cost of living

I have a microwave and cooler so I do all my shopping at walmart before I leave home. I usually spend about 50 dollars and I'll have enough food and water to last about 2 weeks which is about the longest I ever stay out. I make my own coffee in the truck. I also keep about a 3 week supply of clothes in the truck...being a flatbedder I can get pretty dirty at times so I keep extra. That way I can save money by doing laundry at home. All the clothes I bring with me are cheap stuff from walmart and goodwill, that way if they're destroyed or I have to take a greyhound home, I'll have no problem throwing them away. For entertainment I download movies, illegally of course, at home before I leave. I'll usually end up spending about 20 dollars a week for a few sodas and maybe going out to eat once while on the road. I also budget an extra 20 dollars a week, which really never gets spent, in case I need a shower but don't have any on my cards. Then if I decide I want to stay out longer or I get short on food I'll stop at a walmart.

 

tell your trainer you want to go by a walmart asap, he should already expect this if he's worth a ####, you won't really have the luxury of eating healthy, with the small cabinet he'll probably let you have. get things like cheese and crackers, I'm talking the cheap ### sealed up ones with the little stick, also the peanut butter version, pringles, lays stack, bananas, stuff that comes prepackaged and ready to eat basically. For entertainment if you're trainer teams with you early the only thing you're going to be wanting is sleep. The cheapest of the fast food places is subway and you can actually eat pretty good for cheap if you get the $5 foot longs and ditch the chips/drink.

 

If you are planning on being in the truck as much as possible then you should plan on being as comfortable as possible while you are there. $58 a day is what the government expects you to spend. You won't but do not save yourself so much money that you hate being on the road. Plan on driving 8 hours a day. Cook your evening meal on a little barbeque. Do not eat fast food all the time. Get what the area is famous for. Do not order steaks in Florida for example. Do have the lobster in Maine. I spend $20 to $30 a day and I live very well. Fresh fruit from roadside stands.

Also remember that as a truck driver, women will find you sexy as all get out. Let them cook for you.

 

I strongly second this.
I've use mine almost every night... With some creative (and relatively inexpensive) shopping, you can concoct some great foods using this 'lil thing. I typically spend about $30 / week at a grocer and I after being out here OTR for about 6 months now, I have eaten food Not made on my truck probably 5 times.
However, having a solid (and large) 12v cooler is a must in order to do this.

 

That was my problen also bro. i was super broke with my trainer. I went to a grocery store and walked up and down the isles. found the cheapest pre cooked caned stuff. ravilo.soup. hormel stuff if its on sale. speghetti Os. and brought like 5 big waters. and like 5 energy drinks then bought some pop at truck stops if i saw a sale. i got 2 bags of it. wasnt the best things to eat. wasnt healthy. wasnt tasty. wasnt hot. but it was super cheap and ready to eat. Get a can of something for 80 cents three meals 2.40 ten days is 24.00. or peanut butter and jelly and a loaf of bread is super cheap and takes no space. then get utensils at a truck stop. i didnt enjoy any of the food becouse it was all generic and ###### but i knew it was short term.