Leave them women alone and that will give you like 85% of your income back in your pocket...

 

If you see a Red kenworth going down the highway with a female Mannequin in the passenger seat don't worry its just me... You got you a good one there though hold on to her..

 

The two of us hit the Walmart Super Center in Larimaie WY every 6 weeks or so. 700 dollars later we have everything we need in our tractor in food, fluids and supplies.

We specifically gained permission from FFE officers (7 different departments and shop manager had to approve) a inverter install into the assigned century tractor. At our expense (A few hundred at most at the Amarillo Freightliner)

That way, it's dealer installed, dealer recorded to that VIN of the tractor and if there is any problems there was even a fallback of getting that fixed whatever it might be.

That inverter from 12 volt truck power to 120 volt house power is the single greatest improvement any trucker can have in their tractor. I find it hard to believe in today's APU situation that you cannot have house power voltage in your tractor among other things. Those APU's are expensive. Let's put them to work.

I am not surprised at the 300 dollars monthly bill for coffee. I was running 200 give or take for McDonalds coffee and other vendors until we put the inverter in and bought a 10.00 Mr Coffee.

That plus buying outside food and fluids supplies etc was the single greatest reduction in truckstop business. All we need then is Laundry service once a week for two hours, Fuel every 30 hours and a shower etc where possible now and then. The retail spending in the truckstop pretty much stopped with the exception of a adopted time off once a week on the 6th day to sit and enjoy three full meals of the proper kind, breakfast, lunch and dinner with all the trimmings so that the body has the chance to gain whatever it has missed and also for morale purposes. Wife and I called it our date night. Usually in Armarillo East at the TA there, who have been to us very consistent on tuesdays (A quiet day) for cooking well.

I hope this guides you.

 

I used to do the same and that $60 included 3 dinners($7.00 buffets back then) over the course of my 4 day trips. I don't eat any junk food, candy or soda either. I had a 12V pot for boiling water. Pressed coffee, green tea or water.!

 

Remember those who don't yet or are saving for one, can access hot water direct from the Commercial Truckstop Coffee Brewing machine on the counter. Usually a normal closed state switch under a spring and bright color up top near where you put coffee and water in. Put that direct into your thermos.

Keep in mind though the differences in municipal water treatments. They may or may not have the necessary things you were used to from home growing up. However the hot water should be at a temperature to where it's pretty clean.

You would think you build a 12 volt solid wire coil and then create a induction heat against a plate which when attached to a 1890's era Stirling Engine technology that is self enclosed you can drive other technologies such as a 120 volt generator etc. But that's what my former owner would call "too fancy" in his day.

 

These are .99 from China. I bought a dozen but the wire has to be upgraded to 14ga. Hopsing ships them out with 100 ga
I carry this now on line haul if I get delayed middle of nowhere

 

All retail stores are designed to sell you more than you want to buy. Even the local grocery store.
Should check out the book “ why we buy” by Paco Underhill.