How to save money on the road?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Wild Murphy, Apr 30, 2014.

  1. Wild Murphy

    Wild Murphy HAPPY TRUCK DRIVER

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    I would think that living on the road 2 weeks at a time can get expensive. What things do you do to keep costs down from groceries, to cell phones, to anything you can think of? (I will be an OTR company driver home every other weekend. )
     
  2. 77smartin

    77smartin Road Train Member

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    Don't eat in restaurants.
     
  3. CougFan

    CougFan Light Load Member

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    Buy a mini fridge or plug in cooler. Make your own coffee, eat lots of cereal and milk. Get a 700 watt microwave for soup and burritos.

    Can live cheap that way.

    Everytime you walk into a truck stop you will loose $$$$$$ Stay the hell out of them except to shower.
     
  4. Clyde07

    Clyde07 Heavy Load Member

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    Get a frige or cooler and buy groceries at super market. Stay out of the toy section of the truck stops. There's lengthy threads here addressing this subject. Check 'em out. Lots of good tips and advice. You'll develop a routine that works for you if you're serious about saving $.
     
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  5. scythe08

    scythe08 Road Train Member

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    I stay out for 2-3 months and I easily spend an house payment in truckstops. But I refuse to shop at Walmart and even getting run through my home terminal takes an act of god, so My Groceries are limited. I could spend less and my waist would approve. If you don't have to stop at a T/s then don't. even a drink costs almost $2, so $4 a for 7 days = $28 x 4 weeks = $112. $112 just to keep my mug filled. I'm not even going to get started on what my food costs. But I enjoy my Hotdogs and a slice of pizza with 6 wings is just heaven after a long day. My self control sucks LOL!
     
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  6. skateboardman

    skateboardman Road Train Member

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    I swallowed a sponge a few years back and all I have to do is drink water and I am full.
     
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  7. CCJR76

    CCJR76 Light Load Member

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    Love the spicy wings...although my stomach doesn't always agree..lol
     
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  8. CougFan

    CougFan Light Load Member

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    Two more ways:

    Fuel at loves so you can get a free refill (and buy a 64 ouce mug lol)

    If you are out of free refills, fill you mug with ice, and in filtered water, and lot of the loves have free packets of powdered lemon juice. That lemon water is free and will keep you going!
     
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  9. Macneil

    Macneil Heavy Load Member

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    I always kept stuff that wouldn't go bad in the truck and then keep fresh food in the cooler(12v). Try to not buy even drinks at the truck stops. Buy them at a super market..I'd only go in to a truck stop to get a shower or once in a blue moon buy a sit down meal..
     
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  10. G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

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    You can buy a small electric cooler/refrigerator for about $100. You can get milk and some sandwich meat. Cold cereal is pretty cheap. You could eat cereal for breakfast and a sandwich for either lunch or dinner and still eat out a regular meal, if you want to get out of the truck. I found an electric cup at Dollar General for $1. You can heat water for coffee or warm up soup. Dollar General has canned food you can warm up in the microwave. Most truck stops have microwaves that you can use to warm up food. It is difficult to eat a meal in a truck stop for less than $12-15. But, it is also important for you to eat a balanced diet. When you are home you can stock up on groceries. Find a farmers market and buy some fresh fruit. Sometimes, you can find fruit or produce stands along the way that have a place large enough for you to park a truck. I don't like Walmart, either, but you can usually park at most of them and they have groceries to fill in when you are away from home. A toaster oven or microwave oven will usually require that you have a decent sized inverter. Some carriers won't allow inverters that need to be direct wired. They only allow those that can plug into a cigarette lighter outlet. Before buying anything for the truck, check with your company.
     
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